Agility enthusiasts learn to lasso the energy and enthusiasm of dogs starting out in the sport. They relish incremental improvements as proof of their dog’s bright future.

These benchmarks, a culmination of practice and mastering skills, are duly noted by the AKC Agility League. The AKC Agility League Winter 2025 Season inspired League officials to recognize the “Most-Improved” dog and team in each division. The new honor formally began in the Spring-Summer 2025 Season.

A snapshot of some of the most improved dog agility teams and handlers from the Winter 2025 Season shows their unwavering, steady commitment and heartfelt love of dog agility that represent the nature of this special AKC Agility League recognition.

Meredith Boardman, of Pueblo West, Colorado, and her 11-year-old red male Australian Cattle Dog “Tully” (Tully CD RN ACT2 AC1J CGCA CCU TKI RI) took top honors as the Most Improved across all divisions. The pair, who began competing in Agility League in Fall 2024, are members of the Chile Puppers team.

“We had one super good week in the middle of the season when Tully had a huge boost of energy and ran really fast,” says Meredith, who was surprised to learn of their star recognition. “Tully usually runs the courses around 28 seconds, but that week he ran it in 13 seconds.”

Her first agility dog, Tully, has been training in agility for eight years.

“I have to remember that he’s a Veteran dog,” Meredith says.  

As she considers Tully’s improved timing, Meredith notes, “He doesn’t sniff the outdoor field as much anymore to smell sheep and deer scent. This certainly helps our course times. He’s more interested in doing the course now.”

“We are always striving to find ways to recognize more League competitors,” says Penny Leigh, Director of the AKC Agility League.  

“League is about training and getting better, so we thought that recognizing those who improved the most each season was a great way to celebrate the spirit of League.” – Penny Leigh, Director of the AKC Agility League  

“We also wanted to add incentives to those who might not be at the top of the rankings but are making strides and deserve to be recognized.”

An excitable 3-year-old cream male Standard Poodle named “Remi” (Bear Cub’s Remington’s Quick Paw DCAT CGC TKN) is the Most-Improved Elementary Division dog in the Winter 2025 Season, an honor achieved in his first season of Agility League.

His owner-handler, Sabrina Beck, of Orlando, Florida, attributes Remi’s success on the Agiljunkies team to improved time scores as he learned to manage distractions. She also says as her second agility dog, Remi is a quick learner who has reaped from her eight years’ experience in the sport.  

“At first, Remi would get very excited and do a ‘zoomie,’ a little butt scoot, after a couple of jumps or coming off the A-frame,” Sabrina says. “I would have to call him back. He would get distracted because he was so excited, and we would not finish in a timely way.

“By the last run of the season, Remi did it so beautifully without distractions that he ran right through the course. He could do more than three to four jumps without getting so excited.”

Joann Stewart, of Hilo, Hawaii, and her All-American Dog, “Paul Stanley,” named for the lead singer from the band Kiss, took Most-Improved honors for the Freshman Division in Winter 2025. Members of the Woof Gang team, they trained for one and a half years before joining Agility League in Fall 2024.

Joann credits her first agility dog’s marked improvement to his time scores, going from 40-second to 15-second course runs, and mostly clean runs.  

“We’ve been doing this for a while, so he’s used to my handling,” Joann says. “He just likes to fly through the course. I point to the obstacles because he’s always way ahead of me.”

“We were looking to find something for him to do. It’s all about keeping him busy,” says her husband, Paul Stewart, co-owner. “Their times kept getting better and better.”

Reflecting on their improvements, the handlers agree getting better in the sport is a journey that comes from experience working with your dog.  

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to navigate Remi’s excitement and to steer it without squelching it,” Sabrina says. “He wants to do the course right and do it well.”

“I’ve learned a lot about how to handle Paul Stanley’s speed,” Joann says. “He has become more consistent.”  

“We do Agility League for fun,” Meredith says. “He’s an all-around great dog.”

Ultimately, the handlers say their enjoyment of dog sports is rooted in developing their bond with their dog.

“The best part is the one-on-one time we spend together,” Joann says.  

“Paul Stanley always knows when it’s Sunday. He wakes me up to go to League.” - Joann Stewart, Handler

“I am very fortunate in the bond I have with Remi,” Sabrina says. “As our relationship has built, when I have expectations he wants to do them more. You just can’t replace the bond you have with your dog.”

Meredith adds, “I have a great bond with Tully. He swims, hikes, goes in the kayak with us, does rally. Anything we ask.”

Congratulations to these Most-Improved teams from Winter 2025! For more dog agility competition news and agility league season winners, stay tuned for future announcements, including details on the AKC Agility League Championship.