TOP DOGS CROWNED AT 2023 AKC AGILITY INVITATIONAL

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 18^th annual AKC^® Agility Invitational Presented by YuMOVE^® took place December 16-17, 2023 in Orlando, FL in conjunction with the AKC^® National Championship Presented by Royal Canin, demonstrating the highest level of training and teamwork between dog and handler. The top five dogs in each breed received an invitation to compete in this prestigious event. Agility competition for junior handlers was held for the 13^th consecutive year.

Coverage of agility is available at AKC.tv. 

The winners:

AKC Agility Invitational
Five agility dogs and their owners – one dog/handler team in each of the five height categories – were crowned as the 2023 winners of the AKC Agility Invitational, which brought together 701 dogs from across the country.

Placing first in their height division (8", 12", 16", 20" and 24" respectively) were:

• 8" - AGCH MACH29 Kayangee Dorothy Parker MXS8 PDS MJC9 PJS MFG TQX T2B5 CGC, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel known as Dot, handled by Antonia Rotelle of Dover, PA
• 12" - AGCH MACH6 Taylormade Inspired Adventure MXG2 PDS MJG2 PJS MFG TQX T2B5, a Shetland Sheepdog known as Venture, handled by Jean Lavalley of Murfreesboro, TN
• 16" - CH MACH11 Tenja's First Atomic Dog MXC3 PAD MJC3 PJD OF, a Border Collie known as Trinity, handled by Roger O'Sullivan of Gahanna, OH
• 20" - MACH3 Ehrenvogel Wings Of Hope's Wanderin' Free CD RN JH MXC MJB2 MXF T2B BCAT DM DS, a German Shorthaired Pointer known as Mia, handled by beth janos of Mason, OH
• 24" - MACH3 Cogshalls Wylie Rake Of Lanruvi MXC MJS2, a Whippet known as Rake, handled by Jennifer Smith of Milwaukee, WI

The junior results:

AKC Juniors Agility Competition
Juniors who participated in the AKC Juniors Agility Competition competed in either the Junior Excellent or Superior Classes, depending on their age. Handlers who were under the age of 14 on the day of the show competed in the Junior Superior class division, and handlers who were at least 14 years old on the day of the show competed in the Junior Excellent class division.

The overall winners of the Junior Agility Competition were:

• 8"- PNAC GCH CH MACH3 PACH4 Starstruck Predict My Future MXG MJG PJD MXP13 MXPB2 MJP14 MJPB2 PAX4 BCAT (Fortune), a Papillon handled by Jada Sawhney
• 12"- AKSELA AX AXJ CGC TKN (Aksel), a Miniature Schnauzer handled by Ava Rawlings
• 16"- Tbc Dera CA DCAT CGC (Dera), a Border Collie handled by Mia Feferico
• 20"- MACH2 Yaya's Voulez Vues Q Cher? (Voulez), a Golden Retriever handled by Katie WIliamson
• 24"- PACH2 Monark Run for the Roses Tallee CD BN RA MXP5 MXPS MJP6 MJPS PAX2 XFP CGC TKA (Tallee), a Golden Retriever handled by Jada Sawhney

About the American Kennel Club
Founded in 1884, the American Kennel Club is a not-for-profit organization which maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world and oversees the sport of purebred dogs in the United States. The AKC is dedicated to upholding the integrity of its registry, promoting the sport of purebred dogs and breeding for type and function. Along with its more than 5,000 licensed and member clubs and its affiliated organizations, the AKC advocates for the purebred dog as a family companion, advances canine health and well-being, works to protect the rights of all dog owners and promotes responsible dog ownership. More than 26,000 competitions for AKC-registered purebred and mixed breed dogs are held under AKC rules and regulations each year including conformation, agility, obedience, rally, tracking, herding, lure coursing, coonhound events, hunt tests, field and earthdog tests.

Affiliate AKC organizations include the AKC Humane Fund, AKC Canine Health Foundation, AKC Reunite, the AKC Museum of the Dog, and the AKC Purebred Preservation Bank. For more information, visit www.akc.org.

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SOURCE The American Kennel Club, Inc.