TIM HAREN, 16 YEARS OLD

DISTRICT/COUNTY WHERE YOU LIVE: Germany, NRW

HOW DID YOU START OFF JUNIOR HANDLING?

When I got my first own dog at the age of eleven I had the wish to compete with him in Junior Handling. My dog’s breeder introduced me in the competition and so I started to practise.

DO YOU TAKE PART IN ANY OTHER DOGGY ACTIVITIES (OBEDIENCE, AGILITY, FLYBALL, ETC)?

No, I don’t.

HOW MANY DOGS DO YOU LIVE WITH, OWN AND/OR SHOW?

I live together with two West Highland White Terrier males and one English Setter. But my sister also has got an Irish Red Setter male which I show.

WHICH ONES DO YOU USE FOR JUNIOR HANDLING AND WHY?

For Junior Handling I usually use my own West Highland White Terrier male „Stanley“ or my English Setter male because we know each other best. They’re such great partners and friends!

But I also lend other dogs to compete with because I think it’s very important to show other breeds and it is always an adventure for me to work with a foreign dog.

WHAT BREEDS HAVE YOU SHOWN BEFORE IN COMPETITION?

I handled English Setters, West Highland White Terriers, Irish Red Setters, English Springer Spaniels, Shih Tzu, Dalmatians, English Cocker Spaniels, Beagles, Kerry Blue Terriers, Airedale Terriers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, Petit Chien Lions, Cairn Terriers, Old English Sheepdogs, Pugs, Maltese, Welsh Terriers, Border Terriers, Black Russian Terriers and lots of swap dogs!!! Many more to come...

TELL US ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE (SHOWING STYLE) YOUR BREED IN JUNIOR HANDLING CLASSES?

West Highland White Terriers have to be stacked. Some dogs of this breed are self-stacked but there aren’t many of them. They have to be held at the head and the tail has to be held high.

Irish Red and English Setters also have to be stacked and the head and the tail must be held, too.

WHAT DO YOU NORMALLY WEAR IN COMPETITION?

I usually wear a dark blue suit with a light blue shirt and a tie or light grey trousers with a dark blue jacket, a light blue shirt and a tie. Sometimes I also wear a beige suit!

WHAT ARE YOUR BEST ACHIEVEMENTS?

Best Junior Handler of the German Terrier Association 2005, Best Junior Handler at the CACIB Luxembourg 2007, and Best Junior Handler at the European Winner Show 2007.

Also I qualified for the German Pedigree-Junior-Handling-Final four times in row until now.

Hopefully more times to come – I am doing my best!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST MEMORABLE OCCASION SO FAR?

There are two ones: The first most memorable occasion for me was to win the 1st place in the Veteran class with my sister’s Irish Red Setter on his first show. „Don“ was never shown before but he did a great job with my help. And the second one was to win the Junior Handling competition at the CACIB Luxembourg and the European Winner Show with „Stanley“. The success was worth the effort!

IF YOU ONLY HAD ONE 'TOP TIP' TO SHARE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Don’t be angry with your dog or yourself when you haven’t got such a good achievement like you wished. You can’t always win and your dog will feel if you’re angry so he/she could connect Junior Handling competitions and regular shows with your sadness and maybe your dog won’t show perfect any more!? So don’t punish him/her and show that you’re even very proud of him/her.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT JUNIOR HANDLING?

To get to know so many different breeds and characters of dogs but also to get to know their owners. I made lots of friends at dog shows just because of lending other dogs.

WHAT DISAPPOINTS YOU IN THE WORLD OF JUNIOR HANDLING?

That there are so many judges who don’t know how to judge that competition. Sometimes they also judge like in the regular breed rings and use those requirements! I think that isn’t correct and not fair. But also some Junior Handlers aren’t fair. They can’t lose and feel like something better.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO BRING UP?

You can just be successful in this competition if you’re happy!

You and your dog have to have fun – nothing else. The success will follow soon.

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