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 added more MACH titles to their names:
- MACH22 Donaldson’s Daisy MXS6 MJB7 OF owned by Laura Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
- AGCH MACH11 Mighty Milo Vogel MXG3 PDS MJC3 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 owned by Kathleen Vogel of Bay City, MI
- MACH10 Theodore Teddy Hill MXB3 PDS MJS3 PJS MFS TQX T2B5 owned by Priscilla Hill-Wampler & Jon Wampler of Newark, DE
- AGCH MACH7 Everlasting’s Matilda CD BN RE MXG2 PDS MJG2 PJS MFG TQX T2B6 DCA owned by Elizabeth Powell of Evansville, IN
- AGCH MACH6 Nostroveya’s Gemma MXG2 PDS MJB3 PJD MXP MJP2 MFG TQX T2B4 owned by Sharen Hyde of Crystal River, FL
- MACH6 Sachiko Lawn Dart MXC2 MJG2 XF T2B4 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chesterfield, VA
- MACH6 Siegel’s Cali MXG2 MJG2 MXF TQX T2B BCAT DN owned by Lauren Siegel of Dinwiddie, VA
- AGCH MACH5 Giddy Up N Go Dallas MXS2 PAD MJC2 PJS MFC TQX T2B5 SCN SIN DS owned by Dianne Gabel of Lewisberry, PA
- MACH5 Min Oskarssons Mischief Managed MXB2 MJC2 OF T2B owned by Karin Patrick of Marlton, NJ
- AGCH MACH5 Piper Pie Swanson MXG2 PDS MJG2 PJD MFB2 TQX T2B8 FCAT2 CGC TKN FITG owned by Diane Swanson of San Antonio, TX
- MACH4 Stricklers Hey Mama Rock Me MXB2 MJS2 SWE SCME SEME SIM TKP owned by Kaydi Grunhovd of Euclid, MN
- MACH4 Marlo II BN MXC MJB2 MFB TQX T2B owned by Virginia Besthoff of New Orleans, LA
- AGCH MACH3 Rosie La Bella MXB2 PDS MJS2 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 owned by Leslie Lava of Tiburon, CA
- MACH3 Abby Baker II MXC MJC MXF T2B CGC owned by Jeanne Baker of Apex, NC
- MACH3 Ontarget Force Of Nature MXB2 MJC NF T2B3 CA DCAT owned by Carla Knapik of Loxahatchee, FL
- MACH3 Mister Tedley MXG PAD MJG MFB TQX T2B3 ACT2 owned by Kathy Crain of Madison, AL
- MACH3 Tobago’s Galla Trace MXC MJG OF TKN owned by Leanne Ksiazek of Westhampton, MA
- MACH3 Nostromos Shadow Chaser MXG MJC MXF TQX T2B2 owned by Laura Harper of Ellisville, MO
- MACH3 Abbey Bear Kothur MXG MJC PJD MFB T2B2 owned by Sri Kothur of Tallahassee, FL
- MACH2 Hurst’s Rocky UD PCD BN RE MXG MJS AXP OJP XF CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Sarah Hurst of Gallatin, TN
- MACH2 He Shoots, He Scores RN MXC MJB2 MFB T2B SWM owned by Teresa Rodney of Fountain Valley, CA
- MACH2 Ann Perkins MXS PAD MJS PJD OF T2B3 CGC TKN owned by Chiaki Ito of Wilmington, NC
Congratulations to these first-time MACHs:
MACH Breezy Blue’s Be Quick! MXB MJB XF owned by Cynthia Hornor of Ellicott City, MD
Nimble, who just turned 5 years old, is the winner of the Standard 12″ class at the 2023 AKC National Agility Championship – an impressive achievement after earning her first MACH on Jan. 28, 2022 at the Oriole Dog Training Club!
Cynthia became interested in dog sports in 1997 after watching her first agility trial. She had an equestrian background, so the sport appealed to her.
In her spare time, “Nimble loves swimming and hiking. She also enjoys cuddling and playing with my other dogs,” Cynthia said.
MACH RACH Mavis Gunnels-McCord CDX BN GN RM3 RAE2 MXB MJS MFB T2B3 CGC TKI owned by Susan Gunnels & Stacey McCord of Little Rock, AR
Mavis, an Australian Shepherd/Cattle Dog mix, earned her MACH on June 11, 2022, at the age of 10. Now 11 years old, she made her first appearance at the 2023 AKC National Agility Championship, March 16-19, in Tulsa, OK.
Mavis is Stacey’s Novice A agility dog; they learned the sport together. She was over a year old and had already been in at least two homes when Stacey and Susan adopted her from a pet rescue group. Stacey and Susan both compete with Mavis; Susan competes with her in obedience and rally.
Although this is her first appearance at the NAC, Mavis is not a stranger to competing at national events. Susan and Mavis competed in Novice at the AKC Obedience Classic in 2016, and Mavis placed eighth in Novice at the AKC Rally National Championship in 2017. They have qualified for Rally Nationals every year from 2016 through 2022. They earned their RACH in 2021 and are one leg away from completing Mavis’ Utility title.
“Mavis gives 100% in everything she does,” Susan said.
MACH Kier’s Calamity Jane RN MXB MJS NAP XF T2B CGC TKI owned by Laura & Richard Kier of Chattaroy, WA
Calamity Jane, or CJ, is 8 years old, and the Kiers adopted her from a shelter when she was a puppy. Their involvement in dog sports began 15 years ago, with a Chihuahua in agility. Laura and Richard have been enjoying it ever since.
When not competing, CJ likes to skijor in the winter and bikejor, swim, and have lots of training time in the summer. She earned her MACH on Sept. 25, 2022, in Deer Park, WA.
MACH Trippett’s Twist Of Fate CD BN RE MXB MJS MXF SWE SBM RATO CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Lisa Trippett of Denton, MD
About five years ago, sheer luck put Lisa on the road at the right moment to find Charlie. This is why “Fate” became part of his name. She and her teenage son had left the house hours earlier than usual and found the dog running in the road where he was almost hit by a big truck. “Thank goodness he came to me when I called,” Lisa said.
The local animal control officer, a friend of Lisa’s, had received multiple complaints from neighbors about the dog being left outside, especially on this cold, windy weekend with many storm warnings. So, she knew exactly where he lived.
When Lisa went to return him, the owner asked her to put him outside in a kennel. Lisa offered to find him an indoors home instead, and the owner quickly accepted. “I had him back at my house in all of 30 minutes and knew he would never leave,” Lisa said. “He was nervous but very sweet. I fell in love with him instantly. My son jokes that he knew he was staying the moment we put him in our car. I say he was the best birthday present ever (my birthday was just a few days before we found Charlie).
“Charlie was terrified of slick floors and even afraid of a jump bar lying on the ground when we started our agility training. Building his confidence and our bond was the first priority. I wasn’t sure I would be able to compete with him, but he quickly proved he could do it, and love it too,” Lisa said.
Lisa has been involved in competition dog sports since getting a push from an instructor years ago. Her encouragement and support changed a hobby to a passion. She competed in obedience and rally with previous dogs but after trying agility with another dog, it became her favorite sport. “Instructors who became friends grew my love of competition.”
“Charlie is the sweetest boy. He loves cuddling on the couch and hikes in the woods (nose to the ground) as much as the multiple AKC sports he competes in. He just wants to be by my side regardless of what we are doing.”
He is one special little dog and my first agility champion, earning the MACH at the Salisbury Maryland Kennel Club trial at Crown Sports Center in Fruitland, MD, on Oct. 1, 2022. He turned 8 in January,” Lisa said. “I look forward to more fun with this boy as we head to the Westminster Master Agility Championship in May.”
Photo Courtesy of Sharon Denney & Rich Knecht
MACH The Dread Pirate Michael MXB MJB MFB T2B3 CGCA TKN owned by Shannon Hall of Olney, MD
One of Shannon’s agility friends saw Michael in foster with a herding dog rescue group while her dog Simon, another All American and a wonderful therapy dog, was fading fast from degenerative myelopathy.
“I knew that I was soon to lose Simon and that with the pandemic tightening its grip on all of us, we were going to end up in quarantine. Sure enough, my sweet Simon headed to the rainbow bridge in my arms,” Shannon said. “Soon after I received a positive response to my adoption request for Michael. My teenage daughter and I headed north to New Jersey to collect him from his foster home just three days prior to Maryland shutting down for quarantine. What an eerie trip up 95 north that was. Michael joined my PAL dog Connor, a Border Collie who ended up in breed rescue at 9 weeks due to being just too much herding dog for a pet home.”
I’ve been enjoying dog sports since 1996, when I moved back to the mid-Atlantic after finishing graduate school in the southwest. Michael is your typical herding breed who loves to play fetch, to hike, and to hang out with his people. What a lover he is; he finds friends everywhere he goes. This might surprise folks who have never done therapy dog work, but he is honestly too friendly to make a good therapy dog.”
He earned his MACH at the National Capital Bearded Collie Club trial on October 30, 2022.
MACH Tokkyuu Hiroto Fly Me To The Moon MXB MJB XF ACT2 CGCA TKA owned by Yukiko Hanes of Tarrytown, NY
After losing her very first dog in car accident as a teenager, Yukiko was afraid to take care of another dog. “But when my three kids got older, I started volunteering in a shelter where I took care of cats and dogs. Also, I started walking my neighbor’s dog when the family was away,” Yukiko said. “So, by the time my youngest went to boarding school, I was ready to look for my very own dog and found Ton Ton.”
They had just started a family manners class in White Plains, through Port Chester Obedience Training Club, when they were invited by a good friend to watch her agility class taught by Soshana Dos. “The class was very interesting and made me want to try it one day,” Yukiko said.
“When we started training, Ton Ton was not interested in food. All he wanted was to play with tennis balls. The agility training seemed like a very good fit for me and TonTon… it helped us prepare for the CGC test as well as learning tricks. Now, he loves to get treats all the time. Ton Ton loves to go to beach, chase after and also dig up his tennis balls. He also enjoys hiking in open spaces, preserves, in state parks and sniffing all the things!”
Ton Ton is 8 years old and earned his MACH at Taconic Hills Kennel Club Trial on Nov. 6, 2022, held at the Fieldhouse Agility Center in Northford, CT.
MACH Mr. Miles Henry MXB MJB MFB T2B2 owned by Christine M. Longnecker of Erie, PA
Miles is the first dog Christine has had as an adult. “We always had animals as kids, but this would be my first dog,” she said. “I went to Because You Care – a local shelter – to look at some dogs who were not Miles. When I walked past his kennel, however, something made me stop. I peered in, and he came right up to the front of the kennel, sat down, looked directly into my eyes, and as clear as day I heard him say to my soul, ‘I just want to be a good boy.’ My heart shattered into a million pieces, and I knew right then and there I had to have him. The staff at BYC informed me that he’d been considered ‘unadoptable’ – he’d been returned multiple times for various behaviors. I insisted, however, that he just wanted to be a good boy, and I wanted him. I took him home, and not one day in his life with me has he acted unadoptable. He’s the best thing that has ever happened to me, and he’s saved me in far more ways than I saved him. Miles is a little over 6 years old, give or take.”
Christine has been an animal lover her entire life and has her own business, Longnecker Equestrian. She is a riding instructor and horse trainer. “It seemed only natural, then, that agility drew me in. When Miles started coming to work with me, he immediately took to voluntarily jumping all the horse jumps when he was loose, so I knew it was something he and I would love pursuing together!”
“Miles loves nothing more than coming to work with me, teaching the clients, telling the horses how to behave, and showing off his coaching (and agility!) skills at horse shows. If he’s not working with the horses or playing agility, his other favorite things include sunbathing (he really wishes we lived in the south), visiting his Nana and Papa at their house on the lake, and tugging with anyone who is willing to tug with him!”
Miles earned his MACH at Countryside Agility in Erie, PA, on Nov. 19, 2022, at their Butler Dog Training Association Agility Trial.
MACH Rosslyn MXB MJS T2B owned by Ellen Harper of Watkins, CO
Rosslyn is a 5-year-old Border Collie mix. Ellen was looking for a second agility dog after a successful agility career with her Corgi, Putnam. She wanted a herding breed mix and found Rosslyn not far from home. Rosslyn was named after Ellen’s favorite place in Scotland, Rosslyn Chapel.
Ellen has been doing agility for fun and recreational competition for about 12 years. She learned about it when she saw a demo at a stock show and fell headfirst into the sport and never looked back. Ellen has an outbuilding with used football turf to practice in; she calls it the Muttnasium.
“Our story was put on hold in 2020, due to COVID and my stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis (non-smoker here!). Fortunately for me, it is ALK positive lung cancer which is a rare mutation with available targeted therapies and I’m expecting several more years to love life,” Ellen said. “Rosslyn waited for me and was so patient as I got up to speed.”
“Our MACH was earned Dec. 3, 2022, at a Palmer Divide Agility Club trial; they do a wonderful job. Given the circumstances, this accomplishment meant so much to me. Rosslyn is the only girl in a house full of boy dogs, but she is completely in charge. She loves her toys, especially a babble ball, and we warm each other when she frequently snoozes on my feet.”
MACH Capone XIII MXB MJS NF ACT2 owned by Jessica Rettig of Westminster, MD
Capone, now 8 years old, was rescued along with his 10 littermates and mother, thanks to K-9 Lifesavers. Jessica got him at 8 weeks old and from a very young age he showed great focus and athleticism.
“I always had an interest in agility, and as Capone’s abilities presented themselves, they encouraged me to take on the adventure! Capone’s impeccable drive to work and amazing ability to compensate for his humans’ mistakes has made him the ultimate first canine sporting partner,” Jessica said.
“He is phasing into retirement from agility and is now excelling in the scent work world! He enjoys a good tennis ball, hikes, extra treats, and continuing his agility and scent work classes each week. Capone’s willingness to work with me and his ability to keep learning continues to amaze me. How lucky I am to be able to call him my partner!”
Capone earned his MACH on Dec. 10, 2022, at Oriole Dog Training Club in Halethorpe, MD.
MACH Pool’s Skeeter MXB MJB MXF TQX owned by Debbie Pool of Pittsburg, TX
Skeeter showed up on the porch of a house that Debbie and her husband were building on a lake in Texas. The workers said that the pup just walked up and laid down. Debbie’s husband was there to check on the house and saw him. He was very small and thin. Their vet said he was about 10 weeks old; he is now 6 years old.
“We got started with agility when I attended a Barn Hunt event in McKinney, TX,” Debbie said. “An agility trial was being held there at the same time. Skeeter and I wandered over to watch for a bit. I met our future trainer, John Parsons, and he explained how it all worked. We gave it a shot and the connection was immediate.”
“Skeeter is up for anything from walks to boat rides, tubing with the grandkids… you name it and he’s right there,” Debbie said.
He got his MACH in Belton, TX, with the Waco Agility Group on Dec. 31, 2022.
MACH Josie Kline MXB MJB XF ACT2 owned by Justine Kline of Dover, DE
Justine wanted a playmate for her other dog, so she adopted Josie from the House of Hope Animal Rescue in Elkton, MD. “I noticed that Josie was quite smart in her puppy class, and I wanted to do more, so after the class was over we tried agility with the encouragement of a friend,” Justine said.
“When not competing, Josie’s absolute favorite thing is to go to the beach. She also enjoys playing fetch, running with me, and snuggling.”
Josie is 3 years old. “She earned her MACH on Feb. 5, 2023, at Premier Sports Center in New Jersey with the first judge she ever trialed under!”
Congratulations also to these dogs who have earned their first MACH:
- MACH Jazmine Blue Johnson MXB MJS owned by Jodi Johnson of Franklin, PA
- MACH P-Atch Scott MXB MJS NF T2B owned by Lynn Scott of Trabuco Canyon, CA
- MACH Champy 805 MXS MJS MXF CGC TKA owned by Leslie Wilk of Camarillo, CA
- MACH Call Me For Last Call MXS MJS T2B owned by Carla Knapik of Loxahatchee, FL
- MACH Mawp’s Gia RN MXB MJS OF CGC TKN ATT owned by Harold & Diana Berry of Deland, FL
- MACH A And D’s Hobgoblin Gustif MXB MJB owned by Alice Smith of Lakeville, MA
- MACH Luanne Austin MXB MJB owned by LuAnne Austin of Georgetown, KY
- MACH Cosmic Rayn Of Stardust MXB MJB XF owned by Sonja Davis of Chesterfield, MI
- MACH Stella… MXB MJS NF owned by Leiann Vanover of Pocatello, ID
- MACH Bad Bella Ray MXB MJB CGC owned by Maureen Richard of Cincinnati, OH
- MACH Piper Grace Daube MXB MJB XF T2B CGC owned by Allyssa Daube & Rosemary Daube of Edwardsville, IL
Preferred Agility Championships (PACH)
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned additional PACH titles:
- MACH5 PACH4 Olszewski’s Buffy MXG2 MJS2 MXP13 MXPB2 MJPC PAX5 OF NFP owned by Sandra Olszewski of Freeland, MD
- PACH2 Smith’s Dream Girl Greta BN RN OA OAJ MXP12 MXPB2 MJP10 MJPC PAX2 OF NFP T2BP TKN owned by Cindy & Michael Smith of Palmetto Bay, FL
- MACH5 PACH3 Apollo Of Waterton MXS2 MJG2 MXP7 MXPS MJP7 MJPS PAX3 owned by Lydia Langley of Lynchburg, VA
- PACH3 Brooks’ Izzy AX AXJ MXP14 MXPB2 MJP9 MJPG PAX4 CGC TKA owned by Sue Brooks of Portland, OR
- MACH9 PACH3 Zoe Mia Vogel MXS3 MJB3 MXP7 MXPS MJP7 MJPS PAX3 OF T2B2 owned by Kathleen Vogel of Bay City, MI
- PACH15 Crosby’s Quinn MXP36 MXPS4 MJP44 MJPB5 PAX15 MFP T2BP7 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chesterfield, VA
- PACH2 Keenan-Taylor’s Joey NA NAJ MXP8 MXPG MJP8 MJPG PAX2 MFP T2BP3 THDA CGC TKN owned by Darlene Keenan-Taylor of Oakham, MA
- PACH2 Rowan Song OA OAJ MXP6 MXPS MJP7 MJPG PAX2 ACT1 owned by Lee Sutherland of North Ridgeville, OH
- MACH PACH3 Paige MXB MJB MXP8 MXPG PADP MJP7 MJPG PAX3 MXF TQX MFPS TQXP T2B2 T2BP owned by Flora Steffan of Silverlake, OR
- AGCH MACH15 PACH10 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP23 MXPB3 MJP26 MJPS3 PAX10 MFC TQX T2B9 DJ CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan York of Evansville, IN
- PACH6 2fs Fisher Dog MXP16 MXPS2 MJP19 MJPG2 PAX6 T2BP SWA SCM SIE SEE SHDA TKA owned by Julie & Nathan Free of Inola, OK
- PACH2 Tova’s Firewords Over Periland-Fire MXP9 MXPG MJP8 MJPG PAX3 MFPB TQXP T2BP CGC owned by Vicki Eckerdt of Eugene, OR
- MACH3 PACH2 Bleu’s Precious Sassy MXG PAD MJC PJS MXPB PADP MJPB PJDP PAX2 OF XFP T2B T2BP CGC TKN owned by Anne Forsberg-Mosner of Chesterfield, NJ
- PACH7 Elk Run Bella MXP27 MXPS3 MJP31 MJPC3 PAX7 OFP T2BP3 BCAT owned by Marcella Smith of Bridgewater, VA
- AGCH MACH PACH6 Logan’s Flash Of An Angel Trixie MXB MJB MXP16 MXPS2 PDSP MJP16 MJPS2 PJSP PAX6 XF MFPG TQXP T2B T2BP4 BCAT RATO CGC TKA ATT owned by Mrs. Antje L Logan of Denham Springs, LA
- AGCH PACH5 Chinnici’s Lucia MXP13 MXPB2 PDSP MJP12 MJPB2 PJSP PAX5 MFPG TQXP T2BP5 owned by Lori Chinnici of Shelby Township, MI
- MACH5 PACH3 Apollo Of Waterton MXS2 MJG2 MXP7 MXPS MJP7 MJPS PAX3 owned by Lydia Langley of Lynchburg, VA
- MACH PACH3 Paige MXB MJB MXP8 MXPG PADP MJP7 MJPG PAX3 MXF TQX MFPS TQXP T2B2 T2BP owned by Flora Steffan of Silverlake , OR
- PACH15 Crosby’s Quinn MXP36 MXPS4 MJP44 MJPB5 PAX15 MFP T2BP7 owned by Krisanne Crosby of North Chestervield, VA
Congratulations to these dogs on their first PACH titles:
AGCH MACH15 PACH Olive Hawkins MXG4 PDG MJB5 PJG MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX MFG TQX T2B9 CGC TKI owned by Stefanie & Craig Hawkins of Florence, KY
Olive, now 13 years old, earned her AKC Agility Grand Championship last summer and is loving life at 12-inch Preferred. She got her PACH on Oct. 2, 2022, at the Terre Haute Kennel Club trial in Terre Haute, IN.
“When she’s not doing agility, she likes to play in the yard with her brothers and sister and take naps. Lots and lots of naps. She just competed in her fifth and probably last AKC Agility Nationals in Tulsa in March,” Stefanie said.
MACH3 PACH Resq’s Dopamine Rush BN RN MXG PAD MJC PJD MJPB PAX MFS TQX MFP T2B3 T2BP DCAT SWE SCM SEM ONYX RATS CGCA TKN owned by Rosemary Strasser & Miguel Ordorica of Omaha, NE
Roo was found as a stray at around 6 months of age and taken to a veterinarian’s office. When no one came for him, he was released to Midwest Dog Rescue Network. “Within five minutes of meeting him, I knew he was the dog for me! That was 10 years ago, and since then we have had many adventures,” Rosemary said.
Roo earned his PACH on Oct. 23, 2022; currently he and Rosemary working on their Agility Grand Championship title.
“In March, we competed at the AKC National Agility Championship in Tulsa, where he made it to the Challengers round. He came in second so although he didn’t move on to finals, we did run as a white dog in the finals. That was a thrill because we made it to the finals round seven years earlier at our very first NAC in Tulsa. Although I hope we have many more adventures, with him getting older, it was great to be back in Tulsa running a finals course again!
“Roo is eager to learn, and we have also competed in rally, obedience and coursing. He has his Master Barn Hunt title and is close to finishing his Scent Work championship title.”
Rosemary said she loves their adventures together, learning new sports, and traveling for trials. “Roo is always happy and willing to try anything new – especially if he can do it really, really, FAST! Not only is he a great little performance dog who has expanded my world, taking me to new places and meeting new people, he is my best friend and companion. I couldn’t love him more!”
MACH6 PACH Gretzky The Great One Depup MXC2 PAD MJC2 MXP3 MXPB MJP5 MJPS PAX MXF T2B BCAT ACT1 SWN SIA CGC TKA owned by Maria Sutjiamin of Lombard, IL
Gretzky is Maria’s first agility dog and was adopted from the Humane Society in Russellville, KY. “From the start, Gretzky proved how smart he is,” Maria said.
They began agility classes as an indoor activity during cold Chicago winters. Gretzky is a quick student; his only nemesis was the teeter. But eventually he gained confidence and overcame his fear.
He started competing in AKC Agility when he was 6 years old. “You could say he was a late starter, but he loves to perform! He is now 11 years old, and I decided to move him to Preferred. He continues to enjoy agility and has also started on scent work and barn hunt.”
Gretzky qualified and competed at the 2023 NAC in Tulsa. He earned his PACH in the fall of 2022.
MACH3 PACH Soccodato’s Buster MXC PAD MJC PJD MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XF T2B2 BCAT CGC TKI owned by Jacqueline Soccodato of New Rochelle, NY
MACH3 PACH Buster earned his PACH on Nov. 20, 2022, at the Biewer Terrier Club of America’s trial in Hamden, CT. “Buster is truly a once-in-a-lifetime dog who never ceases to amaze me,” Jacqueline said.
Buster began competing in Preferred at 11 years old (an estimate as he is a rescue) after rehabbing and fully recovering from two partial tears to his rear ligaments. “When most thought retirement would be the next stop, he came back to agility with more gusto and determination than ever, instantly qualifying for the AKC National Agility Championships 2023 and 2024, earning his PACH in just three short months, and being ranked as the #2 fastest 4-inch All American by the Breed Power 10! It was clear that he missed agility.”
During recuperation, Buster was busy and shot his first commercial in Philadelphia. “This was so special because Philly is where he was found on the street as a stray, picked up by animal control and brought to the city shelter. In true Buster-style, he returned better than ever to star in a commercial! Talk about coming full circle. During this time Buster also began scent work and has excelled in that sport too. He is the ‘Little Dog Who Could’ and I could not be prouder and more honored to be his mom,” she said. “A special thank you to Animal Alliance of New Jersey for rescuing this special boy.”
Photo Courtesy of Great Dane photography
PACH Minnow Pell MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX MFPS TQXP owned by Rob Pell of Grants Pass, OR
Four-year-old Minnow (call name Scout) joined the Pell family as a companion for their other dog.
Rob got has enjoyed dog sports since the 1980s, having started with obedience and Schutzhund with his Rottweilers. “I have always enjoyed activities that challenge me and my dogs to be the best we can be,” Rob said. “For Scout, agility is the perfect fit!”
Outside of agility, Scout loves chasing squirrels, cats, and racoons that stray onto the family property, playing Chuck-it, and getting full body massages.
“Scout was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia when he was 17 months old. We took a year off from agility working with a canine fitness, rehabilitation, and exercise coach and today he is pain- and drug-free with no outward signs of his structural challenges,” Rob said. Scout earned his PACH on Nov. 26, 2022, in Eugene, OR.
PACH Valente’s Tess MX AXJ MXP4 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX OF CGC owned by Linda Valente of Mashpee, MA
Linda adopted Tess when she was 1 year old from a rescue in Arkansas called SPOTS, which partners in adoptions with One Tail at A Time in Haverhill, MA. “It was love at first sight for us both,” Linda said. Tess is now 8 years old.
When they started obedience training, Tess “just shut down and did not want to be there!” A trainer suggested to Linda that she try agility. “Well, Tess took right to it, and we’ve never looked back. We’re having the time of our lives!”
“When not competing, Tess enjoys belly rubs, running on the beaches of Cape Cod, my homemade tuna/salmon treats, naps in the sunroom, and a morning ritual of howling with my husband, Ben,” Linda said.
Tess earned her PACH at Canine New England in Walpole, MA, at the Colonial Shetland Sheepdog Club trial on Dec. 3, 2022. And in mid-March, she earned her PAX2 at Canine New England in Walpole, MA at the Teamwork Agility Club of MA Trial on March 18, 2023.
PACH One Smart Cookie MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX owned by Donna McLaughlin of Millsboro, DE
Donna got Cookie, now 7 years, when she was about 4 months old from a rescue group. “We had suddenly lost our previous dog to an undetermined illness, and we were heartbroken, and the house was too quiet,” Donna said.
“I had seen agility trials on TV and was interested in seeing if I could train a dog and myself to compete in this fun sport! I found a training facility very close to my home and never looked back. Everyone there told me how addictive and fun this sport was going to be, and I had no idea how hooked I was to become.”
In her spare time, Cookie loves to play with her dog friends, go for ‘sniff’ hikes, and run on the beach.
Cookie earned the PACH on Jan. 1, 2023 at Crown Sports Center near Salisbury, MD, at a trial held by Salisbury Kennel Club which is where she and Donna train.
MACH6 PACH Patterday’s Rocky Raccoon MXB2 MJG2 MJPB PAX MFB T2B2 BCAT TKN owned by Erin Day & JoAnn Patterson of Saint Peters, MO
Rocky Raccoon, a 7-year-old Corgi/Aussie mix, was almost a year old when Erin adopted him through Pet’s Second Chance Corgi Rescue. He’d had a rough experience in his first foster home. Erin has both Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Australian Shepherds, so she knew Rocky was meant to stay with her.
Erin’s interest in agility began about 11 years ago when she saw her mom competing with her own Corgi, Charlie. Erin got to start classes with their other Corgi, Bode, “and the rest is history,” Erin said.
“Rocky Raccoon is a very serious fellow. He lives with two Aussies, Rigby and Eleanor, but he won’t admit that they are friends. He does act too cool for school towards most people. But he enjoys chewing his Nylabones and eating treats. He can spot and find anyone who has fed him in the past in a crowded room. He really does like the attention people give him at agility trials and the camera. RockyRaccoon is a doggie model and is on dog treat packaging and in commercials.”
His PACH was earned at Mound City Obedience Training Club trial in Caseyville, IL on Feb. 11, 2023.
Photo Courtesy of Xanadu Ranch Photography
MACH PACH Turbo Of Ciw RE MXB MJS PAX MXF T2B DM DS TKA owned by Pamela McKinney of Mont Vernon, NH
Turbo and his littermates were taken to a shelter in North Carolina shortly after birth and later transported to Mary’s Dogs, a shelter in New Hampshire. Pamela was fostering for Mary’s Dogs while searching for her next dog.
“Mary contacted me saying she had the perfect dog for me. I brought home Turbo at 8 weeks old, and he fit right into our family. He was the perfect puppy from day one,” Pamela said.
“I have always loved any activities I could do with my dogs, I started messing around with training when I was a young child and had no clue what I was doing. But the connection and teamwork were addictive, and I loved the connection. Once I was introduced to dog sports, it seemed like the perfect fit. All the time and effort put in to training and working with your dog to learn and grow in the sport is the best thing. Getting to the point where you can compete together is icing on the cake.
“Outside of agility Turbo enjoys hiking, swimming, serving as a therapy dog and playing with his ‘siblings’ at home, Caro and D’Ogee,” Pamela said. “His all-time favorite activity is catching snowballs!”
Turbo, 9 ½ years old, earned his PACH on Feb. 12, 2023, at the Mid-Coast Kennel Club of Maine trial.
Congratulations also to these All American Dogs on earning their PACH:
- PACH Mr Gustavo MXP5 MXPS MJP5 MJPS PAX XFP T2BP2 CGC TKN owned by Cathy Bisset of Merrimack, NH
- PACH Miss Penny Blossom RN MX MXB MXJ MJB MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XF RATM CGC TKA owned by Elizabeth Erin Alford of Little Elm, TX
- MACH2 PACH Bailey June RN MXS MJS MXPB MJPB PAX OF T2B TKN VHMA VSWB owned by Robin Murtha of Mechanicsburg, PA
- MACH PACH Sir Simba Of Sunnyhill MXB MJS MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX MXF owned by Debra Slaybaugh of Biglerville, PA
CAX
Congratulations to these dogs for earning their first CAX titles:
Forgotten Lore’s Raven Calling Nevermore FDC CAX FCAT owned by Mercedes Osolin of Shawnee, OK
Mercedes found Raven in a half-frozen mud puddle when she was about 4 weeks old. She took the puppy to grooming school that morning, gave her a bath and a warm blanket, and then took her home. “Raven was my first dog right out of high-school, and my mom said if she ever had to take care of her, she was gone. Mom didn’t watch Raven till she was about 5,” Mercedes said.
Mercedes got her start in dog sports thanks to Raven’s constant playing with a ball as a puppy. “One day she brought me an old Frisbee and I found that she would catch it from the air. Someone told me about a local disc club and Raven won first place in her second-ever competition and set a club record for Novice dogs!”
Raven, now 10 years old, is slowly starting to retire from sports. But when she’s not competing, she still plays ball, goes hiking, and likes swimming in the fresh springs.
She earned her CAX title on Nov. 19, 2022, in Chickasha, OK.
Julia VII FDC CAX DCAT SCN SIN DM DSA CGCA TKN owned by Kirsten Thompson of DeSoto, TX
Julia was 5 months old when Kirsten adopted her from her local shelter; she is now 5 years old.
“I noticed that Julia was insanely fast, searched online to see if there is a sport for this, found an AKC event and signed up. It was the very first dog sport we entered,” Kirsten said. “Coursing was the first of many dog sports for us. We do dock diving, Barn Hunt, scent work and Fast CAT. She has her CGCA, TKN and also has her Farm Dog Certification. When we don’t compete, we enjoy daily trail walks to keep us fit.”
Julia earned her CAX on Nov. 20, 2022, in Celina, TX, at a trial hosted by the North Texas Saluki Club.
KAB Quit Making A Scene CAX FCAT owned by Kirby Brannon of Lafayette, LA
Kirby adopted Addie in October of 2014 from his local animal shelter. He was looking for a young running partner and sport prospect and heard there was a young heeler mix there.
“I’ve always loved herding breeds, so I went down for an evaluation,” Kirby said. “Addie instantly stole my heart, and we’ve been inseparable ever since.” She is now about 9 ½ years old.
“Owning a high-energy, high-drive dog like Addie, there is no way not to become involved in something. She made it abundantly clear early on that she would not be satisfied living a couch potato life or just going for daily runs. Dog sports have become a way to satiate Addie’s need for work and have built a strong bond between us that I never thought I could share with a dog.”
Outside of sports, Addie mostly enjoys terrorizing Kirby’s Australian Shepherd. They run and bike together almost every day and on the weekends, they hike. “She loves being out on the trails with me and has the best trail sense I’ve ever seen in a dog. There’s no getting lost with her! She loves exploring new places, hunting bugs, kayaking, and is generally down to take on anything I throw at her. She’s even the best brewery buddy.”
Addie earned her CAX title on Nov. 20, 2022, in Bush, LA, at the Bayou Bunny Run hosted by the Louisiana Capital City Obedience Club.
Sincity’s Veritaserum CAX FCAT6 FM DJ CGCA CGCU TKA VHMA owned by Katie Weihbrecht of Iowa City, IA
Four-year-old Truth was born in Las Vegas and bringing him home was the first time Katie had ever flown with a puppy. “He was a perfect traveler then and has been a perfect traveler ever since!” she said..
Katie got interested in dog sports when training, several years ago, her second dog: a high-drive, high-energy dog who developed issues with people and other dogs. A group class with an experienced trainer built a lot of basic obedience skills on him and her first dog, who came along for the ride. A good friend who is heavily involved with AKC Obedience felt that the skills the first dog had learned would help him be successful in rally. “We attended our first rally trial and had a ton of fun, which led to joining our local obedience club. From there, we learned about agility and then flyball, at which point I was hooked!”
Truth is Katie’s fourth dog. When he is not competing, Truth’s favorite activities include “herding his siblings, burrowing under the covers, and going on hikes, especially when there’s a muddy pit to roll in!” He earned his CAX on Nov. 26, 2022, in Jackson Springs, NC.
Photo Courtesy of Wonderfur Photography
Alabama’s Finest Phenix CAX FCAT owned by MAREN WALDNER of Columbus, GA
Phenix was adopted by Maren from a humane society near Montgomery, AL, as a puppy; she is 3 years old now.
Maren heard about Fast CAT in 2022 and then found an event that they could try fun runs at. “Phenix loved it, and we started going to more events and she loved CAT too. Since then, we’ve learned about and started participating in several other activities including dock diving, Barn Hunt, scent work and agility. Training and competing in dog sports has really improved Phenix’s confidence, and I love seeing her try and succeed at new activities!”
When she is not competing, Phenix enjoys hiking, sniffing, learning new skills in training classes and relaxing in the sun. She earned her CAX on Dec. 2, 2022, at the Winter Wonderland cluster in Perry, GA.
Sir Eggathy The Breakfast Hound CAX FCAT3 TKN ATT owned by Samantha & Marc Rosario of Alexandria, VA
The Rosarios adopted Egg as a puppy from Operation Paws for Home in June 2020. He is now 3 years old.
Samantha got interested in dog sports because she needed outlets for Eggsy’s high energy. She looked into dog sports and landed in the world of Fast CAT and CAT. “The rest is pretty much history,” Samantha said. “Thanks to the beginner friendly level of CAT events we were able to get more involved in the world of dog sports, and Eggsy is thriving. He is my best boy and has opened up many doors of opportunity for us. I’m excited for our future in the dog sport community!
“When Egg is not competing, you can find him outside sunbathing or wrestling with his three other housemates. His favorite thing to do is to cuddle with his Mr. Duckworth at night before bed.”
His CAX was earned on Jan. 15, 2023, in White Post, VA with the Potomac Valley Samoyed Club.
Ruch’s Gem In The Rough CAX FCAT15 RATO CGC ATT FITB owned by Sherri Ruch of Kempton, PA
Sherri adopted Jasper from the Pennsylvania-based rescue group Brindle Buddies. “Brindle Buddies had several rescue dogs looking for homes at a Petco in Allentown, PA, and this is how Jasper entered my life,” she said. Jasper is now almost 4 years old.
Before getting Jasper, Sherri had participated in a few dog sports including agility, earthdog, and Barn Hunt. After adopting Jasper, she immediately entered him in Barn Hunt, and he did well. “A friend from Barn Hunt told me about Fast CAT and I decided to try it. Jasper loves Fast CAT and, from there, we started CAT. He loves chasing those ‘bunnies’,” Sherri said.
When Jasper is not competing, he enjoys playing and wrestling with his feline pal, Lego, who is also a rescue. He also loves going for walks and just relaxing on the sofa.
He earned his CAX on Nov. 12, 2022, in White Post, Virginia.
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the CAX title:
- LSK’s Beauty Of The Islands NAP NJP CAX2 FCAT2 DJA TKP owned by Amanda Lackey of Hoover, AL
- Tucker Lovin’ Taking A Chance CAX FCAT CGC owned by Tucker Summerville of Charlotte, NC
- Release the Rex CAX FCAT3 RATN DNA CGCA CGCU TKI ATT owned by Emily Davis of Smyrna, GA
- Siendo’s Rockymountain Np CAX FCAT2 owned by Kirbie Pearl Allen of Tupelo, MS
- Gustov Cobre Bobsled The Gray RM NAP OJP NFP CAX DCAT ACT2 CGCA TKP owned by REBECCA JILLIAN TRIPPI of Mobile, AL
- Sabyne Sternung CAX FCAT CGC TKN owned by Jacquelyn & Spencer Sternung of Pensacola, FL
Rally
Congratulations to these dogs on their first RACH titles:
PACH RACH Jesse Belle RM2 RAE2 MX MXB MXJ MJB MXP4 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XF TKI owned by Cindy Stewart-Mackes of Pedricktown, NJ
Jesse Belle enjoyed a long, successful agility career from which she retired at 12 years old, and Cindy decided it was very important to keep her active with a much lower impact sport.
“So, we gave rally a try and to my surprise… my very fast agility champion was all in and took to the sport with enthusiasm and wanted to learn,” Cindy said. “Boy, did she catch on fast. So fast that in no time we made it all the way to the 2022 AKC Rally National Championship. Jesse Belle made the top 10 in her class and at 13 ½ was the oldest dog competitor to attend. She truly is an incredible dog at 14.
“I want people to know that just because your dog is old does not mean an end to participating in dog sports. If your senior dog is in good health, it is important to keep them happy and active – especially if a born-and-raised performance dog. The performance dogs get depressed like humans do after competing all those years and then one day they are not doing it anymore. Jesse Belle was not the kind of dog to lounge at home. She always is her happiest learning and participating (with me, of course).”
Jesse Belle, a Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix, earned her RACH on March 5, 2023, at the age of 14.
RACH Black Pepper White Paws CDX PUDX BN RM3 RAE2 DCAT CGCA CGCU TKN ATT owned by Victoria Roush of Hampshire, IL
Victoria acquired Pepper when she was 4 months old. She was at Petco washing her dog Gypsy when Anderson Animal Shelter came to the store with puppies.
“Little did I know I would be going home with an extra dog that day,” she said. “As I was walking Gypsy through the store I stopped to look at the puppies. I played with Pepper for quite some time, so Anderson Shelter informed me that I was to adopt her.”
Victoria got interested in dog sports about 20 years ago. A member of Car-Du-Nal Obedience Dog Training Club came to her workplace, and they began talking about dog training since Victoria had a 4-month-old female Chow that needed obedience. “Soon I was introduced to agility, and I was hooked. But after several back operations, I focused on obedience and then rally. Pepper is my most consistent dog in both sports.”
Pepper overcame some serious health challenges on the way to her successful career. She was limping at 6 months, supposedly because of growing pains. She continued to limp and then started to walk on her front legs. X-rays showed that she had no cruciate ligaments. At the University of Wisconsin vet school, Pepper underwent two separate TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) operations to put special orthopedic metal bone plates in each of her rear legs.
“Pepper loves to chase balls and squirrels. She also likes to play with her All American 2-year-old sister Pixie, who looks like a smaller Pepper, and to have her back scratched. She goes literally crazy to run FastCAT.”
“Pepper is now 6 years old, and she has been my highest achieving dog,” Victoria said. She earned her RACH on Nov. 11, 2022, at the Car-Du-Nal trial in Huntley, IL.
RACH Putting On The Fritz RM4 RAE2 NAJ CAA BCAT ACT2 CGC TKA owned by Misty Black of Chicora, PA
Fritz was adopted by the Blacks from Laura’s Hope Rescue in Hop Bottom, PA. Misty filled out an application, and after a thorough phone interview, the family was approved.
“My husband and I along with our kids, ages 16 and 11 at the time, travelled over four hours to pick him up,” she said.
Misty’s dog sports journey began at Family Dog Obedience in Butler, PA, with a puppy class, and Fritz graduated as an AKC Star Puppy. Training continued with agility, scent work, coursing, Fast CAT, and Barn Hunt.
“Fritz is a total rally rock star! He performs every exercise with precision,” Misty said. “Our struggle achieving the RACH is his ring awareness. Earning the Triple Qs was the most difficult; each time in the ring his enthusiasm for being in the ring decreases. This is an awesome sport! Encouragement from friends in rally kept us going. Judges and stewards are so friendly and positive. I would encourage anyone out there that has a dog that struggles in the ring to hang in there.”
Seven-year-old Fritz earned his RACH on Nov. 12, 2022, at B&D Creekside Center, in Latrobe, PA, at the Loyalhanna Agility Club trial.
RACH Mcmahon’s Marnie RM3 RAE3 MX MXJ MJB XF ACT2 ACT2J CGC owned by Jean McMahon of Ballston Spa, NY
Jean has always had dogs, and she adopted Marnie on April 8, 2017, from a rescue. Her vet’s best guess is that Marnie is about 6 ½ years old.
“I had never done any formal training with any of my dogs,” Jean said. “But that summer, I took Marnie to a couple of one-time outdoor obedience classes in an effort to make her a better companion. The instructor saw something in her and encouraged us to try rally, so we did. We first competed in 2019 and then again in 2020, just before COVID hit.”
They finished their Novice title through the virtual program and in November 2021, they earned the Excellent title and started working on the RACH.
Jean and Marnie were eligible for the AKC Rally National Championship in 2021 at the Intermediate level but did not make it through the lottery. They were eligible again in 2022 at the Excellent level and made it. Marnie earned a 95 in her first run and a 75 in her second and are eligible this year at the Championship level.
Marnie earned her RACH on Nov. 20, 2022, at the Syracuse Obedience Training Club trial.
“Marnie is a treasure and has opened up a wonderful new world to me. She is a gift.”
RACH Nothin’ But Blue Skies RM4 RAE3 NFP TKN owned by Leslie Luchene of Columbia, MO
Leslie had an Australian Cattle Dog and was looking for another dog when she saw Skyla on Petfinder.
“Something about her touched my heart,” Leslie said. “I adopted her from Australian Cattle Dog Rescue of Illinois (she is half Australian Cattle Dog, half Mini American Shepherd). She was turned in to rescue because she was ‘too over the top.’ I liked her exuberance and thought she would be a fun companion to train.
“I had done agility, obedience, and therapy work with other dogs. I enjoy training and the relationship and teamwork that I build with my dogs through dog sports, and I have met wonderful people through dog sports,” Leslie said. “I have dabbled in agility and tricks with Skyla, but rally turned out to be her thing.
“Skyla is now 11 years old and loves socializing with people more than anything else. Everyone she meets is her new best friend. She loves chasing a tennis ball. She likes to play with my two younger Border Collies and go on walks with her dog and human friends.”
Skyla earned her RACH on Dec. 10, 2022, at North St. Louis County’s Obedience Training Club’s trial.
RACH Just Dill With It CDX GO RM2 RAE2 NA NF BCAT CGCA owned by Susan Staffeld of Beebe, AR
Four-year-old Pickle had several owners before being gifted to a lady in Arkansas.
“This lady had Pickle for a year and was a wonderful home for her; they even did a bunch of training classes,” Susan said. “But she couldn’t manage Pickle’s energy and knew that she needed a home that would give her a job.
“I was not looking to get a second dog at the time but had recently missed out on adopting one from our local shelter. I got really excited about getting a sport dog and was still reeling from the disappointment of not getting the shelter dog,” Susan said. “When I saw the post about Pickle on Facebook, I was immediately drawn to her.”
Susan’s interest in dog training came after her first dog, Carmen, was abandoned outside her boyfriend’s shop. “The shelter was closing for the weekend, so we figured we would just keep her until Monday when they opened… but she grew on us! She was only 4 to 5 months old at the time but already 40 pounds, and I couldn’t walk her around the block without my hands bleeding, so I looked for training classes. I am eternally grateful that my search led to the Little Rock Dog Training Club. I had zero intentions of competing with Carmen, even as we moved up into higher level classes, she just needed that nonstop training to keep her as a pet we could live with. But eventually AKC sports suck you in and Carmen ended up earning a lot of titles that I am so proud of, given how challenging a dog she still is and how little I knew as a trainer and dog owner,” Susan said.
“Pickle is the happiest dog on this planet and loves everything about being alive. She loves to run around crazy, especially if there are mud puddles nearby, but I am constantly thankful how much this dog loves training and is willing to try anything that I ask her to.” Pickle earned her PACH on Feb. 4, 2023, at Little Rock Dog Training Club. Pickle also ranked fifth in Front and Finish’s 2023 AKC Rally rankings for All American Dogs.
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the RACH title:
- RACH Sweet Golden Bliss CD PCD BN GN RM4 RAE4 DCAT CGC owned by Shelby Renae Buono of Evansville, IN
- RACH Tlc I’M A Frequent Flier CD BN RM2 RAE3 owned by Susan & Bill Croswell of Tallahassee, FL
- RACH Ike Of Faulkner RM4 RAE3 owned by Mary Broyles of Danville, KY
- RACH Xtra’s Dilly Of Adog CDX BN GO RM2 RAE2 OA AXJ SWN SEE SIA owned by Karen Marie Mellert of Racine, WI
- RACH Kenzie Of Nevada UD RM3 RAE2 CGC ATT owned by Barbara Bunner of Pahrump, NV
Obedience
Congratulations to these dogs for earning the Utility Dog (UD) title:
RACH Ot’s Underwater Adventure UD BN GO RM2 RAE2 AX AXJ XF T2B THDN CGC TKP owned by Kat Brown of Landrum, SC
Kat discovered the world of dog sports when she joined a club for obedience classes with her rescue Doberman. “We learned a lot together, but she retired early because competing was just too stressful for her,” she said.
“Then, with a little help, I ‘found Nemo’ and from day one he was game for anything. Whether it’s agility, rally, obedience, barn hunt, scent work or tracking, he is all in. Nemo is truly my one in a million – not only as a teammate in the ring, but in everyday life.”
Nemo, 12 ½ years old now, is no longer competing but enjoys training in scent work and tracking, going on hikes and, of course, his daily swims in the pool.
He earned his UD at the Clemson Kennel Club trial on Jan. 7, 2023.
Ian Catrick Mcdoggal UD RE TKI owned by Mary Hancock Scott of Jacksonville, TX
Mary has always had dogs and did basic obedience training but has only had the opportunity to compete in the past 10 years.
“Ian is very enthusiastic about his job and will pester until he gets to work. He especially enjoys jumping and retrieving,” Mary said. “He likes to spend most of his spare time playing with our other dogs or watching out the window and warning us of trespassing squirrels or birds. He likes to be busy all the time.”
Ian is a 5-year-old Border Collie/Papillon mix, and he earned his UD in Little Rock, AR in February 2023.
SCENT WORK
Congratulations to this dog for earning the Scent Work Detective (SWD) title:
Millie Maye FDC SWD SWM CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Amy & Ken Mathews of Longview, TX
Ken found 5-week-old Millie on the side of a rural road in June 2010. She had been dumped with a bag of garbage and, given the 100+ degree temperature, parasitic infections, and her emaciated, dehydrated body condition, she was hours from death. He grabbed her up and brought her back from east Texas so that they could foster her through Amy’s rescue program. Once she was healthy, Amy placed her into a home that she had conscientiously screened.
Unfortunately, the resident dog took a dislike to Millie and proceeded to beat her up on a regular basis. The adopters revealed what had been going on, and Amy picked Millie up that very evening.
Millie came back to stay with Amy and Ken forever. But she was decidedly anxious and reactive with new dogs and suspicious of new people. “Her threshold was about a neighborhood block. Our once confident, happy-go-lucky puppy was now anything but. Inside our home, we had our old Millie, but excursions were just exercises in heartache and frustration,” Amy said. Still, she wasn’t giving up.
A couple of years after Millie’s return, a friend posted a video of a “sniffing class” that she was taking with her shy rescue dog. Amy was immediately interested when she saw how this dog engaged with the activity. Not long after, What A Great Dog in Frisco, TX, offered the very first scent work class and she “jumped on it.”
Millie is 13 years old this year and not only has she overcome significant reactivity issues, but she has endured five knee surgeries, including two TPLOs and subsequent removal of hardware. In late 2021, she beat an aggressive golf ball-sized soft tissue sarcoma of her anal gland that required extensive surgery and two rounds of electrochemotherapy.
“The sport of scent work has provided Millie with confidence in the world around her, strengthened our relationship with her and allowed her the opportunity to blossom into the dog she was meant to be. She and my husband Ken earned their Scent Work Detective title on December 30, 2022,” Amy said.
Scent Work Master
Congratulations to these dogs on earning their Scent Work Master (SWM) titles:
Grassey’s Lola SWM owned by Patricia Grassey of West Chester, PA
“Lola is 12 years old, but you’d never know it,” Patricia said. “She has lots of energy. She came to us as a 3-month-old puppy after her first owner died unexpectedly.”
Patricia got interested in competing when a trainer suggested they try scent work because Lola’s nose is always on the ground. “Numerous trainers have commented that Lola is an awesome dog!”
Lola enjoys sniffing during walks around the neighborhood or at different parks, rides in the car to trials, or just doing errands. She likes practicing her scent work skills and also going to Starbucks for a puppuccino. She earned her SWM title on Nov. 6, 2022, at the Olean Kennel Club trial in Olean, NY.
Rowdy Willis SWM SCME SIAE owned by Richard Willis of Madison, NC
Richard’s interest in dog sports began when he joined a dog club in the 1980s, and after retirement he competed in obedience, agility, rally, tracking, and therapy dog work with his Rottweilers – two of whom were in the top 10 Rottweilers in both obedience and agility.
Rowdy has been with Richard since he was 10 weeks old, and Richard began competing in AKC sports with him when he was 11. When he was a younger dog they did Barn Hunt; Rowdy was also trained in finding lost or missing people as a trailing dog and as a human remains detection dog.
“When Rowdy is not competing in scent work or rally, he likes to go to SAR training and run a trail to find someone. He enjoys rides in the truck, walks, and alerting me when I get a delivery. He also likes naps on the bed,” Richard said.
Rowdy started scent work training in May 2021 and finished his SWM title on Nov. 17, 2022, at the Winston Salem Dog Training Club trial. He turned 13 the next week.
Sophie Gal SWM SCME SHDN owned by Daryle Esswein of Sugar Land, TX
Sophie is about 9 years old, and Daryle adopted her from the local shelter. She wanted to provide Sophie with the best possible start, so she began with foundation classes. Daryle learned about dog agility from a trainer but changed to scent work when she found that Sophie had some hip issues making jumping difficult.
“Sophie loves to sit in the yard and watch the animals and birds,” Daryle said. “She also likes to go hiking with me and is getting very skilled about finding her way over rocks and boulders in creeks. She has hiked through the Ozarks, Adirondacks, the Appalachians, and mountains throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and Southern California to name a few.”
Sophie’s SWM was earned in Katy, TX, through the Houston Area K9 Scent Work Club on Dec. 3, 2022.
Sarmiento’s Zoee RI SWM SHDM RATO CGCA TKA VHMA owned by Cynthia & Alex Sarmiento of Oakley, CA
“Zoee, now 5 years old, came into our life as my savior,” Cynthia said. “My twin sister was diagnosed with cancer in September 2016 and three months later died… It hit me hard. I spiraled into a deep depression.”
“My daughter knew what joy and love dogs had brought to my life over the years, and she suggested that I get a puppy. I thought it over, began the search, and submitted applications. I narrowed it down to a litter of puppies being raised in a barn by their mother. The rescue put the puppies into foster care, and I was given first pick.”
At 8 weeks old, Cynthia chose Zoee, a German Shepherd Dog, Border Collie, and Australian Cattle Dog mix. She knew that she had to keep the pup mentally stimulated, and they took obedience, tricks, and scent work classes when she was about 4 months old. Zoee is the first dog Cynthia has participated in sports with.
“In our first obedience class, the instructor told me about the AKC Canine Partners program. Wow! I was excited to learn about all of the things I could now do with her. I signed her up that night. It was easy to do.
“My sights were on agility when Zoee was old enough. But in winter of 2018 she twisted her knee, which caused luxating patella. It didn’t improve so we decided on surgery in June 2019.”
“Eight weeks later, the rehab doctor noticed that Zoee’s sutures had failed soon after the surgery. I was devastated! A second surgery was required; then strict crate rest and rehab. In March of 2020, Zoee was released with a clean bill of health and given the okay to resume agility. But I was a little gun shy and then COVID-19 hit.”
Cynthia took online classes for scent work. Before the injury Zoee had earned her TKA, CGC, CGCA and her first RN leg. “AKC Canine Partners and Zoee gave me my life back; I was hooked.”
She received her SWM Title on Dec 16, 2022, at the Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of America trial in Yuba City, CA.
Asuna Caramel Beeman NA SWM SBNE SHDA owned by Jennifer Beeman of Houston, TX
Asuna, now 7 years old, was adopted as an 8-week-old puppy by Jennifer from Friends for Life shelter.
Jennifer took her to puppy kindergarten. One day, while at a park, someone noticed them training and mentioned that she might really enjoy flyball. “And not only did we enjoy it, we learned about other dog sports like scent work. Now Asuna and I love training and exhibiting and connecting with like-minded people.
“Asuna is my shadow. She loves to be near me whether she is in my lap watching TV or watching me work. She loves her belly rubs, chewing the ears off stuffed toys, bully sticks, and peeing in puddles. She loves flyball and agility. And she can’t resist greeting people and has managed to put a smile on the sternest of strangers.”
Asuna earned her SWM on January 22, 2023, in Katy, TX.
Norcal’s Highwayman RI SWM RATO SWM owned by Holly Goltra of Las Vegas, NV
Holly had wanted an American Bulldog since watching the movie Homeward Bound, and after her last German Shepherd Dog became a senior, she got Boss as a young puppy. He is from a breeder of working American Bulldogs.
Holly has always loved dogs and wanted to work with them from an early age. She began obedience as a teenager with her Akita and a mixed breed. After college, she got a German Shepherd Dog. Several more GSDs followed, and Holly competed with them in conformation, obedience, rally, and agility.
“Boss loves riding in the truck, hiking, and playing with his ball. He loves to be doing things, so enjoys any kind of training,” Holly said.
Boss earned his SWM on January 5, 2023, at the Superstition Kennel Club trial in Arizona.
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the SWM title:
- It’s All About Mia SWM owned by Suzanne Edholm of Pleasanton, CA
- I Came In Like A Wrecking Ball ACT2 SWM SIAE DM TKN owned by Jillian Vogel of Bradenton, FL
Tracking
Congratulations to these dogs on their TD titles:
Glen Highland Zephyr RN TD NA NAJ OF DCAT SWN owned by Donna Deal of Manlius, NY
Five-year-old Zephyr was surrendered at 5 months of age to Glen Highland Farm, the Border Collie rescue for which Donna volunteers. She had been hoping to find a smallish male Border Collie mix as a companion for her purebred Border Collie, and “fortunately for us all, they got along well at first sight when he came to my house as a foster,” Donna said.
Donna already had considerable experience with agility, herding, rally and tracking by the time she got Zephyr. “He loves being challenged and has a strong independent streak which lends itself particularly well to scent sports. I had gotten a Champion Tracker title on my first Border Collie and have a TD and a TDU on my current Border Collie, so I was able to appreciate and refine Zephyr’s scent puzzle solving abilities quickly. When we are not tracking, Zephyr enjoys agility, hiking, barn hunt, lure coursing, scent work, snuggling, and barking at the mailman, not necessarily in that order.”
Zephyr earned his TD at the Syracuse Obedience Training Club’s test on Oct. 23, 2022.
Burns’ Jake RN TD CGC owned by Jeanne Burns of Wayland, NY
Jake, who will be 3 years old in June, was rescued with his littermates at 9 weeks old, and Jeanne adopted him through an agency.
Her previous dog was a lab mix and they did rally and obedience together. “Jake, being a different mix of breeds, showed high interest in scent work and tracking. I had no experience in those areas before so when a tracking seminar was offered close by, we went, and Jake loved it,” Jeanne said. “We’ve been tracking ever since. Jake also participates in rally and scent work events, but his favorite is tracking!”
Jake earned his TD on Oct. 23, 2022, at a trial hosted by the Syracuse Obedience Training Club.
“He completed the 450-yard track in four minutes; his nose never left the track. He had me and the judges hustling! I was SO proud of him. It was the best day for both of us.”
Dakota Charlie CD BN RM TD SWE SCAE SIAE SCM SIM SEM CGC owned by JoAnn Peterson of Cedar Creek, MO
JoAnn was looking for a dog and wanted a herding type. “Charlie was advertised through one of our local rescue organizations, and his ‘mug shot’ stole my heart. Our application was accepted, and he joined our family,” she said.
“I showed dogs in obedience and conformation a long time ago (the late 70’s and 80’s). When I got Charlie I was hoping he might be a good therapy dog and enrolled him in training classes offered by our local AKC affiliated obedience club. My initial intent was to get his CGC, but I soon learned about the many dog sports and events which were not available in the 70’s and 80’s. In addition, the Canine Partners program didn’t exist, so All Americans couldn’t compete.”
JoAnn’s husband, Brian, supported her during Charlie’s early training, so she enrolled him and Charlie in a scent work class offered by the club. One class led to another, which soon led them to AKC Scent Work trials. Tracking was a natural fit with their scent work activities and Charlie loved it.
“Charlie’s life revolves around our daily fetch time, although he will only retrieve a Chuck-it Squirrel. I think he can tell time and will remind us if we happen to be late for ‘Chuck-it’!” JoAnn said.
Five-year-old Charlie earned his TD title on Oct 30, 2022, in Sullivan, MO at a trial held by the Gateway Tracking Club.
Reckless Ender TD owned by Jessy James Amblo of Charlotte, VT
Ender amazingly earned his Tracking Dog title at the age of 6 months and turned that age on the day of the test.
“I believe he is the youngest ever in our state to do so,” Jessy said.
When he isn’t tracking, “Ender enjoys zoomies on the homestead. He is very athletic and very high energy. We do two-mile hikes three times a week.”
Ender earned his TD at a test held by the Vermont Tracking Club on Nov. 27, 2022. Now 11 months old, Ender is ready to go for his TDX title!
Maya Sugar Merrifield TD owned by Gary R. Merrifield of Saint Gabriel, LA
Gary fosters dogs for a Baton Rouge rescue group, and he was asked to foster Maya and her sister. “We’ve fostered many dogs, but there was something special about Maya and I decided I couldn’t let her go,” Gary said. “It was a great decision as she’s been a wonderful addition to our family. Her sister was adopted by some friends and is also into tracking.”
Gary got involved with dog sports mainly to spend time with the dogs and have fun together. “It gets us out and about, and it’s a good way for both of us to get some exercise. Maya and her brother Moose have done tracking, obedience, and agility,” he said.
The Merrifields live on a few acres, where Maya enjoys playing with her brother, hunting squirrels in our yard, or chasing anything that moves. She also loves popcorn and has her favorite spot on the sofa for TV time. “One special thing about Maya is that when we have younger fosters, she’s usually the first to play with them and help teach them how to be dogs.”
Maya is 2 years old, and her TD was earned on Jan. 8, 2023, at a trial held by the Southwest Tracking Association of Metropolitan Houston.
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the TD title:
- On The Brink Kenzy BN RN TD owned by Hannah Robinson of Candor, NY
- Nutella-19 RN TD SWN CGC FITB owned by Becky Robinson of Ithaca, NY
- CT Halvorsen’s Cleo CDX TDU CGC TKP owned by Maia Halvorsen of Bellingham, WA
- Countryside’s Ellie TD AX AXJ MXP MJP OF FCAT SWE SCM THDD CGC owned by Cabell West of Richmond, VA
Trick Dog – Trick Dog Elite Performer (TKE)
Testing of this truly elite trick dog level requires the dog to perform 10 tricks with at least five props and there must be a story. Congratulations to these All American Dogs who have earned the TKE:
Lucie Friend Of Cats TKE owned by Marie Ballenger of Delray Beach, FL
Marie was having some health issues that required a break from her competitive swimming career. She was not able to do much to stay active, but she could go on walks, so she decided to get a dog to enjoy the walks with. A failed adoption attempt left Marie disappointed. “Jody Jones, the late founder of Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue and Sanctuary in Elverta, CA, reached out to me saying she had the perfect dog for me. I told her I was too heartbroken to attempt adopting another dog, but my aunt, who was a volunteer with Homeward Bound, talked me into meeting Lucie. Lucie wasn’t much interested in me at the sanctuary and then spent about three months just living under my couch because the world was so scary, but I introduced her to it one bit at a time and now she’s a strong and confident lady,” Marie said.
Because Lucie was so nervous at first, Marie got her everyone’s recommendation to get her into dog sports. They started with some obedience and then moved onto scent work. “During this time, we learned of a younger sister of hers, ‘Pie,’ through Embark testing. Pie’s owner is Janine of J9sK9s Dog Training in Granada Hills, CA. We kept in touch, talking about how our dogs navigate the world in their own similarly neurotic ways. I would have trained with Janine, but we lived five hours from each other. But once COVID hit, Janine held her classes on Zoom and Lucie and I could be students. We’ve done tricks classes for three years now and our current group of six dogs in ‘Trick Masters’ have been going strong for more than 18 months.”
Marie said that “Lucie is always up for a walk, rolling in gross things, and soliciting pats from strangers. She also enjoys smelling her cat friends.” She is about 8 ½ years old and earned her title in October 2022 in Delray Beach, FL.
Dash Noah CGC TKE owned by Evelyn & Jesse Noah of Estes Park, CO
Evelyn and Jesse adopted Dash, a Border Collie/Blue Heeler mix, when he was 3 months old from the Border Collie Rescue and Rehab in Dallas, TX,at one of their rescue events. He is 5 years old now.
When they adopted Dash, the Noahs lived in a townhome. They could not give him a yard, so they took classes at What a Great Dog training facility in the Dallas area. In addition to tricks classes, Dash loved agility, scent work and barn hunt. They had planned to try competition in one of these sports when COVID hit.
“When able, we went back to classes. We retired during COVID and moved to Estes Park, CO, where there is no training facility. Dash still does some scent work for fun at home, but it was easier to continue tricks training through reading and videos,” Evelyn said. They also did online training with What a Great Dog.
“Dash is easy to train as he picks up new tricks very easily and loves his training time,” Evelyn said. “When Dash was starting in tricks, the trainer told the class to train every day, but not to overtax your dog. Then she turned to us and said ‘Except for Dash. He can train as long as he likes,’ because Dash was always so excited about doing tricks. He continues to learn new ones and enjoys performing for all our friends.”
Dash tested for the Elite Performer level in Estes Park in front of a gathering of their friends in November 2022.
Byron Ng-Chow CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Choi Yi Ng/Matthew Chow of Gainesville, VA
Choi Yi has always had pets and after losing her last one she felt empty. She decided to adopt a dog and asked the rescue to show her the “easiest dog they had, and they felt that Byron would be just that.” She fell in love the moment she met him, and “the rest was history,” Choi Yi said.
“After discovering how trainable Byron is and how in tune he is with me, I decided to start training him as my service dog. While my trainer was preparing us for the CGC tests, I found different AKC programs on the website, so I decided to give Trick Dog a try. Well, I am glad I did because I love it, and I can tell Byron loves learning new tricks. We have such fun doing it together. I got very lucky with such a smart and easygoing dog.”
Byron loves to sunbathe, play fetch, go on car rides, and cuddle. He is 2 years old, and he earned his TKE on Dec. 19, 2022, via video submission.
Keiki Fookes RN CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Terri & Larry Fookes of Pasco, WA
Keiki is a certified therapy dog with Go Team Therapy, Crisis and Airport Dogs, Inc. Terri and Larry got involved with dog sports to develop her cognitive skills, keep her active and well-mannered.
“She loves working as a therapy dog, visiting nursing homes, the airport and children’s reading programs. She also enjoys training for her AKC Rally titles and classes,” Terri said. “In addition, she loves taking naps on people’s laps, taking walks, and doing tricks daily. She loves doing tricks so much that sometimes she gets the mail from her mailbox and brings it to us without being asked, hoping for a treat!”
Her AKC Trick Dog Elite Performer title was earned Dec. 20, 2022, just before she turned 4 years old.
Pavlov Wen CGCU TKE owned by Tanya Wen of San Diego, CA
Tanya got Pavlov when he was 10 weeks old. She was looking for a friend to add to her life and to do things with and thought having him would be a good way to make new friends who also have dogs.
“Pavlov was kind of difficult to train as a puppy when it came to basic obedience. For his safety, all I really wanted was for him to know sit, stay, come, and walk on a loose leash. He seemed to find these boring and had a hard time sitting still or walking nicely,” Tanya said.
“At first, I didn’t put in much effort into teaching tricks as all I wanted was for him to have basic obedience, and whether he could shake hands or roll over just seemed like ‘extra.’ But one day, I decided to go ahead and teach him some tricks. It was a bit hard at first, as he would try to take shortcuts and jump to the treat in my hand rather than following it as a lure, but he gradually understood the game and became interested in learning.
“Through trick training, we started to understand each other and were able to communicate better, and our bond grew. His obedience improved significantly. Pavlov soon enjoyed learning new tricks, and he learned them very quickly. We started going through the AKC Trick Dog titles to get new ideas of which tricks to teach him and what order to teach them in. We enjoyed the process! Even though we received the highest AKC trick dog title, we are still continuing to learn new ones.”
Pavlov, 3 ½ years old, earned the TKE on Jan. 4, 2023.
Sir Rocco Star The First CGC TKE owned by Karen & Pontus Weibull of Saline, MI
Karen and Pontus chose Rocco at 8 weeks old because he was the most curious and energetic dog in the litter. Now he is nearly 2 years old.
Mental stimulation and an outlet for Rocco’s energy were needed, so they began tracking when he was 1 year old. When he was still a puppy, they started working on tricks because they found that they were a great way to get this excitable puppy to focus and calm down.
“It was not long before we enrolled in additional classes, and he is currently working on titles in scent work, tracking, agility, and obedience,” Karen said. “Dog sports have really helped us build a bond with him.”
When Rocco is not competing, he loves hiking and kayaking. He earned his TKN on Jan. 1, 2023, in Michigan.
Allie’s Haven’s D.J. Gator CD BN RE OAP AJP XFP ACT2 TKE owned by Kathleen and Daniel Field of Fort Worth, TX
D.J. was adopted by Kathleen and Daniel through Robin Hamilton, founder of Allie’s Haven Rescue. He is about 6 years old.
Kathleen had been looking for a dog to carry on competing since her Labrador, Jenny, was nearing retirement. D. J. was on Allie’s Haven’s website, and Robin brought him to the Fields’ home to meet their other dogs. “They all loved him,” Kathleen said.
“Originally I had little hope of D. J. becoming a competition dog because he is so laid back; however, he qualified in his first obedience trial and has been qualifying since. He now has 57 titles, in three different venues, in agility, obedience, rally, and trick dog. He also has qualified for AKC Rally National Championship.”
He earned his TKE title on Dec. 22, 2022, at Jane Berry’s Christmas party in Burleson, TX.
Bush Bottom’s Tucker Stone CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Theresa Cowan of Harrisville, WV
During the COVID lockdown while working remotely, Theresa felt the need for companionship. A friend spoke highly of her own Standard Poodle, and Theresa was looking for a non-shedding, hypoallergenic pup due to her intent to use him for therapy.
“When my late husband was ill, a therapy dog came to visit him. He was not the dog person I am, but he enjoyed the visits. I was moved by the ability of this dog to bring comfort. My niece, an elementary school principal, shared with me how well students in her school reacted to a random dog visit. These two instances provided me with the incentive to work with Tucker to achieve therapy dog status. My trainer encouraged us to pursue the levels of Trick Dog to bring more to the visit than sitting quietly. She felt this would provide an additional avenue for student engagement. Tucker’s ability to read and answer yes/no questions has been a great hit with students. He can read three words: Sit, Wave and Touch in both English and Spanish. I guess this makes him bilingual,” Theresa said. “As he becomes more acclimated to the school environment we will include more tricks to make up a skit. We have also visited professional health care offices/facilities. He is very calm and has learned to place his head in the lap of those sitting in chairs or wheelchairs for easy access.
“My yard is adjacent to an office for the Department of Human Services. He waits in the morning for the workers to arrive at the fence. I have been told he is a bright spot in a very stressful occupation. On occasion I have checked on Tucker to find him at the fence with a worker stroking his head. On Saturday I have to remind him the office is closed. He may be able to read but the days of the week have eluded him.”
Tucker is 2 years old and earned his TKE on Aug. 25, 2022.
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the TKE title:
- Naboychik’s Bear CGC TKE owned by Pam Naboychik of Highland, MI
- Chipper IX CGCA CGCU TKE owned by Sage Mountainfire of Ukiah, CA