A Second Chance and an AKC Rally Championship Run for ‘Cyrus’

Christina Ehlers-Woelk, from San Mateo, California, and her 12-year-old All-American Dog, “Cyrus,”, will compete at the AKC Rally National Championship for the third time this July. It’s an impressive achievement for any partnership, but even more so for a dog with an unknown background and a handler who had never competed in AKC Rally, or any other dog sport, before bringing him home.

For Ehlers-Woelk, AKC Rally has become much more than a hobby. It has strengthened her bond with Cyrus and introduced her to a welcoming community of fellow competitors.

Spunky Street Dog Wins Hearts

Ehlers-Woelk had a beloved Irish Setter growing up in Germany, but Cyrus is her first dog as an adult. After moving to the United States in 2009, she longed for a canine who could join her on hikes and outdoor adventures and offer companionship when her husband was traveling for work.

After being introduced to a couple of dogs at her local rescue that didn’t feel like they were the right fit, the connection was immediate when she met a scruffy mixed-breed dog in 2017.

“He was very confident from the start,” she says with a fond smile. “He came into the room, he was engaging with me, he was funny, and I was able to quickly teach him ‘sit’ and ‘down.’”

Cyrus quickly won over her husband as well, despite his initial reluctance to adding a dog to the household. Today, he’s one of their biggest supporters, and, if you look ringside at AKC Rally Nationals, you’ll likely see him enthusiastically cheering the pair on.

Her husband also suggested the name Cyrus, inspired by artist Cy Twombly. By a happy coincidence, she subsequently discovered that the word, which is of Persian and Greek origin, translates to “sun” — a fitting description for the cheerful little dog. “He is just pure joy,” she says. “He enjoys everything, as long as he is with us.”

A year after they brought him home, their bond deepened during a frightening health scare when Cyrus developed a life-threatening hernia that required emergency surgery. “It was really traumatizing,” Ehlers-Woelk says with tears in her eyes. “I thought I was going to lose him.”

Thankfully, Cyrus made a full recovery, and the experience strengthened their connection and appreciation for every moment together.

From Formal Obedience to Fun With Rally

Ehlers-Woelk and Cyrus began their training journey with obedience classes with Pat Rohde at Rav’n Dog Training. From there, they explored a variety of dog sports, including Trick Dog, AKC Scent Work, and recreational agility.

Much to Ehlers-Woelk’s delight, whatever the activity, Cyrus was eager to learn. However, AKC Rally quickly stood out as their favorite. While they both enjoyed obedience, progressing through the upper levels was difficult and certain requirements—like retrieving—were challenging for Cyrus due to having very few teeth to grab the dumbbell.

In formal obedience, you can also only give a single verbal command or hand signal to the dog for each exercise. AKC Rally removed those barriers while offering something Ehlers-Woelk appreciated even more. “I like it because you can talk to the dogs throughout,” she explains.

With continuous praise and encouragement, Cyrus thrived and this dog-handler team to Cyrus helped build an even stronger collaborative partnership, while his enthusiasm and willingness to work made him a natural in the sport. His cheerful attitude and constantly wagging tail even earned him the nickname “happy-go-lucky dog” from AKCtv commentators.

How AKC Rally Opened New Opportunities

As Ehlers-Woelk built her skills in AKC Rally, new opportunities followed. After building her skills and experience, Rohde encouraged her to become an instructor for the training club.

As an AKC Rally instructor, she now helps newcomers feel welcomed and confident as they begin their own journeys in the sport. The supportive and inclusive environment has been just as meaningful as the competition itself.

Over the years, she has formed close friendships within the AKC Rally community and values encouragement competitors share. “They’re really nice to everybody,” she enthuses. “I only have positive things to say.”

Moving Up the AKC Rally Ranks

Ehlers-Woelk and Cyrus quickly progressed through the Rally ranks, and it didn’t take long for them to begin earning invitations to the AKC Rally National Championships, and t. Their previous two appearances have brought memorable, pride-making moments, alongside a few challenges.

Cyrus occasionally finds the jump station intimidating in busy competition environments, and the long days, especially when it’s hot, can be tiring. Ehlers-Woelk limits their time outside of air-conditioned buildings and travels with a backpack, cooling mat, and water spray to keep her dog comfortable.

Balancing the demanding competition schedule with her work as a yoga instructor and artist can also be a lot, both logistically and financially. Because there are relatively few AKC Rally trials close to her home, Ehlers-Woelk regularly drives to competitions several hours away to earn the scores needed to qualify for Nationals. However, she believes every mile clocked up is worth it. “I love going to the trials,” she says. “First to show what Cyrus can do, and second to have like-minded people around me.”

Making Every Event Count

The pair are preparing to compete in the pinnacle division Championship Class at this year’s Nationals. While this is designed to test the highest levels of teamwork in the sport, Ehlers-Woelk’s ambitions are refreshingly simple. “My hope is that we get one or two 100 scores,” she says. “That would already be a big win for us.”

At 12 years old, Cyrus still approaches training and competition with the same enthusiasm that first won Ehlers-Woelk over. However, she’s mindful of his age and she knows not to take anything for granted. “I signed up again because I thought it might be our last Nationals,” she says. “You never know what’s going to happen.”

With guidance from their veterinarian, they plan to continue competing as long as it’s beneficial. Although Cyrus has some manageable, mild arthritis in one leg, staying active benefits and both his physical and mental well-being. Ehlers-Woelk also appreciates the (optional) AKC Rally Choice class, which allows senior dogs the opportunity to continue competing without having to tackle higher-impact jump exercises.

Spotlighting All-American Dog Competitors

Ehlers-Woelk hopes their journey will inspire others to rethink assumptions about rescue dogs and small breeds. She says she would love to see a smaller dog top the AKC Rally National Championship leaderboard, proving that heart, teamwork, and dedication matter more than size. “So many small dogs can do a lot of things,” she says. “Don’t underestimate them.”

Ehlers-Woelk also hopes her own journey will inspire others to give AKC Rally a try. While she’s heartwarmingly humble, it speaks volumes that she started with no competitive background experience and now teaches others while competing on one of Rally’s the sport’s biggest stages.

Above all, she says her partnership with Cyrus has always been the greatest reward. Whether they leave this year’s National Championship with perfect top scores or simply another cherished memory, Ehlers-Woelk knows she’s sharing the journey with an extraordinary little dog who has already far exceeded every expectation she had.