The American Kennel Club (AKC®), a not-for-profit organization, the world’s largest purebred dog registry and leading advocate for dogs, is thrilled to announce exciting programming coming to ESPN networks this summer.
“The canine and human athletes who participated in these competitions represented the best of the best,” said Gina DiNardo, AKC Executive Secretary. “The sports are high energy, and the competition was fierce. ESPN viewers will be on the edge of their seats this summer.”
Canine competitions kick off on Saturday, June 15th with the action-packed AKC Disc Dog Challenge, presented by The Farmer’s Dog, followed by the wet and wild AKC Diving Dogs Challenge, presented by The Farmer’s Dog, on Thursday, July 4th and culminating with the elite, ultra-competitive AKC Agility Premier Cup, presented by Tractor Supply Co, on Sunday, July 28th.
The AKC Disc Dog Challenge, held at UNC Asheville in Asheville, NC in early June, saw high flying canines and their humans participate in four unique games: Freestyle, Time Warp, Frizgility, and Far Out demonstrating new heights of canine athleticism, while taking fetch to new heights.
The AKC Diving Dogs took over the State Farm Stadium – home of the Arizona Cardinals – in Glendale, AZ. Record holding canine athletes compete in two divisions (Open and Lap) and two games (Air Retrieve and Distance) for bragging rights.
One hundred of the top agility dogs and handlers from around the country navigated challenging courses as they competed in the AKC Agility Premier Cup at National Sports Center in Blaine, MN. Agility teams competed in two early rounds, with the top 50 advancing to the finals. Competitors include past AKC National Agility Champions, AKC Agility Invitational winners, and AKC Premier Cup winners.
Mark your calendars so you don’t miss a minute of the action:
- AKC Disc Dog Challenge, Saturday, June 15th at 12pm ET on ESPN2
- AKC Diving Dog Challenge, Thursday, July 4th at 7pm ET on ESPN
- AKC Agility Premier Cup, Sunday, July 28th at 12pm ET.
Check your local listings for channel information.