The 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup was held in collaboration with North American Diving Dogs on March 20 in Temecula, CA. Dogs competed in Distance and Air Retrieve, with a winner crowned in each subdivision.
The competition aired on ESPN2, and champions were announced for each discipline. See the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup winners below!
AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup Divisions
Dogs competed in the Distance and Air Retrieve categories to crown winners. Distance was separated into three subdivisions: Distance Lap, Distance Supreme (Open 24+), and Distance Marquee (Open 16′-23’11”). This year, Air Retrieve included three divisions: Lap, Marquee (Open 12′-17′), and Supreme (Open 18+).
In Distance, dogs competed for the farthest jump, which is measured from the end of the dock to the base of the dog’s tail when it breaks water.
In Air Retrieve, each dog tries to jump off the dock and knock a bumper off an apparatus. The bumper is suspended above the water and centered across the width of the dock, at a set distance from the edge. After a successful attempt, the apparatus is moved one foot farther. Each dog has two chances at each distance.
Distance Division – Lap Winners
Winner
Call name: “Electra”
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Handler: Ursula Kinley
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Uncorked”
Breed: Parson Russell Terrier
Handler: Michelle Rocha
Age: 6 years old
Third Place
Call name: “Smidgen”
Breed: Boston Terrier
Handler: Kevin Bottoms
Age: 3 years old
Distance Division – Supreme Winners
Winner
Call name: “Ella”
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Handler: Lacey Craig
Age: 2 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Anise”
Breed: Belgian Malinois
Handler: Rychelle Velasquez
Age: 3 year old
Third Place
Call name: “Griffin”
Breed: Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Handler: Dan Myers
Age: 3 years old
Distance Division – Marquee Winners
Winner
Call name: “Flynn”
Breed: Dalmatian
Handler: Jane Watkins
Age: 6 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Fawkes”
Breed: Border Collie
Handler: Rob LaCalle
Age: 8 years old
Third Place
Call name: “London”
Breed: Cane Corso
Handler: Zoe Lipe
Age: 4 years old
Air Retrieve Division – Lap Winners
Winner
Call name: “Floyd”
Breed: All-American Dog
Handler: Kari Herron
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Bash”
Breed: All-American Dog
Handler: Katelyn Spooner
Age: 6 years old
Third Place
Call name: “Bolt”
Breed: Parson Russell Terrier
Handler: Karen Woods
Age: 6 years old
Air Retrieve Division – Marquee Winners
Winner
Call name: “Ricky Bobby”
Breed: Labrador Retriever
Handler: Shelby Saemann
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Kaiser”
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Handler: Kaitlyn Leasure
Age: 4 years old
Third Place
Call name: “Sawyer”
Breed: German Shepherd Dog
Handler: Brianna Orozco
Age: 4 years old
Air Retrieve Division – Supreme Winners
Winner
Call name: “RyeLee”
Breed: German Shorthaired Pointer
Handler: Donna Hart-Miller
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name: “Fizz”
Breed: All-American Dog
Handler: Sam Mo
Age: 1 year old
Third Place
Call name: “Rysin”
Breed: Dutch Shepherd
Handler: Whitney Lightner
Age: 5 years old
Get Started in Dock Diving
If the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup seems intriguing and you have a dog that loves water, you’re already close to competing.
Like many dog sports, all dogs over 6 months old, including mixed breeds, are eligible to compete in Diving Dogs (except females in season). Titles earned through North America Diving Dogs (NADD) will be recognized by The American Kennel Club. To apply, simply complete the Title Application.
The AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup is airing on ESPN2 on May 3. Tune in at 5 p.m. ET to see these dogs make a splash!