The Roberts Center in Wilmington, Ohio, was packed with obedience dogs on July 20 and 21 for two days of competition in this year’s AKC National Obedience Championship. The event was celebrating its 30th competition this year, but that wasn’t the only historic feature of the weekend. For the first time in history, a dog-and-handler team won the competition for a third time — it’s also the first time the same team has won for a third consecutive year.

For the 30th anniversary of the event, 136 teams competed over two days, with the top 50 being whittled down to the top 20, and then the top 10 winners were crowned. A total of 45 different breeds were represented at the event, with 38 Golden Retrievers, 17 Border Collies and 9 Labrador Retrievers making up the largest numbers of breeds. Meet the champion, plus the top 10 obedience teams in the country.

Making obedience history

The winner of the 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship was Golden Retriever “Baker” NOC OTCH14 High Times Shake ‘N Bake UDX9 OGM SH, managed by Kori Bevis. Bevis lives in Cannon Falls, Minnesota.

Baker and Bevis also won the 2023 AKC National Obedience Championship, the 2022 AKC National Obedience Championship, and this year’s Masters Obedience Championship in Westminster. They are the only dog ​​handler team to win the AKC National Obedience Championship three years in a row and the only team to win the competition three times. Bevis also has won in the past with her Labrador Retriever, making her a four-time AKC National Obedience Champion.

“To be the first person to win this three times in a row is amazing. It’s a dream I always had for Baker when he was young, and it’s amazing to be able to do that,” Bevis laughs. “It’s unbelievable. This dog is extraordinary,” she says as Baker beams with excitement next to her. “He’s one in a million.”

Baker, who is almost 10 years old, retired at the 2024 National Obedience Championship. His senior status didn’t stop him from going out with a bang and being crowned champion for the last time. “He still has a lot of energy, but we want to keep it at the highest level.”

The Winners of the 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship

2024 AKC National Obedience Champion

Call sign: Baker

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: NOC OTCH15 High Times Shake & Bake UDX10 OGM SH

Handler: Kori Bevis

Birthplace: Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Point: 517.5

Second place

Call sign: Kylee

Race: Shetland Sheepdog

Registered name: CH OTCH6 MACH2 Aratone’s Royal Memento UDX7 OGM VER MXS PAD MJS PJD

Handler: Vicky Gillow

Owners): Vicky Gillow, Marie Eguro, Mark Hersman

Birthplace: Mebane, North Carolina

Point: 517.0

Third place

Call sign: Willy

Race: Australian Shepherd

Registered name: OTCH4 Blue skies at Dejavu UDX3 OM6

Handler: Kathleen Keller

Owners): Kathleen Keller, Stephen Keller

Birthplace: Flemington, New Jersey

Point: 516.5

Fourth place

Call sign: M

Race: Labrador retriever

Registered name: OTCH3 My Dawg Miss M UDX2 PCDX OM4

Handler: Connie Cleveland-Nolan

Owners): Patrick Nolan, Constance Cleveland-Nola

Birthplace: Berryville, Virginia

Point: 515.5+

Fifth place

Call sign: Fast

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: OTCH Surefire on speed OM1

Handler: Mara Wacker

Owners): Mara Wacker

Birthplace: Stillwater, Minnesota

Point: 515.5

Sixth place

Call sign: Revolt

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: OTCH5 Heydays Quiet Rebellion UDX5 PCD OM8 BN JH

Handler: Janice Curran

Owners): Janice Curran, Mark Curran

Birthplace: Upper Black Eddy, Pennsylvania

Point: 514.0+

Seventh place

Call sign: Zuko

Race: Border Collie

Registered name: TC OTCH7 MACH2 RACH Bolser Zuko You are the true UDX7 OGM RM3 RAE3 HSAd HSBd HXAd HXBd MXS PAD MJS MFB TQX T2B3

Handler: Kim Berkley

Owners): Kimberly Berkley, Megan Harrison

Birthplace: Caseyville, Illinois

Point: 514.0

Eighth place

Call sign: Stevie Ray

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: OTCH10 Sunfire’s pride and joy UDX8 OGM BN RM RAE AX OAJ NF DS CGC TKA

Handler: Kathy Klein

Owners): Kathy Klein

Birthplace: Escondido, California

Point: 513.5

Ninth place

Call sign: Dell

Race: Border Collie

Registered name: OTCH5 HC MACH2 RACH Rapideye Wireless Dell UDX6 PCDX OGM VER RM2 RAE2 HSAs HSBs HIBs HXAds MXS MJS MXF TQX T2B2

Handler: Maria Whorton

Owners): Maria Whorton

Birthplace: Rougemont, North Carolina

Point: 513.0+

Tenth place

Call sign: Juicy

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: NOC OTCH11 High Times Total Saused UDX10 PCD OGM SH

Handler: Sharri Sibert

Owners): Sharri Sibert

Birthplace: Schoolcraft, Michigan

Point: 513.0

AKC National Obedience Championship Group Winners

The top four dogs from each group were awarded prizes after Sunday’s competition. Here are the top winners from each group.

Shepherd group

Call sign: Willy

Race: Australian Shepherd

Registered name: OTCH4 Blue skies at Dejavu UDX3 OM6

Handler: Kathleen Keller

Owners): Kathleen Keller, Stephen Keller

Birthplace: Flemington, New Jersey

Point: 738.0

Dog group

Call sign: Austin

Race: Greyhound

Registered name: Emerald’s Austin UDX OM2 BN RE NA NAJ CGCA

Handler: Meleta Galles

Owners): Meleta Galles

Birthplace: Bentonhaven, Michigan

Point: 676.0

Non-sporting group

Call sign: Fresca

Race: Keeshond

Registered name: OTCH RACH Wyndspell Sparkling UDX OM4 RM2 RAE2

Handler: Marion Crain

Owners): Marion Crain

Birthplace: Byrnes Mill, Missouri

Point: 721.0

Sports group

Call sign: Baker

Race: Golden Retriever

Registered name: NOC OTCH15 High Times Shake & Bake UDX10 OGM SH

Handler: Kori Bevis

Owners): Kori Bevis, Christopher Bevis

Birthplace: Cannon Falls, Minnesota

Point: 739.0

Terrier Group

Call sign: browner

Race: Airedale Terrier

Registered name: Finely tanned leather from Pipestone UDX PCD OM2 BN VER SHA JHR

Handler: Anita Smits

Owners): Anita Smits, Scott Lichy

Birthplace: Bloomberg, Minnesota

Point: 667.5

Toy group

Call sign: Bling

Race: Chinese Crested Dog

Registered name: PACH Simply Radiant by Jove UDX PCD OM3 BN RE AX MXJ MXP3 MXPB MJP4 MJPB PAX CA DCAT

Handler: Sherry Bennett

Owners): Sherry Bennett

Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa

Point: 718.5

Workgroup

Call sign: Sparkle

Race: Samoyed

Registered name: PACH4 RACH Wind Chaser’s Twilight Shines Over Vegas UDX2 OM1 BN GN GO RM3 RAE3 MXP12 MXPB2 MJP15 MJPS2 PAX4 TQX MFPS TQXP T2BP BCAT

Handler: Debbie Seder

Owners): Debbie Seder

Birthplace: Sussex, Wisconsin

Point: 706.0

Do you want to participate in obedience?

If you are interested in the AKC National Obedience Championship and want to know how to get started, all it takes is five minutes a day with your dog. Starting with obedience training with your dog is an easy way to work on cues that you can use in your daily life. Strengthen your bond with your dog by taking an obedience class. Who knows, you might be the next team to compete in the AKC National Obedience Championship!