American Wins at Crufts
Crufts, held annually at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious dog shows, attracting over 155,000 visitors each year. The Main Arena, where high-profile events like the Agility Finals take place, seats up to 6,000 spectators, meaning thousands watch live as top agility teams compete on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Among the most anticipated events is the International Invitational, an exclusive competition open only by invitation, where top agility dogs from around the world showcase their skills.
This year, the AKC selected Perry DeWitt and her border collie Genuine (Genny) to represent the United States in the event. In the Agility round, Genny had an unfortunate brick drop from the viaduct, but she delivered a strong fourth-place finish in the Jumping round, securing a spot in the Final. With everything on the line, Perry and Genny ran clean in the Final, finishing ahead of Christian Prinz and Euan Paterson, who placed second and third.
During the competition, the overhead announcer described Genny as “incredibly loyal and hard-working, putting her whole heart into everything”—which tells you everything you need to know about both Perry and Genny. I’ll also note that in both 2019 and 2021, here in the United States, Perry DeWitt and her border collie Verb took home the Masters Agility Champion title at Westminster. Now, with her victory at Crufts, Perry has achieved something truly remarkable—winning the two most highly viewed dog agility events in the world. From Westminster to Crufts, her success on both sides of the Atlantic cements her place among the sport’s top competitors.
For those wanting to watch Perry and Genny’s incredible runs, a video is available on Perry’s Facebook page: Watch here. Full agility results from Crufts, listing the top six finishers in each event, can be found here: Crufts Agility Results.
[VIDEO: Perry and Genny’s winning run in the Final as viewed from the stands.]
AKC NAC Before/After
The Before & After: 2025 AKC National Agility Championship is now open, but time is running out—competition starts in just two days! This is your chance to get expert analysis on NAC runs, helping you refine your handling and decision-making with real course breakdowns (both before and after each run). Jennifer will be joined by National Agility Champions Lori Barbee (24” defending champion with Weimaraner Sterling) and Daneka Hedges (8” Papillon Flint), bringing big and small dog perspectives to the event. Whether you’re competing this year or want to learn for the future, don’t miss out! Registration closes soon. Sign up here.
Podcast: Last-Minute NAC Prep
With the AKC National Agility Championship kicking off, we put together a special last-minute prep podcast to help you fine-tune your mindset and strategy before you step to the line. From handling adjustments to maximize clean runs to mental prep techniques that keep you focused, we’re covering everything you need to know to make the most of your NAC experience. Whether you’re chasing Finals or just looking to enjoy the event, this episode will get you in the right headspace. Listen now and share it with someone heading to Tulsa! And for those of you at the event, please find Sarah (she’ll have a BDA booth) and say hello!
European Open Team USA
Team USA management announced the remaining team members for the 2025 European Open on Facebook yesterday.
Small
- Angie Benacquisto & Sundae (cumulative spot)
- Laura Dolan & Coos (cumulative spot)
- Melissa Tiedemann & Vibrant (win on spot)
- Abbey Beasley & SuperStar
- Jen Pinder & Wicca
- Laura Dolan & Pre
- Sarah Rutland & Primo
- Mich Powers & Chibi
Alternates
- Cassie Schmidt & True
- Cassie Schmidt & Sola
- Rebecca Potosky & Kindle
Medium
- Carol Boggess & Iron Man (cumulative spot)
- Dudley Shumate & Ernie (cumulative spot)
- Casey Keller & Fidget (win on spot)
- Abbey Beasley & Swindle
- Tammie Gigstad & Maui
- Grace Huffman & Kudos
- Deb Schulman & Trek
- Maureen Waldron & Pivot
Alternates
- Britney Imhof & Witcher
- Abbey Beasley & Strive
- Melanie Miller & Amity
Intermediate
- JuliAnna Munden & Fusion (cumulative spot)
- Emily Klarman & Vanish (cumulative spot)
- Paulina Wrzeszcz & Beauvais (win on spot)
- Casey Keller & Liri
- Dudley Shumate & Jammy
- Courtney Farmer & Queenie
- Chris Tucci & Naavdanya
- Laurren Bastian & Maestro
Alternates
- Mark Bills & Ziva
- Don St. Croix & #1 Hottie
- Jada Sawhney & Zula
Large
- Rachel Carlson & Seismic (cumulative spot)
- Maria Badamo & Klick (cumulative spot)
- Perry DeWitt & Genuine (win on spot)
- Laura Selmic & Hup
- Kaimen Miller & Please
- Jessica Ajoux & Hallelujah
- Perry DeWitt & Wit
- Stefanie Rainer & Believe
Alternates
- Ali Park & Hasty
- Tawny Millet & Dazzle
- Kara Sheerer & Lore
Congratulations to all team members!
Good Luck!
Good luck to everyone competing in Tulsa this weekend, and please send any comments or questions to team@baddogagility.com.
Happy Training,
