Introduction

The JJHA was founded by Jacqui Hurley in 1983 and in its present form, meets at the RJA & HS in Trinity on Tuesday evenings between 6.30pm and 9.00pm.

Membership is £8.00 per year for a single (If junior, one parent receives non-training membership status) or £15 for a family (up to two adults and four children). In addition there and termly training fees of £20 for one dog, £25 for two dogs and £30 for three dogs which entitles you to compete in all three disciplines of Show Handling, Obedience and Agility.

Any child or person with a dog, pedigree or otherwise are welcome to come along.

The evening commences at 6:30pm with the two puppy/beginner obedience classes. The structure of these two classes remains the same throughout the term and offers continuity for both dogs and handlers to enjoy their dog as a well trained dog is a joy to be with. Then at 7.15pm there are the more experienced Obedience Classes or Agility. To take part in Agility your dog needs to be twelve months old as the dog’s bones need to develop properly and also have basic obedience training. Obedience and Agility alternate each week so you need to check the notice board or website to keep up to date with what is happening.

A Show Handling class is available each week at 7.15pm which runs for 1 hour. You can join this class at any time during the hourly session.

There is also the opportunity for juniors to take part in handling competitions in Jersey and Guernsey and juniors who do well qualify to compete on the mainland. We also run Good Citizen classes.

The Association runs various fund raising and social events throughout the year for the whole family, examples being Companion Dog Shows, Beetle Drives, Bingo, etc. We offer weekend workshops in the various disciplines of dog handling.

Junior Handling does not stop in Jersey, the Club is proud that Junior Handling worldwide developed from Jersey and many of our members have competed successfully in the Channel Islands, in the U.K. including Crufts, Luxembourg, Malta, Antwerp and at the World Shows in Belgium and Vienna.

The JJHA has trained many of the top handlers; Frances Hurley holding the 1986 JHA ‘Junior Handler of the Year’ title and both Alexander Hurley and Adrian Marett winning the prestigious KCJO ‘Junior of the Year’ competition in 1993 and 1998 respectively. Numerous juniors have also achieved success in the breed classes with their own and other people’s dogs as well as in obedience and agility locally and at finals in the U.K.

Each year the JJHA holds a three-day competition in show handling, obedience and agility. Competitors from the U.K., Wales, Guernsey and of course Jersey compete individually as well as in teams of two, divided into the age groups of under 12, 12-17yrs and adults.

Competitors can take part in all three disciplines or just the one. Each discipline is allocated a day where qualified and sympathetic judges asses competitors’ handling against fellow entrants through numerous classes during which their skills and knowledge are tested through different tasks.

More recently the club has become involved in the Good Citizen Dog Scheme.

The Scheme, which is not competitive, incorporates four awards; Bronze, Silver and Gold, plus The Puppy Foundation Assessment, which helps you, start educating your dog from a young age. Before your puppy settles in to a new environment and starts setting the ground rules, it is vital to provide him or her with an interesting and educational learning programme. This can set the foundations for the future and help you live a happy life with your new family member.

The GCDS brings together simple exercises, such as basic dog training, grooming, exercise & diet, cleaning up after your dog and general healthcare. All dogs are eligible for GCDS training whether they are pedigree or crossbreed, young or old.