Nancy Muller and her toy breeds are no newcomers to the AKC National Obedience Championship. This year marks Muller and her toy breeds鈥� tenth run for top scores at the prestigious performance event. This year, she competed with 9-year-old Papillon 鈥淢ickey鈥� and 5-year-old Chihuahua 鈥淏onnie,鈥� and brought along her senior Papillon 鈥淢olly,鈥� who also used to compete in obedience.
Muller of Manchester, Missouri, has mastered demonstrating good companion skills, such as coming when called, retrieving and jumping, and scent discrimination, even on such a big stage. She fondly recalls the past decade in top obedience competitions, especially at the AKC National Obedience Championship.
A Repeat Competitor
鈥淪howing at the highest obedience level with teams from all over the U.S. is exciting,鈥� says Muller. 鈥淲hen I see dogs perform exercises in this bustling environment, it reflects the partnership between dog and owner, and it鈥檚 a real adrenaline rush.鈥�
Muller especially enjoys catching up with people she鈥檚 met at previous competitions. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fun to share the same activities with friends from year to year,鈥� Muller says.
This year, two of Muller鈥檚 dogs, Papillon Mickey (CH OTCH3 Wingssong Moves Like Jagger UDX11 OGM GN) and Chihuahua Bonnie (Uneke鈥檚 Remember Selena UDX GO) joined 136 teams competing over two days at the 2024 competiton at the Roberts Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
Showing two dogs in this high-pressure venue takes focus and skill. 鈥淏efore going into the ring, I go through the list of what I need to do with each dog,鈥� Muller says. 鈥淟uckily, I don鈥檛 feel rushed because the AKC show superintendent gives me enough time between each dog鈥檚 time in the ring to manage our routine.鈥�
While long-coated Chihuahua Bonnie made her debut at this year鈥檚 competition, her Papillon housemate, 15-1/2-year-old 鈥淢olly鈥� (OTCH15 My Dolly Molly Two Spots UDX 34 PUTD OGM VER), came along as a spectator. She retired from the national competition two years ago, competing until she was about 13 years old.
鈥淚 walked Molly around the arena in a , and she was so animated,鈥� Muller says. 鈥淚 could tell she was happy to be back and loved seeing all the people and dogs.鈥�
From Novice to Utility AKC Obedience Competitor
Fourteen years ago, Muller and Molly entered the obedience titling world in Novice A class beginners in club obedience trials. A fast learner, the charming toy breed with distinctive butterfly ears quickly racked high scores.
鈥淪he went on to earn 15 OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) titles, two of them happening after she became deaf,鈥� Muller says. 鈥淲e had a good relationship with signals, and she understood my physical movements, so it worked.鈥�
Muller showed Molly in eight National Obedience Championships, and Molly consistently ranked in the top four in the Toy Group. She also took the number one Toy spot at the competition twice, and stands among nationally ranked obedience Papillons. 鈥淪he was always happy in the ring, and it was a joy to show her,鈥� Muller recalls.
Long Coats Galore at the AKC National Obedience Championship
The 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship saw 45 breeds represented, including 38 Golden Retrievers, 17 Border Collies, and 9 Labrador Retrievers leading the entries. Muller prefers going through the paces with Papillons and her long-coat Chihuahua. 鈥淎lthough Molly is my first Papillon, I鈥檝e always liked this breed because it鈥檚 pretty, smart, and happy,鈥� Muller says. 鈥淎 smaller dog is handy, too, plus it鈥檚 easy to keep clean and doesn鈥檛 shed much.鈥�
Continuing with her Papillon-AKC National Obedience Championship tradition, Mickey was the sole Papillon entered. Hoping to reach the top 50 competitors, the male Papillon scored three points short of the top 50 but finished the national championship as the number two Toy. 鈥淚 blame handler error because I turned too fast to get the glove in scent discrimination exercise, and he returned the wrong glove,鈥� she says.
鈥淏onnie was fantastic and didn鈥檛 make any mistakes until the seventh of the eight rings,鈥� Muller says. 鈥淪he leaped over the jump, but one foot touched the bar.鈥�
To date, Bonnie is a quarter toward earning her first OTCH. Muller hopes she will claim it within the year and be the first Chihuahua to add the title. 鈥淪he has twice the number of OTCH points as the number two Chihuahua, so hopefully, we can get there,鈥� Muller says.
With two Papillons in tow at a competition with few or no others of the breed, people often approach Muller. 鈥淧eople always ask if Mickey and Molly are related, but they鈥檙e not,鈥� says Muller. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e both tricolored as the breed standard requires, but Molly鈥檚 coat has more brown than Mickey鈥檚.鈥�
In and Out of the Obedience Ring
Around the house, Mickey and Bonnie are easy to live with and aren鈥檛 big barkers. While Mickey finds Bonnie a little annoying, Bonnie loves Mickey. When Muller brings in a new puppy, she begins training right away. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 give them the run of the house, and when they鈥檙e old enough, we begin training classes at least once a week,鈥� she says.
Muller works as a basic obedience trainer at different training facilities and enjoys helping people learn how to relate to their dogs through training. 鈥淎ny dog can do well at national competitions with training, practice, and patience,鈥� she says.
Looking ahead to the 2025 National Obedience Championship, Muller knows she鈥檒l be back in the ring and, hopefully, the winners鈥� circle. 鈥淏onnie has already qualified for next year鈥檚 [competiton], and Mickey still needs a few more points to qualify, but he has until the end of the year,鈥� Muller says.
She hopes to add another Papillon to her future National Obedience Championship entries. Waiting in the wings at home is 1-year-old 鈥淭opper鈥� (CH. Wingssong Movin to the Top). 鈥淚鈥檝e already begun training him, so I鈥檓 excited about what we can do,鈥� Muller says.
If you missed the 2024 AKC National Obedience Championship catch the highlights on . Congrats to “Baker” and Kori Bevis, the 2024 AKC National Obedience Champions!聽