2026 Dog Show Awards Contest Winners

Contest Winner - Emily Melcher

Photographed is “Sir Bentley Beans,” a 5-year-old Labrador Retriever, celebrating his win at Dark K9’s Season Championship in dock diving, where he earned titles in both Senior Air Retrieve and Master Distance. Bentley has been dock diving for four years and has competed in multiple national championships. Outside of dock diving, he also competes in Rally, Obedience, Scent Work, and Barn Hunt. Winning the photo contest was the cherry on top of an already incredible season. We are grateful to compete at a facility that presents beautiful awards from Hodges Badge Company.

Honorable Mention - Debbie McHenry

Lexi and Trumann are pictured with their “loot” from the German Shepherd Dog Club of Greater Kansas City Obedience trials in July 2025. Trumann won High Combined and High in Trial both days of the trials. Lexi finished her title in Beginner Novice. Both dogs are training in multiple AKC venues each week, ie Tracking, Obedience, Rally, and Scent Work. We are so excited to win Honorable Mention in the 2026 Catalog and will enjoy some special training treats and toys with our prize money.

Honorable Mention - Laura Stoltzfus

Photographed are Laura Stoltzfus's small but Mighty fur babies Tonka, Tilly and Tundra with their achievements at a Scent Work Trial! Tonka with his first "Q" in Detective! Tilly and her mom Tundra with their second placements (on the same day!). Tilly in Excellent Interior and Tundra in Master Interior! Tilly also achieved two fourth placements. One in Master Buried and one in Excellent Exterior! Finishing Tilly’s Excellent Exterior Title at 2 years old! These three dachshunds love to follow their noses and work. They love other sports as well, especially Fast CAT and Barn hunt! They would love to thank Hodges Badge Company for the prize money and the opportunity! They would like to use the prize money to buy treats, treats and more treats along with some toys!

Honorable Mention - Jamie Heberlein

Photographed is MACH3 RACH CedarWood’s Do You Believe in Magic, “Magic,” who earned her MACH3 during a perfect AKC Agility weekend competition - 13/13 qualifying runs. Magic is a Certified Love on a Leash Therapy Dog. She is accomplished with titles in agility, rally, FCAT, and has her Trick Dog Elite Performer title. Her prize money is going to be spent on her entry fees as she debuts in Scent Work competition this year.

Honorable Mention - Gianna Puccinelli

After a successful day of barn hunt, Harper and Henry pose with their ribbons having made a clean sweep! Harper was 1st in her Open runs and won High in Class. Henry also was 1st in his Novice runs, winning High in Class and finishing his Novice title. Harper and Henry enjoy competing in other sports as well, such as agility, dock diving, and flyball.

Honorable Mention - Alicia Skelding

Pictured here is Ares DarkBlack, "Fixion", with his two High in Trial ribbons from his AKC Scent Work Novice and AKC Scent Work Advanced trials. Fixion earned these titles and awards at just over 1 year of age.

Fixion is owned, loved, trained and handled by Alicia Skelding. This photograph was taken by his owner, who enjoys photography as a hobby! Fixion is Alicia's very first dog, and they have been training and trialing in conformation, scent work, obedience and schutzhund. Fixion holds multiple titles across these sports. He is a wonderful model for photography, amazing sport dog, beloved pet and friend to Alicia and Soda (a ragdoll cat).

Honorable Mention - John Savedra

2025 was an epic year of milestones for Cruiser, marking the achievement of two long-term objectives. In NAFA Flyball, he earned his Iron Dog Title (for racing ten consecutive seasons), and in NADAC Agility, he achieved his Agility Trial Champion (NATCH) title. The ribbon shown here was awarded in June of 2025 for his Outstanding Elite Chances title, an important steppingstone for his Championship. With the prize money, we plan to treat him to a "fear-free" chiropractic session at Holistika Veterinary in La Crescenta, California.

Honorable Mention - Mercedes Osolin

Photographed is Forgotten Lore's Raven Calling Nevermore "Raven", a 12-yr old All American after earning her FCAT5 at a fastcat event in Oklahoma. Raven was a Service Dog, fierce sport dog, and the start of it all for her owner/handler Mercedes. This FCAT5 award was the last for Raven to earn and will always be cherished. Mercedes plans to use the prize money to get some new gear and supplies for future training with her next dog.

Honorable Mention - Adara Van Ravenswaay

My name is Adara Van Ravenswaay, and I’m a professional dog trainer based in Wichita, KS. I own and operate NorthStarK9’s, where my four dogs and I compete in OB, Rally, ScentWork, Disc, and Dock Diving. We are also nationally recognized in Trick and FastCAT. This photo was taken at the 405 FastCAT & Canine Performance Sports Invitational, where three of my dogs earned awards. The people at 405 are like family to us—they truly love my dogs as if they were their own.

Pictured here are Kato, Skielar, and Shilas; Eleanor is not pictured. My website is NSK9s.com, and my Instagram is @shilasthedobermann. We feel incredibly honored to have our photo chosen. At this point, my dog room wall is practically covered in rosettes—many of them from Hodges! Any prize money my pups earn will go right back to them in the form of entry fees, of course, haha!

Honorable Mention - Tori Butler

Photographed is Juneau Aus Dem Nichts CAA FCAT FITG SCE SCAE SIAE SBAE SWA SWNE TKA VHMA VSWB "Juneau", a German Shepherd after an AKC Scent Work trial held by the Memphis Kennel Club. Juneau is Tori's first sport dog, so they get to enjoy all their firsts together. This photo was their first trial moving up to Advanced and have since moved into Excellent. The prize money will be used for entry fees into their next scent work trial and Juneau's favorite treats.