Purina Pro Plan Spotlight: Kaboom’s Final Cynosport
World champion agility dog officially retires.
Amber McCune and her Border Collies are familiar faces around the agility world. The Amherst, N.H., resident has competed at the top levels of the sport and starred in several Purina® ads since her 2015 victory in the Incredible Dog Challenge (IDC) with her previous dog, Notch. She has since continued her successful agility career with Kaboom, Typo, Howie-Wowie and Shelby-Cobra.
“Overall, I just want my dogs to enjoy the game,” Amber said in an interview for the November 2020 issue of USDAA’s OVERview (pp. 10-11). “Their excitement to experience new things and be part of a team and do agility is why I do it. It’s just amazing to be able to do a sport with your best friend who loves it as much as you do.”
At the 2023 Cynosport® Dog Agility World Games Presented by Purina® Pro Plan®, Amber celebrated podium finishes with Typo (1st) and Howie-Wowie (3rd) in the Masters Challenge BiathlonSM 24”, but perhaps the most bittersweet victory was her Veterans Overall 16” Championship title with Kaboom. She officially retired her almost-11-year-old partner from USDAA competition after their win.
“Kaboom has been special since day one,” Amber said. “He has the heart of a racehorse. He always wants to be first, run the fastest and be the king of everything. He loves agility, swimming, hiking, obedience, pretty much anything that makes him the center of attention. He’s a quirky soul that I am so very lucky to have as my partner.”
Amber and Kaboom have won many titles together, including the Westminster Masters Agility Championship 24” in 2017, 2018 and 2022. They also represented the U.S. on three world teams (2018 WAO, where they earned bronze; 2019 IFCS; and 2020 WAO) and earned multiple bronze, silver and gold medals at USDAA Regional events and the U.S. Open.
“His favorite hobby is looking for cows when we drive cross-country in the RV,” Amber said. “He stares out the window for hours on end looking for them in the fields. When he sees some, he’ll wag his tail wildly and look back at me as if to say, ‘Did you see them?’ He’s now going to live the life of leisure just watching for them!”
Congratulations to Amber and her dogs on another successful year, and a happy retirement to Kaboom!