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
Master Agility Championships (MACH)
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more MACHs:
- AGCH MACH21 Feel The Need MXB6 PDC MJC6 PJC MFB3 TQX T2B12 CGC owned by Janet K. Boggs of Crawfordsville, IN
- MACH10 Camp David’s On The Verge Of Greatness MXG3 MJC3 MFB2 TQX T2B3 CGC TKA owned by Rachel Billick of Tarentum, PA
- MACH12 Olive Hawkins MXC3 PDS MJB4 PJS MFB TQX T2B8 CGC TKI owned by Stefanie and Craig Hawkins of Florence, KY
- MACH17 Donaldson’s Daisy MXB5 MJC5 OF owned by Laura J. Donaldson of Elk Grove Village, IL
- MACH2 Piper Pie Swanson MXG PAD MJG PJD MFS TQX T2B3 BCAT owned by Diane Swanson of San Antonio, TX
- MACH2 Jakku’s Cosmic Force Awakening RN MXS MJS PJD MXF TQX T2B TKP owned by Kara Sheerer of Brookville, OH
- MACH2 Zoey Woofta Crow MXS MJS MFB TQX T2B2 FCAT TKN owned by Anjie Crow of Hermitage, TN
- MACH2 Stricklers Hey Mama Rock Me MXS MJG SWE SEME SCM SIM TKP owned by Kaydi Grunhovd of Euclid, MN
- MACH2 Siegel’s Cali MXS MJS XF T2B DN owned by Lauren Siegel of Dinwiddie, VA
Congratulations to these first-time MACHs:
MACH Sprite’s Panda Bear MXB MJB owned by Joyce and Gregory Partykevich of Round Lake, IL
“We were very lucky that this girl came into our lives nine years ago. She has brought us much happiness from the first time we saw her,” Joyce said.
Pandi, half Border Collie and half Australian Shepherd, “was the perfect little puppy, very sweet and smart.” Joyce and Gregory started her in classes, and it wasn’t long before they saw dogs like Pandi doing agility and thought it would be fun to check it out – a decision that changed their lives.
Pandi earned her MACH on Nov. 14, 2020, at WAG Agility Group in Spring Grove, IL.
Pandi enjoys swimming and boating during the summer, but also loves rain and snow. “She will run back and forth in the yard, catching raindrops and snowflakes in complete joy. She is a great snuggle buddy because she is so soft and cuddly and loves to just hang out with her people,” Joyce said.
“If it wasn’t for Pandi, we probably wouldn’t have had the chance to meet so many nice dogs and people throughout the years.”
MACH Gurley Go Dawgs Reagin MXB MJB owned by Larry and Tammy Reagin of Richmond, VA
Gurley joined the Reagin family in 2014. She was their first non-purebred dog and was named for a great University of Georgia running back (Todd Gurley). The Reagins knew from the start that she was destined for something special.
“Early on it became evident that she loved agility,” Larry said. “If you did not block off the teeter, she would get going in a circle to go over it again and again! But, when we would go to a competition and get in the ring, all she wanted to do was look for Mommy in the peanut gallery.”
Gurley finally learned to focus on the courses instead of the crowd. Then came the Q’s, and there was no turning back. At one point she earned 19 Standard Q’s in a row (and currently is only one dropped bar away from 29 straight and still counting).
When she is not on an agility course Gurley excels at face licking and squirrel chasing. But most of all she just loves to cuddle with everyone.
Gurley earned her MACH on Jan. 2, 2021 competing in the Bulldog Club of America agility trial in Mechanicsville, VA.
MACH Valentine’s Chili Pepper BN RN FDC MX MXB MXJ MJS TKI CGCA owned by Jacque Arbuckle of Reddick, FL
When Jacque rescued Chico as a little puppy, he was very sick. After nursing him to good health, she was looking to find some other “dog people.” She had two other rescue dogs at the time. She found someone teaching agility nearby; she had never tried it and didn’t think that any of her dogs could do it. “Shannon, a coonhound, was NOT interested at all, and Bitsy, the Rat Terrier, was too old to start,” Jacque said. “That left little Chico. Who ever heard of a Chihuahua doing agility? He was the only choice. He loved it. I was a klutz. He was fast; I was not. It took almost three years to get our first leg.”
In November 2015 Jacque was hospitalized for what she thought would be a few days. Her friend, Inez Hill, took care of Chico for her. He was entered in a trial in January. Inez had never gone in the ring before, but she was persuaded to run Chico in the trial. “Over the last five years she became a great handler. I could not have done it,” Jacque said. “Entering only 11 trials most years it has taken a long time and on Jan. 8, 2021 he did it! Yahoo!! MACH Chico, the funny little Chihuahua that everyone laughed at when we first started.” He finished the title at the Greater Ocala Dog Club, the home site where he started all those years ago. “The credit for his MACH goes to Inez. Unfortunately, Inez unexpectedly passed away on Jan. 28, 2021. She is greatly missed by Chico and her many friends.
“Chico is back with me being a retired couch potato. He loves agility and was always happy and willing to do anything for treats. He is 13 now and has earned his retirement.”
MACH Pepper Of Pine Ridge MXB MJB XF T2B2 owned by Lila & Dwight Bates of Panama City, FL
Pepper was a rescue, adopted by Lila and Dwight in 2016 when she was 2 years old. “She is cute, but much more than that she is a driven little workhorse. She loves to work hard and play hard whether it’s agility, flyball, or tugging with her siblings,” Lila said.
Pepper teamed up with her handler, Vickie Gregory, in 2018 when they were novices to agility. They both love to compete but more importantly have a lot of fun together. While 2020 was definitely challenging for everyone, 2021 has been a year of accomplishments.
In March 2021 Pepper earned her MACH at a trial held by Montgomery (AL) Dog Obedience Club. In the same month, she competed in her first AKC National Agility Championship trial in Tulsa, OK. Pepper had a great showing, completing all her runs cleanly. She finished 17th and was ranked highest among All American Dogs in the 8” height division after the first three rounds. “She didn’t quite make the Challengers Round in 2021, but that’s her goal for next year! We are all proud of what she has accomplished and look forward to a lot more fun together in the future.”
MACH Pika-Starburst MXB MJB ACT2 owned by Mayumi and Mikio Ito of Anchorage, AK
Mayumi and her husband met Pika at an adoption clinic in 2015 when she was a 2-month-old pup. They were told that she had been rescued from a dump in a small Alaskan village.
“That story and her sad brown eyes apparently stole many hearts that day, and we felt really lucky to be chosen as her new parents, “ Mayumi said. “As a puppy, Pika was like a ninja or a flying squirrel: she was here, there, and everywhere!”
That gave Mayumi an idea that Pika and agility might be a good match. To get into an agility class, they had to take and pass an advanced beginner obedience class; they ended up repeating it four times. While struggling with obedience tasks, Pika and Mayumi would take peeks at an agility class that was going on in the adjacent classroom, longing to run and have fun together. “When we finally graduated from the obedience class and started a flatwork class, we were so happy and excited,” said Mayumi.
When they started trialing as a Novice A in fall 2018, their goal was to get a Master title. When they started getting double Qs, MACH became their next dream. For the greater part of 2020, however, they couldn’t enter trials due to Mayumi having an injury and the pandemic.
“So, getting our MACH on March 14, 2021 at the Cook Inlet Kennel Club trial was our incredible dream-come-true moment! I’d like to thank all the people who have given us their support and advice when we needed them.”
MACH Tesla Lightning Strikes Twice CD BN RE MXB MJS NF T2B owned by Kenneth and Yvonne Smith of West Dundee, IL
“Tess found us at a small agility trial where her foster was providing lunches to raise funds for Fluffy Dog Rescue who transported her to Illinois. There were photos of many adoptable dogs, but Tess was there as an ambassador and stole the show,” Yvonne said. “Everyone loved her, and she relished the attention.”
The Smiths were thinking about looking for another dog as their two Cairn Terriers were then 8 and 9. They decided to apply to adopt and were amazed that within a week they were accepted. After Tess settled into the family, they started basic obedience and agility training at Northwest Obedience Club. She was soon going to agility class with her brother who was already an accomplished agility dog. “Tess had some big paw prints to fill.”
Tess was around 2 years old when the Smiths adopted her. She had just weaned puppies that were rescued with her. “DNA results show her top breeds as Miniature Schnauzer, Rat Terrier, Chihuahua and American Eskimo. She is energetic and very friendly, always trying to get attention by wagging her tail, paddling her feet, or jumping in their laps to get a cuddle. It might just be she thinks that is what an agility trial is about.”
On March 20, 2021, Tess, now 8 years old, earned her MACH at the Car-Dun-Al Dog Obedience Training Club Agility trial.
MACH Tobago’s Galla Trace MXB MJB NF TKN owned by Leanne Ksiazek of Westhampton, MA
Galla was rescued from the island of Tobago in the West Indies while Leanne was vacationing there.
She was the lone survivor from a litter of feral street pups. With the help of animal advocates, arrangements were made for her to be kept safe and sent to her in Massachusetts after the required quarantine period. Unfortunately, within 24 hours of her arrival, she was very ill with parvovirus and anaplasmosis. After a rough week, she started to thrive and bonded incredibly well with her new family.
She came into a household of performance dogs who compete in multiple AKC events, primarily agility, but also obedience, rally and tracking. But her feral genetics and lack of early positive human socialization caused her to struggle socially outside her home.
“We started to train her, as we do all our dogs, some basic behaviors and tricks,” Leanne said. “We realized she was very talented, with the perfect combination of extreme intelligence, athleticism and work ethic. But could she ever overcome her fear of novel people and environments?
“Agility training provided an avenue for confidence building, and attending trials with the other dogs offered an opportunity for controlled socialization. The AKC agility village provided Galla with an incredible opportunity to expand her comfort zone around people. By interacting via tricks and behaviors, her positive human experiences accelerated. Galla has exceeded all expectations in competition and, though not linear, her progress has been incredible. She continues to gain confidence and showcase her talent. Next up, obedience and rally competition. Thank you to AKC for having the Canine Partners program.”
Galla achieved her MACH on March 27, 2021, at a LEAP Agility Club trial in Northford, CT.
MACH Lucy Of Southgate MXS MJB owned by Brenda Jaffe of Annandale, NJ
In 2011, the Jaffes were looking for a young small dog as a companion to their 1-year old Miniature Pinscher. Brenda found Lucy on Petfinder; she was being kept at a boarding facility in New Jersey. Lucy had been found wandering the streets and was picked up by animal control. Brenda adopted her the day they met.
Lucy was active, playful and smart. She loved running and jumping over everything. Brenda decided to take an agility class with her to channel some of her energy, build trust, and bond with her. She had never taken an agility class before and knew nothing about it. They loved learning and playing agility together and took classes for several years before they ever competed.
Lucy was about 6 years old when they first competed as a Novice A team. Brenda’s work schedule did not allow her to compete as often as she would have liked, so getting her MACH was not something she thought they would achieve. Then Lucy had an injury, which took her out for a few months, then the pandemic. “So, at more than 10 years old, I was thrilled when Lucy got her MACH in April 2021 at Bella Vista training center in Lewisberry, PA,” Brenda said. “Most important, I am happy that through agility, I developed such a special bond with my dog while having so much fun with her.”
MACH Audrey Becker RN MXB MJB NF DCAT CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Diane Renee Becker of Stafford, VA
Audrey was 7 weeks old when Diane adopted her on Nov. 13, 2013, from the Bourbon County Rescue in Germantown, MD. She enrolled Audrey in puppy classes, and she advanced quickly. They were having fun learning and training together. “Wanting to continue training, I was fortunate to find Pup N Iron. It was here that we learned about the world of dog sports and agility. This was the start of many new adventures for us both,” Diane said.
In addition to agility, Audrey and Diane participate in tricks, rally, obedience, Fast CAT and scent work. Audrey earned her MACH on April 17, 2021, at the Central Virginia Agility Club trial. “We have received support and training opportunities from the Mattaponi Kennel Club, Level Up Dog Sports, and Linda and Bill Keens with South Run Recreation Center. I appreciate this, realizing that without it this adventure would have never been possible. I am helping others who want to embark on an agility adventure by volunteering with the Mattaponi Kennel Club.”
MACH King’s Splish Splash CD RE MXB MJB XF BCAT SWN SCA CGC TKP owned by Rebecca King and Alexander Vogt of Sunnyvale, CA
Splash is a dream dog “on and off the field,” Rebecca said.
“ She’s the perfect agility partner, beautifully balancing obstacle drive and handler focus. She’s not the fastest out there but was the perfect first agility dog for me, allowing me a gentle introduction to the sport. Every day I’m grateful for her patience and aptitude for all the things I ask of her.”
Splash earned her MACH on April 18, 2021, at the Canine Agility Club trial held by ABBA dogs.
MACH Lollipop True Gift Of Amazing Beauty MXB MJC CGC TKN owned by Betsy Habich of Salisbury, MD
On a cold rainy Oct. 13, 2014, Betsy drove to a farm advertising Australian Shepherds for sale. There were two dogs left, neither of which looked purebred. One was a distinctive looking female that the farmer’s children had named “Lollipop.”
“I asked the farmer if I could walk down the long lane back to my car to think things over for about 15 minutes,” Betsy said. “He agreed, and I sat in the driver’s seat with the door slightly open. All of a sudden there was a cold, wet something touching my dangling left hand. I looked down, and there was wet, bedraggled Lollipop. ‘Well, I guess you made the decision for me. You chose me, now I choose you. Let me go pay the farmer and we’ll go home.’”
“The amazing journey and adventure continue for both of us.”
Lollipop earned her MACH at the Agility Association of Central New Jersey on Nov. 17, 2019.
Congratulations also to these dogs who have earned their first MACH:
- MACH Taio MXB PAD MJB OF T2B owned by Martine Landais of Beaverton, OR
- MACH Ava Sophia Santana MXB MJB OF CGC TKI owned by Brooke and Juan Santana of Belleville, IL
- MACH Coco Quickly FDC MXS MJB MFB T2B3 CGCA TKN owned by Betsie Bolger of Dallas, TX
- MACH Haven Monroe CD BN RE MXB MJB XF SWN CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Sara Wiederholt and LaDonna Weiderholt of West Fargo, ND
- MACH PACH3 Logan’s Flash Of An Angel Trixie MXB MJB MXP8 MXPG PADP MJP9 MJPG PAX3 XF MFPB TQXP T2B T2BP3 BCAT RATN CGC TKA ATT owned by Mrs. Antje Logan of Denham Springs, LA
- MACH Kaminski’s Sadie MXS MJS ACT2 TKI owned by Kaitlyn Kaminski of Rochester, NY
- MACH Sophie’s Choice MXB MJB owned by Alice Reinkemyer of New Athens, IL
Preferred Agility Championships (PACH)
Congratulations to these dogs who have earned more PACHs:
- PACH2 Sandy’s Zoe MXP5 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX2 owned by Sandy Angelone of Conway, PA
- MACH PACH3 Logan’s Flash Of An Angel Trixie MXB MJB MXP8 MXPG PADP MJP9 MJPG PAX3 XF MFPB TQXP T2B T2BP3 BCAT RATN CGC TKA ATT owned by Mrs. Antje L Logan of Denham Springs, LA
- PACH4 2fs Fisher Dog MXP10 MXPC MJP13 MJPB2 PAX4 T2BP SWA SCE SHDN TKA owned by Julie and Nathan Free of Inola, OK
- AGCH MACH15 PACH5 Moses Raphael York UD BN GN GO RAE5 MXB4 PDG MJC4 PJG MXP12 MXPC MJP12 MJPB2 PAX5 MFC TQX T2B9 CGCA CGCU TKA owned by Jordan Patrick York of Evansville, IN
- PNAC MACH9 PACH9 Logan Lake Hope MXC2 MJG3 MXP20 MXPC2 MJP21 MJPC2 PAX9 XF T2B CGC owned by Kimberly Barton of Johnstown, OH
Congratulations to these dogs for earning their first PACH:
PACH Karl’s Kenny Dog MXP5 MXPS MJP4 MJPB PAX NFP CGC TKN ATT owned by Teresa Seger-Yeggy of Elburn, IL
“Kenny is half German Shepherd, half Cattle Dog and all fun,” Teresa said.
She adopted him just over five years ago when he was about 4 years old.
She and Kenny started agility soon after, and “he is always excited to be in the ring. Agility has been a great bonding sport for us as he is really a daddy’s dog, and it’s the only way for me to get any attention from him.
“Kenny has taught me a lot during our training together. He’s super smart, a fast learner and eager to please. It’s also entertaining when ‘Krazy Kenny’ decides to come out with his ears back with the zoomies.”
At 9 years old, he earned his PACH at the Muscatine Agility Club of Iowa on Feb. 28, 2021. They also qualified for and attended the NAC. “While we didn’t come home from NAC with any ribbons, this smile is why we play the game (photo from NAC). We have trained with and met some of the best people through agility and appreciate everyone who has supported us along the way; you’re all the best!”
When not doing agility, Kenny is a great camping companion and is learning other sports, such as AKC Scent Work and Barn Hunt, and just earned his BCAT title in Fast CAT.
PACH Dobby Dog FDC MXP4 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX CGCA CGCU TKA ATT owned by Karen Lippmann of Cleveland Heights, OH
Karen describes Dobby as a “true mixed breed.”
“No one can imagine how many mixed breeds went into what makes up a Dobby,” Karen said. “She is the friendliest, happiest dog anywhere. She not only smiles for all her pictures, but she never fails to bring a smile to everyone’s face.
“Dobby and I didn’t connect right away – I was still getting over the dog that I had just lost. A friend recommended agility as a way to build connection and teamwork. Not knowing anything about agility, we started learning together and both got hooked!”
They did not start competing until Dobby was 5 and, just as she got to the Masters level, she hurt her shoulder. Karen was crushed, but was assured that Dobby could make a comeback with patience and lots of hard work. Following surgery and rehab, they were ready to get back in the game six months later.
Dobby and Karen were in agility for the teamwork and the fun and never imagined they would get a PACH. “Then everything started to click. Her double Q’s became more frequent and she racked up points…We were both over the moon on March 13, 2021, at Countryside Agility K9 Sports Center where our dreams came true! Agility helped Dobby and me become a team and build a friendship that I could never have imagined.”
MACH2 PACH Miss Sophie MXS MJG MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX MXF MFP owned by Marti Conrad of Naples, FL
“Miss Sophie is my first agility dog but definitely not my last. I am hooked on this sport!” Marti said.
“Besides loving agility, 13-year-old Sophie takes her job of being big sister to Chase (9-year-old Golden rescue) and Balina (5-year-old Border Collie) very seriously. She is very much in charge around our home.”
She earned her first PACH on Dec. 27, 2019, at the Tailwaggers Club of South Florida’s Agility event in Fort Pierce, FL.
Despite developing cataracts and a few muscle and joint issues, Sophie still loves to run, jump, and play games with Marti. “Through our agility journey I have made many handler mistakes, but always try to learn from so that I can become a better teammate for Sophie,” she said.
“Learning agility and running Sophie has taught me so much about working as a team. As long as Sophie is physically able and wants to continue doing agility, I will do my best as her handler. This sport has strengthened our bond. I look forward to many more runs with Sophie by my side.”
Congratulations also to these dogs on their first PACH titles:
- PACH Keenan-Taylor’s Joey NA NAJ MXP5 MXPS MJP4 MJPB PAX XFP T2BP THDA CGC TKN owned by Darlene Keenan-Taylor of Oakham, MA
- PACH Coco Salvadore MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX owned by Christine and Frank Salvadore of Liverpool, NY
- PACH Ahlen’s Watson AX AXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX XF MFP T2B T2BP2 SCN TKA owned by Kirsten Ahlen of Chicago, IL
- MACH PACH RACH Dancing Dogs Shiner Bock CDX RM2 RAE2 MXS MJB MXP3 MXPB MJP3 MJPB PAX XF MFP owned by Mary Waugh Swindell of Boyd, TX
Fast CAT
AKC ranks the fastest dogs of each breed in Fast CAT. Congratulations to the top five fastest All American Dogs as of July 16th:
- Miss Unusual BCAT owned by Erin and Reynauld Boyer of Gastonia, NC
- Hogs Benidorm BCAT owned by Sandy McMillan of Fort Myers, FL
- Yago CAX DCAT CGC TKN owned by Nicole and Bret Barnes of Elizabethtown, KY
- Mc’s Pancho owned by Crystal McClaran of Cape Coral, FL
- The Whole Shebang BCAT owned by Barbara Mahony of Brooksville, FL
OBEDIENCE
Utility Dog (UD)
Congratulations to these dogs for earning the UD title:
Olive Of Lindenbrook UD BN CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Nan & Kevin Daley of Woodside, CA
Olive’s journey began four years ago when Nan was asked to foster a dog found roaming in a field.
“Nobody claimed her at the shelter, so the tail-wagging, happy 1-year-old black and white girl came to live with us until Our Pack Rescue could find her a permanent home. I started training her as I do all my fosters and fell in love with her ever-wagging tail and adventurous, loving nature and couldn’t let her go!”
They earned their first Utility leg in fall 2019, two weeks after earning the CDX, with a score of 199. Then came the sad news that Olive had to have a double knee replacement. Coming back only four months after surgery, Olive’s second leg was an unbelievable score of 200, first place and High in Trial. Her third leg was at the Dalmatian Specialty Show on April 18t, 2021, winning first place with some great competitors and earning 10 OTCH points.
“We couldn’t have made this journey without all the help and support of good training friends.”
Photo by Lynne Colbert
Duesenburg UD MX AXJ TKP owned by Mary B. Zalac of Lowellville, OH
Duesey, a 10-year-old Schnauzer mix, earned his UD on Oct. 25, 2020, at the Youngstown All-Breed Training Club, where Mary has been a member for nine years.
He is also a therapy dog who knows 14 tricks, including playing the piano and basketball, which come in handy during visits to his friends at three different nursing homes.
Duesey’s favorite things are walks in the park where he looks out for squirrels, ice cream on Sundays, and the birthday parties that Mary and her husband throw for him every year. “And cookies, cookies, and then, well more cookies!” Mary said.
Maisie Doodle Meltzer UD BN CGC owned by Dana Meltzer of Maple Glen, PA
“Let’s just take this black one,” Dana’s husband said as he scooped up a puppy from a litter. “As we drove home and in the early days with our new puppy, I wondered what we had done,” Dana said.
“Now, my beloved Maisie is almost 6 years old, and she has enriched my life beyond words or description. I love her dearly, as a family member and a friend. And I am so proud of what we have accomplished together in obedience competition, which was not even part of that original plan.” Early on, Dana pursued training with Maisie because she wanted her to be well-behaved. But they bonded quickly, and it was clear they were a great team.
A trainer suggested they try competitive obedience. Maisie picked things up easily and quickly advanced. “She wanted to learn, to please, and to understand. Maisie is sweet, sensitive and remarkably intelligent. She has a brightness and kindness in her eyes that always draw me to her. I feel like we understand each other, on a level that I didn’t think was possible with a dog,” Dana said.
Maisie earned her UD title on Feb. 12, 2021, at the Lower Camden County Dog Training Club in Lindenwold, NJ. They are working towards UDX.
RALLY
Rally Champion (RACH)
RACH Luke Skywalk CD RM3 RAE2 OA OAJ NF CGC TKA owned by Amanda and Levi Olson of Otsego, MN
Luke is a 5-year-old pointer/lab mix that the Olsons got as a puppy to be a family pet.
They started puppy kindergarten class as Amanda had never trained a dog to have basic obedience skills, and she wanted a dog they could trust to stay with them off leash. She discovered that she enjoyed working with Luke, so they continued training and their instructor told her about the AKC Canine Partners program.
“I never knew that mixed breeds could compete and had never contemplated doing dog sports despite having had dogs of various breeds throughout my life,” Amanda said. “We entered our first rally trial when Luke was 11 months old and became hooked!”
In addition to rally, Luke has earned titles in obedience, agility, Trick Dog, CGC, Fast CAT and most recently dock diving, earning 21 titles.
“Our journey has opened my eyes to the world of companion dog sports, and I love the bond that develops with your dog through training. You truly become a team! Along the way, we have been blessed to find a wonderful group of friends to train with who support and encourage each other. I look forward to seeing everything that we can accomplish in the future!”
RACH Eddyson RM4 RAE3 CGC TKN owned by Katherine M Birkner of San Antonio, TX
Eddyson was found in a Walmart parking lot. The vet found he had hookworms and weighed about 13 pounds after being on the streets for about a year.
Katherine had Eddyson neutered after adopting him. “Four days later I went to church and left him with a cone on. While I was gone, he managed to get out of two doggie doors, a small hole under the gate, and was back in the house by the time I got home with mud up to his elbows. To say, Eddyson is smart is an understatement.”
She began training him at San Antonio Dog Training Club and got into AKC Rally.
“He got his CGC and RN, but he would get bored easily. He would alter the different exercises and seem to laugh as he was doing them (such as going around twice before coming front.) But we persisted and eventually got his Rally Masters title.”
Getting the RACH in Texas is challenging since you often had to travel four to six hours to get to a trial, then COVID hit halting all trials. “But we persisted and finally Eddyson and I got his RACH at the Ft. Worth Kennel Club trial on March 25, 2021.
“At this trial, we started our run. On the fourth sign (Master’s jump), a horse and rider showed up outside the windows. Eddyson was enthralled as I do not think he had ever seen or been around a horse. Somehow, I managed to get his attention, and we finished the run with a score of 96 and completed his RACH!”
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning the RACH:
- RACH Breeding’s Remington RM3 RAE2 OA OAJ AXP OFP CGCA CGCU TKI owned by Abi Breeding of Dumfries, VA
- RACH Amber Noel RM3 RAE2 FDC CGC owned by Marilyn Giambetro of Parma Heights, OH
- RACH Pippa Of Mill Glen CDX BN RM2 RAE2 SWN SCA SIA SBA TKA owned by Ute Wrotnowski of Dunwoody, GA
- RACH Baileys Arms Daytona CD PCD BN RM3 RAE2 CGCA TKN owned by Karen & Andrew Carr of Egg Harbor City, NJ
- RACH Handsome Jack Huddleson CDX PCDX BN GN RM2 RAE2 CA CGCA CGCU TKN owned by Dahna and John Huddleson of Des Moines, IA
SCENT WORK
SWM – Scent Work Master
Millie Maye FDC SWM CGCA CGCU TKP owned by Ken & Amy Matthews of Plano, 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 took her home 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. Eventually, 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 her social skills had been decimated and she was 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 exercises in heartache and frustration,” Amy said. Still, she wasn’t giving up. She just didn’t know what would work. At this point Amy wasn’t involved in formal training of her own dogs; they were “home schooled.” Instead, her time was heavily invested in rescuing, fostering and placing puppies for two rescue groups.
In 2012 – well over a year after Millie’s return – a rescue friend posted a video of a “sniffing class” that she was taking with her shy rescue dog. Amy was immediately drawn in when she saw how much her friend’s dog engaged with the activity. “I told myself that if I ever got the opportunity to take such a class with Millie, I would make it a priority. As fate would have it, What A Great Dog in Frisco, TX and trainer Mickey offered the very first Scent Work class in my area not too long after that and I jumped on it.”
Change in Millie’s confidence and security came gradually, but it came, class by class, week by week and year by year. They started trialing and earning Qs. It turned out that Millie has a real talent for finding the hides.
Along the way, Millie suffered two torn cruciates and endured five knee surgeries, but she never missed a beat. Right after earning the Scent Work Master title, she earned two Detective Qs back to back. “Words will never explain what this sport has done for Millie and for us. It gave her a quality of life that she just would not have had otherwise. And how heartwarming is it knowing that your dog is living her best life?”
Photo Courtesy of Sonja’s Photography
Bella Winsett FCAT SWM RATO CGCA TKI and Sasha Belle Winsett DCAT SWM RATN CGCA TKI owned by Kim Winsett of Alabaster, AL
Bella was adopted by Kim in 2015 from Two By Two Animal Rescue. She had been in foster care for two years. During that time thirteen families took her home for the weekend to see if she was a good fit. All returned her and had the same response: too much energy. “I am so thankful it did not work out and we found each other,” Kim said. “What they did not realize is Bella was a wonderful dog who just needed a job!”
Their journey began with obedience training and then flyball. In 2017 they decided it was time to expand their family so adopted Sasha from Bona fide Aussie Rescue Krewe (BARK). The girls instantly got along.
In August 2018 Kim decided to see what scent work was about. Both girls loved the sport and excelled. They entered their first trial in March 2019.
On March 6, 2021, in Louisville, KY, Bella earned her final Q in Master Interior and her overall SWM title. A few weeks later, on March 28, 2021 in Glendale, KY, Sasha earned her final Q in Master Interior and her overall SWM title. “We had our challenges along the way and appreciate the supportive friends and trainers that helped us get where we are today. We learn from every search whether it is a Q or NQ. It has been a great journey with lots of fun. We have made a lot of new doggie friends and learned so much about each other. Scent Work has given me a unique and special bond with both girls,” Kim said.
Congratulations also to this All American Dog who has earned the Scent Work Master title:
- Addison @ Clark OA OAJ AXP AJP OF BCAT SWM SHDA CGC TKA owned by Karen Rueschhoff of Lincoln, NE
TRACKING
CT (Champion Tracker)
CT H.E.L.P.Er. VCD1 BN RM2 RAE2 FDC MX MXJ MJB OF SWN SCA SEA SBA SHDN CGCA TKP ATT TD owned by Alyson L. Deines-Schartz and Tim J. Schartz of San Diego, CA
Helper was 34 points and two triple Q’s away from her Rally Championship when COVID brought rally trials to a halt, so she took up the perfect pandemic sport: Tracking.
In 2010, Aly and Tim adopted Helper from Ravensgate Border Collie Rescue when she was just under a year old. Helper had reactivity issues but was also quite active. Luckily the Cascade Comet Flyball team welcomed her into their fold. With flyball and agility as outlets, Helper found a new life as a sports dog.
As Helper calmed into her life as a sports dog, they started to dabble in other sports such as obedience, rally, and scent work. Agility has always been her favorite, and in 2018 she qualified for and went to the AKC National Agility Championship.
At 11 years of age and after a few injuries, she has had to throw her enthusiasm into lower impact sports, so they began to focus on rally. Helper was inching closer to her RACH in early 2020 when COVID exploded, and the trials were canceled. Luckily a good friend introduced Aly and Helper to tracking, a sport that encourages social distancing. Helper took to it with enthusiasm and spent most of 2020 training in large parks and empty shopping centers. In early 2021, she finally got into her first trial.
“Despite her handler’s mistakes,” said Aly, “she passed her TD, TDX, and VST in three trials over a nerve wracking six-week period (well, nerve wracking for her handler, at least!) and earned her Champion Tracking title on March 21, 2021.”
In spring, rally trials also resumed, and Helper finally earned her RACH at the Obedience Club of San Diego County’s trial on May 15, 2021.
TDU
Wiley Coyote Cleaver Clark TD2 TDX TDU CGC TKN owned by Kathy Cleaver of Wayland, MA
Kathy rescued Wiley three years ago after he had been hit by a car and eluded capture for three weeks. He took very well to tracking and added a TDU to his TD and TDX titles in September 2020. He passed this test at the Dog Tracking Club of Maine in Augusta on Sept. 27, 2020, with bone dry and windy conditions. “This was our only overnight during COVID, so it was especially meaningful. Wiley has been working on VST, but the urban settings have been more distracting and challenging for him,” Kathy said.
TD
Betsy Burkland TD owned by Melissa Burkland of Stanwood, WA
Betsy “absolutely loves to track! A joy to train, she is very eager to please and is an all-around happy dog,” Melissa said. “Born in May 2019, she was 6 months old when we brought her home. We had to teach her just about everything, as she had been brought up, as I like to put it, freestyle.”
They were introduced to tracking by Melissa’s cousin and found out Betsy had quite an affinity for it. Slowly they worked their way up, step by step, to qualifying for the AKC TD title. Betsy succeeded on her first try Jan. 31, 2021 at Chuckanut Farms in Bow, Washington.
Besides tracking, Betsy chases bunnies out of the garden, runs as fast as she can after deer, and gives high fives as often as she can for treats.
Betsy is continuing to practice tracking in the fields and pastures around our house. “Onward and upward for our next goal, her TDX. Wish her luck!”
Lilly Of Windstone TD OAP AJP XFP SCN owned by Alex and Amy Nathanson of Palm City, FL
Lilly got her TD at the Orlando test March 21, 2021, on her first attempt. “This is a huge accomplishment for a dog who wouldn’t even move forward without whimpering and crying when she first started learning about two years ago,” Amy said. The Nathanson’s other dog, Jack, a Beagle, has been tracking for several years and “took to it right away, as a Beagle would. Unlike Jack, Lilly needed coaxing and patience to get her to follow her nose, and to even put her nose on the ground with regularity. Our tracking coaches employed various techniques and she eventually got the idea.”
Practices were sometimes few and far between, especially when COVID took away several months of tracking practice. “Originally, I didn’t see a tracking test in Lilly’s future, but once she got the game, she progressed very nicely. The quest for her tracking certification took quite a bit longer than anticipated—it took five (maybe six) attempts, one of which was during a tropical storm!”
Finally, she got her certification in late February, just in time to enter a test. “After two days of playing agility, we loaded up at 4:30 a.m. for the trek to Orlando for her first attempt at a tracking test. Lilly tends to be a little wary of new routines, and the early wake-up call, eating her breakfast in a Sonny’s parking lot, and new tracking grounds and track layer were sure to throw a wrench in the works. Not so. She handled it like a seasoned pro and her tracking was unwavering. Lilly’s primary dog sport has been agility for several years, but her nose has definitely opened up new horizons.”
Reginald Truman RN TD TDU CGC owned by Charmen Gentry of Philippi, WV
Charmen joined West Virginia K9 Search and Rescue in 1989 and was a founding member. She went to Connecticut for cadaver training with her first SAR dog, a Labrador Retriever named Gypsy, in 1992, and Gypsy became the first cadaver dog in the state.
After losing her next dog, another Lab, due to health problems, Charmen resolved not to get another puppy.
“A friend in South Dakota had kept back two lab mix puppies for SAR. I knew I couldn’t do SAR or cadaver (HRD) any longer because of my knees but thought maybe I could do AKC Tracking,” said Charmen. “She sent the male, Reggie, to me when he was 5 months old. I just let him be a puppy and did some basic obedience training with him, along with some rally.” After Reggie earned his RN and CGC, they started tracking and “he bloomed into an awesome tracking dog. He was enrolled in AKC Canine Partners so we could work towards a TD title. He really didn’t enjoy obedience. He had grown up running the plains of South Dakota, so obedience was really restrictive for him!”
On March 1, 2020, at the Richmond Dog Obedience Club in Richmond, VA, Reggie, on his first attempt, earned his TD. “For his effort, he also got the Jefferson Cup award from that dog club. After that, Covid-19 shut down most everything, so we didn’t compete again that year. In addition, I had a knee replacement.”
On April 18, they traveled to the Queen City Dog Training Club near Sharonville, Ohio, where Reggie successfully completed the track and earned his TDU title. “He really loves this activity,” Charmen said; “It gives both of us lots of exercise. If he didn’t have a big fenced yard, I’m sure he’d be tracking deer and other wildlife! I have been so fortunate to have friends who blessed me with this dog and who keep me ‘on the right track’ with this wonderful canine.”
Congratulations also to this All American Dog for earning the TD title:
- Pippin VI TD owned by Susan Fildes of Prineville, OR
TRICK DOG
TKE (Trick Dog Elite)
Double Dog Duke TKE VHMA owned by Charis Geneva Smith of Ellicott City, MD
Duke is half Australian Cattle Dog and half large mutt, Charis said.
His registered name, Double Dog Duke, is an homage to the rescue group that he came from, Double Dog Dare Rescue. Duke is Charis’ first dog, and she had no intentions of doing sports of any kind – but Duke had other plans.
“He is a medium-high energy dog who does not get on well with most other dogs and lives in an apartment. Finding a way to burn his energy was difficult,” Charis said.
They began tricks training in February 2021 in hopes of exercising his brain, and it worked. He caught on extremely fast, and they progressed from Novice to Elite Performer in just a few months. “Duke is a very nervous dog, and tricks training has increased his confidence in all aspects of life. I would recommend it to anybody with a dog who needs a little boost.”
Duke knows around 100 different tricks and is learning more every day. Some of his favorites include: taking off his human’s socks and putting them in the laundry; opening his crate, going into it, and shutting himself in; playing a variety of instruments including piano and drums; waving to friends; rolling a barrel with his front feet; cracking his human’s back by standing on it; playing ring toss; and fetching his human a tissue, waiting for them to use it, and throwing it away. Duke has also been training for AKC Scent Work for about six months and will be competing in his first trial soon. “He is a true All-American underdog who finally has his place to shine.”
Congratulations also to these dogs for earning TKE titles:
- Quintessential Wonder TKE owned by Jordan Danielle Ange of Lake Charles, LA
- Raki TKE owned by Zeynep Gonca Guldiken of Istanbul, Turkey
- Luna Lumpi RI CGC TKE owned by Claudia Lumpi of Naples, FL
- Geronimo The Black Lab CGC TKE owned by LORI NIITANI of Escondido, CA
- Comet XXI CGC TKE owned by Melissa Romillo of Brick, NJ
- Zinnel’s Bomb Squad TKE owned by Lynne Zinnel of Coralville, IA
- Willow Pillow Woo Shue TKE owned by Jamie Lee Shue and Kerrie Shue of Carrollton, TX