BJAC’S Top 5 Junior Handlers of 2025

Kaitlyn Dill

BJAC: What’s your name, how old are you, how long have you been doing agility, and what dog(s) do you run?

KD: My name is Kaitlyn Dill, and I am 17 years old. I started doing agility in late 2021 when the agility bug caught me! I have two shelties, my amazing five year old, Adios, and a young 13 week old fluffy puppy named Mojo, who is eagerly awaiting his time to play agility.

BJAC: How did you discover agility?

KD: I discovered agility through taking obedience and rally lessons with my family’s German Shepherd, Trooper, at a local training facility. I looked into another ring, saw a dog doing agility, and decided that looked like fun! I learned how to do agility with Trooper; however, Trooper was easily distracted while competing in agility and, during our first agility trial, ran out of the arena looking for my mom right after he heard the timer’s automated “GO”. I guess he thought “GO” meant “Go find Mom as fast as possible,” and he was very fast at finding the gap in the fencing! After we quickly realized Trooper would prefer doing agility with my mom, I was blessed with Adios coming into my life as a young two year old and we both fell in love instantly. Adios means the world to me and I am so grateful for deciding to step out of my comfort zone and try something new, as agility has brought so many positive things and people into my life.

BJAC: What’s your favorite agility memory?

KD: My favorite agility memory is competing at our first US Open and running the Master Series Final Jumping with just a weave fault (which was my mistake for overhandling). As Adios and I were waiting to go in, I had seen multiple experienced teams in front of me get eliminated, and instead of letting that stress me out too much, I simply started playing and dancing around with Adios. While this did earn me some perplexed looks, it kept my mind off of what was going on around me and let me focus on having fun with my dog. I felt the biggest sense of achievement after that run, and I was so proud of how hard Adios and I had worked to get to that point, as we had just started competing in agility the prior year.

BJAC: What’s your biggest agility goal?

KD: My biggest agility goal is competing for Team USA, which I was blessed with achieving this summer. Adios and I were honored to compete for Team USA on the 2025 AKC Junior Agility Team at the 2025 Junior Agility World Championships in Portugal. This experience was a once in a lifetime kind of experience and I am so grateful for the adventure Adios and I went on. One of the coolest parts of this experience was being surrounded by so many other dedicated and driven agility juniors. We may not have all spoken the same language, but the shared connection for the love of our dogs and the sport was incredible to witness. Going forward, Adios and I will stay at 16’’ as it isn’t fair to him to jump 20’’long term, and we will have a blast at the 2025 US Open and future cups and classics. My biggest agility goal is to always have fun with my dog, no matter what level we are competing at, and to always do it for 13 year old me who decided to devote all of her time to a new sport.

BJAC: Who is your biggest influence/role model in agility?

KD: My biggest role model is my agility trainer and mentor, Kathleen Oswald. Kathleen Oswald introduced me to the sport and has been by my side throughout it all. She was there for our Novice A runs, and she was there when we stepped to the line to represent our country in Portugal. Kathleen instilled a love for the sport in me, and I wouldn’t be who I am today without her. Meeting Kathleen Oswald was a life-changing event, and I am so grateful to have met someone outside of my family who cares so deeply about me and my future goals.

BJAC: What are some of your hobbies and interests outside of agility?

KD: Outside of agility, I love soaking up all of the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. Adios and I go kayaking in the summer and he loves getting to spend time out in the water without getting too wet. We also love going on hikes, and I competed in cross country last year, earning my varsity letter. I am also a volunteer for the American Red Cross, which is fueling a passion for a future healthcare career.

BJAC: What is a piece of advice you would tell to a junior handler who is just getting started in agility?

KD: I would tell a new junior handler that agility is not a linear progression sport. There will be ups and downs, like all things in life, and to ignore the naysayers who might try to bring you down. Everyone has their own agility journey, and as long as you are having fun with your dog, that is all that matters. While a little progress each day may not feel like much, and it is easy to compare yourself to others, it will add up to big results. Prioritize building a relationship with your dog over getting a Q and don’t forget to turn around and see how far you have come. At the end of the day, agility is a very rewarding sport and I am so grateful for the people I have met and the places I have seen through it. Agility has given me a purpose and made me a better person and I can’t wait to see where this crazy journey takes my pack and I next.