{ Every experience with Miles is so special. I am beyond grateful for every moment. Photo: @robinventures }

Did you know that the American Kennel Club recognizes over 340 different breeds of dogs? Every year, the AKC holds two big agility events: AKC Agility Nationals and AKC Agility Invitationals. For Invitationals, the AKC invites the top 5-6 dogs from each breed (mixed-breed dogs are included as their own breed) who earn the most AKC Agility points over a year-long period. AKC Agility Invitationals is held one weekend of December every year in Orlando Florida at a vast convention center along with a variety of other large AKC events: AKC National Championship, NOHS and All-Breed Puppy & Junior Stakes (conformation shows), AKC Obedience Classic & Juniors Classic (obedience), Junior Agility Competition, NADD/AKC National Championships (dock diving), and AKC’s Meet the Breeds. There are also many dog shows leading up to the conformation Nationals, and countless vendors on-site all week.

One weekend a year in Orlando Florida, over 7,000 dogs compete in one building.

{ The AKC Invitationals “Golden Ticket” Top Dog Invitation}

Miles and I have been competing in AKC agility for only a few years. When I told my AKC agility friends that we’d been invited to Agility Invitationals, they said we should definitely go! I had nearly a year to save and plan.

{ Miles was also ranked #1 AKC Preferred Agility Welsh Terrier for 2018. We were invited to a banquet to honor the top dogs of the year }

As long-time M&E readers know, I always like to report on the “behind the scenes” aspects of big agility events. Half of the game of competitive agility is the mental aspect. Your time spent competing is only mere minutes compared to the hours of travel, and days living in a new place. If you start traveling for competitive agility, a big part of the game becomes travel nuances. Here are my quick notes about the non-agility aspects from my first-time Invitationals experience:

Venue: There is no way to prepare yourself for what a building containing 7-8,000 dogs (plus people!) will be like for your dog. The only way to practice for it is to become a solid team at other big events, and to go to Invitationals multiple times. A few people told me that their dogs became more accustomed to it when they went a second time. Miles is a seasoned competitor now, and the environment was very overwhelming for him. Travel: I tried to save money on the flight and got a red-eye with long connections. Miles flies under my seat with me, but flying overnight and well into the next day was more taxing on both of us than I expected. Accommodation: I stayed at the main host hotel, and was happy with my choice. I travel with my own food, so my only regret was the absence of a microwave in the room. It was fun to stay in such a busy spot with so many dogs, and I was impressed with how well the hotel staff kept the experience well organized. I also found the other dog people to be very courteous. Miles really likes other dogs, but it was probably exhausting for him to live around so many of them! Weather: The PNW is known for mild winters, so I underestimated what a shock to the system landing in Orlando in December would be. We went from 60-97F! When we landed and our hotel room wasn’t ready, I did what I normally do after a long day of travel and took us both for a long brisk walk. Even with constant water breaks, we still got heat stroke. I felt very guilty for Miles’ sake. Social: This event is a major social hub for the dog world. I found that I had constant social events and meetings. At such a sprawling event, it is worriesome to make commitments away from your dog for a long time. Because the event is so big and dog-friendly, I found it tempting to think that having Miles with me was the solution. In retrospect, I should have made more downtime for us, and Miles especially.

Miles and I were really lucky that my dad flew out to meet us for the weekend to support us! Here is little video he took of just a tiny part of the venue:

The Agility!

Below is a video of our favorite run of Invitationals. This was the last run, and we went out with a bang! It was exciting to show off a little of our “international” flair at the beginning of the run with a “backside jump” (what the heck is that?). In addition to watching this favorite run, if you are a nerd and want to watch a 10-minute makeshift mini-documentary of our other runs grab a snack and click here. Proudest moments for Miles: working through setbacks such as not hearing some of my verbal cues, and finding his footing in the extremely challenging environment. Proudest moments for me: my front crosses and backside send positioning. Happiest feeling: No matter what the environment or course threw at us, Miles and I were in a shared state of “teamwork bliss” as we walked off of the course every time. We were completely paired and game. We both gave everything we had, and we both cared so much about our team. The memory of this ecstatic feeling will be with me forever.

Now for the barrage of pictures!

All photos are from Great Dane Photos unless noted.

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

{ Photo: @robinventures }

The People!

This picture is of Miles (who looks bizarrely large-scale in this iPhone shot), me, and Denise after Miles and my last run of Invitationals! Miles and I were exhausted but so happy here. Throughout Invitationals, Denise did not miss a single one of our runs. She was invaluable in helping me with the schedule and offering wonderful company. Denise is the founder of Welsh Terrier Record Holders and a very dear friend of ours.

Welsh Terrier Record Holders shared this special message in the competitor’s catalogue for us. Photo: Denise Yates, WTRH }

Miles and I with Keith Bailey and Sharon Abmeyer. Keith & Sharon are Miles’ breeders: Bayleigh Welsh Terriers. I thank them for placing a young puppy with me many years ago! Photo: @robinventures.

Katherine and Robin of @robinventures came for a day to meet us. Robin had never been to a agility event, let alone one held right next to a bazillion other dog events. He did very well! It was nice to spend some time with them in the midst of the chaos.

{ Photos: Denise Yates, WTRH }

One of the most special moments of the trip was getting to hug Sharon in person, and for her to see Miles. Sharon is Miles’ breeder. Miles was born in her home so many years ago! If you get a purebred dog, your breeder should be a friend for life. Sharon is and always will be a treasured friend of ours.

And of course, I am so grateful for my 6’6 dad, who came from the East Coast via plane despite being only two months into recovering from being hit by a car. Since I was a little kid in dog 4-H, my dad has always been extremely supportive of my dog endeavours (no matter how messy, loud, cold, or extreme they have been).

I would like to also thank my dear friend Cathy Aragon who was also there and who has been my biggest support in AKC Agility!

That’s a wrap Florida!

AKC Agility Invitationals is a showcase of many different kinds of dogs who have worked very hard with their teammates to excel at agility. Every possible breed is represented, making it a very unique event.