Still kind of processing this one…
That button-eyed puppy my husband George wanted to keep as his “office buddy”? The one who played jolly ball tunnel bowling games and figured out when George's favorite football team was about to score a touchdown?
He is going to 🇸🇪Sweden🇸🇪. With me. As part of the 2025 AKC Agility World Championships Team 🇺🇸USA🇺🇸.
Duuuuude
He was never supposed to be my next competition dog. But you know how it goes. Dogs grow, plans shift, and before long, that jocky, chaotic, squeaky, toy-slinging goofball is tearing up international-level courses with a huge grin on his face.
Dude is not serious. He is not broody or calculated. He is not quiet or intense.
He is busy.
He is the kind of dog who makes you laugh and also pushes you to train harder, because he brings the energy every single time.
What makes this even more meaningful is the legacy behind it.
Dude was born in 2021 from a frozen semen litter. His sire was Stellar, a multiple-time Team USA dog handled by Linda Mecklenburg. Back in 2007, Stellar sired Solar—a thoughtful, understated puppy who became my partner at multiple World Championships. Solar and I medaled in an individual round together.
Now, more than a decade later, Dude and his sister Sativa are continuing that line.
This kind of success is never about raw talent alone. It comes from months and years of preparation, and from the people who support you along the way.
💪 Chris Kerton of Karma Fitness — for helping me become a consistent daily gym-goer, and for teaching me the value of showing up even when motivation is nowhere to be found
📊 Curtis Meissner — for the “Moneyball” approach to agility: stats, split times, and decision-making support that helped sharpen my handling
❤️ George — my husband, and the original tunnel coach. He chose Dude. He taught him to love the game. And he was the one who ran down from the stands after our final run, crying, picked me up, and spun me around like the Eagles had just won another Super Bowl
And thank you to everyone involved in making Tryouts and ISC events happen. These experiences are building stronger, more prepared teams across the board.
Sometimes the dog who was meant to hang out in your husband’s office turns out to be the one who leads you onto the world stage.
And if you are working with your own busy young dog and wondering how it is all going to come together, I see you.
You can follow along with how I'm currently working with my youngest project, Vida—chaos, joy, and all the little wins in between—in the Vida Vlog preview:
👉 https://www.theagilitychallenge.com/free-training
Because it is not always about a perfect plan. More often, it is about showing up. Again and again. And seeing what unfolds.
If you’re looking for help with the “in-between” stuff—whether you’ve got a puppy, a young dog, or an older one—the Vida Vlog is for you. It’s not just about sit-stays or weave poles. It’s about:
✔️ how to teach a dog to learn
✔️ how to build motivation and focus
✔️ how to help your dog function ringside
✔️ how to develop engagement
✔️ and more
🎥 You can check out a free preview here:
theagilitychallenge.com/free-training