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If you love watching dog athletes run, jump, and weave through complicated courses, you’ll want to tune in to the AKC Agility Invitational! The top five agility dogs in each breed will be competing in this agility competition as part of the AKC National Championship week in Orlando, FL. The Invitational will take place at the Orlando County Convention Center on Saturday, December 16, and Sunday, December 17.
The 2023 AKC Agility Invitational will be premiering on ESPN2 on Christmas Eve. Tune in to your local provider, or on the ESPN2 app to catch all the action!
How to Watch the AKC Agility Invitational
The 2023 AKC Agility Invitational is one of many events at the AKC National Championship week. Aside from the main event, the crowing of the new Best in Show Champion at the AKC National Championship, competitions like the AKC Agility Invitational, AKC Obedience Classic, the National Owner-Handled Series Finals, junior competitions, and AKC Fast CAT are also taking place in Orlando.
You can tune in to watch the AKC Agility Invitational on Sunday, December 24 on ESPN2. The Invitational will premiere at 9p.m. and go until 11p.m. ET.
If you miss the premiere, you can tune in to watch it again on Sunday, December 31 on ESPN as well. The second airing of the show will also be from 9p.m. to 11p.m. ET.
If you want to see all the action as it’s happening, AKC.tv will also be streaming the events of the weekend.
Getting Involved in Agility
If you like what you’re seeing at the AKC Agility Invitational, you can get involved too! Both purebred and mixed-breed dogs can compete in agility, so anyone can get started with their dogs.
No matter their age or skill set, dogs work together closely with their handlers to see who has the fastest run with the least faults on obstacles. If you have a strong bond with your dog, they love to run and are eager-to-please, this could be the perfect sport for you!
Get started in agility basics at home by practicing things like dog agility jumps, weave poles, and more. Courses typically have between 14-20 obstacles, so start small and build your way up. In the sport of agility, your dog is relying on your cues to know where to go. Making sure that you have a good bond and strong teamwork skills will make the sport enjoyable, regardless of you or your dog’s skill level.
The AKC National Championship is right around the corner, and you don’t want to miss the action! Tune in to ABC on December 31 at 2 p.m. ET to see who’s crowned Best in Show.
Did you miss last year’s show? You can watch the 2022 AKC National Championship Presented by Royal Canin on demand on AKC.tv!