More than 100 junior handlers traveled to Orlando during the 2019 AKC National Championship to compete in The AKC Juniors Classic in Obedience and/or AKC Rally® along with the Juniors Agility Competition. Kids and teens ages 9-17 were invited to the competition for each respective sport based on their achievements all-year-long.
In Obedience, Juniors competed based on the dog’s and Junior’s AKC obedience accomplishments throughout the past year. Placing with the high scoring awards were:
Junior Obedience Classic – Saturday Results
- Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Highest Combined Score in the Open B and Utility, Regular Classes: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
Junior Obedience Classic – Sunday Results
- Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Highest Combined Score in the Open B and Utility, Regular Classes: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
Several juniors competed in all three events: Obedience, Rally, and Agility. Jada Sawhney, 12, not only competed in all three, but was awarded a Junior Versatility Award for her accomplishments in more than three sports.
“It felt amazing because it feels great to be recognized for all the hard work that we do, and we try almost every weekend, so it felt great,” Jada says.
In AKC Rally®, Juniors competed in Rally Novice, Rally Intermediate, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, and/or Rally Master based on the dog’s AKC Rally® accomplishments throughout the past year. Placing with the high scoring awards were:
Junior Rally Classic – Saturday Results
- Highest Combined score in Advanced B and Excellent B: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Highest Combined Triple Qualifying Score in Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
Junior Rally Classic – Sunday Results
- Highest Combined score in Advanced B and Excellent B: Jada Sawhney, and BENTLEE SAWHNEY CD BN RM RAE AXP AJP XFP CGCA TKN (BENTLEE), a Golden Retriever of Florida.
- Highest Combined Triple Qualifying Score in Advanced B, Excellent B, and Master: Avery Adams, and MACH2 WYNDSPELL FIREWORKS UD RAE2 MXG MJG PJD MFB T2B2 TKA (SPARK), a Border Collie of Florida.
AKC Juniors Agility Competition Results
Juniors who participated in the AKC Juniors Agility Competition competed in either the Junior Excellent or Superior Classes, depending on whether they had achieved an agility title.
More than 80 dogs were entered, alongside their young handlers. We caught up with several juniors after their runs, including Gabbi Kabakchieva, who at 17 was competing in her last AKC Junior Agility Competition before she aged out. Gabbi has been on the AKC Junior European Team for the past three years and competes with her All-American dog, Scottie, and a Mudi named Kinder.
“I feel ecstatic,” Gabbi says. “My All-American dog, he’s seven and he just went clean in both his runs and I’m really proud of him because it’s my last competition as a junior and it’s basically his retirement because I’m running him preferred after this. So I’m really proud of him.”
Placing first in their height division (8″, 12″, 16″, 20″ and 24″ respectively) in the Junior Excellent class were:
- 8” – CH MACH2 PACH Amoure Beau’s In The Quiet Woods MXS MJG MXP3 MXPB MJPB PAX (Fern), a Papillon handled by Danielle Wagner
- 12” – Rockstar It’s A Wonderful Life MX AXJ OF (Zuzu), a Shetland Sheepdog handled by Kaylee Cundiff
- 16” – Ryladd Born To Fly AX MXJ XF (Zander), a Shetland Sheepdog handled by Kaylee Cundiff
- 20” – Ec’s Safari OA NAJ NF (Safari), a Border Collie handled McKenzie Minto
- 24” – Samedi Accio Azure OA OAJ (Fly), a Belgian Sheepdog handled by KateFitzpatrick
Placing first in their height division (8”, 12”, 16″, 20” and 24″ respectively) in the Junior Superior class were:
- 8” – Whf Little Bitty Hazelnut CGC TKI (Hazel), a Miniature American Shepherd handled by Sarah Ford
- 12” – MACH10 Rhapsody’s Enchanting Monster MXB3 MJS3 (Sulley), a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel handled Carly Kreiser
- 16” – Offon A Love Affair RN MX AXJ OF (Flirt), a Border Collie handled by Rowen Lyon
- 20” – AGCH MACH8 Sonlight Brace Yourself G2 MXC2 PDS MJC2 PJS MFG TQXT2B5 (Toad), a Border Collie handled by Colbie Foster
- 24” – Bentlee Sawhney CD BN RM RAE AXP AJP XFP CGCA TKN (Bentlee), a Golden Retriever handled by Jada Sawhney
Want to Get Involved?
The AKC Juniors program offers children under 18 an opportunity to develop their handling skills and learn about good sportsmanship, dogs, and dog shows.
Juniors are eligible to compete in Showmanship, Obedience, Agility, Rally, Tracking, Hunt Tests, Herding, Field Trials, Earthdog, Lure Coursing, Coursing Ability, and Coonhound Events. There is no minimum age requirement for sports other than Showmanship (where you must be nine).
If your child is interested in becoming an AKC Junior Handler, the first step is to watch a show and sign up for a class. Juniors under 18 years old can sign up for a Junior Handler number here. This number will be used to track their participation in AKC sports.
Except in Junior Showmanship, Juniors will exhibit in the regular classes and in the field along with all other exhibitors at the trials and tests, where they can obtain the same titles on their dogs and awards as adult handlers if they qualify.
Junior participation in AKC sports will be recognized through the AKC Junior Recognition Program and at the end of the year, AKC will award the Junior Versatility Awards and Scholarships. You can go to this link to learn more about the AKC Junior Recognition Program.
For more information, email your questions to Juniors@akc.org.