Kristin Lawless, a 16-year-old from Nicholasville, was one of eight youths who advanced to Tuesday's finals in the junior showmanship competition of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Lawless, who is home-schooled, shows a Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever. She did not place in the top four, according to the show Web site.

In the junior showmanship competition, youth ages 9 to 18 are judged on their handling skills, rather than the traits of their dogs, as is the case with the breed competitions. To be invited to compete at Westminster, the youths had to win first place in 10 events sanctioned by the American Kennel Club. Winners and finalists in the Westminster show got scholarships ranging from $500 to $6,000.

Other Kentucky teens who competed in the junior showmanship category of the dog show were Chloe Tilford, 14, of Louisville, and siblings Sarah Congleton, 18, and Tanner Congleton, 17, of Versailles.