Competition/Titles Update Fall 2021

Competition/Titles Update Fall 2021

We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Many dogs are also having success in AKC’s Virtual Titling programs!

AGILITY

Agility Grand Champion (AGCH)

AGCH MACH3 Day’s Katie MXC MJC PJD PADP MFB TQX MFPB T2B4 T2BP CGC TKA owned by Alison Day of Johnstown, CO

Ten-pound Katie and her owner/handler Alison Day are the first team in Colorado to earn the AKC Agility Grand Champion (AGCH) title. Katie, who has competed in AKC Agility since 2013, completed the championship a few weeks before her 13th birthday at the Mile-hi Golden Retriever Club trial on July 2.

“When AKC announced the AGCH in 2016, I wanted to try for it,” Day said. “It was a lofty goal that sounded impossible, but I thought, ‘I can do it,’ and I just never gave up. Neither did Katie.”

The AGCH title requires a total of 450 qualifying runs in six different classes. Katie’s title performance came on a Time 2 Beat course. “Time 2 Beat is a little easier than some of the other classes, so I saved one to end on,” said Day.

Day and her husband, Pat Clements, traveled to 12 states outside of Colorado to complete the title. Although agility is extremely popular in Colorado, most trials in the state do not include all the classes required for the AGCH.

While Katie might not look like a typical agility champion, Day believes that her tiny size can actually give her an advantage. “Some of the Premier courses require tight turns and tricky angles,” explained Day. “Sometimes it’s easier to shape a path for a small dog like Katie.”

On the road to the AGCH, Katie had to overcome a luxating patella. “I thought that might end her career,” Day said. “But her vet recommended continuing agility because it keeps her in excellent physical shape.” Katie gets regular massages to help with any pain she might experience.

“Katie is a great agility dog and the best partner I could ever ask for,” Day said. “The AGCH ribbon is literally bigger than she is. It’s a perfect way to end her AKC career.”

Master Agility Championships (MACH) 

Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs:

• MACH18 Donaldson’s Daisy MXS5 MJB6 OF MACH17 owned by Laura J. Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
• MACH13 Olive Hawkins MXB4 PDG MJG4 PJS MFB TQX T2B9 CGC TKI owned by Stefanie and Craig Hawkins of Florence, KY 
• MACH9 Zoe Mia Vogel MXS3 MJB3 OF T2B2 owned by Kathleen Rose Vogel of Bay City, MI  MACH8 Theodore Teddy Hill MXC2 PDS MJB3 PJS MFB TQX T2B2 owned by Priscilla Hill-Wampler and Jon Wampler of Newark, DE 
• MACH5 Apollo Of Waterton MXS2 MJG2 owned by Lydia Langley of Lynchburg, VA 
• MACH5 Gretzky The Great One depup MXB2 MJS2 MXF T2B BCAT ACT1 CGC TKA owned by Maria Sutjiamin of Lombard, IL 
• MACH5 Shani Of Ingleside UD BN RE MXS2 PAD MJC2 PJD MFB TQX MFP T2B4 TKI owned by Valerie Dietz of O’Fallon, IL 
• MACH4 Everlasting’s Matilda CD BN RE MXC PAD MJB2 PJS MFS TQX T2B3 BCAT owned by Elizabeth Powell of Evansville, IN
• MACH4 Patterday’s Rocky Raccoon MXC MJS2 XF TKN owned by Erin Day and JoAnn Patterson of O’ FALLON, MO 
• MACH3 Lady Luck’s Catch Me If You Can MXG PAD MJB2 PJD NF T2B3 owned by Gloria Krueger of New Market, AL 
• MACH3 Lizzy XIV RN MXC MJC MFB TQX CA SCN SIN CGC TKN owned by Patti Keating of Fullerton, CA 
• MACH3 PACH Riley’s Jesse MXG PAD MJG PJD MXP5 MXPS MJP4 MJPB PAX MFB TQX MFP T2B3 T2BP DCAT CGC TKA owned by Carol Riley of San Antonio, TX 
• MACH3 Marlo II BN MXG MJC MFB TQX T2B owned by Virginia Besthoff of New Orleans, LA 
• MACH2 Deb’s Little Miss Sunshine MXS MJS MXF T2B owned by Debra Wren of Warrenville, IL 
• MACH2 A.J. Streeter MXS MJS RATCHX CGC owned by Katie and Brandyn Streeter of Huntley, IL 
• MACH2 Hannah R-112112 MXS PAD MJC PJD XF T2B2 CGC owned by Melanie and Jason Bilicki of Prosper, TX 
• MACH2 Vindaloo MXS MJS XF owned by Ron and Leslie Bolin of Homer Glen, IL 

Congratulations to these first-time MACHs:

MACH Hostetler’s Bailey MXB MJB NF owned by Jayne Hostetler of Marysville, IN 

Bailey was adopted from the Jeffersonville Animal Shelter in September 2017 when she was a year old. Jayne’s intention was for her to be a companion.

“But when she started imitating my sister’s agility Border Collie, we started her and my training,” Jayne said. “She is the best little teammate who gives her all on each run.”

She currently has a winning streak of 15 consecutive Q’s. She earned her chance to complete in the 2021 AKC National Agility Championship, the first year she was eligible, and she was invited to compete in the AKC Premier Cup.

Bailey earned her MACH on Sept. 12 at the ACSI Dog Trial in New Albany, IN.

MACH Copper Pickett MXS MJS MFB T2B2 CGC owned by Cathy Berlin Pickett of Englewood, FL

Copper joined the Pickett family in the summer of 2012. Cathy’s 19-year-old son brought him home, from a friend of a friend who couldn’t keep him.

“Their loss was one of the biggest gains of our family’s life! He was a gentle, sweet, and smart puppy who learned quickly. While at obedience school when he was 8 months old, we saw agility classes and tried one. He was a natural,” Cathy said.

They began competing in 2014. “At DACOF (Dog Agility Clubs of Florida), we won a first place and third place trophy in 2015, still as a novice. He quickly advanced to AKC Masters level. We Q’d here and there, but had problems making course time and only competed sporadically. I didn’t have the time to trial as often as I wanted, and it was hard to motivate Copper since his life outside of agility is always busy and full of fun!

“On the agility field, we managed a QQ every so often, but it was such a long way to 20 QQs, let alone the points we would need, especially since we weren’t that fast. Consequently, I thought we would never MACH,” Cathy said.

But at a trial in December 2018, they QQ’d all three days and Q’d seven of eight runs. With renewed confidence, they worked steadily and picked up steam in late 2020 and early 2021. They had 24 QQs and needed 17 points. On the last day at Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club’s trial on May 2, Copper earned exactly the needed 17 points with 15 seconds under course time on Standard and then two seconds under on the JWW course.

“I was very proud that several people told me we were inspiring them to not give up. I’m certainly glad we didn’t!” she said. “For the first time in 9 ½-years-old Copper’s career, we have qualified for AKC National Agility Championship and plan to compete in April. We are beyond excited to get this far!”

MACH Fly Ventura MXB MJB PJD XF T2B2 owned by Stacie and Jonathan Ventura of Arlington, WA
Fly was born in May 2013 and came to live with Stacie’s family when she was 2 years old. Stacie was competing in agility with three other dogs, so Fly started training with her shortly after settling in.

“She really enjoys the sport, and it was an excellent way for us to bond and work together as a team,” Stacie said. “She is so eager to please, intelligent, thoughtful, and hard-working. Fly is affectionate and enjoys giving hugs by nuzzling her head under your chin and placing her paw on your shoulder.”

Fly received her AKC MACH title at the Chuckanut Dog Training Association Agility Trial on May 16 at Fun Fur Paws in Mount Vernon. The team is still competing in agility and working towards earning their second MACH.

MACH Coming Up Roses MXB MJB TKN owned by Kendall Betz of Richmond, VA 

Rosie is a 12-year-old Bichon mix. She and Kendall have been competing in agility for three years, but they are taking a break while Kendall is at college. Rosie competed at the 2019 and 2020 Junior Agility Competition as well as the 2021 AKC National Agility Championship.

Agility training began for Rosie in 2016 at the age of 7 after Kendall learned about the sport at a day camp at the Richmond SPCA. Rosie loved agility, and Kendall’s only goal was to have fun with her dog. At first, Kendall didn’t plan to compete because Rosie was very timid around strangers, but after a few years of training, they entered their first competition. Rosie got a perfect 100 on her first AKC run, and Kendall set a goal to earn her Novice titles.

Since Rosie was already 9 when she started competing, Kendall didn’t set any big goals, but Rosie continued to surpass expectations and only got faster in the ring. Once they were competing at the Masters level, Kendall set the goal to qualify for Nationals in 2021. It wasn’t until Rosie had accumulated more than 10 Double Qs that Kendall even considered getting a MACH with her. Given Rosie’s age, Kendall was just happy to be running her little wonder dog.

Rosie got her last Double Q and earned her MACH on July 3 at the Dog Owner’s Training Club of Lynchburg’s agility trial in Virginia. “I am so proud of Rosie and consider myself very lucky to have earned my first MACH with my Novice A dog,” Kendall said.

MACH Sweetwater Prince MXS MJB XF T2B SWE owned by Richard and Alison Studer of Xenia, OH 

“Prince was at a shelter when my wife found him,” Richard said. “He was about 3 years old. On impulse she brought him home to foster, but Prince made it very clear that he was home already.”

He seamlessly joined their pack of three other dogs, but Richard and Alison soon found out he was very reactive to other dogs. “With a lot of work, the help of a professional trainer, and time (about a year), we got him through that and watched him absolutely blossom with training,” Richard said.

“Prince loves ‘working’ and always happily works at whatever job he is given.” He has earned a MACH in agility and is at the Master level in scent work. “He is an affectionate, extremely smart, hard-working dog, and we are so happy he is part of our pack.”

MACH Quicksilver Tastykake MXB PAD MJS PJD TKN owned by Dudley Shumate of Clemmons, NC 

“What’s fast, fun, loud and a new agility champion? Quicksilver TastyKake! ‘Tkake’ is a 5-year-old Border Collie/terrier cross who packs an immense amount of joy into a small 15 pound package,” Dudley said.

She and Tkake have had the good fortune to trial both in the USA and overseas. “Being so exuberant and so fast, she’s always fun to watch. While we might not qualify on any particular run, we are never boring in the ring! TKake has made me a better agility instructor and seminar presenter in addition to improving my competitor skills by teaching me how to communicate more fluently and efficiently. She gives 1000% every single time, running with her heart, and her mouth, wide open. I am very lucky to be her partner and I am proud of her every time she steps into the ring.”

TKake earned the MACH on July 23 at the Shenandoah Valley Kennel Club with a first place and score of 100.

MACH Benny Bodine CD RE MXB MJS OF T2B owned by Sherry Hubbard of Worthington, OH 

At the ripe age of 10 ½ years, Benny Bodine earned his MACH on July 31 at the Dayton Dog Training Club. This is the first and only MACH for this team that has been working towards this goal since earning their first Masters leg in September 2018.

Handler and owner Sherry Hubbard, who is 69 years old, adopted Benny in 2011 from the Licking County Animal Shelter. Labeled a Boxer/Lab mix, his high energy had discouraged more than one family who, after trying a test walk, quickly decided to look for a more manageable pup. Though they already had two dogs, Sherry’s husband, Bill, agreed to give this young dog a chance.

“However,” Sherry said, “Bill nixed the proposed name of Rocket Man. ‘If you call him that,’ Bill said, ‘he will never calm down.’” A compromise was reached with a name from another Elton John song, Benny and the Jets. Benny’s lively antics were much loved by their Buckeye Lake neighbors, earning him other nicknames: Goofball, Knucklehead, and Jethro Bodine.

After Bill’s unexpected death in 2015, Sherry credits Benny with restoring hope and purpose, providing companionship and protection and holding open the door that led to the camaraderie and challenges of training and competing in dog sports. Over the years, Benny has proven himself in AKC obedience, rally and ultimately agility with a surprise qualification for the AKC 2021 National Agility Championship and the MACH.

With their MACH achieved, she has promised Benny retirement with more time available for his favorite activity – swimming. “Keeping that promise may be my hardest agility challenge yet!” she said.

MACH Shepherd’s Liquid Courage RM RAE MXB MJB OF T2B RATO CGCA TKN owned by Katie and Michael Shepherd of Simpsonville, KY

“A week before Christmas (during my last year of pharmacy school), my husband sent me Whiskey’s puppy picture and I simply asked, ‘When are we going to pick him up?’ We drove six hours round trip in the snow to get him from northern Indiana the next day,” Katie said.

“After graduation we started agility classes. I didn’t think this dog was EVER going to learn how to weave, not for my lack of trying. I thought I was going to cry the first time he weaved in a trial. At that point, I thought the hard part was over,” Katie said.

Katie and Whiskey continued and were able to qualify for the NAC in 2020. “It felt like a dream come true!” But toward the end of the qualifying period, he began running more slowly and exhibiting some GI symptoms. By early March, he was physically unable to run a course, and Katie had to pull him from NAC. The next day, it was announced that NAC would be cancelled due to COVID.

Katie spent the rest of 2020 taking Whiskey to multiple specialists. They eventually found help at the University of Tennessee, a full year after his initial symptoms. Whiskey was diagnosed with a GI condition, and after a complete overhaul of his diet he was back to himself in a few months. They were able to make the trip to NAC in 2021. “We earned our MACH shortly after at Queen City Dog Training Club on May 9.”

“I know in this sport we like to say, ‘Every time I step to the line with my dog is a gift.’ but Whiskey has completely transformed my understanding of that little phrase. Due to his condition, I decided to drop him to preferred height, so this will be his only MACH. He’s running faster and loving the game more than ever!”

MACH Ontarget Prison Break MXS MJS OF owned by Debra Lazaro of Howell, NJ

“Crime (aka ‘Pig Dog’) is a once-in-a-lifetime partner, and I am so very happy to still be competing with my best boy. He will be 11 years old at the end of December, but you would never know it, as his times are still super-fast and competitive. We have a blast every time we enter the ring, as Crime’s motto is ‘Go big or Go home.’ He always gives 100% and we always leave the ring with smiles on our faces, regardless of whether we Q or not. He is truly the stars in my sky,” Debra said.

“We finally achieved our MACH at the Tailblazers trial in New Jersey on May 30 after almost a decade of running together. It was a long time in the making, but I wouldn’t change a thing. He taught me so many valuable lessons, on and off the course: dedication, humility, good sportsmanship, the importance of a good relationship with your dog, having a good sense of humor, being your dog’s advocate, true love, and that anything is possible if you work hard and work together. Thank you, Crime, for being the best partner in crime. Pigs really do fly!”

Photo by Heather Gahnes

MACH Holly Shenzi Basch MXB MJS OF T2B ACT1 CGC TKN owned by Jennifer Basch of Savona, NY 

When Jennifer saw Holly’s photo on a local shelter’s website, she knew instantly that this dog needed to be part of her family. After a brief and successful meet and greet with their first dog Tucker, she went home with them, in December 2014. “Holly quickly worked her way into our hearts. She joined on trail rides with our horse, became a great running partner, and kept every other dog she met in line,” Jennifer said.

They began Agility classes in the summer of 2016 and “Holly was not a huge fan. But she knew that the work made me happy and she got delicious cookies for it, so she tried,” Jennifer said. “When we started training with our current instructors in the spring of 2017, Holly was still very unsure of this sport. She wouldn’t even go through a straight 10-foot tunnel! She HATED contact obstacles (specifically the teeter) and weave training proved difficult because she needed constant reward to build confidence.”

When Holly gained confidence and they re-worked her skills on obstacles, they started trialing. “That is when her social butterfly personality took over and we lost many a qualifying run to Holly going to visit ring crew (especially if they were seated by the weave poles). She still struggled with the teeter and it took over a year to get out of Excellent Standard.” They were hitting a QQ stride when the pandemic hit, but once trials started opening up again, they were ready to make the push for MACH.

“We finally achieved our big title on May 21st, 2021 at the Dog Obedience Training Club of Rochester New York (DOTCORNY) agility trial in Webster, NY – our home-town trial surrounded by so many friends. To go from a little dog that wouldn’t even go through a tunnel, to a Masters Agility Champion is just amazing to me. I love my little heeler mix girl more than I can express and I am so blessed to step to the line with her every run.”

Congratulations also to these dogs who have earned their first MACH:

• MACH Ortizian Trailblazer RA MXB MJS XF ACT2 TKN owned by Monika Ortiz of Albuquerque, NM 
• MACH Riley Bryant MXS MJB BCAT TKI owned by Hayley Boyanton of Huntsville, AL
• MACH Annie Way You Want It FDC MXS MJS NF CAX CGCA owned by Christine Nemeth of Eastlake, OH 
• MACH Hi, I’M Ted MXB MJB XF owned by Madelyn Rohde of Rio Rancho, NM 
• MACH Foxpoint Shiloh Bond MXB MJB MXF T2B2 owned by Beth Bond of New Freedom, PA
• MACH Jersey Girl Johnson BN RN MXB MJB NF ACT2 CGC owned by Jodi Johnson of Franklin, PA 
• MACH Abbey Bear Kothur MXB MJB MXF T2B owned by Sri Kothur of Tallahassee, FL 
• MACH Pixie “Eat My Dust” Serafica MXB MJB NF owned by Beverly Serafica of San Jose, CA 
• MACH Ciaran Sinclair MXB MJB T2B SBA SCN SEN TKI owned by Scott Devoe of Harrisonburg, VA 
• MACH Riley Kozell MXB MJS XF T2B TKN owned by Robert Kozell of Wilton Manors, FL 

Preferred Agility Championships (PACH)

Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more PACHs: 

• PACH11 Crosby’s Quinn MXP27 MXPG3 MJP35 MJPS4 PAX11 MFP T2BP7 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chesterfield, VA 
• AGCH MACH15 PACH6 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP14 MXPB2 MJP15 MJPS2 PAX6 MFC TQX T2B9 CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan Patrick York of Evansville, IN
• PACH5 Marcie Newport Thomas RI FDC MXP14 MXPB2 PADP MJP16 MJPS2 PJDP PAX5 MFPS TQXP T2BP6 SCN SBN THDN CGCA TKA owned by Jennifer Thomas of Sheridan, AR 

• PACH4 Chinnici’s Lucia MXP10 MXPC PADP MJP10 MJPC PJDP PAX4 MFPS TQXP T2BP3 owned by Lori Chinnici of Shelby Township, MI 
• MACH PACH3 Berckmans’ Tiger MXG MJS MXP11 MXPC MJP9 MJPG PAX3 XF MFP TQXP T2BP CGC owned by Shirley Berckmans of Miami, FL 
• PACH3 Ellie Ferdinand MXP7 MXPS PADP MJP11 MJPC PJDP PAX3 MFPB TQXP T2BP owned by George Ferdinand of Yelm, WA 
• PACH2 Jamie Rush MXP8 MXPG MJP6 MJPS PAX2 MFP T2BP CGCU owned by Alison Rush of Palos Park, IL 
• MACH PACH2 Pretty Red MXS MJS MXP7 MXPS MJP7 MJPG PAX2 MFB MFPB TQXP T2B2 T2BP2 owned by Bernice Tatum and Patricia Hester of Albuquerque, NM 
• PACH2 Cooper Jaxon MXP7 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX2 owned by Tiffany Roehr of Bradenton, FL 

Congratulations to this dog for earning his first PACH:

PACH Aces High MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX XFP owned by Bert and Debbie Holland of Lake Stevens, WA
Eight-year-old Quincy is a Sheltie mix that Bert and Debbie got from a friend when he was 8 weeks old.

“He was one of 12 ‘oops’ puppies. We went to see the litter, and Quincy was the first one up to the gate to greet us,” Debbie said. “He was our fifth dog, hence the name Quincy. His markings are so striking it is hard to believe he is a mix.

“Quincy is quite the rodent hunter and excels at Barn Hunt trials. He quickly advanced to Master level without a failure.”

But he struggled at first with agility. “He loved the jumps and tunnels and other obstacles but was absolutely terrified of the teeter. He would avoid it at all costs. Both of us and our trainer spent many, many hours helping him to get comfortable with it. It took much practice and many trials before he would do it consistently. Now he cruises through the courses with very little cueing required,” Debbie said.

At the age of 7 Quincy received his PACH on June 25 at a trial in Mount Vernon, WA.

Congratulations also to these dogs on their first PACH titles:

• PACH Nancy And Nellie MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XFP owned by Nancy Heine-Caggiano of Cincinnati, OH 
• PACH My Name Is Lufa MXP3 MXPB MJPB PAX NFP SCN SEN SBN TKN owned by Claire Krigbaum of Boise, ID

COURSING ABILITY TESTS

Coursing Ability Excellent – Congratulations to these dogs for earning their first CAX titles for passing the CAT test 25 times:

What A Pip BN RA CAX FCAT RATN CGC owned by Barbara Visinski of Freehold, NJ
“After the passing of our 14-year old Corgi mix we were looking to adopt another dog to keep our German Pinscher, Ozzie, company,” Barbara said. “We saw the cutest puppy photo of Pip online through Tess K9 Rescue and Adoption in Texas. We were approved and adopted her in May 2018 when she was 5 months old.”

Pip operates at full speed whether playing with Ozzie or patrolling her yard for squirrels and groundhogs. “All the dogs in our household have been trained in multiple companion and performance events. Pip began obedience training immediately, proving to be an intelligent, quick learner. She loved training, especially using the clicker method,” Barbara said.

Showing amazing speed and determination chasing squirrels, Barbara wondered if her high prey drive would work in FastCAT and CAT. “Her first FCAT and CAT trials in May 2019 were successful – Pip loved the chase,” Barbara said. She achieved consistent low- to mid-8 second FastCAT times, earning her FCAT with 29 consecutive Qs in November 2020. She ran 25 straight Qs to earn her CAX, earning the title at Bayshore Companion Dog Club’s trials on June 4.

“We enjoy watching her in CAT – Pip loves trying to outsmart the lure. She is a favorite with all the lure operators. We appreciate all the varied venues AKC provides –Trick Dog, Obedience and Rally, Coursing Ability Tests, and Scent Work. We love watching Pip meet and exceed our expectations in any dog sport we introduce her to.”

Honey Badger Don’T Care RN FDC NAP NJP NFP CAX DCAT ACT2 ACT2J DJ CGCA CGCU TKA VHMA VSWB owned by Kimberly Dickson and Jesse Blanchard of Stanfordville, NY
Kim adopted Badger after she was diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety, and depression to be her companion and as motivation to get out of the house to meet new people.

“In the almost three years since we brought him home, he has truly changed our lives for the better!” she said. “He is my first sports dog and has amazed me with his enthusiasm, work ethic and drive to please. He’s tackled everything I’ve thrown at him with a wagging tail and is always happy to try new activities.”

They compete in a variety of sports: coursing, agility, dock diving, and rally. Badger qualified for the 2021 AKC Rally National Championships with his Novice scores. “We are currently working towards earning more agility titles, his FCAT and Rally Intermediate, and plan to try other new sports including flyball.”

But Badger’s favorite sport is coursing. He earned his CAX on June 6 at the Bayshore Companion Dog Club test and was the 2020 division champion with their club, Hudson Valley Coursing Club. In two days, he made four coursing runs, four FastCAT runs (all around 28mph) and four agility runs (qualifying in three and earning his NJP).

“He’s such a fun, intelligent dog; he loves to work but never misses an opportunity to be goofy and show off his signature zoomies. He has brought so much joy into the lives of everyone that knows him, just by being the wild man he is,” Kimberly said.

Defino’s Jinger CAX FCAT2 CGCA TKP owned by Margie Defino of Waynesboro, PA 

In fall 2014, a friend called Margie about a dog needing to be rehomed due to undesirable behavior. The dog lived in a retirement community where she was frequently getting away from her owner, causing issues among her neighbors. The HOA stepped in and told the owner the dog had to go, so the owner was looking for a rescue to take her. Margie agreed to foster “Happy.”

Happy, now Jinger, was 2 ½ years old at the time. “She was reactive, fearful, and anxious. Within two weeks Jinger decided to adopt me. I couldn’t let her down, so my husband and I decided to adopt her,” Margie said.

“I was fortunate to have a neighbor who is a dog trainer. She watched me struggle with Jinger on a daily basis. She told me she believed Jinger had potential and was very smart, so she encouraged me to take her for basic obedience training. My neighbor also invited me to a Suzanne Clothier seminar. After that first seminar, life for us changed dramatically. I continued to attend Suzanne’s seminars where I learned about relationship centered training. Jinger’s confidence grew along with our relationship.

“We became a team. Jinger first earned her CGC. From there, she earned titles in tricks, obedience, rally, Scent Work, Fast CAT, and CAT. The last two venues are her favorite. Jinger lives to chase the plastic bunnies! In June at 9 years old, Jinger earned her CAX! I couldn’t be prouder of my girl and the amazing dog she has become.”

Multi CAX

Congratulations to these dogs for adding more CAX titles to their names:

• Heart Of Gold CAX2 DCAT SCN SIN SBN CGC TKN owned by Katie Lane of Reston, VA
• Zoey Furiously Happy CAX4 FCAT3 TKN owned by Pam Buswell of Gorham, ME

Fast CAT

AKC ranks the fastest dogs of each breed in Fast CAT. Congratulations to the top five fastest All American Dogs as of Oct. 20:

• Miss Unusual BCAT owned by Erin and Reynald Boyer of Gastonia, NC – average 35.45 MPH
• Yago CAX FCAT CGC TKN owned by Nicole and Bret Barnes of Elizabethtown, KY – average 34.22 MPH
• Mc’s Pancho owned by Crystal McClaran of Cape Coral FL – average 34.01 MPH
• Outrun’s Run And Find Out BCAT owned by Natalie and Jennifer McAllister of Cedar Rapids IA – average 33.74 MPH
• The Whole Shebang BCAT owned by Barbara Mahony of Brooksville, FL – average 33.68 MPH

OBEDIENCE

UDX

Congratulations to this dog for earning the Utility Dog Excellent title:

• Angus The Dog UDX OM1 BN GO owned by Derek Lien of Hawley, MN

UDX2

Congratulations to this dog for adding another Utility Dog Excellent title to her name:

• Jada Mayhem UDX2 PCDX OM2 BN GN RAE3 CGCA TKN owned by Leroy and Mary Gouge of Florissant, MO 

UD

Congratulations to this dog for earning the Utility Dog title:

Fischer Lydie UD PCDX BN GO VER RE TKN owned by Janet Lydie of Fountain Inn, SC

On May 1, Fischer earned her Utility Dog title at the Greenville Kennel Club obedience trial.

This was a long journey that began at the Spartanburg Humane Society where Janet picked Fischer to be her husband’s pet in February 2013. “Fischer came with many issues and her answer to everything was a growl or a scream, a real drama queen. She was never supposed to be an obedience dog, but life changed our plans,” Janet said.
“Fischer’s journey to her UD took more than seven years. She learned most of the exercises easily except out-of-sight stays and down. However, putting things together in the ring was our big problem. Because of stays we were doing Preferred and had our PCDX when the rules changed, and the dream of a Utility title seemed possible if we could just solve the down issue and put it together in the ring.”

They earned two legs in Utility before COVID hit. “As shows resumed, Fischer’s problems reappeared but thanks to my instructors who never gave up on us, training buddies and friends who offered advice and support, seminar presenters, and random strangers, my reluctant obedience partner became Fischer Lydie UD PCDX BN GO VER RE TKN.”

RALLY

Rally Champion (RACH)

RACH Baileys Arms Daytona CD PCD BN RM3 RAE2 CGCA TKN owned by Karen and Andrew Carr of Egg Harbor City, NJ
Karen and Andrew adopted Daytona in 2013 at 8 months of age after seeing a Petfinder photo that captured Karen’s heart.

“He came with a few issues and was shy around men and new places, so we started obedience training. From there we found rally. As this was the first dog I ever trained, we learned together, and I could see how much it helped him to be a better dog.”

Five years ago, the Carrs had a scare when Daytona became very sick and was diagnosed with Addison’s Disease. “Once diagnosed and properly medicated you would never know it, and Daytona was able to continue training,” Karen said.

“We both had a lot to learn; he earned his Advanced title without jumping a jump! Knowing we’d have to fix that to continue, I found an amazing instructor who helped me figure out how to bring out the best in him,” Karen said. “In fall 2018, Daytona earned his first 100 in a Rally Masters class, and the thought of pursuing a RACH first crossed my mind. We spent most of 2019 just training and then away we went! Not only qualifying but earning the High Triple Score awards seven times and High Combined five times during our quest for 20 triple Qs! Beyond anything I could have imagined. Daytona earned his RACH in fine form with three perfect scores for his 20th triple Q. The best part is seeing his transformation into a confident dog who really enjoys this work.”

“I love the AKC Canine Partners Program. What a great opportunity to participate in the different dog sports! Daytona and I look forward to having lots of fun in some other ones too.”

Daytona earned his RACH on April 18 at the Williamsport Dog Training Club in Muncy, PA.

RACH Mavis Gunnels-McCord CDX BN GN RM3 RAE2 MX MXJ MXF T2B CGC TKI owned by Stacey McCord and Susan Gunnels of Little Rock, AR
Mavis is a 9 year-year-old Australian Shepherd/Australian Cattle Dog mix. She finished her RACH on May 22 at the North Arkansas Kennel Club trial.

It was special to finish the RACH here, because it was the location of Mavis’ first Rally trial in 2016. During their rally journey, Mavis always got placements at trials and won many high combines and triples.

Mavis was over a year old when Stacey and Susan adopted her in May 2013. She had already had at least two other homes and did not appear to have spent much time inside. Stacey and Susan started training Mavis in obedience at the Little Rock Dog Training Club to help work through her issues. In 2015, Stacey began competing in agility with Mavis, and Susan competed with her in obedience. Susan was having issues keeping Mavis’ attention and started training Mavis in rally. The first class didn’t go well, and Susan almost quit. “But she is glad that they stayed; Rally helped make them a team and getting the RACH was a fun ride,” Stacey said.

“Mavis has received many comments about her enthusiasm while training and competing in obedience and rally. Sometimes she is a little too enthusiastic; it is amazing how much fun it can be to retrieve a glove or take a jump,” Stacey said. “As long as Mavis is enjoying herself, that is all that matters, because dog sports should be about having fun with your dog. Adopting Mavis was our best life decision.”

RACH Ot’s Underwater Adventure CDX BN GO RM2 RAE2 AX AXJ XF T2B TKP owned by Kat Brown of Landrum, SC 

Eleven-year-old Nemo is a Border Collie-Staffordshire Bull Terrier mix. “He is an amazing teammate, a talented athlete and performer trick dog, easygoing companion and best partner in crime. But most of all, he is a once-in-a-lifetime dog,” Kat said.

“No matter what’s on the agenda, he’s all in, making it possible to successfully compete at high levels in several sports and venues, earning titles in obedience, rally, agility, and Barn Hunt.”

He finished his RACH in June 2021 at the Palmetto Obedience Training Club trial in Simpsonville, SC, after only 11 (solid) trial weekends and with eight High Double Combined and seven High Triple Awards for highest scoring dog in the Rally Advanced/Excellent/Master classes.

Nemo is enjoying semi-retirement with lots of hiking, swimming, tracking and naps in the sun.

RACH Sophie Hardison CDX PCD BN RM3 RAE3 NA OAJ OAP OJP OFP ACT1 THDA CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Lynda Hardison of Arlington, TX

Lynda planned for Sophie to be a therapy dog. She adopted her in 2014 through a college vet tech program where she had been taken in from a shelter.

“She was about a year old and full of energy and excitement,” Lynda said. They started with manners classes and then Lynda “thought a tricks class would be good for therapy dog work. Then rally sounded like fun. Then we started agility to channel her energy. Next, we took up obedience. She definitely likes having jobs to do!”

Sophie became a therapy dog in the fall of 2017, but the pair expanded their competition in all of her sports. In Rally, she has enjoyed training the more difficult signs as they progressed. “Even though we are currently focusing on her Utility skills for obedience, I use lots of the signs in training for variety. We’ve attended two Rally National Championships, and I’d love to go again!” she said.

In addition, Sophie has the AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer title and was in the top 20 in the 2019 Virtual Competition. She competes in agility at the Excellent level and loves that because of the running and jumping.

“Sophie has taken me many places and brought many experiences and friendships I never expected. Occasionally I think of the family that lost or abandoned her and know that their loss is definitely my gain. She is a jewel.”

MACH2 RACH Northbound Fly By Night CDX RM2 RAE4 MXS MJG MJP NF CGCA TKN owned by Samantha Scicchigno of Staten Island, NY

Since she found her way to Samantha in 2008, Marge went from being a frightened shelter dog to being Samantha’s successful Novice A teammate in rally, obedience, and agility. “I am so incredibly lucky to have shared so many years competing with Marge – amassing titles, meeting new friends, and most importantly, making cherished memories,” Samantha said. “At age 14, she more than deserves her retirement from major competition, which she will spend as a beloved hiking companion and Scent Work partner – her favorite sport.”

Marge earned her Rally Championship at First Dog Training Club of Northern New Jersey’s trials on July 10.

Congratulations also to this dog for earning the RACH:

CT RACH H.E.L.P.Er. VCD1 BN RM2 RAE2 FDC MX MXJ MJB OF SWA SHDN CGCA TKP ATT owned by Alyson L. Deines-Schartz and Tim J. Schartz of San Diego, CA 

SCENT WORK

SWD – Scent Work Detective
The Scent Work Detective (SWD) title will be granted when 10 qualifying scores are earned in the Scent Work Detective class. The Detective Class offers an integrated search environment with an unknown number of hides in a variety of elements. The intent of the Detective Class is to emulate as closely as possible the work of a true detection dog. The Detective Class is open to dogs who have acquired at least one Master title within the Odor Search Division (SCM, SIM, SEM, or SBM)

Congratulations to this dog for earning the SWD:

Skildum’s Porter SWD SWM SCME SIME SEME TKI owned by Patricia Skildum of Shoreview, MN

Porter earned the Scent Work Detective title on May 2 at the Northstar Rottweiler Club of Minnesota trial.

“I started dabbling in scent work with Porter at home when he was about 5 months old. He seemed to be a natural and having a blast playing the game,” Patricia said. “I entered Porter in his first AKC Scent Work trial when he was almost 10 months old. That weekend he earned his Novice Titles in the Containers, Interior and Exterior elements AND earned High in Trial (HIT) both days. We were hooked!

“Porter is a hardworking, very honest dog with lots of energy who loves the game of scent work, taking long hikes, playing Frisbee and napping in the evening on the couch,” she said. “I look forward to spending many more years with my awesome partner.”

SWM – Scent Work Master 

Wookiee’s Favorite Things RE SWM SHDM owned by Rachel Sutton of Boring, OR
Wookiee is a 10-year-old Golden Retriever/Labrador Retriever cross that Rachel raised from puppyhood for a non-profit assistance dog organization.

“She was too energetic and overly social to be a service dog (I call her my party girl.), so I adopted her when she had a ‘change of career’ and was released from their program,” Rachel said. “Wookiee loves everyone, especially children, and is a therapy dog. She has brought joy to countless people, and her favorite therapy job is at a week-long camp for kids with cancer.”

Wookiee loves training and brings enthusiasm to everything she does. She has competed in agility, scent work, tricks, and rally. The pair started competing in AKC Scent Work in May 2018 when she was 7 years old. She earned her Scent Work Master title in May 2021 at the Pacific NW Scent Work Club’s trial in Keizer, OR, just a few days before her 10th birthday.

She also earned her Master Handler Discrimination title in August 2021 and is half-way to the Detective title. One of her favorite tricks is “Hug” (initially she learned to “hug” a teddy bear for her therapy visits), and she always wants to “hug” the ribbons that she earns.

Kuniko’s Watch Your Six RI CA FCAT ACT1 ACT1J SWNE SWM SHDN RATN CGC TKA BN-V owned by Lori Janice Durfor of Marysville, CA 

Lori got Safari when she was just 8 weeks old. Her mother was a Miniature American Shepherd, and her sire was a Decker Terrier.

Lori’s first intention was to train her as an agility dog but found that Safari was interested in many other things. She has competed in many Companion and Performance events.

They began scent work training in 2017, and their first competition was in May 2018. Safari earned her SWM at Big Dream Train Center in Lodi, CA, on May 22. They are now trying for Scent Work Master Elite and working in Scent Work Detective with one qualifying score to date. Lori hopes that they will be adding some agility titles soon.

Lily Grace IV NAP NJP NFP ACT2 SWNE SWM SCME TKP owned by Kim S. Colella of New Castle, PA
Eight-year-old Lily became a therapy dog after completing her obedience classes and loves visiting and doing tricks for the staff and students at her local elementary school. She also enjoys her agility classes, but her favorite thing to do is scent work.

“As soon as the long line comes out, she is ready to go to work. Lily earned her first AKC scent title in 2019, and we were hooked,” Kim said.

Lily earned her Scent Work Master Interior Title on Aug. 8 at the Columbus All Breed Training Scent Trial, completing her Scent Work Master Title. Lily earned her Master Container Elite Title on May 1, and the pair looks forward to completing her other Master Elite Titles and giving Detective a try.

“We have met some wonderful dog and handler teams in our travels training and trialing in scent work. I am very thankful for my special girl and look forward to continuing this adventure with her.

 

Sir Bindi FDC BCAT SWM SCME SEME SBNE SHDN CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Sharee Cohen Newman of Omaha, NE 

Bindi is the first dog Sharee has ever trained and trialed with. “He has many titles and certificates including all levels of Canine Good Citizen titles from the basic CGC to Community Canine,” she said.

“Bindi’s first love is Scent Work. He earned the Scent Work Master Title (SWM) on July 18 through the Nebraska Kennel Club. The trial venue was at Iowa Western Community College, which was a real-life setting. It was fun to work in natural environments. Currently, Bindi is working on Master Elite Element Titles. He will continue sniffing and seeking source!”

Congratulations also to these All American Dogs who have earned the Scent Work Master title:

• Bfd’s Josie SWM RATM TKA owned by Heidi Dulac of Plantsville, CT
• Casey Sox OAP OJP SWM SHDM TKA owned by Diane Sox of La Canada, CA
• Mister Detroit CD PCD BN RI ACT1 SWM SHDN THD CGCA TKI SWM owned by Theresa and Roger Finken of Indianola, IA
• Rajah Roo SWM owned by John and Marie Ziebell of Appleton, WI

TRACKING

TD

• Knight’s Louis TD owned by Marajka Knight of Amherst, NH

TRICK DOG

TKE (Trick Dog Elite Performer)

Palm Sundays Finest Dinghy SIN DS DN CGC TKE VHMA owned by Sienna Bell of Laurel, MT
Bonnie is a 4-year-old Labrador/Chesapeake Bay Retriever mix from Montana. “I got her from a co-worker and at the time swore I wasn’t leaving with a puppy,” Sienna said. “She has been one of the best choices I have ever made.”

Sienna and Bonnie have tried nearly every sport available to them in their area and are always looking to add more. “She loves any game or sport that also includes food, which is why she loves scent work and tricks as much as she does.”

Bonnie’s trick career started slow, but during summer of 2021 Sienna decided to get the performer title and signed up for tricks class. After the second class they had powered through all their goals so made the choice to push for Elite Performer. “Looking back, I am so happy we did and pushed ourselves both to work better as a team and to try tricks I normally wouldn’t have taught.

‘Bonnie is the best teammate and goes along with any crazy idea I have. I am excited for her sport future and working toward being the strongest team we can be and enjoying the time we have together,” Sienna said.

They tested at Dragorra Training Center and got their TKE title on May 19.

Viva La Vida Wainwright TKE VHMA VHMP owned by Fred, Milica, Natalie, and Sophia Wainwright of Hanover, NH

Vida is a 1-year old Poodle mix and Natalie is her 14-year-old junior handler. The Wainwright family got Vida last year after years of Natalie asking for a dog.

“It just happened to be the right time for our family, and Vida came into our lives!” Natalie said.

“She has always been extremely smart and active, so during the COVID lockdown I started teaching her tricks and obedience. We both really enjoyed it,” Natalie said.

Vida soon got her first two titles, VHMP and VHMA, and then progressed from Trick Dog Novice to Trick Dog Elite Performer in a few months. She earned the TKE title virtually on May 9.

“After the lockdown ended, I took Vida to an agility class, and she absolutely loved it! She will make her debut in AKC Agility trials this fall. I also entered her in some FastCAT trials and now she is one run away from earning her BCAT. Vida and I have had so much fun with dog sports over the past few months. I am eager to see what the future holds for Vida!”

Buddy Brucks FDC AXP OJP CGC TKE owned by Kay and Gary Brucks of Anaheim, CA
“It was a dark and stormy Friday the 13th when we adopted Buddy and what a lucky day!” Kay said. “It took the 5-month-old little guy a week or so to recover from an illness he picked up in the shelter, but then his larger-than-life personality began to emerge. With a spring in his step, a bounce in his run, and a tail in perpetual motion he doesn’t know a stranger. He puts smiles on faces everywhere he goes and is a natural at therapy work.
“Buddy loves to learn and brought home the trophy in his obedience classes right before earning his CGC. When he was old enough for agility classes, he became addicted and was competing at the Masters level when COVID happened.” Since then, Buddy has acquired his Farm Dog certification and on May 18 ,earned his TKE at K9iQ Dog Sports in Yorba Linda CA.

“It was so much fun and the things he learned while earning that title continue to be useful in the most surprising ways. Buddy is now enjoying rally classes and scent work so stay tuned… he’s only 9 ½ !”

Jackman Bakshi RI CGC TKE owned by Diana and Jeffrey Bakshi of Woodmere, NY 

Jackman is a 3-year-old Australian Shepherd who joined the Bakshi family as an 8-week-old puppy. Diana soon learned he was a breed known for intelligence and athleticism and that if she wanted to have a well-behaved dog, training was a must. They started working with a positive reinforcement trainer and have never looked back.

“We took classes, private lessons and practiced in between. Jackman has a wonderful work ethic. He just loves to try new things. It was fun to train him, and he is always up for a new adventure,” Diana said.

“We have worked and achieved so much. Jackman earned the AKC CGC and CGCA titles, all the Trick Dog titles, Novice through Elite levels. He is also a Therapy Dogs International therapy dog and competes in AKC Rally. Jackman and his handler/trainer Linda Keehn of Positive Canine Training have earned Novice and Intermediate Rally titles, and we are moving straight to advanced.”

Jackman received his Trick Dog Elite Performer title in Woodmere, NY, in March.

Javi CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Arlene Libby of Johnstown, CO

Three-year-old Javi is a 10-pound Chihuahua/Pekingese/Collie mix. He lost his right hindlimb after a severe injury in a car accident.

“He was relinquished by his owners to be euthanized, but a generous veterinary technician took him on as he was wagging his tail and super-sweet even in pain. As we are known champions of Chihuahuas in the community, he eventually made his way to our home. His collar is Captain America themed because he is a little guy who has become a champion,” Arlene said.

“He is the canine light of my life. His expressive face and fun mannerisms make me smile every day. I have never trained tricks before, and honestly, I have little experience training dogs, period. But it became clear early in our courses such as AKC Canine Good Citizen that Javi loved to work. I did some research online and used what I had learned in other courses to begin training him with the goal of reaching the AKC Elite Performer status which we achieved on June 18 in Johnstown, CO.

“He knows more than 75 tricks and loves nothing more than to perform for an audience. He is our built-in party entertainment, and he is being considered for a commercial,” Arlene added.

Tricks are a big part of Javi’s appeal as a certified therapy dog. “We are grateful to AKC for sponsoring this program and we look forward to continued progress in our overarching goal of improving lives for humans and canines in our community,” Arlene said.

Sir William Of Ledger TKE owned by Tammy Haas of Jamestown, NY

Three-year-old Ledger was adopted from the Chautauqua County Humane Society as a puppy. “There were six pups in his litter, but when I went to look at them, all the others ignored me. Ledger crawled into my lap and fell asleep. I like to say he picked me,” Tammy said.

“For the final session of our first obedience class we had to perform a trick and we’ve been hooked ever since! Tricks has been a great way for us to relax, play and strengthen the bond we have. Trick training has made us a team and Ledger’s intelligence and enthusiasm continue to amaze me.”

Ledger earned his TKE on June 25 at Bemus Point Elementary School where he performed for Tammy’s fourth grade students.

Tricks led us to agility about a year ago, and Tammy hopes to earn some titles in the future. They have also had fun with FastCAT. “Together we’ve been able to do more than I ever thought possible, and we’re so honored to be included here!”

Cookie Marie Chambers THD CGC TKE owned by Jill and Barry Chambers of Spotswood, NJ 

Cookie joined the Chambers family when she was 3 months old. She was born in February 2016, and Jill and Barry found her at a rescue in Trenton, NJ.

Jill was looking for a companion to mountain bike, hike, and camp with. She had owned an Australian Cattle dog in the past and knew that she wanted another one.

“It took us six months to find her, but when we did, she was an answer to a prayer! I started training her in obedience right away and was amazed at how quickly she learned. She seemed to be at her happiest when we were training together. Besides training her to be a Canine Good Citizen, we were training her to be a mountain biking dog and a good trail dog. We knew she had to be well mannered to have the active lifestyle we wanted to have with her,” Jill said.

“She showed us right away that she loves people and wants to say hello to everyone. She looks in your face and leans into you and you know she really likes you. I thought she would make a great therapy dog. So, we pursued that as well.” Cookie is registered with the therapy dog group Canines for Christ.

“I started trick training with her, not only to find new ways to keep her mentally and physically active, but just because it was so much fun for us both. Cookie really loves learning tricks and then performing! I felt that as a therapy dog, being trick trained was a plus as she can entertain a bit too. She has made some visits to schools and is always a hit.”

Cookie earned her Trick Dog Elite Performer title in August.

Jaydon Sanchez CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Natalie and Dennis Sanchez of Sierra Vista, AZ

Jaydon, 3 ½ years old, is a real-life superhero. He is a highly trained medical assist and allergen detection service dog who has saved his handler’s life multiple times.

He is trained to retrieve EpiPens and other emergency medications in response to his handler’s medical condition: Idiopathic Anaphylaxis (unknown cause for anaphylaxis) and tree nut allergies that cause anaphylaxis. Jaydon can now detect and alert on the early onset of an anaphylactic reaction before his handler is even aware of any symptoms. He will even summon help from other household members.

Jaydon was trained by Natalie for his work as a service dog and allergen detection. They attended a six-week odor detection training program to test his reliability in tree nut detection, and Jaydon is certified to detect eight different tree nuts that Natalie is allergic to.

Training has been centered around play and through the achievement of AKC titles. “Jaydon began AKC STAR Puppy training at 8 weeks old and earned the esteemed title of Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE) on Aug. 13, performing a fun-filled skit at home. Jaydon loves putting on a show in public and will often perform tricks to get smiles and praise, especially from kids,” Natalie said.

The pair has set sights on AKC titles in obedience and possibly agility. “Jaydon knows a trained dog is a happy dog, especially when you keep the training fun by earning AKC titles,” Natalie said.

Logan Mmxviii CGCA TKE VHMA owned by Katherine Bednarz and Eric Mendez of Lockport, NY
“Logan is our 3-year old modern-day Scooby-Doo,” Katie said. “He’s a goofy Cane Corso/German Shepherd mix with a heart of gold. When we brought Logan home at 8 weeks old, we knew he would have endless energy and would need an outlet.”

Their first step to training was tricks. By the time he was a year old, he had earned his Intermediate Trick Dog title. “We fell head over heels with stunts and tricks. His favorites are dog catches, back stalls, leg weaves, and backing up. Logan is an amazing example of how size is no limit in trick training. It’s an accessible sport that anyone can do with their dog, big or small!”

Logan has competed in Barn Hunt and Fast CAT. “Don’t let his size fool you. Logan is a speed demon and loves Fast CAT!” Katie said. He has also taken agility, rally, and obedience classes.

“He will hopefully move forward with Farm Dog certified testing and his CGCU. He truly is a versatile dog and has taught us so much about competing and training.” He earned the TKE on Aug. 2.

Congratulations also to these dogs for earning TKE titles:

• Willow Pillow Woo Woo Shue TKE owned by Jamie Lee Shue and Kerrie Shue Denton, TX
• Zorro Vom Logan Haus RN CGC TKE owned by Breina Polk of Augusta, NJ