So Ari and I have an announcement to make! WE HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN OUR MISSION TO HAVE AKC REVERSE THEIR RESTRICTIONS PREVENTING 3 LEGGED DOGS TO COMPETE IN OBEDIENCE AND RALLY!  THIS IS GROUNDBREAKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY!!  Kudos to Ari for proving that 3 legged dogs are just as capable of competing in these to venues!  Please see below:

APPENDIX A Section 4. Dogs that May Enter.

The following dogs may enter Virtual Obedience events:

• Any dog that has been surgically altered to correct a congenital or hereditary defect.
• Spayed bitches or castrated dogs, and dogs with disqualifying conformation faults.
• Females in season. • Dogs with artificial coloring in their coats; however, the coloring must not cover more than one-third of the dog’s coat, must not be in poor taste and cannot contain profanity.
• Handicapped dogs, such as three-legged dogs, provided that the dog appears willing and does not show any signs of discomfort or pain.
• Dogs with pacemakers; these dogs may perform with a harness on, if one is medically necessary (please send an email to VOE@akc.org before submitting an entry).
• Deaf dogs.

I first went on my mission when I was told that my pup, who was already out performing all her classmates in Rally, that she would not be able to compete in AKC Rally because 3 legged dogs were deemed "Lame" and "lacking in locomotion!"  I was HORRIFIED!  I told the woman that my dog was NOT lame and that she needed to have "locomotion" to go potty in the morning!  I told her she would have to come up with something better than that before I would back off!   So I then was told "NO, others before you have made this request and the answer in NO!"  I told her that I would not accept that excuse and was going to pursue this!  So I went about filming Ari performing a few Rally Courses and sent her videos to a Rally Judge - Sylvia Brownlee!  Sylvia was AMAZED and evaluated her performances.  She said she would have scored her in the high 90's and "this dog is welcome in my ring anytime!   She put this in a letter that I could send to the AKC.  I compiled all my videos and created a Youtube Channel, along with approx. 12 letter from Sylvia, an Agility Judge, our Vet and many others who had watched Ari grow and out performed their dogs!  lol!!  Probable didn't hurt that Ari was featured on Delmarva Life TV show chronicling her life story and our missions with the AKC.  http://www.delm.....nal-story/ Make a longer story shorter, after I sent all this info to my AKC rep I was told month after month that I had to be patient, this is a GROUNDBREAKING request and not easily accepted!  This went on for almost a year until a few weeks ago a friend sent me the Minutes of the AKC Board of Directors November meeting!  This Appendix was added! Clearly I am on Cloud Nine for all of us who would like our 3 legged pups have the chance to "show what they can do" without the stigma of being LAME and Lacking Locomotion!  What this means is that as of March 1, 2021 3 legged dogs can compete in Virtual Novice Obedience, soon to follow Virtual Rally and soon to follow in person trialing!  I am beyond thrilled with this decision for all of us!  Thank you for listening!!!