-- US Team Attends for Second Year --

The American Kennel Club announced today the members of the AKC’s 2005 Obedience World Cup Team who will compete at the Crufts Dog Show in the UK. The team consists of three canine/handler teams and one alternate. They were selected from the top Obedience Trial Champion (OTCH) dogs in the country.

2005 USA Obedience World Cup Team:

• Joanne Johnson, Sioux Falls, SD
  OTCH Jo's Xpensif Hobi O'Redfield UDX MX AXJ - Shetland Sheepdog
  
• Bridget Carlsen, Plano, IL
  OTCH High Times Belvedere’s Duck Soup UDX MH – Golden Retriever
  
• Dave Gannon, Mineola, TX
  OTCH Breakwater Ice Skater UDX JH – Golden Retriever
  
• Kathleen J. Rasinowich, Papillion, NE
  OTCH First String’s Cubby Bear UDX AX NAJ – Golden Retriever

Photos and biographies of all team members are available at http://www.akc.org/dic/events/obedience/crufts_2005/team.cfm

There are also two supplemental alternate dog/handler teams from the top OTCH dog list who have been selected. In the event one of the team members or the first alternate is not able to travel to Crufts, one of the following competitors will be called upon:

• Dr. Jose Martinez, Scottsdale, AZ
  OTCH Tanbarks Road To Glory UDX - Golden Retriever
  
• Harold Lavene, Zephyrhills, FL
  OTCH Karagold Furr's Loch Aline UDX - Golden Retriever

The Crufts International Obedience Test will be held on Sunday, March 13th, 2005 at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, England. Teams from around the world have been invited to compete.