All Americans in AKC Agility League
Congratulations to all All Americans who competed in the pilot season of the AKC Agility League, which ran May 30 – Aug. 21. Numerous Canine Partners members placed high in the rankings and won awards in this fun program that brings a team twist to agility. Read on to learn more about League & these rescue dogs who are League winners:
The AKC Agility League allows agility competitors to run locally on their home fields, but compete nationally with teams around the country. Teams of three to eight dogs compete in 12-week seasons, running the same six courses over the time period. The AKC releases rankings for teams and dogs, and season champions are named at the season’s end. For more information, write AgilityLeague@akc.org or visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/akcagilityleague
Meet some top-placing All Americans in the League’s Inaugural season – Cider, Goose, Willy and Turbo!
Registered Name: ACBCR’s Sippin’ Cider In The Sun MXP2 MXPB MJP4 MJPB MFP T2BP TKI
Call Name: Cider
Owner: Norah C. Strebel, Salt Lake City, UT
League Team: Alacrity Herd, sponsored by Versa Dog Sports
Placement: 2nd place, 16-Preferred
After adopting 8-week-old a herding dog mix from Arizona Border Collie Rescue in January 2017, Norah knew that this tiny pup was going to be extraordinary.
Cider, the runt of a litter of nine, immediately let it be known that she wasn’t going to let her small size define her place in the world. Right from the start, Cider loved to learn and within just a few months, she was already showing the speed, drive and joy of the sport that would later define her agility career.
“I sometimes feel like she is the rocket, and I’m just the coyote hanging on for dear life. She pulls me into the ring for every run, then launches off the start line, barking her head off, blasting her way through the course,” Norah said. “She’s an incredible teammate, always gives 110%. She runs with passion and joy and with every blazing run, she pushes me to be a better handler.”
Since moving into Masters in February 2019, Cider has banked more than 1600 PACH speed points. She has placed in the Top 5 on Bad Dog Agility’s Breed Power 10 fastest dogs in AKC agility ranking lists for All American Dog 16” Preferred in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. When she isn’t running agility, Cider chases balls, squirrels, gophers and birds. “She just lives life at full speed, and there is nothing that is going to slow her down.”
When asked to participate in the pilot launch of AKC Agility League, Norah said she didn’t hesitate to sign up.
“Agility welcomes a diverse range of dogs and their people. You don’t have to be the best; you just have to enjoy playing the game with your dog. Any owner can join an agility class to learn the sport,” she said. “The league is giving us an opportunity to enjoy agility is a whole new way. I love watching the novice students participate in the league, knowing that they are the future of the sport.”
Registered name: Wild Goose Chase NA NAJ
Call Name: Goose
Owner: MaryBeth Graham of Lindale, TX
League team: Dawg Pound, sponsored by Tyler Obedience Training Club
Placement: 8th in 12-inch regular
Agility has been the key to bringing rescue dog Goose out of his shell.
“Goose wasn’t much of a people dog and I wanted to do something that would help us bond,” MaryBeth said.
“When we were offered the opportunity to try our luck at agility with trainers Angela Hudson and John Parsons, I was thrilled. Goose took to it right out of the gate and blew us away with how smart he was. We could see how much it helped his confidence in all situations. As we started going to shows and saw his excitement and amount of focus with the blue ribbons that followed, we knew we couldn’t stop and we are now an agility family.”
MaryBeth found Goose has a young dog at a rescue event at Dogtoberfest in Tyler, TX. They were unsure of his age or breed, but MaryBeth believes is now about 5 years old and a DNA test showed Poodle, Dachshund and Chihuahua in his family tree.
MaryBeth is a groomer and often has to work weekends so she said the League has been a great way to get competitive experience on a weekday.
“We are limited in the amount of traveling we can do, which is why we were so excited about joining the agility league and the opportunity to have fun with a show-like atmosphere,” she said. We are so happy to be a part of an encouraging team with awesome partnerships in every pairing.”
Registered Name: MACH Turbo Of Ciw RE MXB MJS MXP MJP MXF T2B DM DS TKA
Call Name: Turbo
Owner: Pam McKinney of Mont Vernon, NH
League team: AK9C All Stars, sponsored by American K9 Country
Placement: 4th in 16-Preferred
Turbo was only 6 weeks old when he and his entire litter were turned into a shelter in North Carolina.
They were transported to a place with more adoption opportunities and arrived at Mary’s Dogs in New Hampshire. It was lucky for Turbo that Pam was fostering for the organization and looking for her next dog.
“Turbo was the perfect fit,” she said.
Turbo began training in agility at about 9 months old and started competing when he was 4 years old. He has traveled the East Coast for competitions. He first competed at the Westminster Kennel Club Master Agility Championship in 2019 and plans to compete there again in 2023.
In addition to agility, he has successfully competed in scent work, rally and dock diving. He is also a certified therapy dog and visits libraries, nursing homes and schools and works with abused children.
“This League has been a great opportunity, allowing us to enjoy running agility on our home turf with other competitors that we would not ordinarily have as teammates,” Pam said. “It has been a lot of fun!”
Registered name: WillyNilly Edwards NAP NFP
Call name: Willy
Owner: Cyndy Edwards of Tyler, TX
League team: Dawg Pound, sponsored by Tyler Obedience Training Club
Placement: 4th in 12-inch Preferred
One day in November 2020, Willy was found roaming the streets of Tyler and taken to a shelter. No one came to claim him.
Cyndy has been searching for her next agility dog since her current dog was getting older and nearing retirement from the sport.
“I visited with him for an hour, put in my application and then started bugging them on the phone until they chose me to be his mom,” she said.
But living with Willy was not nearly has easy as adopting him.
“As soon as I got him home, many behavioral issues became apparent. I have an idea that he may not have been lost; he may have been thrown out of his house,” Cyndy said.
He was super active and leapt around the house like a cat, getting onto and into everything. I nearly had a heart attack when he jumped over an upstairs balcony and went out onto the roof. His flip-flopping around earned him the name WillyNilly.”
Cyndy rushed Willy into classes and training because she could tell he needed a job and quick.
“He proved to be so smart and loved to learn and work. However, his biggest problem appeared in group classes; he was reactive to all dogs and all people. I was so fortunate to have friends through the club that helped me with his reactivity.”
As she worked on his interactions with people and dogs, she started teaching him agility skills. He excelled and soon became so focused on playing the game that he stopped paying attention to other dogs and people.
“Willy loves training but like most of us, exhibits signs of stress at trials. I occasionally see signs of that old reactivity when he may pause to bark at a judge or bar setter,” Cyndy said. “The AKC Agility League has provided such a wonderful and unique environment for us. Like a trial, there are quite a few people and dogs around, and we’re trying to do our best but it feels more like a bunch of friends hanging around in the backyard. I am amazed at how relaxed Willy is on league nights. You can see the doggy smile on his face the whole time. It makes me feel so good to see him happy, knowing how far he’s come in his life.”
I am unable to travel much right now, so we compete in agility in 3 different organizations in order to do as many local trials as possible. It will take us longer to get the big titles but that’s ok with us, we just enjoy every chance we get to play together. Willy’s behavior at home and in public has become nearly flawless and we have developed such a strong bond through our experiences together. We have come to love each other very much.
