2026 Top Agility Athletes Getting Ready for Cynosport Dog Agility World Games
News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Betty Weibel
216-956-4034 / bw@yp-pr.com
Photos Available Upon Request
Plano, Texas — May 28, 2026 — Hundreds of dogs and dog lovers will descend on Tucson, Arizona, when the Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games Presented by Purina® Pro Plan® returns to the Kino Sports Complex’s North Stadium, November 11-15. Hosted by the United States Dog Agility Association, Inc. (USDAA®), this prestigious competition will feature the nation’s best in agility who qualified to compete from around the country, including top athletes from several local clubs.
USDAA® first introduced the Cynosport® World Games in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, bringing together a variety of agility competitions including the Grand Prix of Dog Agility® and Dog Agility Steeplechase® annual tournament series championships. Now in its 23rd year, the Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games continues to feature the world’s best canine athletes racing over obstacle courses against the clock while being navigated by their human partners in four distinct tournament series.
This year, competitors will be battling for the sport’s most coveted prizes, including the Purina® Pro Plan® Grand Prix of Dog Agility® World Championship, the right to compete for more than $10,000 in prize money in the Purina® Pro Plan® Dog Agility Steeplechase®, and the Purina® Pro Plan® Dog Agility Masters® Team Championship and Masters Challenge Biathlon℠ titles.
Among those in attendance will be local competitors such as Wendy Hultsman, Rebecca Ockenfels, Beth Skoff and Denise Titzer, along with other members from clubs such as Contact Zonies and Good Dog Agility.
Hultsman, a retired professor from Arizona State University, started in agility in 1994 with her Golden Retriever, Sam. She is currently the training director for Phoenix’s Jumping Chollas Agility Club and the event director for the annual USDAA® Wild West Regional in January. She trains and competes with three Australian Shepherds: 2 ½-year-old Mazi; his 7 ½-year-old uncle, Nami; and 13 ½-year-old Odie, who is qualified for the Veterans Showcase.
“It’s always exciting to see what competitors bring to the line when competition amps up to this level,” Hultsman said. “Being able to compete alongside so many other incredible teams brings an elevated sense of excitement, novelty and, of course, pressure! Cynosport® often provides the opportunity to both test and showcase one’s skills as well as learn by observing others.”
In August 2018, Ockenfels started her first clicker-training class to help her Border Collie/cattle dog mix build confidence. Her instructors encouraged her to learn agility through volunteering; now she looks forward to competing with her 9-year-old mixed breed, Betsy, at Cynosport® for the third time.
“Agility is addictively fun,” Ockenfels said. “The training is rewarding, and the competition is exhilarating. Our local clubs are the lifeblood of the agility community, and many promote a safe, kind, supportive atmosphere where members celebrate each other’s accomplishments. But what truly makes the sport the bees’ knees is the unparalleled connection and bond you build with your canine teammate. Betsy has transformed from a terrified and timid dog to a social, confident competitor, and that is what it’s all about!”
A retired sixth-grade teacher, Skoff has been involved in agility since 2001 when she competed with her Border Collie, Angus. She took a break while her children were active in sports during their middle and high school years, then returned to agility in 2014. She has competed with five Border Collies over the years, including her current partners, 6-year-old Archie and 2 ½-year-old Dani.
“There’s a special kind of buzz in our community when Cynosport® is being held in Arizona,” Skoff said. “You can see a lot of good handling at local trials, but I remember going to my first regional and seeing the quality of the handling there. It really opened my eyes and gave me something to aspire to. If you go see Cynosport® in November, you will see the highest levels of handling from the best of the best, and you might be inspired, too!”
Titzer is a first-grade teacher who has participated in the sport since 2002. She helps many of the local clubs as a chief ring steward, chief course builder and trial secretary, and has three dogs who step to the start line with her. Whim, her 4-year-old BorderPap, and Quiz, her 11 ½-year-old Border Collie, will run with her at Cynosport® this year, while her 9 ½-year-old dog competes in the Veterans division at local trials.
“I currently work with Contact Zonies, Good Dog Agility, Arizona Mountain Dog Sports and Leaps N Bounds in some capacity; local clubs like them offer great opportunities to learn about and get involved in the sport,” Titzer said. “Agility is special because you get to build your relationship with your dog while having fun and competing. You also become a member of a fun group of friends who share your passion and support each other.”
Founded in 1992 by USDAA® Hall of Fame Pioneer Bud Houston, Contact Zonies is the oldest of several Phoenix-area agility clubs. It boasts some 140 members who train their dogs in agility, either for competition or just for fun. Based at Phoenix’s Melrose Swim Club for more than 25 years, the club’s neighborhood location in North Mountain Village means that families and other nearby residents often stop by to watch training sessions. Contact Zonies also offers field rentals with preset courses to club members, so they and their dogs can practice on the equipment.
“Contact Zonies is a club for everyone,” said club president Chris Hill. “We don’t just cater to those who want to be very competitive at the highest levels. Our class roster covers all levels, from Beginner through Masters.” Training at Contact Zonies is 100% positivity based, utilizing toys, treats, and plenty of praise. More information can be found at https://contactzonies.org/ or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CZagility/.
Good Dog Agility Club was officially organized in 1993, making it Arizona’s second oldest agility club. Today, the organization is composed of some 60 members ranging in age from pre-teen junior handlers to agility veterans. It is based at Family Faith Church in Chandler and hosts three two-ring trials each year, along with the USDAA Wild West Regional in January. Its training philosophy also emphasizes positive techniques and the enjoyment and fun of everyone involved. More information can be found at https://gooddog.org/.
“I think most dog lovers can appreciate the impressive skills these dogs have to compete at a level as high as Cynosport®,” said Maureen Hughes, Good Dog Agility’s club treasurer and trial chair. “Watching the bond between dog and handler is a very special experience.”
The 2026 Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games open Wednesday, November 11, and feature five days of world-class canine competition. USDAA® welcomes any dog enthusiast looking to support the hard-working teams competing at the Kino Sports Complex; admission is FREE to the public! The thrilling action starts daily at approximately 9 a.m. in multiple rings. For more information, including details on the Vendor Fair & Trade Expo, event livestream and full competition schedule, visit www.cynosport.com.
USDAA® Continues to Celebrate 40 Years of Canine Sport Through Championship Event
Dog agility traces its beginning to Great Britain, where the sport was first witnessed at the Crufts Dog Show in 1978. The sport captured the interest of many dog fanciers and, in 1985, found its way to the United States where agility enthusiasts began developing the framework for the United States Dog Agility Association®.
In November 1986, USDAA® founder Kenneth Tatsch officially announced its creation at the Gaines Obedience Classic in Houston, Texas. Over the years, USDAA® has hosted numerous tournaments and demonstrations across the country and, as a charter member of the International Federation of Cynological Sports (IFCS), has helped to organize canine sports worldwide after the Olympic ideal.
USDAA® will close its 40th anniversary celebrations at the 2026 Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games, honoring a history that has developed it into the world’s largest independent canine sports authority dedicated to promoting the sport of dog agility. Over the last year, USDAA® has reflected on the evolution of the sport with some of its pioneer members, explored the longstanding partnership between the dog community and the equestrian world, and more. Many of these stories, including the journey of an Olympic veteran and Show Jumping Hall of Famer into the agility world, can be found on www.usdaa.com.
About agility
The exciting sport of dog agility showcases talented dogs performing against the clock over jumps and A-frames, through tunnels, weave poles, and more. Easy for spectators to understand, the objective is to score the fastest time with the least penalties. Dogs of all breeds and sizes compete in various classes where obstacles are set based on the height and experience of the dog.
About USDAA®
The United States Dog Agility Association, Inc. (USDAA®), the world’s largest independent authority for the sport of dog agility, has more than 45,000 registered competitors and more than 200 breeds of dogs, including mixed breeds. Credited with bringing the sport to North America in 1986, USDAA® is dedicated to promoting dog agility as a recreational family sport that fosters responsible pet ownership. Today, USDAA® has over 100 groups conducting more than 500 live events annually and hundreds of additional competitions through its USDAA@Home!SM virtual competition platform. The organization is recognized the world over as a leader in the sport of dog agility and is a founding member of the International Federation of Cynological Sports, an international sports federation headquartered in Belgium. For more information, visit www.usdaa.com.
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