Podcast: Game Changers in Dog Agility
This week’s podcast dives into the game-changing brilliance of Caitlin Clark and the revolutionary ripple effect of her long-range shooting on women’s basketball, first in the NCAA and now in the WNBA. We draw parallels to the world of dog agility, where pioneers have redefined the sport with innovations like running contacts, backsides, blind crosses, and now with advanced verbal cues. These breakthroughs have not only transformed how we train but also reshaped competition strategies, raising the bar for everyone involved. Click HERE to listen to me, Jennifer, and Sarah discuss how both basketball and dog agility are pushed forward by creativity and risk-taking!
AKC Agility Invitational Winners
This past weekend, December 16-17, 2024, the 18th AKC Agility Invitational took center stage at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The structure of the AKC Agility Invitational is uniquely challenging and highly competitive. To reach the finals, all 57 dogs had to complete four clean runs—a remarkable feat on its own. Additionally, the rules stipulate that only one dog of each breed may advance to the finals, which can lead to tough exclusions. For example, in the 8” class, Lindsey Barrows and her Papillon, Kit Kat, placed third overall with a cumulative time of 120.503. However, they did not advance because the first-place Papillon secured the breed’s finals spot. Meanwhile, the last dog to qualify in the class had a slower cumulative time of 145.895. Similarly, in the 16” class, the top two dogs were both Brittanys, but only the first-place team advanced, leaving Terry Santelli and Cadi, the second-place Brittany team, on the sidelines.
Because of these unique rules, which all competitors accept when they enter, the result is an extraordinary showcase of the sport’s incredible diversity of breeds. Congratulations to the 2024 AKC Agility Invitational Winners for their outstanding achievements!:
- 8” Winner Andrea Samuels and Papillon Louis
- 12” Winner Patricia Engleman and Xoloitzcuintli Tyra Banks
- 16” Winner Ron Morris and Cocker Spaniel Bristol
- 20” Winner Carol Keller and Vizsla Scorch
- 24” Winner Lori Barbee and Weimaraner Sterling
Sarah’s Corner
Sarah here! Long-time readers know that my time is often split between dog agility (our sport) and water polo (our kids’ sport). This past weekend, those two worlds collided in the best way. While traveling with Hannah to a water polo tournament, I realized we were just 30 minutes away from the AKC Agility Invitational in Orlando, Florida. Naturally, we headed straight from the airport to the venue to catch a few hours of Friday’s Time 2 Beat warm-ups.
We spent some time watching agility, but mostly we were true spectators, wandering around and asking, “Can we pet your dog?” Yes, we have dogs at home, but Hannah can never get enough puppy love!
As someone who usually wears the “agility expert” hat, stepping back and simply enjoying the event as a spectator was refreshing. I loved watching the incredible variety of dogs and handlers showcasing their skills and representing their breeds with pride. It was a wonderful reminder of why I love this event so much—there’s truly nothing else like it.
AKC RACH (Rally) Invitational Winners
It’s not always about dog agility. The inaugural AKC RACH Invitational, held on December 12-13, 2024, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, showcased top Rally Champion (RACH) titled dogs from across the nation. This prestigious event featured 139 teams representing 72 breeds from 36 states, all competing for the title of AKC RACH Invitational Champion. While I wasn’t able to attend or watch the event, I have had the pleasure of seeing the winning team run in agility.
Daniela Flores and her Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Dizzy, became the first ever RACH Invitational champions by achieving a perfect score of 300 points. Dizzy, formally known as CH MACH RACH Dochara Spun A Royal Flower UD RM3 RAE3 MXS MJS MXF T2B DCAT CGC TKI, holds numerous titles across conformation, agility, and rally. Congratulations to Daniela and Dizzy on a historical achievement!
Holiday Dog Photos
I need more photos! Send me pics of you and/or your dogs (on Santa’s lap?) and/or your decorated house and/or tree for possible inclusion in the special Christmas Edition of the Wednesday Wrap Up, which only happens every 5-6 years. The next Christmas Edition will be in 2030! If your photo comes with a good story, all the better.
Just one more week until Christmas–remember to email me at team@baddogagility.com with your photos! Please provide me with a first name and last initial, or your dog’s name, or your country/state/city if you’d like those things in your photo’s caption.
Happy Training,
