The Juniors Perspective – Fostering The Future

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216 – May, 2024

By Jessica Braatz

For as long as I can remember, family has been central to the essence of dog shows. In the south, it is common to see baby strollers ringside, handler’s children competing in pee-wee or junior showmanship, and professional handlers mentoring the next generation. All of which foster the familial environment we know and love. However, recent events have cast a shadow of concern over the safety of our family sport. It’s no secret that junior handlers are pivotal to the vitality of our fancy, and if we cannot ensure their safety, we could be facing a decline in their participation. While the path ahead may not be clear, one thing is: action must be taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the next generation.

In the past few weeks, I have seen the fancy band together impressively, work-ing to brainstorm a solution to ensure junior safety going forward. A few fanciers in particular have spearheaded a campaign encouraging exhibitors, representatives, and judges to become SafeSport certified. The proposed certification, “Core SafeSport Training,” is comprised of three modules: Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education, Mandatory Reporting, and Emotional & Physical Misconduct. Together, these modules comprise a comprehensive program which works to educate and promote safe sport environments. Those who partake in this certification become advocates for youth safety, armed with the knowledge and vigilance to recognize and report misconduct. The organizers plan to offer pins for those who have completed the SafeSport certification and create a widespread movement to foster safety within our community. These trailblazers in our community deserve our absolute respect and appreciation as they saw a major issue developing within our sport and leaped to action, working to create positive change in our community. While SafeSport certification alone may not reduce all potential risks, it undeniably will create a safer environment for our junior handlers.

Click here to read the complete article
216 – May, 2024

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Posted by AnthonyA on May 22 2024. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.