TheΒ 2026Β AKC Diving Dogs Premier CupΒ was held in collaboration with North American Diving Dogs onΒ March 20Β inΒ Temecula,Β CA. Dogs competed in Distance and Air Retrieve,Β with a winner crowned in each subdivision.Β Β
The competition aired on ESPN2, and champions were announced for each discipline. See the 2026Β AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup winners below!Β
AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup Divisions
Dogs competed in the Distance and Air Retrieve categories to crown winners. Distance was separated into three subdivisions: Distance Lap, Distance SupremeΒ (Open 24+),Β and DistanceΒ MarqueeΒ (Open 16β²-23β11β). This year, Air Retrieve included three divisions: Lap,Β Marquee (Open 12β²-17β²), and Supreme (Open 18+).Β
In Distance, dogs competed for the farthest jump, which is measured from the end of the dock to the base of the dogβs tail when it breaks water.
In Air Retrieve, each dog tries to jump off the dock and knock a bumper off an apparatus. The bumper is suspended above the water and centered across the width of the dock, at a set distance from the edge. After a successful attempt, the apparatus is moved one foot farther. Each dog has two chances atΒ eachΒ distance.Β Β
Distance Division β Lap WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name:Β βElectraβ
Breed:Β Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Handler:Β Ursula Kinley
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name:Β βUncorkedβ
Breed:Β Parson Russell Terrier
Handler:Β Michelle Rocha
Age:Β 6 years old
Third Place
Call name:Β βSmidgenβ
Breed:Β Boston Terrier
Handler:Β Kevin Bottoms
Age: 3 years old
Distance Division β Supreme WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name:Β βEllaβΒ
Breed:Β Labrador RetrieverΒ
Handler:Β Lacey CraigΒ
Age:Β 2 years old
Second Place
Call name:Β βAniseβΒ
Breed:Β Belgian MalinoisΒ
Handler:Β Rychelle VelasquezΒ
Age:Β 3 year old
Third Place
Call name:Β βGriffinβΒ
Breed:Β ChesapeakeΒ Bay Retriever
Handler:Β Dan MyersΒ
Age:Β 3 years old
Distance Division β Marquee WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name:Β βFlynnβΒ
Breed:Β DalmatianΒ
Handler:Β Jane WatkinsΒ
Age:Β 6 years old
Second Place
Call name:Β βFawkesβΒ
Breed:Β Border CollieΒ
Handler:Β RobΒ LaCalleΒ
Age:Β 8 years old
Third Place
Call name:Β βLondonβΒ
Breed:Β Cane CorsoΒ
Handler:Β Zoe LipeΒ
Age: 4 years old
Air Retrieve Division β Lap WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name:Β βFloydβΒ
Breed: All-American Dog
Handler: Kari HerronΒ
Age: 3 years old
Second Place
Call name:Β βBashβΒ
Breed:Β All-American DogΒ
Handler:Β Katelyn SpoonerΒ
Age:Β 6 years old
Third Place
Call name:Β βBoltβΒ
Breed:Β Parson Russell TerrierΒ
Handler:Β Karen WoodsΒ
Age:Β 6 years old
Air Retrieve Division β Marquee WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name: βRicky BobbyβΒ
Breed:Β Labrador RetrieverΒ
Handler: ShelbyΒ SaemannΒ
Age:Β 3 years old
Second Place
Call name:Β βKaiserβΒ
Breed:Β German Shepherd DogΒ
Handler:Β Kaitlyn LeasureΒ
Age:Β 4 years old
Third Place
Call name:Β βSawyerβΒ
Breed:Β German Shepherd DogΒ
Handler:Β Brianna OrozcoΒ
Age:Β 4 years old
Air Retrieve Division β Supreme WinnersΒ
Winner
Call name: βRyeLeeβΒ
Breed: German Shorthaired PointerΒ
Handler:Β Donna Hart-MillerΒ
Age:Β 3 years old
Second Place
Call name: βFizzβΒ
Breed: All-American DogΒ
Handler:Β Sam MoΒ
Age:Β 1 year old
Third Place
Call name: βRysinβ
Breed:Β Dutch Shepherd
Handler:Β Whitney Lightner
Age: 5 years old
Get Started in Dock Diving
If the AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup seems intriguing and you have a dog that loves water,Β youβreΒ already close to competing.Β
Like many dog sports, all dogs over 6 monthsΒ old, including mixed breeds, are eligible to compete in Diving Dogs (exceptΒ females in season).Β Titles earned throughΒ North America Diving Dogs (NADD)Β will be recognized by The American Kennel Club. To apply, simply complete theΒ Title Application.Β
The post Meet the 2026 AKC Diving Dogs Premier Cup Winners appeared first on American Kennel Club.