2009 AKC National Obedience Invitational

Judges – Christopher "Chris" Cornell

Chris Cornell and his family were introduced to the world of obedience in 1976 when his son’s grandparents gave the boy Queen, a rambunctious English Setter puppy. After attending a couple of beginner classes and getting Queen under some kind of control, Chris became more interested, training intensified, and a new hobby was born. Queen went on to be a lot of fun to work with and, in 1980, became the first English Setter to earn the Obedience Trial Championship title.

Over the years, the Cornells have trained English & Irish Setters, Flat-Coated Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers. Currently, they have an English Setter (Elizabeth), a yellow Lab (Mercedes), Jamie, a Heinz 57 model, and an English Springer Spaniel (Junior). They also foster dogs and these sometimes decide to stay permanently. They have raised two Lab puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Mercedes, the first, came back to live with them, and Benicia, who recently was retired from the organization’s breeding program. Chris showed Mercedes (now 8) in agility.

In 2000, Chris and his wife, Claire, organized a therapy dog club in their community and they visit a number of retirement homes, assisted living and Alzheimer facilities, a local hospital and have a reading program with children at the local library and five elementary schools. Mercedes and Junior are therapy dogs. Chris has been on the Board and is a past president of the Hurricane Ridge Kennel Club, and he currently serves as the Obedience/Rally Chairman.

Chris started judging obedience at AKC shows in 1984. He lived in Phoenix for many years before retiring in 1999 and moving to Sequim, Washington, a small town on the Olympic Peninsula, about 60 miles northwest of Seattle. The family loves it in Sequim; they have an irrigation pond with ducks, geese, coots, hawks and eagles, and a fantastic view of the majestic Olympic Mountain Range. Chris states that they are now confirmed Northwesterners.

Chris would like to offer his congratulations and wish “good luck” to all those invited to this year’s Invitational.