Eskie ‘Sailor’ Competes at AKC Rally National Championship

Timid and reserved, American Eskimo Dog “Sailor” struggled to navigate the world as a young puppy. But her owner, 16-year-old Sophia Norman, was patient. With time, trust, and plenty of treats, Norman gently transformed the shy little pup into a confident Grand Champion and AKC Rally competitor.

Now it’s Sailor at the helm, as Norman’s psychiatric service dog. “I myself struggled with anxiety and my ADHD getting the better of me,” she says. “I trained her to help me around the world as well, since I was helping her navigate the world on her own.”

Together, Sailor (GCH CH Wintersun’s Making Waves CD BN RE NA NAJ SWN CGCA TKI) and Norman will show how much they’ve grown — as individuals and as a team — by competing at the 2026 AKC Rally National Championship, on July 18 and 19 in Wilmington, Ohio.

“She is such an amazing dog — incredibly intelligent, patient, and she just understands the world so, so well,” Norman says. “I am really glad how well of a dog she turned out to be.”

Meeting Her First Mate

In 2019, after months of research and networking, Norman had finally landed a spot on the waitlist for an Eskie puppy from Lenise Redding, an AKC Breeder of Merit (Bronze). Norman was just 9 years old but had years of experience showing her family’s All-American Dog and Dachshund in 4-H and helping raise her mom’s Border Collie puppies.

When a potential home for one of her puppies fell through, Redding considered Norman, who was at the bottom of the waitlist. She was aware of the puppy’s soft temperament and felt that Norman possessed the sensitivity and patience to build her confidence.

“We just took one look at her and said that that was the dog,” Norman recalls. Her mom flew from Cincinnati to Redding’s home in Boise, and “next thing you know, I’m woken up at 3 a.m. to a puppy in my bed.” 

Setting Sail to New Horizons

Norman skipped school the next morning to devote the entire day to bonding with Sailor — and the pup’s demure demeanor was evident from the start. “She was just the most reserved thing I’ve ever met,” Norman recalls — skeptical of strangers and wary of new environments. On top of that, the usual socialization opportunities were limited due to the COVID pandemic.

But Sailor felt safe with Norman. Over the next year, Norman brought Sailor to dog shows, 4-H meetings, and training classes to gently acclimate her to new people and novel situations. At one local show, Sailor was confident enough to participate in a Meet the Breeds event.

“We let people come up to us, let them ask about her, and we let them pat her and give her a treat,” Norman says. “That really was what helped — just getting out there and having a ton of people come up to us and interact with her.” 

Staying True to Her Breed’s Roots 

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing. In Junior Showmanship, Sailor struggled on the table during the judge’s exam. “She would shy away constantly and push her body into me, so that was a big frustration of mine for a while,” Norman says. Still, they persevered, and Norman showed Sailor to her Grand Championship.

The team was training in companion sports, too, such as agility, AKC Scent Work, and AKC Rally. Tricks and obedience exercises came easily to Sailor — after all, Eskies have a rich history as circus performers. Norman used positive training methods and treated each Rally move like a new trick. Through competing in companion sports, Norman was able to showcase the American Eskimo Dog’s work ethic and intelligence while honoring the breed’s discerning temperament.

“The Spitz breeds are all very aloof, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It can be developed pretty well to have a confident dog but also knowing when to back away from a situation,” Norman says. “Sailor is definitely aloof, and I’m perfectly fine with her being that.”

Navigating Troubled Waters

Norman’s patient approach with Sailor comes from a place of understanding. As Norman’s service dog, Sailor helps her manage her ADHD and anxiety day to day. For example, one summer, Norman’s family toured a cheese factory in Wisconsin. The tourist hotspot was crowded, and Sailor sensed Norman was feeling overwhelmed. 

“She noticed how crowded it was and just kept on circling around me and staying behind me whenever I was in front of a kiosk or something … so people wouldn’t get too close to me,” Norman says. “I mean, it was just amazing watching her work.” 

This intuitive, almost telepathic bond is one of their greatest strengths as a team, Norman says: “At this point we can practically read each other’s minds.” At the same time, Norman is mindful of their mutual anxieties and tries to focus on the most positive possible outcome in whatever challenge they face. 

“It’s just a lot of telling yourself in your head that my dog is great, they can do this. We got this, nothing’s gonna go wrong,” she says. 

Being Each Other’s Anchors

The AKC Rally National Championship will be Sailor’s first competition since undergoing hip surgery. Norman has been focusing on getting Sailor back into motion, using tricks and Rally exercises to help acclimate Sailor to this “strange new feeling.”

She’s looking forward to meeting new competitors and watching the high-level teams work — Sailor, at Rally Excellent level, is up there, Norman says, but can still get silly with the zoomies and mischief. For this event, Norman will lean into the bond they’ve built weathering storms together.

“I’m quite excited,” Norman says. “I think she’ll handle it as well as she always does and just ignore everything else going around and focus on me, on having fun, and getting to work.”