The top dogs in the nation were crowned from an overall combined entry of 217 dogs this past weekend at the 10th AKC® Obedience Classic. Competitions were held December 16-17, 2023 in conjunction with the AKC® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. The 12th AKC® Obedience & Rally Junior Showcase was also held December 16-17, 2023.
The winners:
AKC Obedience Classic
Four obedience dogs and their owners – one dog/handler team in each of the four classes – were crowned at the AKC Obedience Classic, which brought together 217 dogs from across the country.
Placing first in their class (Novice/Preferred Novice, Open/Preferred Open, Utility/Preferred Utility and Masters/Preferred Masters respectively) were:
- Novice: Topbrass The Show Must Go On CD RN, a Golden Retriever known as “Encore,” owned by Annette Sizemore of Greer, South Carolina.
- Open: Norwood’s Can Ewe Keep Up CDX RM RAE HSAd HSBd AX OAJ XF TKN, a Border Collie known as “Hype,” owned by Emily Scott of St. Louis, Missouri.
- Utility: High Times Stir’N The Pot UD SH, a Golden Retriever known as “Simmer,” owned by Robin Fargus of Brecksville, Ohio.
- Masters: RNC TC OTCH12 AGCH MACH5 PACH RACH Norwood Color Me Zayne UDX13 OGM RM4 RAE3 HSAd HSBd HXAd HXBd MXC PDS MJC PJS MJPB PAX MFG TZX T2B5, a Border Collie known as “Zayne,” owned by Kim Berkley of Caseyville, Illinois.
AKC Obedience & Rally Junior Showcase
The AKC Obedience & Rally Junior Showcase had junior handlers competing in Obedience and/or AKC Rally®. In Obedience, Junior handlers competed in classes based on their dog’s AKC Obedience accomplishments. Placing first in their class were:
Junior Obedience Showcase – Saturday
- Beginner Novice B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Carbon Chrome’s Black Dawn BN RI FDC DCATE ACT2J CGC TKN FITB (Maya), an All American Dog of Florida.
- Beginner Novice A: Gemma Eldridge, and Flawlessly Rising From The Ashes CGC TKN (Phoenix), a Miniature American Shepherd of Florida.
- Preferred Novice: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an All American Dog of Florida.
- Novice A: GraceLynne Destree, and Victor Roo Bear BN CGC (Victor), a Chihuahua of Wisconsin.
- Novice B: Hayden Brown, and Okie’s Onyx And Diamonds MX MXJ XF (Onyx), a Shetland Sheepdog of Kansas.
- Open B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Southpaw’s Ottercreek Fiedling Fab UD (Vogie), a Weimaraner of Virginia.
- Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes: Hayden Brown, and Okie’s Onyx And Diamonds MX MXJ XF (Onyx), a Shetland Sheepdog of Kansas.
- Highest Combined Score in the Open B and Utility, Regular Classes: Calista Sophia McKee, and Southpaw’s Ottercreek Fiedling Fab UD (Vogie), a Weimaraner of Florida.
- Highest Scoring Dog in the Preferred Classes: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an All American Dog.
Junior Obedience Showcase – Sunday
- Beginner Novice A: Gemma Eldridge, and Flawlessly Rising From The Ashes CGC TKN (Phoenix), a Miniature American Shepherd of Florida.
- Beginner Novice B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Jbk Fearless Frankie FDC FCAT FITB (Frankie), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Novice A: Kenzy Buls, and Lexi II CD RI FDC CGC TKI ATT (Lexi), a Miniature American Shepherd of Washington.
- Novice B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Skye Skye CD BN RA FDC BCAT ACT2J CGCA CGCU TKI ATT FITB (Skye), an American Dog of Florida.
- Highest Scoring Dog in the Regular Classes: Calista Sophia McKee, and Skye Skye CD BN RA FDC BCAT ACT2J CGCA CGCU TKI ATT FITB (Skye), a All American Dog of Florida.
In AKC Rally®, junior handlers competed in Rally Novice, Rally Intermediate, Rally Advanced, Rally Excellent, and/or Rally Master based on the dog’s AKC Rally® accomplishments.
Placing first in their class were:
Junior Rally Showcase – Saturday
- Rally Novice A: Katryna Smith, and Crusader’s Frozen Attraction CGC TKN (Barbie), a Rhodesian Ridgeback of Michigan.
- Rally Novice B: Mia Federico, and Tbc Dera DCAT (Dera), a Border Collie of Virginia.
- Rally Intermediate: Kenzy Buls, and Lexi II CD RI FDC CGC TKI ATT (Lexi), a Miniature American Shepherd of Washington.
- Rally Advanced A: Cristiana Crespo, and Butterfield’s The Legend of Zelda RN NA NAJ NF CGC TKA (Zelda), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Rally Advanced B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.
- Rally Excellent A: Grace Brown, and Scarlet Fly With The Wind Learn To Swim Later RA BCAT CGCA CGCU TKI (Scarlet), a Golden Retriever of Maryland.
- Rally Excellent B: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an All American Dog of Virginia.
- Rally Master: Calista Sophia McKee, and Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.
- Highest Combined score in Advanced B and Excellent B: Calista Sophia McKee, and CH Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.
- Highest Combined Triple Qualifying Score in Advanced B, Excellent B and Master: Calista Sophia McKee, and CH Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.
Junior Rally Showcase – Sunday
- Rally Novice A: Gemma Eldridge, and Flawlessly Rising From The Ashes CGC TKN (Phoenix), a Miniature American Shepherd of Florida.
- Rally Novice B: Calista Sophia McKee, and Southpaw’s Ottercreek Fiedling Fab UD (Vogie), a Weimaraner of Florida.
- Rally Intermediate: Calista Sophia McKee, and Desert Mountain’s Super Nova BN RI FDC DCAT ACT2J TKN FITB (Nova), a Papillon of Florida.
- Rally Advanced A: Cristiana Crespo, and Butterfield’s The Legend of Zelda RN NA NAJ NF CGC TKA (Zelda), a Border Collie of Florida.
- Rally Advanced B: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an American Dog of Virginia.
- Rally Excellent B: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an American Dog of Virginia.
- Rally Master: Calista Sophia McKee, and Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.
- Highest Combined score in Advanced B and Excellent B: Mia Federico, and Just A Sweet Talker CD RA AX AXJ XF CA DCAT CGC (Mochi), an All American Dog of Virgnia.
- Highest Combined Triple Qualifying Score in Advanced B, Excellent B and Master: Calista Sophia McKee, and CH Desert Mountain’s Beautiful Bo BN RI FDC BCAT ACT1J CGCA TKN ATT FITB (Bo), a Papillon of Florida.