Congratulations to Amanda and Poppy for completing Poppy's Rally Advanced (an AKC obedience title).  Amanda spent yesterday driving to and from somewhere in Massachusetts to get the final "leg" for the title. 

Rally is probably the best place for novice AKC handlers to get started in dog shows.  It's fun, non-cometitive and inexpensive to get started.  Poppy is eligable under AKC's Purebred Alternative Listing program, which is available to apparently purebred dogs who don't have a registration for any reason as long as they are spayed or neutered.  They can participate in any AKC event that allows spayed or neutered dogs.  AKC also has a similar program for mixed-breed dogs.  We believe the special registrations and events like Rally, Agility and Hunt Tests are what is "right" with the AKC.