Nation’s Top Dogs to Compete in 2014 AKC Companion Events Extravaganza

New York, NY – More than 2,000 talented purebred and mixed-breed canines will jump, heel and retrieve their way to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on March 27-30, 2014 for the second Companion Events Extravaganza, hosted by the American Kennel Club® (AKC®). Over the four days, a record number of dogs will compete in the AKC National Agility Championship, AKC National Obedience Championship and the inaugural AKC Rally® National Championship – events representing the pinnacle of canine sports.

“More than 1,600 dogs will attend the 2014 AKC National Agility Championship in Harrisburg, breaking all previous entry records for the event,” said Carrie DeYoung, Director of Agility. “We’re happy to partner once again with the AKC National Obedience Championship and AKC Rally® National Championship to truly showcase the nation’s most accomplished canine competitors.”

“With the creation of the AKC Rally© National Championship, we’ll be crowning the first-ever AKC Rally® National Champion, a history-making moment for the AKC,” said Pamela Manaton, Director of Obedience, Rally and Tracking. “Together, the AKC Rally® National Championship and the AKC National Obedience Championship both truly exemplify the bond and teamwork that develops between a dog and handler during training and trialing in AKC Companion Events.”

EXTRAVAGANZA EVENTS BY THE NUMBERS

AKC National Agility Championship: 1,640 dogs, representing 112 breeds from 48 states and Canada, will compete for the title of National Agility Champion and Preferred National Agility Champion. Agility is the AKC’s fastest growing sport, and reached over 1.1 million entries in 2013. Dog and handlers must negotiate a timed obstacle course, off-leash, striving for a perfect score of 100.

The Championship consists of five rounds that begin on Thursday and run through Sunday. After round five, the top dog in each jump height – 8”, 12”, 16”, 20”, 24” and 26” for the Regular classes and 4”, 8”, 12”, 16” and 20” for the Preferred classes – will win the title of National Agility Champion and Preferred National Agility Champion of 2014. Learn more about the event at http://www.akc.org/events/agility/national_agility_championship/index.cfm.

2014 AKC National Agility Championship by the Numbers:

1,321 – MACH (Master Agility Champion) or PACH (Preferred Agility Champion) dogs competing, including one MACH26.
23–Past National Agility Champions or Preferred National Agility Champions entered, including one dog that has won the NAC twice
5 – Rings of competition
11 – Juniors Handlers, under the age of 18
Highest Breed Totals:
• 364 Border Collies
• 247 Shetland Sheepdogs
• 115 Golden Retrievers
• 76 Papillons
• 73 Australian Shepherds
• 66 Poodles
• 52 mixed-breed All-American Dogs
• 52 Pembroke Welsh Corgis
Largest Numbers of Competitors By State:
• Pennsylvania: 152
• New Jersey: 135
• Ohio: 131
• New York: 112
• California: 108
• Illinois: 96
• Virginia: 80
• Michigan: 77
Dogs Titled in Other Arenas:
• 133 Breed Champions, 17 Grand Champions
• 3 Triple Champions
• 10 Obedience Champions
• 3 Herding Champions
• 3 Champion Trackers

AKC National Obedience Championship: 127 dogs, representing 46 breeds from 29 states and Canada will compete for the prestigious National Obedience Champion (NOC) title. The top obedience dogs in the country qualified based on Obedience Trial Championship (OTCH) points earned throughout the year or from placements at AKC Obedience Regional Qualifying Events, and will show off their skills at scent discrimination, retrieving, heeling, hand signals and more. Learn more about the event at http://www.akc.org/events/obedience/national_obedience_championship/index.cfm.

2014 AKC National Obedience Championship by the Numbers:

78 – OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) dogs competing
1–Past National Obedience Champion entered
6 – Rings of competition
Highest Breed Totals:
• 31 Golden Retrievers
• 16 Border Collies
• 7 Labrador Retrievers
• 7 Shetland Sheepdogs
• 4 German Shepherd Dogs
Largest Numbers of Competitors By State:
• Michigan: 11
• New Jersey: 11
• Minnesota: 9
• Texas: 8
• Virginia: 8
• Missouri: 8
• Ohio: 7
• New York: 6
• Pennsylvania: 6
Dogs Titled in Other Arenas:
• 19 Breed Champions, 2 Grand Champion
• 10 Agility Champions
• 1 Field Champion

AKC Rally® National Championship: 251 dogs, representing 73 breeds from 32 states and Canada will compete in the AKC Rally National Championship in four different class levels – Novice (80 dogs), Advanced (44 dogs), Excellent (30 dogs) and Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) (98 dogs). The dogs in the RAE class will compete for the prestigious Rally National Champion (RNC) title.
2014 AKC Rally® National Championship by the Numbers:

7 – Rings of competition
Highest Breed Totals:
• 25 Golden Retrievers
• 21 Border Collies
• 20 mixed-breed All-American Dogs
• 15 Labrador Retrievers
• 11 Shetland Sheepdogs
• 10 Australian Shepherds
• 10 Pembroke Welsh Corgis
• 8 Belgian Tervurens
Largest Numbers of Competitors By State:
• Pennsylvania: 31
• New York: 30
• Virginia: 26
• Maryland: 21
• New Jersey: 20
• Ohio: 21
Dogs Titled in Other Arenas:
• 1 Dual Champion
• 32 Breed Champions, 8 Grand Champions
• 3 Obedience Champions
• 7 Agility Champions and 6 Preferred Agility Champions
• 1 Herding Champion

Rally is a sport in which the dog and handler complete a course of stations, each containing a sign with instructions regarding a skill to be performed. Each team will run two unique rally courses at each level that have been designed by the judge and cumulative scores and times will be used to determine placements in each of the four classes. Learn more about the event at http://www.akc.org/events/rally/national/index.cfm.

Free Admission – Open to the Public ($8.00 Parking Fee)
WHERE: Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, 2300 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9443
WHEN: Thursday: Agility – 7:30 am to 6:00 pm
Friday: Agility and AKC Rally® – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday: Agility and Obedience – 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: Agility and Obedience – 7:00 am to 6:00 pm

Results and Event Updates
The latest event updates, exhibitor spotlights, photos and videos, behind-the scenes information and results will be posted on www.akcdoglovers.com, Facebook and www.akc.org.

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Posted by chesliepickett on Mar 17 2014. Filed under Breaking News, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.