This article formerly appeared in AKC Family Dog magazine.
At age 11, Hannah Studdert wanted to join her 4H club’s obedience training class, but she did not have a dog of her own.
She worked with her brother’s Labrador Retriever – a nice dog who did well – but Hannah only had eyes for her instructor’s German Shepherd Dogs. The working-line dogs demonstrated laser-focused attention and quick responses.
“I decided on the breed after watching my trainer working with her German Shepherds. I wanted a dog that could do high-level competition obedience,” Hannah said.
The instructor, Sandra King, had puppies that she invited Hannah to help train and was impressed with how well she did. Then came an offer. Sandra wanted to find the right home for a 1-year-old female named Jeejee.
“She told me I can do a trial run with Jeejee and if I show commitment with training, she would sign her over to me, which I couldn’t believe,” Hannah said. “I was only 11 years old at the time and had been given such an amazing opportunity to have an amazing sports dog.”
Hannah’s mother, Virginia Studdert, agreed, and it has proven to be a match meant to be.
“Jeejee has a wonderful temperament for a kid to train and handle. It has been a great learning experience for Hannah to learn how to work her,” said Virginia, who is the leader of the 4H group K9 Jr Handlers Sit, Stay, Fit Club in Clayton, New York.
Hannah and Jeejee started on their road to competition obedience, but soon added another sport.
“My sister had agility equipment at home so, I started dabbling in agility with Jeejee just for fun. But I realized she loves it and is really good,” Hannah said. “So, I started reading agility books and watching agility videos to further my knowledge on training for that sport.”
Hannah and Jeejee are now part of an AKC Agility League team based at their 4H club. They compete in a new skill level called Elementary for pre-competition dogs and handlers. In the Fall 2024 League season, Jeejee won first place in the 20-inch jump height class, and their team finished in fourth place in their division.
“The League has been great. I love the enthusiasm it’s created for my teammates and how we support each other’s runs,” Hannah said. “It’s definitely helped me put everything together that I have trained.”
Hannah’s mother, Virginia, formed the League team as another way for the youth to prepare for competition and learn teamwork.
“4H offers the youth so many opportunities to learn how to show dogs in conformation, obedience, rally and agility and also public speaking opportunities,” she said. “The youth wouldn’t have these opportunities without the local trainers donating their time to helping the youth in our county, which I’ll forever be grateful for all the help.”
Hannah, now 12 years old, and Jeejee are preparing to enter their first AKC Agility and Obedience trials, as well as their first American Schutzhund Club competitions. Hannah and her sister Riley, who now has a relative of Jeejee’s, are the only youth in the local Schutzhund club who are training a dog in the sport from the “ground-up”
“Jeejee is a very intelligent, powerful dog with an amazing temperament, which I love about her. She is so fun to train and picks up so quickly on what we’re working on,” Hannah said. “My future goals with Jeejee would be to make it on a juniors world team in agility and do all three phases of American Schutzhund with her.”
The post Junior Handler Succeeding with her German Shepherd in League & 4H appeared first on American Kennel Club.