AKC Agility Invitational Winner – Junior Excellent Class (12”): Basil – Handler: Charly Teller

Interview with Charly Teller

How long have you competed in AKC Agility? How did you discover the sport?

Charly Teller: I have been competing in AKC Agility for three years with my first Agility dog, “Basil.” I am still fairly new to the dog sport world and it has been so amazing! I discovered the sport as a young child when I watched the larger Agility competitions on TV, and I have always wanted to do it with my own dog ever since.

Did you have a strategy for competing with “Basil” at the AKC Agility Invitational this year?

Charly Teller: Competing at the Junior Invitational was truly an amazing experience that I will never forget. I’m not sure I had a specific strategy that helped us during the competition, but for me, it was truly about trusting my dog and forming a strong connection.

It definitely also takes a lot of hard work and dedication in order to succeed in high-level competition environments. It was so amazing to win and move on to compete against all of the adults, especially since it was my last year being eligible for the Junior Competition.

Do you compete in other dog sports? If so, which sports appeal to you and why?

Charly Teller: I have competed in a few other dog sports with my dogs, including Dock Diving, FastCat, and AKC Hunt Tests. I always love dog sports more when I can truly see that the dog is having just as much fun as the handler! All of the dog sports that I participate in are very fun experiences, but I still continue to love Agility the most—specifically because of the special challenges that come with the sport.