Agility is coming to your screens in a new format! The inaugural AKC Agility Teams Challenge will premier on Saturday, July 25, at 12pm ET on ESPN2.
The event was held on June 7, 2026, as part of the AKC Celebrates USA 250 event in Philadelphia, PA. Speedy dog-handler teams will join forces from different states to compete in this event. Agility is one of the fastest-growing dog sports in the country—plus, it’s a lot of fun to watch, even on TV.
The Teams Challenge Rundown
This brand new event features teams of dogs and handlers from across the nation competing in agility. Strategy and speed combine to create an exciting bracket-style competition. Teams will compete in unique preliminary rounds, and then go on to face off in head-to-head knockout races. This high-stakes twist on agility competitions is unlike anything you’ve ever seen before!
How to Watch the AKC Agility Team Challenge
You can watch the AKC Agility Team Challenge on your screens at home! The AKC Agility Team Challenge will premier on Sunday, July 25 at 12pm ET on ESPN2. Sign in on any device and check out the action in this new format.
How Does Agility Work?
Agility requires athleticism, concentration, training, and, most of all, teamwork for the dog-human team. The handler directs the dog through a predetermined pattern of obstacles, including jumps, tunnels, and weave poles, while racing against the clock. They must complete the course as perfectly as possible within a specific amount of time—meaning no skips or misses on obstacles.
Agility is a timed and a fault sport, meaning teams gain or lose points based on several criteria. Each team starts out with 100 points. Points are deducted for every penalty: for example taking an obstacle out of sequence, displacing a panel on a jump, or leaving the pause table too soon. Teams also lose points if they exceed the time set for running the course. But you don’t have to memorize all of the rules to enjoy watching the fast-paced sport.