Table_1_Retention and future involvement in the American Kennel Club Junior Showmanship Program, a youth dog breed conformation competition.docx

Similar to other organizations that encourage positive youth development, the American Kennel Club (AKC) created the Junior Showmanship program to develop skills and pave a path for the next generation of competitors in canine conformation. Although participants age out of the Junior Showmanship Program when they turn eighteen, the hope is that Juniors will continue to be active in dog sports into adulthood. Females are overly represented in all age groups in this survey and in current participation. Although both males and females most commonly stopped participating at age 17 or 18, males had a significantly higher drop out at age 15. Further study is warranted to investigate factors specifically pertaining to male participation. A strong Belief System Model which accounted for positive responses associated with camaraderie and mentoring during the showmanship program was significantly (p=0.01) associated with commitment, member interest and active participation as an adult. In addition, success in the show ring was associated with future involvement in conformation or dog sports. Thus, both perceived achievement and mentorship by adult “volunteers” were associated with continued participation.

与其他致力于促进青少年正向发展的机构类似，美国养犬俱乐部（American Kennel Club, AKC）推出了青少年展犬指导手项目，旨在培养相关技能，为下一代犬展结构审查赛事参赛者铺平发展道路。尽管参与者年满18岁后将不再符合该项目的参赛资格，但项目初衷是希望青少年参与者在成年后仍能积极参与犬类运动。本次调查及当前参与数据均显示，各年龄段女性参与者占比偏高。尽管男性与女性参与者通常均在17或18岁时停止参与，但男性在15岁时的退出率显著更高。未来需开展进一步研究，以探究与男性参与者参与该项目相关的特定影响因素。能反映展犬指导手项目中同伴情谊与导师指导等正向体验的完善信念系统模型，与成年后的参与意愿、会员兴趣及主动参与行为呈显著相关（p=0.01）。此外，在赛事赛场中取得的成绩与未来参与犬展结构审查赛事或犬类运动的意愿呈正相关。由此可见，参与者感知到的赛事成就与成年志愿者提供的导师指导，均与持续参与犬类运动相关。