This year, the A.K.C. National Championship will run from March 21 to 24. This annual event does not have a fixed date and participants have to wait for the official announcement from the event’s organizers. The championship is a dog sport in which the dog is directed by the dog’s owner to go through a pre-set obstacle course within a certain time limit. Courses will have about 14 to 20 obstacles, which include tunnels, weave poles, tire jumps, seesaws, and pause tables where the dog is required to pause for a set amount of time. At each specific trial, the dog and the owner must race around the courses designed for the day, and the dog must depend solely on the owner’s body language to direct them throughout the course.
History of AKC National Agility Championship
Dog agility is the fastest-growing sport in the country. It captivates spectators of all ages and gives them a serotonin boost as they watch lovely dogs jump around. Dog agility show first took place in Crufts Dog Show. John Varley in the 1978 Crufts annual show was tasked to create an event that would entertain the audience between the conformation and the obedience segment of the show. John collaborated with Peter and created the first dog agility demonstration. It was broadcast on Belgian television and was well received by people so much that the demonstration returned in 1979.
Varley, who is also the narrator of the competition, explained that the goal behind his creating the event was to bring some fun to Crufts. This agility course was very similar to the modern agility courses at A.K.C., which included tunnels and collapsed tunnels and a ‘catwalk,’ later renamed ‘dog walk.’ Initially, Varley included only one jump to the course, which was very high.
In 1980, The Kennel Club of the U.K. recognized dog agility as a sport and began to sanction trials. The dog agility sport was inspired by the sport of equestrian show jumping. In 1993, the American Kennel Club held a meeting regarding agility as a sport for dogs, and in 1994, the first A.K.C.’s licensed agility trial took place at the Astro World Series of Dog Shows.
AKC National Agility Championship timeline
The first dog demonstration happens at the Crufts show.
The Kennel Club, the official kennel club of the U.K., recognizes dog agility as a sport.
The first A.K.C.’s World Agility Team competes in Switzerland.
A.K.C. Canine Partners Program enables mixed-breed dogs to compete in A.K.C. performance sports.
AKC National Agility Championship FAQs
How much do A.K.C. agility winners make?
The winners in each group get $1,500, and the winner in the final round gets an additional $500.
Who won the A.K.C. National Agility Championship 2021?
Jev, an 11-year-old Border Collie, won the 2021 championship.
Where will 2022 A.K.C. National Agility Championship be held?
Finals will be held in Ocala, Florida, at the World Equestrian Center.
AKC National Agility Championship Activities
Spend time with your dog
Appreciate the ball of happiness that is your dog. Spend time with your dog; take it for a walk.
Watch A.K.C. National Agility Championship
Watch A.K.C. National Agility Championship with your dog. You can catch the show on E.S.P.N.
Enroll yourself for agility class
Enroll yourself and your dog in an agility class. A.K.C. offers agility classes, and you can even practice at home.
5 Facts About Dogs
They have a sharp sense of smell
A dog’s sense of smell is 40 times better than a human’s.
Dogs don’t sweat like us
Dogs don’t sweat like humans but release a pheromone that humans can’t detect.
They can be right-pawed or left-pawed
Like humans, dogs also have a preferred paw.
They have a lot of ear muscles
Dogs have about 18 muscles in their ears.
They get jealous
A study at U.C.S.D. claims that dogs can get jealous if they see their owners display affection for someone else.
Why We Love AKC National Agility Championship
The championship is for everyone
The A.K.C. National Agility Championship is enjoyed by everyone. People of all ages enjoy the serotonin boost attained by watching dogs.
It is a joy to watch
It is genuinely exciting to watch the ingenuity of dogs. The bond between dogs and their owners is also pleasurable to watch.
It strengthens the bond between dog and owner
Practicing for the agility championship is a great bonding moment between the owner and the dog. It can strengthen the ties between them as they exercise together.
AKC National Agility Championship dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | March 18 | Friday |
| 2023 | March 16 | Thursday |
| 2024 | March 14 | Thursday |
| 2025 | March 21 | Friday |
| 2026 | March 20 | Friday |
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