Up-and-Coming Young Dogs From Cynosport 2025
Superstars in the making
This article was originally published in the December 2025 OVERview digital magazine.
At this year’s Cynosport®, the future of agility shone brightly through a remarkable group of young dogs making their national debuts.
“I think the future looks bright for Gem and me. We have a good bond and both love agility. This was her first Cynosport, and she won the 12” BiathlonSM standard class, placed third I think in Gamblers and made Steeplechase® finals. My goal was to just be the best handler I could be for her. To let her know early where she was going and to just have fun with no expectations.” — Debbie McLean (Michigan)
Debbie McLean and Gem
"Ariat did really well, even making Steeplechase finals in his first Cynosport. He handled the environment and new venue like a pro. I didn’t have expectations except to make this a positive confidence-building experience. I wanted it to feel like he could trust what I was asking of him and to let him enjoy showing. He is an absolute superstar in the making. I love his heart, and we have a very strong bond.” — Melanie Rock (Illinois)
Ariat
"Annie is a rescue pup. She is Poodle, Shih Tzu with a little bit of Bichon. The mother was rescued from a hoarding situation before the litter was born. So, Annie got a good start with a foster mom. Then my husband and I adopted her at 12 weeks old. She is such a blessing.” — Suzan Roberts (Virginia)
Annie
“Suri is like a rocket, but at the same time she is easily directed with precision. She has been compared to ‘shaking a bottle of champagne and popping the cork’ with her explosive energy. I have been preparing Suri for this event by strengthening her obstacle commitment and asking her for more distance. She nailed everything I asked of her. Suri had just turned 2 when she made podium at regionals. This was her first Cynosport and first national event. She proved to be reliable under pressure and maintained composure.” — Kathy Kettner (Oklahoma)
Suri
“I went into the event with the intent to give her (Exquisite) a positive experience at a big national event. I was hoping to see her hold criteria in a loud and exciting environment and have fun! I think her future is extremely bright. She learned to play the game extremely fast and has continued to impress me with her skills and growth. I’m excited to see what 2026 has in store for us!” — Sydney Ryan (Oregon)
Exquisite (center)
“I wanted to get into finals with her (Cherry Pie) but mostly wanted to stay connected and test some of our skills as a team in a big environment. She was awesome. Overall, for her being so young, I couldn’t be prouder. She is showing such great progress, and I feel that my future is so bright with her. She is such a nice, natural jumper. It’s rare for her to knock a bar. She has great distance as well.” — Sandy Scott (California)
Cherry Pie