Meet the Season 12 Elementary Team Champions! – American Kennel Club

The Regulation Elementary champs: Raindogs are repeat winners from last season! The members live in Ketchikan, Alaska – a remote city located on an island only accessed by boat or plane. They run outdoors year-round and often in the rain as Ketchikan is in a temperate rainforest. Captain Michelle Steed tells us more about how they have developed their small agility community!

Team Name: RainDogs

Division/Skill Level: Regulation Elementary

Facility Name & Location: Private facility in Ketchikan, Alaska

Where do you run – Indoors/outdoors? Outdoors

How was this team formed? 

This is our small group that trains together and wanted to have an opportunity to compete, as we live where there are no trials and must travel significant distances by plane or ferry to get to the mainland.

How did you come up with the team name? 

Ketchikan gets over 14 feet of rain a year and is in a temperate rainforest, so many of our training and league runs are done in the rain!

List handlers, dog names and breeds. 

• Michelle Steed and Eyre, Shetland Sheepdog
• Rachel Walton and Cricket, Border Terrier
• Ellen Ryan and Cooper, Shetland Sheepdog
• Danelle Kelly and Henry, Border Collie
• Jackson Landis and Geddy, Chihuahua

What do you attribute your team’s success to? 

A great group of people who have strong relationships with their dogs and can play this fun agility game with their dogs.  We know how to laugh with our dogs and keep them motivated.  And this group was great at taking recommendations and adjusting to meet their dog’s needs.

Anything else you want to add?

This is just the best group of handlers and dogs who are all friends.  I just moved from Alaska after we finished this season, and it was bittersweet to finish league with the group.