Wowed by the agility dogs at the Westminster show? Handlers explain how it's done
JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press
Border collies combine brains, speed, and stamina to dominate Westminster Kennel Club's Masters Agility Championship, taking nine of the event’s first 12 titles since 2014. (AP Video: Ted Shaffrey)
NEW YORK — A crowd is waiting to see you run a labyrinthine obstacle course you have never done before. You have to complete it with enough focus to avoid wrong turns, enough precision to ensure your foot touches certain spots, and enough speed to beat dozens of rivals.
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A dog jumps over a hurdle while competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.
Emily Klarman, a Westminster Masters Agility Championship-winning dog handler, plays with Swish, a border collie, after a practice run at UDog Agility in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., on Jan. 15.
A dog jumps over a hurdle while competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.
A handler stands with his dog, Gerard, a Standard Poodle, after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Saturday, Jan. 31, in New York.
Handlers pose for a picture with Iron Man, All American Dog, after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.Â
A dog jumps over a hurdle while competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
Handler hugs a dog at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
Winners of the Masters Agility Championship Finals pose for a picture at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A carrier transporting show dog Charizma is pushed by her handler at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
Dogs prepare to walk through the demo ring during the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
A beagle sits in his crate at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
A show dog named Valli gets groomed at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
A handler stands with his dog, Gerard, a Standard Poodle, after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A Border Collie, competes in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
People watch the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A handler and Gabby, Papillion dog, poses for a picture after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A papillon dog competes in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A Border Collie dog rests on the floor after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
An Australian Shepherd dog gives a high-five to a handler before competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
English Springer Spaniel dog looks at a handler during the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
A dog waits to compete in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog show, Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, at the in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Yuki Iwamura
Handlers groom their dogs at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
Handlers groom their dogs at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
A pug named Petunia Pugdashian rests at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Angelina Katsanis
A show dog arrives at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)
Border collies combine brains, speed, and stamina to dominate Westminster Kennel Club's Masters Agility Championship, taking nine of the event…
Emily Klarman, a Westminster Masters Agility Championship-winning dog handler, plays with Swish, a border collie, after a practice run at UDog Agility in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., on Jan. 15.
A dog jumps over a hurdle while competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.
A dog jumps over a hurdle while competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.
A handler stands with his dog, Gerard, a Standard Poodle, after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Saturday, Jan. 31, in New York.
Handlers pose for a picture with Iron Man, All American Dog, after competing in the Masters Agility Championship Finals at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Jan. 31, in New York.Â
