Upcoming events

Following the announcement of the mutual cooperation agreement between Dogs Australia and the American Kennel Club (AKC), Australia has received an invitation to participate in the annual International Virtual Trick Dog Competition organised by the AKC.

Please see below the invitation which includes links to the rules and entry form. Entries are submitted via YouTube videos and although you enter online and not in person, it is similar to the FCI World Challenge where competitors will fund their own expenses.

Questions can be emailed to [email protected]

Dogs Australia
July 2026

Please click here to view the invitation or read on for the content.

Dear Kennel Club Friends,

For the past seven years the American Kennel Club has held an annual Virtual Trick Dog Competition. This year we have added an International class to this popular event and we would like to extend an invitation to dog owners to participate from those countries with which we have a mutual cooperation relationship. We ask that you relay this invitation to the appropriate audience in your country.

Three judges will judge each submission based on creativity, difficulty and accuracy of tricks, flow from one trick to the next, handling skills, entertainment value, and overall impression. Outstanding performances from the 2025 competition may be viewed at: https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/.

Entries are submitted via YouTube videos that may be no longer than 6 minutes. Handlers may submit a video of their dog performing ten or more tricks. The video can be set to a story, but this is not required. Entries open on Saturday, August 1, 2026.

The application including the video link must be received no later than the end of the day on Thursday, October 1, 2026. Results will be announced no later than December 1, 2026. Please email questions and entry videos to: [email protected].

Entry forms and rules are at: https://www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/.

All dogs who qualify in the International class will receive an attractive e-certificate, and a virtual rosette which includes the Trick Dog logo as an indication of their proficiency. For the International Trick Dog class, there will be one winner and four semi-finalists. These dogs/owners will be posted on the AKC Trick Dog web page.

This event is open to both purebred and mixed breed dogs (called Canine Partners). To enter, dogs must be registered/listed with the AKC. The AKC has a special $50 (USD) AKC registration offer with code FORREGO50 available for purebred dogs that are registered by a foreign kennel club that is recognised by the AKC at www.akc.org/register/dog/foreign/. Mixed breed dogs can obtain their Canine Partner listing number at www.apps.akc.org/registration-canine-partner/ for $45 (USD). Dogs that are registered/listed by the AKC are eligible to earn trick dog titles that will appear on your dog’s AKC pedigree. To learn more about AKC trick dog titles, please see www.akc.org/sports/trick-dog/resources/trick-dog-applications/

Let’s appreciate the skills of trick dogs everywhere and learn from each other. We would love to meet the trick dogs from your country.

Sincerely,
Doug Ljungren, Executive Vice President, AKC Sports & Events
Mary R. Burch, PhD, AKC Family Dog Director