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The Road to Orlando

The AKC Canine Partners program salutes the All American Dogs who have qualified as the tops in their sports. They will compete in agility, obedience, rally, and, for the first time, Fast CAT, from Dec. 11 – 13, in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the AKC/Royal Canin National Championship.

Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center will be the scene of exciting dog sports action from Dec. 11 through 13 with the AKC Agility Invitational, AKC National Obedience Championship, AKC Rally National Championship, and the first-ever AKC Fast CAT Invitational.

The AKC Canine Partners program will be represented by the top All American Dogs in these sports. Be sure to check akc.org for information on live streaming of the events and coverage on AKC.TV.

Inaugural AKC Fast CAT Invitational

Which dog is the fastest in the country? The AKC Fast CAT Invitational will answer that question, as the speediest canines gather for this inaugural, invitation-only event. Fast CAT is a coursing event in which dogs chase a lure for a 100-yard dash. Their time in seconds is calculated into miles per hour. The fastest dogs of each breed are ranked and displayed on the AKC website.

All dogs will run three times, with the cumulative speed determining the fastest dogs. The third and final round will be held on Dec. 11.

Dogs will compete in two final divisions: Fastest Dogs USA and the Speed of the Breed Championship. Fastest Dogs USA will be the outright fastest dog according to miles per hour. Speed of the Breed will be determined by the percentage of speed run over the average speed for that breed.

All American Dog qualifiers were divided into three divisions, according to height, since the breed is so diverse and has dogs of such varying sizes. The Fast CAT height divisions are:

  • Large – 18’’ at the withers and taller
  • Medium – 12’’ to 18’’
  • Small – Under 12’’

The fastest dog in each height for 2019 received an invitation to the championship. If the first-round dogs could not attend, then invites were issued to second and, if needed, third round qualifiers.

Congratulations and good luck to the All American Dogs who will be competing in Orlando:

  • Large division –

Wailin’ Phelan The Bearded Lass CAX FCAT2  owned by Krista Shreet & Ted Koch of Crownsville, MD (ranked #1 – 2019 with an average of 32.55 mph)

  • Medium division –

Missjiff.Gif CA FCAT2 FDCH TKN owned by Maureen Setter of Orange Park, FL (ranked #2 Medium dog – 2019 with an average of 31.33 mph)


Photo credit MLBaer Photography

The top three small dog qualifiers could not attend this year, but we congratulate the number one small All American Dog for 2019:

  • Stormin’ Norman BCAT CGC TKN owned by Elizabeth Piojda of Franklinton, NC (average of 24.06 mph)

We also congratulate the number one medium dog for 2019 (who could not attend the event):

  • Spring Loaded Liberty BCAT owned by Kathy Barzal of Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada (average of 31.96 mph)

AKC Agility Invitational 

Congratulations to the top five All-American Dogs in AKC Agility in Regular competition, plus the number one All-American in the Preferred division.

All six dogs have been invited to the 2020 AKC Agility Invitational based on the rankings taken from Master Agility Championship (MACH) and Preferred Agility Championship (PACH) points from July 1, 2019, to March 8, 2020.

Congrats and good luck to these top-ranked dogs in the AKC Canine Partners program:

  • MACH4 Shani Of Ingleside UD BN RA MXB2 PAD MJG2 PJD MFB TQX T2B3 TKI owned by Valerie Dietz of O Fallon, IL
  • MACH15 Donaldson’s Daisy MXG4 MJS5 OF owned by Laura Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
  • MACH10 Olive Hawkins MXB3 PAD MJG3 PJD MFB TQX T2B7 CGC TKI owned by Stefanie Hawkins of Florence, KY
  • MACH7 Camp David’s On The Verge Of Greatness MXB3 MJS3 MFG TQX T2B3 CGC TKA owned by Rachel Billick of Tarentum, PA
  • MACH4 Mighty Milo Vogel MXC PDS MJB2 PJS OF T2B4 owned by Kathleen Vogel of Bay City, MI
  • AGCH MACH15 PACH2 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX2 MFC TQX T2B8 CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan York of Evansville, IN

AKC National Obedience Championship

The top performing obedience trial dogs in the country will vie for the national championship on Dec. 12 – 13 in Orlando. Invitations were issued to the 2019 top dogs in all breeds by Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH) points; the top three dogs in OTCH points in each breed; and the top four dogs in each regional qualifying event in 2019.

The event was originally scheduled for June in Ohio, but was postponed and rescheduled to these dates.

Congratulations and good luck to the two All American Dogs that qualified and will compete at the event:

  • OTCH7 Lola Sugar and Spice UDX7 PCDX OGM BN GN GO VER RE CAA CGCA CGCU TKA & Kathryn Harvey of Apple Valley, MN
  • Sammi Paisley Rains UD PCDX RN BN RA CGCA CGCU TKN & Connie Alexander of Smyrna, TN

AKC Rally National Championship

Nearly 30 All American Dogs will compete in the annual AKC Rally National Championship on Dec. 11. A champion will be crowned in each class: Championship, Master, Excellent, Advanced, Intermediate and Novice.

To qualify, dogs must have earned at least three qualifying scores of 93 or higher in the same division. Dogs must compete at the highest level for which they qualify at the event., which was originally scheduled for June in Ohio.

Congratulations and Good Luck to these All American Dogs:

Championship Class

  • RACH Ziva D. of Wissota CDX PCDX BN GN RAE8 RM3 THDN FDCH RATN CGC TKP & Rexann Lemke of Chippewa Falls, WI
  • Jack Daniels UD GO RAE3 & Alison Smith of East York, Ontario, Canada
  • Blaze Six CD RM RAE2 & Cassandra Ann Six of Gloucester, VA
  • Mattie Ross CDX BN RM RAE4 AX OAJ XF CA BCAT CGC & Arwen Price of Lexington, KY
  • Lc’s Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper CD RM RAE AX AXJ XF CA BCAT SWN RATO CGCA CGCU TKA & Lindsay Clark of Reddick, FL
  • RACH Daisy Duke CDX PCD BN RM3 RAE3 NJP OFP ACT2 CGCA TKA & Colleen Swierkocki of Wayne, NJ
  • Luke Skywalk CD RM2 RAE NA NAJ CGC TKA & Amanda, Levi & Jonathan Olson of Otsego, MN
  • Renegade’s Crusade CD PCD BN RAE CGCA CGCU TKI & Heidi Lengel of Vallejo, CA
  • Hall’s Odin CDX BN GN RAE AX OAJ XF CGCA TKI& Derek Hall of Mount Airy, MD

Masters Class

  • Ruff-Redemption’s Ulterior Motives RM NA NAJ CA BCAT DN CGCA TKA & Lizzie Colville of Sandy Springs, GA

Excellent Class 

  • Breeding’s Remington RM2 RAE OA OAJ AXP OFP CGCA CGCU TKI & Abigail Breeding of Dumfries, VA
  • Ally CD PCD BN RAE5 BCAT ACT2 SWNE SWA SHDN CGC TKP & Viki Smartt of Knoxville, TN
  • Mischief (Un)Managed RE NA NAJ CA BCAT CGC TKN & Erin Strong of Tallahassee, FL
  • Hedwig RE OA OAJ CGC TKA & Lizzie Colville of Sandy Springs, GA
  • Sophie Hardison CDX PCD BN RM RAE2 NAJ OAP OJP OFP ACT1 THDA CGCA CGCU TKE & Lynda Hardison of Arlington, TX

Advanced Class

  • Carson James BN RA RDC CGC TKI & Ellen James of Ronda, NC
  • Sir Bentley of Bacon BN RE CGC TKN & Regina Head of Huntsville, AL
  • Mr. Buster Brown RE FDC & Jessica Poynter of Montrose, CO
  • Artoo Detoo The Only Hope RE CGCA TKP & Carla Repko & Jacob O’Dell of Annapolis, MD

Intermediate Class

  • Montel’s Serendipity UD RE CAA CGC TKA & Elsie Montalbano of Park Ridge, NJ
  • Grand Millicent Louise BN RI CGC TKI & Cathi Roberts of Jackson, TN
  • Hickey’s Ada BN RI THD CGCA CGCU TKI & Rebecca Hickey of Liberty Twp, OH
  • Enzo Puppucino CD BN RA CGC TKN & Regina Head of Huntsville, AL
  • Obie Dawson BN RA CGC TKP & Taylor Dawson of Glens Falls, NY
  • Rowdy Remington RA CGC & Petra Kela of Clarksville, TN
  • Mini Mabel RI CGC & Alyssa Kela of Clarksville, TN

Novice Class

  • Jkg Girl on Fire BN RN FDC CGCA TKA & Kaitlyn & Jacob Grantner of Irvington, KY
  • Zander RI TKN & Cheri Carbone of Danville, KY
  • Leash Free Living’s Mandatory Party RN CGC TKN & Samantha & Craig Miyamoto of Severn, MD