2025 Masters Agility Recap
BY JESSICA BRAATZ
While the dogs in the 12th annual Masters Agility Championship may have hit the ground running this past February, we cannot stop thinking about the incredible pairs who took to the green carpet to compete for the title of 2025 Masters Agility Champion. Over 350 teams competed, vying for just 50 spots in the Final to compete for the ultimate title and prize.
Throughout the competition’s 12 years, Border Collies have won an impressive nine championship titles. And this year, a Border Collie again reigned supreme. Eight-year-old “Vanish” took to the floor with a flash, blazing through the preliminary courses and ultimately bringing home the win with a flawless 26.49-second run, piloted by handler EmilyKlarman. This February was my first time spectating the entire competition after years of watching the highlights and post-win interviews on TV, and to my surprise, there is a whole other world of dog sports when it comes to Agility.
The competition started bright and early at 7:30 a.m. and continued all through the afternoon as each competitor ran twice, once through the Standard Agility course and a Jumpers with Weaves course. While both courses are fast, Jumpers with Weaves is electric, as the dogs fly across the carpet, handler in tow. In this competition, the entire run is often less than 30 seconds in length, meaning the handler and the dog must make decisions with lightning speed while navigating the course with grace and diligence. This depth of understanding and forethought led me to believe the competitors had been studying the courses for weeks, but I was shocked to learn that the handlers only receive maps the morning of the event! With no time to practice, they head into the walkthrough, navigating the course without a dog, mapping out their commands and directions, and ensuring they know the course. But when the dog’s toes touch the carpet and step into the ring, they are running that course for the first time, hoping to execute it both flawlessly and expeditiously.
Unlike Conformation, where the dog competing is judged in comparison to their breed’s standard, in Agility, the dog’s performance is judged both based on the overall time of the run and any faults that may occur during the competition. This is the “combined” score. The course is different at every competition, meaning the dog running must combine intuition and handler guidance to compete successfully. Throughout the run, the handler directs their dog over jumps, up dog walks, and through tunnels and weave poles using both sounds and hand motions. Success comes down to speed and precision, with the team aiming to complete the run as quickly as possible, while avoiding mistakes like missing an obstacle or toppling a jump. Each participant competes against other dogs in their height class, with five classes in total spanning eight to 24 inches. While some of the obstacles may be more daunting for a Papillon than a Weimaraner, the jump heights are adjusted to each class.
After the 350 competitors compete in the preliminary courses, the ten dogs of each height class with the “highest combined” scores advance to the Finals. It is in this round that the Master Agility Champion is crowned, as well as the Highest Scoring All-American Dog (mixed breed), and the highest scorer of each height class. In addition to their title, the champion is awarded a $5,000 donation to the AKC training club of their choice or the AKC Humane Fund. The highest-scoring All-American Dog receives this same honor in the amount of $1,000.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Agility sport annually garners more than a million entries throughout AKC competitions. It is thriving, and when I was spectating, it was easy to see why. The connection and bond each pair had with one another was truly awe-inspiring, with dogs often leaping into their handler’s arms after the completion of each run. They tugged on their padded leashes and barked with excitement. And handlers simply laughed when their dogs made mistakes, jumping at the wrong time, or even missing an obstacle entirely. One factor was vibrantly apparent to me over anything else—these teams compete because of their immense love for the sport and each other. These dogs are powerful, resourceful, and diligent, and there is nothing they would rather do than run that course and look to their partner for guidance. It was emotional to watch the true joy on the handler’s faces, on their dogs, and their friends and competitors who cheered with vigor, whether the run brought success or failure.
Another aspect that left a lasting impression was the diversity of human participants. I initially expected every handler to be in peak marathon-running shape. But instead, I was inspired by handlers of all ages and fitness levels competing side by side on the carpet. Each dog was so finely attuned to their handler that physical proximity often became secondary, some leading out farther, guided by their handler from afar or by verbal commands. No matter what individual tactics each team employed, I sat at the edge of my seat, admiring with the crowd over the immense feat we were witnessing—not only these once-in-a-lifetime runs, but the depth of training and connection between handler and dog, something truly special.
And while Vanish reigned supreme at this year’s competition, the other classes were also full of impressive runs. The 8-inch Division was won by a Papillon named Gabby. Top honors of the 12-inch Division were taken home by the Shetland Sheepdog, Swindle. Vanish won the 16-inch division. A Border Collie named Shelby Cobra won the 20-inch division. Sterling the Weimaraner took home first place in the 24-inch division. And, Gable prevailed as the highest combined scoring All-American dog.
Even from the stands, I could tell that Vanish was electric that night, as most of the competitors were. But her spark and drive were notable, from her excited barks to joyful leash tugs, Vanish was truly in her element that evening, and her flawless run proved it. When her win was announced, handler Emily Klarman dropped to her knees, scooping Vanish into a hug, but the Border Collie had her own plans to celebrate her new title. Barking playfully and tugging on her leash, Vanish was at home. While the crowd erupted around her, she was focused and happy, tuning out the thunderous applause and honing in solely on Emily. Her celebration continued as Emily juggled her ribbons, trophy, and immense emotion, and was swept into an interview.
When asked about her win, Emily was overcome with sentiment, simply repeating that she “had no words” to summarize the win of a lifetime, one that she had dedicated endless hours of training to achieve. But, she found words for her companion, describing Vanish as “one in a million,” and spoke about the win being extra special since she achieved it with her companion. When asked about her success, Emily attributed it to the team’s love for what they do and their unyielding commitment to trying their best, no matter the outcome. And that night, their “best” was enough to claim both the title and the hearts of the audience.
While wins like Emily’s may be once-in-a-lifetime, competing in Agility doesn’t have to be. At one point, each of the 350 competitors had never set foot on an Agility course. They each chose to follow this path, lifted by the support of their peers, and embark on the journey to mastery. Since Agility is open to All-American dogs and those that are spayed or neutered, it is often more accessible than Conformation, making it an excellent way to dive into dog sports with your own canine companion. If you are interested in trying out some Agility with your dog, check with your local dog club for classes, or check out the resources below. With a little training, you and your pet, too, can become masters.
