What is YKC handling?

Handling is the skill and art of presentation of a dog that is taken into the show ring for the judge’s assessment.  A person who takes a dog into a show ring is called a Handler.  Basic moves have been designed to test the handler in the show ring, these moves are called Patterns.  Classes for Handling are decided by your age.  The age groups are 6-11, 12-16 and 17-24 years.

Competitions
There are two YKC handling competitions held at Crufts each year:

• YKC Handling
• YKC National Show Handler of the Year

Only dogs of eight calendar months of age and over on the day of competition are eligible for entry into a YKC handling class at Crufts.

Please be aware that members are only permitted to enter and handle ONE dog into the Handling competition at Crufts.  Members can now handle any dog providing it is on a Kennel Club register. On qualification you will receive an entry form from the office and you will need to choose into which group you wish to enter, this will determine which day you show. If you are handling a crossbreed you will need to choose the group that the dog most resembles.

YKC Handling

Competition Rules and Qualification Procedure

Crufts 2009 Qualifiers and Results

Additional Awards

YKC National Show Handler

Competition Rules and Qualification Procedure

Junior Handling Association

The Junior Handling Association is another organisation that teachers youngsters the art of handling.  The YKC has close links with the JHA and accept the first place winners of their classes into the YKC final at Crufts.  For further information about the JHA please contact Mrs C E Cartledge on 01344 424144.

Useful Websites

www.juniorhandling.co.uk