In 2010, Solar and Jester started off the year by winning 1st and 2nd in a large ISC event in preparation for the World Team Tryouts.  Then, in March, Solar went to his first AKC Nationals along with Jester and me, and Solar won the ISC event at Nationals as well as running clean in ALL rounds, placing 1st in 3 out of 5 preliminary rounds, and 4th in another preliminary round.  He went in to the finals seeded 2nd and WON the 2010 AKC National Championships at 26″, with a blistering speed.  Now both Jester and Solar can claim to have won their first ever AKC National Championship at 26″, Jester having been the first EVER 26″ AKC National Champion!

Solar and Jester both continued to have an amazing streak in 2010.  Together, we won the 22″ and the 26″ NW Regionals (Jester at 22″, Solar at 26″).  In May, Solar was selected for the 2010 USA World Team, which competed in Germany in the Fall of 2010.  We took 31st in Jumpers; a shaky start, but not bad considering the competition and our #2 draw number for the running order!  We had an amazing STD run and took 3rd in STD, for an overall 6th place…in the World!

In mid-October, just 48 hours after returning from Germany, I turned around and flew to KY for the 2010 USDAA Nationals, where Solar again made the STP Finals *and* the GP Finals.  He won the GP Semi-Final run AND the Finals, for his third National Championship in a row!

Amidst all of this, I left my position as Training Director of It’s A Dog’s World to more completely focus on teaching agility classes locally (still at Dog’s World) and abroad. And, in early 2010, Solar’s little sister Juno joined the family!

I have the amazing fortune to have friends I care about, a wonderful husband, and the opportunity to be in my Element – where my skills and my passion unite.  I am so fortunate to be able to share my life with my amazing dogs, who have taught me so much, and continue to do so.