Kori Bevis and ‘Baker’ Win AKC National Obedience Championship for Third Year in a Row

The Roberts Center in Wilmington, Ohio was bustling with obedient dogs on July 20 and 21, with two days of competition in this year’s AKC National Obedience Championship. The event celebrated its 30th competition this year, but that wasn’t the only historic part of the weekend. For the first time in history, a dog and handler team won the competition for a third time — it’s also the first time that the same team won for the third year in a row.

For the 30th anniversary of the event, 136 teams competed over the course of two day, narrowing down to a top 50, and then a top 20, before crowning the top 10 winners. A total of 45 different breeds were represented at the event, with 38 Golden Retrievers, 17 Border Collies, and 9 Labrador Retrievers making up the highest breed numbers. Meet the champion, plus the top 10 obedience teams in the country.

Making Obedience History

The winner of the 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship was Golden Retriever “Baker” NOC OTCH14 High Times Shake ‘N Bake UDX9 OGM SH, handled by Kori Bevis. Bevis lives in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Baker and Bevis also won the 2023 AKC National Obedience Championship, the 2022 AKC National Obedience Championship, as well as this year’s Masters Obedience Championship at Westminster. They’re the only dog-handler team to win at the AKC National Obedience Championship three years in a row, and the only team to win at the competition three times. Bevis has also won in the past with her Labrador Retriever, making her a four-time AKC National Obedience Champion.

“To be the first person to win this three times in a row is amazing. It’s a dream I always had for Baker when he was young, and it’s amazing to be able to do that,” Bevis smiles. “It’s unbelievable. This dog is extraordinary,” she says as Baker beams with excitement beside her. “He’s one in a million.”

Baker, who’s almost 10 years old, had his retirement run at the 2024 National Obedience Championship. His senior status didn’t stop him from going out with a bang and being crowned champion one last time. “He still has a lot of energy, but we want to leave things at the top.”

The 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship Winners

2024 AKC National Obedience Champion

Call Name: Baker

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: NOC OTCH15 High Times Shake ‘N Bake UDX10 OGM SH

Handler: Kori Bevis

Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Score: 517.5

Second Place

Call Name: Kylee

Breed: Shetland Sheepdog

Registered Name: CH OTCH6 MACH2 Aratone’s Royal Keepsake UDX7 OGM VER MXS PAD MJS PJD

Handler: Vicky Gillow

Owner(s): Vicky Gillow, Marie Eguro, Mark Hersman

Hometown: Mebane, North Carolina

Score: 517.0

Third Place

Call Name: Willie

Breed: Australian Shepherd

Registered Name: OTCH4 Blue Skies At Dejavu UDX3 OM6

Handler: Kathleen Keller

Owner(s): Kathleen Keller, Stephen Keller

Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey

Score: 516.5

Fourth Place

Call Name: M

Breed: Labrador Retriever

Registered Name: OTCH3 My Dawg Miss M UDX2 PCDX OM4

Handler: Connie Cleveland-Nolan

Owner(s): Patrick Nolan, Constance Cleveland-Nola

Hometown: Berryville, Virginia

Score: 515.5+

Fifth Place

Call Name: Swift

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: OTCH Surefire Up To Speed OM1

Handler: Mara Wacker

Owner(s): Mara Wacker

Hometown: Stillwater, Minnesota

Score: 515.5

Sixth Place

Call Name: Riot

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: OTCH5 High Times Quiet Riot UDX5 PCD OM8 BN JH

Handler: Janice Curran

Owner(s): Janice Curran, Mark Curran

Hometown: Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania

Score: 514.0+

Seventh Place

Call Name: Zuko

Breed: Border Collie

Registered Name: TC OTCH7 MACH2 RACH Bolser Zuko You’re The One UDX7 OGM RM3 RAE3 HSAd HSBd HXAd HXBd MXS PAD MJS MFB TQX T2B3

Handler: Kim Berkley

Owner(s): Kimberly Berkley, Megan Harrison

Hometown: Caseyville, Illinois

Score: 514.0

Eighth Place

Call Name: Stevie Ray

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: OTCH10 Sunfire’s Pride And Joy UDX8 OGM BN RM RAE AX OAJ NF DS CGC TKA

Handler: Kathy Klein

Owner(s): Kathy Klein

Hometown: Escondido, California

Score: 513.5

Ninth Place

Call Name: Dell

Breed: Border Collie

Registered Name: OTCH5 HC MACH2 RACH Rapideye Wireless Dell UDX6 PCDX OGM VER RM2 RAE2 HSAs HSBs HIBs HXAds MXS MJS MXF TQX T2B2

Handler: Mary Whorton

Owner(s): Mary Whorton

Hometown: Rougemont, North Carolina

Score: 513.0+

Tenth Place

Call Name: Juicy

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: NOC OTCH11 High Times Totally Sauced UDX10 PCD OGM SH

Handler: Sharri Sibert

Owner(s): Sharri Sibert

Hometown: Schoolcraft, Michigan

Score: 513.0

AKC National Obedience Championship Group Winners

The top four dogs of each Group were given awards after Sunday’s competition. Here are the top winners from each group.

Herding Group

Call Name: Willie

Breed: Australian Shepherd

Registered Name: OTCH4 Blue Skies At Dejavu UDX3 OM6

Handler: Kathleen Keller

Owner(s): Kathleen Keller, Stephen Keller

Hometown: Flemington, New Jersey

Score: 738.0

Hound Group

Call Name: Austin

Breed: Whippet

Registered Name: Emerald’s Austin UDX OM2 BN RE NA NAJ CGCA

Handler: Meleta Galles

Owner(s): Meleta Galles

Hometown: Benton Harbor, Michigan

Score: 676.0

Non-Sporting Group

Call Name: Fresca

Breed: Keeshond

Registered Name: OTCH RACH Wyndspell Effervescent UDX OM4 RM2 RAE2

Handler: Marion Crain

Owner(s): Marion Crain

Hometown: Byrnes Mill, Missouri

Score: 721.0

Sporting Group

Call Name: Baker

Breed: Golden Retriever

Registered Name: NOC OTCH15 High Times Shake ‘N Bake UDX10 OGM SH

Handler: Kori Bevis

Owner(s): Kori Bevis, Christopher Bevis

Hometown: Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Score: 739.0

Terrier Group

Call Name: Tanner

Breed: Airedale Terrier

Registered Name: Pipestone’s Fine Tanned Leather UDX PCD OM2 BN VER SHA JHR

Handler: Anita Smits

Owner(s): Anita Smits, Scott Lichy

Hometown: Bloomberg, Minnesota

Score: 667.5

Toy Group

Call Name: Bling

Breed: Chinese Crested

Registered Name: PACH Simply Radiant By Jove UDX PCD OM3 BN RE AX MXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX CA DCAT

Handler: Sherry Bennett

Owner(s): Sherry Bennett

Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa

Score: 718.5

Working Group

Call Name: Sparkle

Breed: Samoyed

Registered Name: PACH4 RACH Wind Chaser’s Twilight Sparkle Over Vegas UDX2 OM1 BN GN GO RM3 RAE3 MXP12 MXPB2 MJP15 MJPS2 PAX4 TQX MFPS TQXP T2BP BCAT

Handler: Debbie Seder

Owner(s): Debbie Seder

Hometown: Sussex, Wisconsin

Score: 706.0

Want to Get Involved in Obedience?

If you’re interested in the AKC National Obedience Championship and want to know how to get started yourself, all you need is five minutes a day with your dog. Getting started in obedience with your dog is an easy way to work on cues that can be utilised in everyday life. Strengthen your bond with your dog by going to an obedience class. Who knows – maybe you’ll be the next team competing at the AKC National Obedience Championship!