We have some big news to report about All-Americans succeeding at earning the top titles and honors in Agility, Coursing Ability, Fast CAT, Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, Tracking, and Trick Dog. Many dogs are also having success in AKC’s Virtual Titling programs!
AGILITY
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs:
- MACH21 Donaldson’s Daisy MXB6 MJC6 OF owned by Laura J. Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
- MACH15 Olive Hawkins MXG4 PDG MJB5 PJG MFS TQX T2B9 CGC TKI owned by Stefanie and Craig Hawkins of Florence, KY
- MACH6 Dixie Belle Black CD BN MXS3 MJB3 XF T2B BCAT TKN owned by Jennifer Sumpter of Algonquin, IL
- MACH5 Sachiko Lawn Dart MXS2 MJS2 XF T2B4 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chesterfield, VA
- AGCH MACH5 Tuckman Of San Francisco MXS2 PDS MJC2 PJS MFC TQX T2B8 owned by Larry Rich of San Francisco, CA
- MACH4 Siegel’s Cali MXB2 MJB2 MXF TQX T2B BCAT DN owned by Lauren Siegl of Dinwiddie, VA
- MACH3 Resq’s Dopamine Rush BN RN MXG PAD MJC PJD MXP MJP MFS TQX MFP T2B3 BCAT SWE SEM ONYX RATS CGCA TKN owned by Rosemary Strasser and Miguel Ordorica of Omaha, NE
- MACH3 Stricklers Hey Mama Rock Me MXG MJB2 SWE SCME SEME SIM TKP owned by Kaydi Jean Grunhovd of Euclid, MN
- MACH2 Abbey Bear Kothur MXS MJG MXF T2B owned by Sri Kothur of Tallahassee, FL
- MACH2 Tobago’s Galla Trace MXG MJS NF TKN owned by Leanne Ksiazek of Westhampton, MA
- MACH2 Jolie IX MXG MJG MFS TQX T2B6 ACT2 CGC TKA owned by Robert E. Goudreau of Ocala, FL
- MACH2 Bax’s Im Scruffy MXG MJC owned by Debra and Steven Bax of Guatay, CA
- NAC MACH2 Quicksilver Cherry On Top MXS PAD MJS PJD XF T2B owned by Angie Benacquisto of Ortonville, MI
Congratulations to these first-time MACHs:
MACH Ann Perkins MXB MJB NF T2B2 CGC owned by Chiaki Ito of Wilmington, NC
“Ann Perkins is my Novice A, rescued-from-the-street dog,” Chiaki said. They took their first agility class in January 2019, and their first trial was in summer 2020. They reached the Master’s level within six months and then took a year off due to COVID. The pair earned their first MACH in Reva, VA, on March 20, 2022. Ann Perkins ran four clean rounds and finished 18th in the 8-inch regular class at the 2022 AKC National Agility Championships in Ocala, FL. She is ranked 10th fastest 8-inch regular All-American Dog on Bad Dog Agility’s Breed Power 10 for 2021. In her free time, Ann Perkins likes to swim in the pool, chase waves at the beach, retrieve tiny tennis balls, and eat snacks.
MACH PACH Teddi Bear II MXB MJS MXPB MJP3 MJPB PJDP PAX MFPB T2BP2 owned by Linda Griffin-Keliher of Belleair, FL
While Linda and Teddi Bear have only been trialing since 2017, Linda is not new to animal training. She has been a volunteer at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the site of the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2, for 13 years on the dive and marine mammal rescue team. She spent seven years as a volunteer on the marine mammal team, helping staff with the dolphins and otters and took many dolphin training classes in Florida and Mexico.
She and Teddi Bear train in agility at Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club and Dog Training Club of St. Petersburg. As Teddi Bear measured at 18.5”, she started at 16” Preferred and earned her PACH on Aug. 14, 2020, at Bratty Paws in Punta Gorda, FL. Believing that Teddi Bear could earn her MACH, Linda started trialing her at 20” starting over at Novice. Teddi Bear received her MACH on March 25, 2022, again at Bratty Paws in Punta Gorda. “Teddi Bear LOVES that location!” Linda said.
“I am so grateful and blessed to have received a MACH and a PACH with Teddi Bear, maybe not in the conventional order but I knew she could jump at 20”. When a new trainer suggested to me that Teddi Bear should jump at 20” she was only a few Double Q’s from a PACH. Little did I realize that I had to start at novice again! Outside of agility, Teddi Bear loves her red ball, chasing squirrels and swimming in the ocean.”
MACH Walliker’s Ellie MXB MJS MFB T2B owned by Paul & Shari Walliker of Galva, IL
Ellie came into the Wallikers’ lives by accident in the summer of 2017.
“My wife stumbled across a photo of Ellie on Petfinder while looking for a photo of a Golden Retriever she had heard about. She showed me a photo of an adorable black dog with one white paw looking back at us from the screen,” Paul said.
He suggested that they go ahead and apply but that they shouldn’t get their hopes up. A month later they were making arrangements to pick Ellie up. Almost as an afterthought, Paul told the woman who ran the rescue that he was going to look into training Ellie for agility. He already had one agility dog, Boomer, who was his Novice A dog closing in on his first MACH. Boomer was also battling lymphoma.
“Ellie took to agility from the beginning. She is an eager learner and loves ‘the game.’ DNA testing revealed that she is a Border Collie mix with some golden and lab thrown in, which must explain her sweet disposition. Since she was my first Novice B dog, I avoided most of the mistakes I had made with Boomer. I didn’t start trialing Ellie until she could navigate a Master’s course, for instance. On the plus side she was out of Novice, Open, and Excellent in a minimum number of runs. The downside was that she was suddenly competing in 20-inch Master’s against well-trained Border Collies.”
At about this time, Boomer lost his battle with lymphoma, leaving the Wallikers devastated. After a break of several months, Paul resumed competing with Ellie. “I honestly don’t know what I would have done without her – answering the age-old question ‘who rescued who?’ She dragged me into the moment and has helped me to focus my mind. She is my constant companion and talks me into a game or two of fetch every day. I am looking forward to more years of mutual love, devotion, and more MACHs, with Ellie.”
MACH Mulberry’s Gogo Jojo MXB MJS MFB T2B BCAT ACT2 CGC TKN owned by Molly Winder of Green Bay, WI
Josie came into Molly’s life a little over a year after she had to say goodbye to her first agility dog. “One look at her picture and I knew she was meant to be mine,” Molly said. “I have learned a lot since training my first agility dog, but Josie provided new challenges for me.” She was faster than Molly’s previous agility dogs; she had to learn how to handle a faster dog and stay connected with her.
“What a willing partner she is. She loves agility and puts a smile on my face even when we don’t qualify. Some of our best runs were NQ’s. This year we attended our first AKC agility nationals. What a fun event to be at with her. My goal was not to fall down and get at least one clean run. I achieved both goals (ended up with two clean runs). Our NQs were because of just one little thing due to handler error,” Molly said.
“When not doing agility, Josie loves going for walks and working on tricks. Josie has her BCAT, but isn’t chasing the bag, she’s just running to me. She is the best little cuddler and loves her people.”
Josie is living up to her name GoGo JoJo by earning her MACH on May 6, 2022, at the Wisconsin Rapids Kennel Club trial.
MACH Fancy Pants Lance Man MXB MJS NF T2B BCAT CGC TKN owned by Dana Ryan & Mike Erlanson of San Diego, CA
Lance was found as a stray in San Diego in January 2016. Multiple neighbors coordinated his rescue, and it took several weeks to corner him in a fenced yard.
“We were finally able to leash him and get him the medical care he needed,” Dana said. “He had a broken jaw, was severely underweight and covered in fleas. After several months of medical care, he was finally healthy.
“He is such a happy boy and is always eager to learn! He excels at all sports and enjoys trail running and scent work. He started agility training in 2018 as our Novice A dog with his big brother Tom and took to it very quickly. It soon became his favorite sport. We love the connection and bond when we are on the course together,” Dana said. “We have accomplished more than we could have ever dreamed of.”
Lance has competed at the AKC National Agility Championship and at Westminster Kennel Club’s Master Agility Championship, turning in qualifying runs at both events. “He gives the sweetest kisses at the start line, and his tail wags all through the course. He has the biggest heart in such a little package.” He earned his MACH at Green Oaks Ranch in Vista, CA, on May 6, 2022.
“We are so appreciative that AKC recognizes Canine Partners and has such amazing opportunities for them to learn new skills and compete along with the registered breeds.”
MACH She Goes Zoomz MXB MJB MXF T2B MACH owned by Gail Hefley of Amarillo, TX
“Zoomz is definitely a great rescue success story!” Gail said. In October 2019, Top of Texas Corgi Rescue received a call from her owners saying that their dog had four hours to find a new home, or she would be taken to the shelter. After much scrambling, Zoomz (then known as Athena) was picked up and officially welcomed into rescue.
Gail, who fostered Zoomz, is one of the directors of the rescue and is active in various dog sports. It was quickly evident that Zoomz was a special dog who had a love of training. It didn’t take long for foster status to turn to beloved family member status.
Zoomz excelled in agility and thrives on training. She qualified for and attended the 2022 AKC National Agility Championship. Even with trials being hard to find in 2021, Zoomz earned her MACH on May 8, 2022, in Lubbock, TX, and has begun to earn QQs towards her MACH2.
A new adventure was right around the corner for this team. Zoomz and Gail decided to give AKC Scent Work a try. After a few months of training, they entered their first trial and went High in Trial.
Gail and Zoomz feel very lucky to have found each other and look forward to their upcoming adventures in agility and scent work. “My best times are when she’s snuggled up next to me demanding a belly rub,” Gail said.
MACH Rye MXB MJC PJD MXF SCN SIN owned by Elizabeth Devore of Ashtabula, OH
Rye is a 6-year-old Beagle/Australian Cattle Dog mix. When Elizabeth met her at the shelter, the adoption counselor told her that Rye probably wouldn’t like agility because she was such a calm puppy. “But from her first class, agility is all Rye has wanted to do,” Elizabeth said.
Rye’s favorite courses are jumpers courses (especially Premier courses), and she earned her Century Jumpers title at the same time she earned her first MACH on May 15, 2022, at the Border Collie Society of America trial at Countryside Agility in Erie, PA. “Rye has been the best Novice A dog a person could ever hope for, and we’re looking forward to many more years of fun together.”
MACH Tuncil’s Murphy MXB MJB XF owned by Barbara & Mike Tuncil of Belleville, IL
After the loss of her Golden Retriever, Barbie wanted a smaller dog companion who was calm and gentle with children since she has numerous great nieces and nephews. “I fell totally in love with Murphy the minute I saw him; his eyes won me over.” She had no plans to compete with him.
Barbie began basic obedience with Murphy when he was 9 months old, and the instructor indicated that Murphy loved to work for her and that she should look into other venues of training.
“I was totally unaware of the various avenues that are available to train a dog in,” Barbie said. “I was lucky that Dog Sports by Kim was recommended. We began training there with Justin Sims and Patty Schneiderjohn, and later with Justin at Freedom Dog Sports. Initially we trained in obedience and agility; however, Murphy’s preference was definitely agility.”
Since she had never trialed before, Barbie was anxious during competition. But Murphy’s consistency was often the key to their success at the trials. During their pursuit of his MACH, Barbie had hip surgery and was unable to compete for three months. But upon returning to competition, Murphy achieved his MACH on May 28, 2022, at the Triune Canine Training and Event Center in Wood River, IL. “This has been an awesome adventure for both of us.”
Congratulations also to these All American Dogs who have earned their first MACH titles:
- MACH Charlotte Of Skyway MXB MJB MXF T2B2 CA MACH owned by Suzanne Loerch of Conway, AR
- MACH Nikita Sacks MXB MJS MXF T2B4 owned by Tanya Sacks & Joe Camp of Vancouver, WA
- MACH Gebhardt’s Haley MXB MJB owned by Daniel Geghardt of Wheeling, IL
- MACH Enchantment’s My Man Friday MXB MJS XF T2B2 owned by Crystal McClernon of Gilbert, AZ
- MACH Reba Of Oberlin MXB MJB XF owned by Michaele Elisabeth Calderone of Youngstown, OH
- MACH Sofia Erickson MXB MJB NF owned by Carla Erickson of Weston, MO
- MACH Moka Douglas MXB MJS MXF T2B2 CGC TKN owned by Margarita R. Douglas of Saint Petersburg, FL
- MACH Lexie Lou Aubin MXB MJB OF T2B CGC owned by Daryl Aubin of Harrisville, RI
- MACH Fiona The Parti Girl MXB MJS owned by Lydia Langley of Lynchburg, VA
- MACH Dobby Gibbs MXB MJB MFB T2B BCAT owned by Deidra Notheis of Sacramento, CA
- MACH Lionridge Sly As A Fox MXB MJB NF owned by Carolyn Ewers of Stafford Springs, CT
Preferred Agility Championships (PACH)
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned additional PACH titles:
- AGCH MACH21 PACH2 Feel The Need MXB6 PDC MJC6 PJC MXP6 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX2 MFB3 TQX MFPS TQXP T2B12 T2BP CGC owned by Janet K. Boggs of Crawfordsville, IN
- AGCH MACH15 PACH9 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP19 MXPG2 MJP21 MJPC2 PAX9 MFC TQX T2B9 DJ CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan Patrick York of Evansville, IN
- PACH13 Crosby’s Quinn MXP32 MXPC3 MJP40 MJPC4 PAX13 MFP T2BP7 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chesterfield, VA
- PACH3 Flying Fruit Bat MXP12 MXPB2 MJP12 MJPC PAX4 NFP T2BP owned by Cathy Lokey of Amarillo, TX
- MACH9 PACH2 Zoe Mia Vogel MXS3 MJB3 MXP6 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX2 OF T2B2 owned by Kathleen Rose Vogel of Bay City, MI
- PACH2 Zema Russian Winter MXP10 MXPC MJP9 MJPG PAX2 MFPB owned by Carol Brucknr Schwick of Hernando, FL
- PACH2 Nancy And Nellie MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX2 XFP owned by Nancy Margaret Heine-Caggiano of Cincinnati, OH
Congratulations to this dog on his first PACH title:
PACH Mister Carter Bonaparte MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX OFP owned by Karina Istvan of Pennsauken, NJ
Carter entered Karina’s life at about 18 months when his prior owner realized a Beagle/terrier mix was not a good apartment dog. It was immediately apparent he needed a job that would burn lots of energy.
Since Carter used the living room furniture as parkour equipment, Karina thought they would give agility a try – once some basic obedience work was done. Karina had never tried any type of dog sport before, but she and Carter instantly fell in love with agility: Carter because of the opportunity to work, climb equipment, and earn treats and Karina because of the amazing bond it built, the welcoming nature of the agility community, and the confidence it gave Carter, who is shy and anxious. A lifelong athlete, Karina finds agility to be “the most humbling and yet most rewarding sport with which I have ever been involved.”
Karina said that “Carter is the perfect agility starter dog. He is honest, responsive, forgiving, consistent, and gives you all he has. Training in agility with him has taught me so much – patience, persistence, and most of all, the sheer joy of you and your dog working and having fun together.”
On March 20, 2022, at the South Jersey Agility Club (SOJAC) trial at Premier Sports Center in Southampton, NJ, Carter earned his PACH, almost five years to the day after starting to compete. Due to Carter’s build, Karina has always run him Preferred, and this was their first major title. The achievement was even more special because Karina is a member of SOJAC and trains at Premier. “So, all our friends, coaches, and members of the agility community who helped us along the way were there to cheer us on and celebrate with us. I am so grateful Carter came into my life and introduced me to this wonderful world of agility – he is just the best!”
Congratulations also to these All American Dogs for earning their first PACHs:
- PACH Vedder’s Tank MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX MFP T2BP TKN owned by Judy Vedder of Shrewsbury, MA
- MACH5 PACH Jeter Morris MXC MJB2 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX OF NFP T2B TKI owned by Kaela Morris of Thousand Oaks, CA
- MACH3 PACH Sheriff Brooks Of Powderhorn MXC MJC MXP3 MXPB MJPB PAX OF T2B2 owned by Patricia & James Evans of Manchester Center, VT
- MACH PACH Paige MXB MJB MXP3 MXPB MJPB PAX MXF TQX MFPB TQXP T2B2 owned by Flora Steffan of Silverlake, OR
COURSING ABILITY TESTS
Coursing Ability Excellent – Congratulations to this dog for earning his first CAX title for passing the CAT test 25 times:
Tucker’s NUPRO Adventures CAX FCAT SCN CGC TKN owned by Janis Gianforte-Horner of Farmingdale, NJ
Janis adopted Tucker in 2019 when he was 3 months old. She thinks he is a mix of Australian Cattle Dog and Bluetick Coonhound. It was her first time to adopt a pet based only on seeing a video, but she had the feeling that he was a good fit, and she was right.
“I used to train harness racehorses and wanted a dog I could do sports with, and he is all that: smart, has lots of energy (I still haven’t tuckered Tucker out) and wants to do and learn new things,” Janis said.
Tucker earned his CAX on May 29, 2022, at the AKC Jersey Shore Cluster shows in Freehold, NJ. “He likes to anticipate/herd the bag, outrun it and cut it off! He certainly challenges the lure operator and folks love to watch him run,” she said.
The next week on June 5, he earned his FCAT Title at East Freehold Park, NJ. “His fastest run is 6.98 seconds. We do scent work classes and have passed two Novice trials; we need one more for our first ribbon.”
Tucker also enjoys dock diving, Barn Hunt, and the pair has started rally and flyball classes at their training club, Bayshore Companion Dog Club.
“Tucker is a fun and willing dog and excels at everything he does – we are so proud of him! He is very much loved and happy, and we hope to earn many more titles and ribbons in the near future.”
Congratulations also to these dogs on their first CAX titles:
- Maximus Dodobird CAX DCAT owned by Monique Fosco & Nick Lock of Rowlett, TX
- Lacy Leigh OA OAJ OF CAX FCAT5 SWN SIA SEA CGC owned by Maria Barton of Belle Haven, VA
- Epona CAX FCAT2 TKN owned by Meg Reidy of Ranger, GA
Congratulations to these dogs for adding more CAX titles to their names:
- Red Rocks God Must’Ve Spent A Lil More Time On You CAX2 owned by Anita Rabidou of Montgomery, AL
- WSC Stone Canyon Jasper RN CAX3 DCAT CGC TKA owned by Jennifer Strubinger of Milton, NH
- Zoey Furiously Happy RA CAX5 FCAT4 CGC TKN owned by Pam Buswell of Gorham, ME
Fast CAT
AKC ranks the fastest dogs of each breed in Fast CAT. Congratulations to the top five fastest All American Dogs! The speed shown is an average of the dog’s three top speeds for the season up to Sept. 9, 2022:
- Saluq’s Athena CA owned by Jo Ann Chase of Chaska, MN – 33.93 MPH
- Inmy Wheel House owned by Juliette Biondi of Chickamauga, GA -33.85 MPH
- Yago FDC CAX FCAT3 CGC TKN owned by Nicole & Bret Barnes of Grovetown, GA – 32.66 MPH
- Bam Of Pennridge DCAT owned by Claudia Young of Clarksville, TN – 32.23 MPH
- Sincity’s Veritaserum CAA FCAT4 DJ TKI owned by Katie Weihbrecht of Iowa City, IA – 32.21 MPH
OBEDIENCE
Utility Dog – UD
Congratulations to this dog for earning the Utility Dog title:
July Jubilee UD GO VER RN CGC owned by Georgia Welch of Pine Bluff, AR
After a two-year layoff due to COVID, July earned her AKC Utility Dog title at Little Rock Arkansas Dog Training Club on May 14, 2022. “July is an Australian Cattle Dog in appearance, a rescue with a fun personality,” Georgia said. “She also has AKC Versatility as well as Rally Novice titles.”
Congratulations also to this dog for earning the UD title:
- Windham Hill’s Ramblin’ Man UD PUTD GO RA SCN SIN THD CGCA TKI ATT owned by Barbara Schwartz of Albuquerque, NM
Utility Dog Excellent – UDX
What A Zinger UDX BN GO RE AX OAJ owned by Dee Pierce of Grants Pass, OR
Eight-year-old Zinger is shown posing with the ribbons he won in May at the Klamath Dog Fanciers Club trials.
“He finally got his UDX title on the last day of the trial, along with High Combined, after working on it for about 3 ½ years!” Dee said. “It has been quite a challenge to obtain the UDX, particularly that elusive 10th leg that was delayed for a year or so by the COVID pandemic.”
They are now working in rally on an RAE title, needing only two more legs. “Zinger would also love to get back to agility at some point, which we put aside for the time being in order to concentrate on the UDX.”
Zinger loves the twice-a-week training classes in advanced obedience and rally. He and Dee enjoy the exercises but also spending time with their canine and human friends in class. When not hard at work practicing in class, Zinger enjoys their daily walks in the park, chasing balls in fetch and playing with toys, particularly fuzzy, stuffed ones. “If only he were always as focused in the ring as he is when he sees a squirrel, a ball, or a toy! Zinger, Jazz (Zinger’s 14-year-old buddy) and I have a blast together.”
Congratulations to these dogs who have added more UDX titles to their names:
- Jada Mayhem UDX3 PCDX OM3 BN GN RAE3 CGCA TKN owned by Leroy and Mary Gouge of Florissant, MO
- Angus The Dog UDX2 OM3 BN GO owned by Derek Lien of Hawley, MN
RALLY
Congratulations to these dogs on earning the RACH title:
RACH Bear Alexander Harris CD BN RM3 RAE2 CGC TKI owned by Kathy Harris of Akron, OH
In 2018, Kathy and her husband adopted Bear and Roxanne, a bonded pair, from Central Ohio Pomeranian Rescue. Bear was 4 years old and spent the first two week hiding under tables and chairs. “He was totally petrified of the world. I knew this was no way for him to live his life,” Kathy said. “Countless hours were spent taking trips to public places, but he was always overwhelmed by each new encounter, terrified to be touched by anyone.”
Kathy knew that they needed more help than she alone could give and feels lucky to have been directed to Papp’s Dog Services. They started with a beginner class, and Bear immediately took to learning and working. “The instructor told us that our ultimate goal was to ‘get him out from underneath the chair.’” By the end of the eight weeks everyone was impressed with Bear’s ability and willingness to learn. They went on to the Novice class, earning the CGC, and on to Rally 1.
After encouragement from instructors Susan Jenkins, Angela Pleat, Jeanne Spellman, and Elizabeth Morstatter, Kathy and Bear entered their first rally trial in November 2018. They earned their RN in three tries.
Bear earned his RACH at Youngstown All Breed Training Club, boasting no NQs and 20 Triple Qs in a row! They needed just two extra Master classes to achieve their 150 points. Through this journey, Bear has been invited to four AKC Rally National Championships, earned a total of nine High in Trials and High Combined, and several more titles. He has even passed his therapy dog test. All this helped him build confidence in new situations and he now actually initiates interaction with people. The team is working on a CDX and training in Utility. “He is truly a remarkable little dog!” Kathy said.
RACH Linus Hanson CD PCD BN RM3 RAE2 NJP ACT1 ACT1J CGCU TKI owned by Tyler & Leah Hanson of Brandon, SD
The Hansons adopted Linus through a rescue when he was about 2 years old. He was the first dog they had together, so they enrolled in a basic obedience class to get their family dog manners down. The family dog classes were a series of three, which ended with Linus’ CGC title. From then, they were hooked on learning more about the dog competition world.
“Linus loved learning new things, so we continued to take classes, eventually joining our local kennel club and taking rally classes – we knew it was the sport for us! It was a sport where I could help to build his confidence in the ring and set goals to work towards along the way,” Leah said.
They stuck to local trials for most of his career until they decided to chase his RACH title and began traveling. Linus completed his RACH at Fargo Moorhead Kennel Club on April 17, 2022, at the age of 9, with 12 High Triple Combined Awards and nine High Combined Awards throughout his career.
“Linus has been a joy to learn the world of dog sports with and has helped me to become a great handler,” Leah said. “He has helped us to welcome two more dogs to our family and they are also enjoying competing and learning.”
RACH Tallulah Poop RM3 RAE2 FDC OA OAJ NF CAA BCAT ACT2 RATCHX2 CZ8G DDB CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Izabelle Soo & Patrick Ogilvie of Waterford, MI
Congratulations also to this dog on earning the RACH:
- RACH Triple Dog Dare Ya CDX RM4 RAE2 AX AXJ OF CAA BCAT TKI owned by Barbara Krynski & Thomas Woepse of Rolling Meadows, IL
Scent Work
Scent Work Master
Norah Shaner RN BCAT SWM SCME CGCA CGCU TKI owned by McKenzie Shaner of Boise, ID
Norah was adopted from a Texas shelter by McKenzie in October 2017. “She was about 1 ½ years old but didn’t appear to have much training or to have experienced much of anything up until that point,” McKenzie said. “While she is often mistaken for a Malinois, her Embark results came back as half German Shepherd Dog and the other half is a super mutt cocktail of at least seven random breeds.”
A couple weeks after McKenzie took her home, she learned that Norah was heartworm positive. During the course of Norah’s treatment, McKenzie took an introductory scent work class with her other dog. She started teaching Norah how to do it too, since it was a safe activity during her six months of crate rest. They started taking in-person classes and competing in scent work in 2019.
They have tried many other sports, “but scent work has become Norah’s favorite because she is very food motivated.” She earned her SWM on March 25, 2022, in Caldwell, ID, after earning the last SEM leg she needed. She has also earned: SCME, RN, CGCA, CGCU, TKI, FDC, and BCAT. “We are working towards her overall SWME and detective titles. Outside of sports, she enjoys hiking, swimming, biking, fetch, and sleeping,” McKenzie said.
Shaniko From The Lakes CD BN RE MXJ MXF CA SWM SCME SEME SHDN RATO CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Monika & Beat Schmid of West Richmond, WA
Shaniko and his siblings were surrendered to a shelter in 2011 and the Schmids adopted him when he was approximately 8 weeks old.
“Right away he fit into our family and was a happy puppy playing with his brothers (dog and cat),” Monika said. “After puppy classes and earning his CGC, he was signed up for obedience and rally classes and competed as well. He had not much patience for it but earned titles in both disciplines.”
He loved agility but when an injury prevented him from competing in it, they started doing Barn Hunt and earned Trick Dog titles. In 2016 they signed up for an introductory class in scent work. “It took us a while to find the groove but now he loves to search, and he loves to find the hides. We finished SWM on April 3, 2022, in McMinnville, OR. Shaniko not only loves to show off his work ethic but is also a snuggler and is happy when he can sleep on our lap. He loves to travel and play fetch at the beach and chew on a good bone.”
Congratulations also go to these dogs for earning the SWM title:
- La’s Ace Of Hearts SWM SCME SHDE owned by Erin Armstrong of Temecula, CA
- Phylo Jackson SWM SCME SEEE owned by Michele Tiller of Hollister, CA
- Bergeon’s Whistle SWM SHDA owned by Christy Bergeon of Houston, TX
- My Doodle Joey SWM CGC TKA owned by Liza Alldredge of Claremont, CA
- Zuccini MXP AJP SWM CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Nicole Holmes of West Fargo, ND
TRACKING
Butler’s Penelope TD owned by Melissa Butler of Centennial, CO
Penelope was a sweet, smooth-faced 6-month-old black lab mix pup when she was adopted by Melissa from Safe Harbor Lab Rescue in Colorado on Memorial Day 2016. She had some separation anxiety issues, so Melissa began working with her on obedience and anxiety management.
“Her bushy beard and eyebrows started coming in and grew into her big fluffy non-lab face,” Melissa said. When Melissa heard about tracking, she thought it might be a good fit for Penelope, who liked using her nose already. With the Denver Foothills Tracking Association and under training from Lynn Kaemmerer, Penelope enjoyed it and built up her skills. She earned her TD on April 3, 2022, at Chatfield State Park. “Next up is to work on achieving a VST.”
“Other traits Penelope has: she’s very affectionate, gentle and interested in making friends with children and adults, is a good watch dog, points out rabbits but doesn’t chase them, gets really happy when I dance in the house and tries to bounce around and join me. Besides tracking, Penelope loves her two cat siblings Gus and Fiona, going for walks, playing with toys, and eating snacks! Dislikes: package delivery people, baths, and the Roomba.”
Whirley Whirlwind Wind Of Dorian VCD2 UD BN GO VER RM RAE AX AXJ XF RATS TKI owned by Sue Kotlarek of Romulus, MI
“I am very happy to report that Whirley earned her Tracking Dog title on May 6, 2022, at the Marshbanks Golden Retriever Club Tracking Tests,” Sue said. “We had a wonderful wet, overcast day! Whirley is now officially a VCD2. We do plan to continue with our TDX and VST tracking titles this fall.”
“Our main passion is obedience and tracking. Whirley is doing fantastic in obedience and is close to her OM1 and gaining UDX legs along the way!”
Sue got Whirley in September 2019. She had been rescued from Hurricane Dorian in Florida where she was in a shelter at the time of the storm.
“They had to empty the shelters in case the hurricane hit and also, if the hurricane did not hit, there would be room for misplaced dogs. Michigan accepted 30 dogs. The Friends for Animals of Metro Detroit took in six of these, and that is where we met Whirley,” Sue said. “She came with the name of Whirlwind, and it fits her to a T! She is a natural at everything we do.”
TRICK DOG
TKE (Trick Dog Elite Performer)
Congratulations to these dogs for earning their Trick Dog Elite Performer titles:
Mikee Simon TKE owned by Hank Simon of Charleston, SC
Hank adopted Mikee after he had been with a rescue organization for a year and a half. “He had been adopted out twice before, but he was returned because the families couldn’t handle his energy and strength. His size, and even larger bark, were intimidating. And they still are. Even after more than six years, I still can be startled by his bark. Sometimes, I can understand how Mikee might overwhelm a young family, expecting to adopt a cute puppy,” Hank said.
Hank socialized Mikee, applying a progressive mix of behavioral and cognitive learning approaches over the course of a year. “Mikee learned quickly, generalizing well. We went through basic obedience, agility, and scent training to augment his social skills.
“To manage his powerful barking, I put it on cue. He learned so well that I was able to teach him to count. He learned to bark the correct number of times when asked or when indicated by raised fingers. On a whim, I tested Mikee’s generalization and he learned count based on reading a number printed on flash cards.”
Hank showed off Mikee’s new skill and taught him to perform other behaviors such as sit, down, speak, etc., by reading the associated flash card that he was shown. He was now “Mikee, The Well-Read Dog,” and Hank took him on the road, showing off his expertise to neighbors, at a few parties, and at senior centers. “He wasn’t perfect, but Mikee was very entertaining.”
“In all, Mikee has learned more than 200 cues, gestures, and flash cards, so earning his first four Trick Dog titles took only a few months. The pandemic intervened, then we completed the final requirements for the fifth Trick Dog title, Elite Performer on April 16, 2022, in Charleston, SC.”
Scotia-Dunbar Singleton RN CGCA TKE owned by Jennifer Singleton of Rome, GA
Scotia came into the Singleton home at 7 weeks old in late 2021. “Her mom had a health issue so she left the nest a little early but there was no stopping her. She came into the family loud and proud and eager to learn. Before she even came into the house for the first time, she learned sit and loved playing the recall game. Meeting her new brothers and sisters wasn’t a challenge for this spunky furball,” Jennifer said.
As she learned the household routine, it became clear that she loved learning new things. When the pup was 11 weeks old Jennifer put on some music and starting to dance around the house while cleaning. “Soon Scotia was standing next to me, moving with me while doing many of the skills she had learned such as down, roll over, back up, around and more. This led us to pulling up the Novice Trick Dog list and the learning began. At 4 months old she earned her Trick Dog Novice title.”
Her Trick Dog Elite title story line revolved around her name. “Our genealogy is from the Dunbar Clan in Scotland. Thus, her name Scotia-Dunbar. Scotia takes a plane ride to Scotland to visit family. While there she goes sightseeing, to the fair and visits family members’ homes. She had a great time there but had to fly back to the Obedience Club of Chattanooga in Flintstone, GA, to continue her training. She couldn’t wait to show everyone this Elite routine but because of Covid she had to wait a few months to perform it in March 2022. In her first 10 months, she has earned her TKE, RA and CGCA,” Jennifer said.
Aqua Fina’s Wet Behind The Ears CGC TKE owned by Julianna Crame of Columbus, OH
Fina is a 1.5-year-old bully breed mix, and Julianna got her when she was 8 weeks old. Even as a puppy, she was very food motivated so they spent a lot of time learning tricks for fun. They learned about AKC Trick Dog in March 2022 from their favorite dog Instagram account, Bully Baloo. Julianna was especially interested in submitting tricks online since this was their first foray into dog sports.
Fina qualified for her Novice and Intermediate titles simultaneously at the beginning of March. She got her Advanced title at the end of March. Next, they learned more complicated tricks and put together routines for their Performer and Elite Performer titles. Fina qualified for both on May 10, 2022.
“When we started Trick Dog, I didn’t think Fina would be able to get her TKE but her high food motivation and drive to learn showed me she could quickly perform much more complicated behaviors than I initially imagined,” Julianna said.
“Fina enjoys competing in other dog sports and taking classes at our local dog club. She earned her CGC and may go on to more Community Canine titles in the future. She loves competing in FastCAT and is one run away from her BCAT. She also enjoys Barn Hunt, and recently earned second place in her first Novice run. Fina’s favorite activity is swimming. She enjoys biting at the water and swimming in circles in her pink lifejacket. She’s interested in trying dock diving in the future, but the most difficult thing could be getting her out of the water!”
Chloe Treble Georgi CGC TKE owned by Amber & Jackie Georgi of Lakeside, CA
Chloe, now 3 years old, was born on Dec. 30, 2018, and adopted by Amber and Jackie on March 16, 2019, from Labs and More Rescue in San Diego, CA.
“As a puppy, Chloe had a lot of energy and always needed to keep her mind and body busy. We enrolled her in training classes with Lifetime Dog Training in Santee, CA,” Amber said. “Chloe worked her way up through the courses and achieved her Canine Good Citizen title at only 10 months old!
“We discovered Chloe’s love for tricks and decided to give the AKC Trick Dog program a try. Chloe enjoys the challenge of learning new commands, as well as the attention and treats that go along with it! Her favorite tricks are riding a skateboard and ‘Sleeping Beauty,’ our version of play dead.”
When Chloe isn’t training, she enjoys going on adventures, helping Amber teach piano lessons, and playing with her little sister, Daisy.
“We are very proud to announce that Chloe earned her TKE title on April 14, 2022, in Lakeside, CA with her performance of ‘Rockstar Chloe!’”
Canine Companions Clint Assisting Me TKE owned by Brenda Weeks of Auburn, ME
Brenda has had a lifelong love of training and showing my dogs, which began when she was 10 years old. For the past 15 years, she has trained and competed with her service dogs while being fully dependent on a power wheelchair and ventilator. This includes conformation, obedience, rally, and tricks.
She is working with her service dog, Clint, and they are nearing the second anniversary of their partnership. “His love of training and learning new things is impressive. He loves his job as a service dog and equally loves the sports dog training we are doing together,” Brenda said.
Clint and Brenda started out wanting to learn a few tricks and get some Trick Dog titles. It didn’t take him long to amass a vast number of tricks. They quickly earned Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, and Performer titles. “But we didn’t stop there! Could we get our TKE? I decided on a theme and worked on creating a story. I began collecting the needed props and refining the storyline so that it flowed smoothly. Clint eagerly worked on new skills and quickly learned new tricks. We both had lots of fun and looked forward to our training sessions.”
Finally, they had the script written and the tricks perfected. They were successful in receiving the Trick Dog Elite Performer title – an accomplishment that Brenda had only dreamed of achieving. She has found that training beyond regular service dog tasks increases their bond and adds an additional layer of fun.
“Clint enhances my independence far beyond measure with the innumerable tasks he performs daily. He gives me the confidence to venture out, knowing he is there to offer any needed assistance. Clint makes it possible for me to live each day to the fullest, making an ordinary day extraordinary. But beyond the physical tasks he performs for me, he has me excited to train again. We are working on our foundation skills for rally and obedience, with the dream of competing soon!”
Penny Lane Mayer TKE owned by Kathy Mayer of Rocky Hill, CT
Kathy and her husband Larry brought 8-week-old Penny Lane home to join her older sister Kaydee in April 2017. Kaydee is a Trick Dog Performer, so Kathy immediately began trick training with Penny Lane in hopes that the two could perform together. “She was a bright (and very mischievous) pup and by the end of her first week with us, she had learned to sit, lie down, roll over and high five!” Kathy said. She went on to learn many other tricks including ring toss, dunking a basketball, reading signs, dancing, bringing in the newspaper and many others.
In addition to earning her TKE title on May 12, 2022, Penny Lane is certified as a therapy dog through Therapy Dogs International. She has performed at fairs, churches and schools. In May 019, WFSB Channel 3 CT filmed a feature on Penny Lane and Kaydee as they performed for a group of preschoolers. This video can be viewed on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7QsLmUk0Ug
“Penny Lane is now 5 and still mischievous, but we have channeled some of that energy into the development of a crowd-pleasing trick repertoire and audience participation as she pickpockets a handkerchief or waves bye-bye, making a performance all the more fun for everyone!”
Ambie CGCA TKE owned by Carole Hess of Wausau, WI
Ambie came into Carole’s life 4 years ago when she was 14 weeks old. “She was pretty be-draggled when we got her, but with proper care, she became a healthy puppy, and we could see she was smart (and also mischievous). She quickly learned to ring a doorbell to go outside. And when she would ‘steal’ something she knew she should not have, she would ring the bell to get our attention so she could play ‘catch me if you can’ or trade the object for a treat,” Carole said.
Carole and Ambie attended training at Maple Creek Dog Training, and Ambie learned quickly. “Owner Deb Sommerfeldt is a wonderful positive teacher.” Ambie went through the various levels of AKC Canine Good Citizen training and certification. Eventually she became a therapy dog through Alliance of Therapy Dogs.
Ambie loves people and loves to do tricks. Carole thought, “Why not combine therapy visits with performance?” So, they worked on learning tricks, especially during pandemic confinement. Ambie thrived on learning new things. “Deb arranged for our class to be observers for Ambie to perform for certification. She achieved the Elite Performer certification on Nov. 16, 2021. Now, Ambie visits and performs. And our class has become a synchronized performance/therapy team through Deb’s guidance.
“Ambie never stops learning new things and has learned to use word buttons. So now, when she wants to do tricks at home, she presses her tricks button. She also has a play button, which she uses when she wants to play catch with a ball. Sometimes she butters us up first by pressing the ‘love you’ button to be sure she gets what she wants. We never cease to be amazed at what she can achieve and how much she has enriched our lives with her love and her antics.”
Fhf Legend Of Chaka Kazue Noble Warrior Of The Sky CGC TKE VHMA owned by Portia & Deanna Purfey of Bertram, TX
“Chaka loves everything asked of him: disc, agility, flyball, dock diving, and anything in between,” Portia said. “Trick training has to be his favorite, though! He just lights up when learning a new trick and getting that reward.”
Portia is a Junior handler, and Chaka, her Novice A dog, introduced her to the world of dog sports. She got him in December 2019 after raising several lab puppies for a guide dog school. When her second guide dog puppy left, she wanted a dog of her own.
“So, after I got the go-ahead from my parents, I got a brilliant 8-week-old Border Collie/Miniature American Shepherd mix,” Portia said. “I just fell in love with his personality and his four white paws. He has been the most fantastic partner. His drive and passion for training make me feel like I can take on the world.”
Now at two years old, Chaka has earned his TKE, CGC, and VHMA through AKC, even after being raised during a pandemic.
Chaka earned his TKE through the virtual title program in Bertram, TX, on June 11, 2022, with the theme of Chaka Goes To the Festival. “His favorite trick displayed was the basketball dunk! He thought it was so much fun that he would keep dunking the ball. After seeing how much fun the AKC Trick Dog competition was last year, I wanted to get Chaka’s TKE so we could join in. So, this year, we are putting together a routine for the Junior and the regular Trick Dog competitions. Whether we win or not, we have had a lot of fun putting it together for this fantastic opportunity. I am so grateful for all the fun these trick dog titles have let us have!”
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the TKE title:
- Mighty Jay TKE owned by Melanie S. Alvarado of Visalia, CA
- Cheza RI THDN CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Heidi Armstrong of Austin, TX
- Raider Kelley TKE owned by Donna & William Kelley of Henderson, NV
- King Mowgli Jack Of Brentwood CGCA CGCU TKE VHMA owned by Jill Beane of Parkersburg, WV
- Queen Quinley Of Brentwood CGCA TKE VHMA owned by Jill Beane of Parkersburg, WV Clanscey Grace 316 CGC TKE owned by Julie, Jerry, Joshua, & Samantha Schwartz of Raytown, MO