At age 16, Jada Sawhney from Punta Gorda, Florida, is already an accomplished dog sports competitor and Junior Handler. She recently competed with her dogs in the 2023 AKC Agility Premier Cup, held July 8 at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Jada participated with her 5-year-old Golden Retriever, “Talle,” and two Border Collies, 3-year-old “Zula” and 4-year-old “Smudge.”
Falling For Agility
Sawhney started training dogs when she was just five years old. As a young handler, she excelled in Agility, Obedience, Junior Showmanship, and AKC Rally. She earned a Junior Versatility Award in 2019, which recognizes juniors who participate in at least three dog sports.
After taking part in her first agility competition at age 11, she didn’t slow down. When she finished the Rally Championship (RACH) title with her Golden Retriever, “Bentlee,” Sawhney shifted her training focus from multiple sports to agility. “I’ve been hooked on the sport ever since, and have completely fallen in love with it,” she says. “I find it very fun but challenging to balance speed and accuracy on a fast-paced course.”
Physical and Mental Focuses for Training
Sawhney loves the unique relationships she builds by competing with her dogs and the technical aspects of helping them excel. “My favorite part of it all is the training that goes into it behind the scenes. I enjoy teaching verbal cues, obstacle skills, and independence on the course with my dogs.”
To help her dogs stay in top form, Sawhney trains multiple times a week at agility courses and at home. She also competes at shows on weekends. “[I work] to train new verbal cues, practice my handling, and proof my foundations, among so many other things,” she says. Before competitions, Sawhney makes sure her canine athletes are in the best physical condition possible. “This includes strength training, swimming, walks, and flexibility exercises,” she says. She adds that rest days are just as essential for her dogs.
Going International With Dog Sports
Sawhney has taken her talents abroad in the past, and she’s going again this year. She is a member of the 2023 AKC Junior Open Agility World Team (with Zula and Smudge) and the AKC European Open Agility Team (with Smudge). “Last year, I competed in Finland with my dogs, and it was an amazing experience. Agility in Europe is very thrilling, with the fun courses and amazing atmosphere. It’s very exciting to see such high-caliber agility on the world stage,” she says. “I am very excited to travel overseas to England and Denmark in July to represent the USA at the Junior Open Agility World Championships and European Open.”
The 2023 Junior Open Agility World Championship (JOAWC) took place in Southam, United Kingdom between July 12 and 16. The AKC European Open is set to take place between July 20 and 23 in Hoersholm, Denmark. While crisscrossing the globe to compete, Sawhney also competes at local trials to qualify her dogs for next year’s world team tryouts and the 2024 AKC National Agility Championship.
Prepping For the AKC Agility Premier Cup
Going into the AKC Agility Premier Cup, Sawhney tailors her strategies for each individual dog. “When analyzing and making my handling plan for each course, I take into account what they struggle with so I can support them more in those areas. I trust them in the skills where I know they will shine!”
She also considers each canine competitor’s personality. “Tallee is my second agility dog, and he has taught me so much about the world of agility. Zula and Smudge are cousins who are both super-fast and driven.” And, as driven as her dogs are in the agility ring, they’re all full of love when they’re not running agility.
Besides prepping her dogs for big competitions, Sawhney also makes sure she herself is ready. Sawhney is one of the few Juniors who qualified and is competing in the AKC Agility Premier Cup. She says that she likes to prepare by studying the judges’ courses, taking note of their courses and skill trends. “I also like to work on my mental game so I’m at my best while navigating through such high-pressure events. This is all along with my regular routine that includes courses, skill training, and fitness.”