The American Kennel Club’s Chief Operating Officer John Lyons is pleased to introduce AKC’s new Director of Agility Carrie DeYoung. Formerly the Senior Agility Field Representative, she was promoted on November 2 after 11 years in the department. In her new role she will enhance AKC’s Agility program as well as develop numerous new initiatives. Carrie will also continue to manage the AKC Agility Invitational in Long Beach, California as she has done for the past 4 years.
“Since my very first Agility run and later as an employee in the AKC Agility department, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication our exhibitors have for the sport,” said DeYoung. “I am excited to work both with and for our AKC Agility exhibitors to honor the time they put into training and exhibiting their dogs by developing new initiatives to move our Agility program forward. I look forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming AKC Agility Invitational, the National Agility Championship next year and events across the country, and I welcome comments and suggestions about how we can better serve our exhibitors.”
Andy Hartman will serve as consultant to the American Kennel Club Agility program during the transition stage to Carrie DeYoung. “I congratulate Carrie and wish her well as we work together to advance AKC Agility for the benefit of all our skilled exhibitors, their dogs and clubs,” said Andy.
DeYoung will continue to be the voice for AKC Agility on AKC’s Facebook page posting live results and commentary from the talented exhibitors throughout the AKC Agility Invitational on Dec. 4-5 in Long Beach, CA. We invite and encourage participants to join us on Facebook and Twitter sharing your amazing experiences from this fast-paced fun event.
DeYoung has had a life-long involvement with purebred dogs. She began as a 4-H Member with a Poodle, exhibited many different breeds as a Junior Handler and then started training and competing in Agility 20 years ago. In addition to Agility, she has also finished Conformation championships on her Belgian Tervurens and has trained and competed in Obedience and Herding. Since 2006, as Senior Agility Field Representative, DeYoung has been responsible for supervising judges as well as teaching and approving new judges for the AKC Agility program.
She is the Co-Chairman of the AKC Agility National Championship and the AKC Agility Invitational as well as a former AKC Agility and Junior Showmanship judge. In addition, she has successfully raised three guide dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind and is a member of the American Belgian Tervuren Club, Belgian Tervuren Club of Southern California and the San Fernando Valley 4-H Club. She holds a BS Degree in Business Management from California State University, Northridge. DeYoung lives in California with her two Belgian Tervuren and an All-American dog.