When most people picture the Westminster Kennel Club, they envision the famous Best in Show competition: the velvet ropes, the gleaming coats, the breathless judges’ decisions. But on January 31st, Bedford resident Amber McCune and her border collie Prove-It were writing their own chapter of history. It happened in the agility ring. Beating out 300 competitors, the pair claimed the Masters Agility Championship title, cementing their place among the sport’s elite.

It’s the kind of win that travels well as a headline. But for Amber, who grew up in this community and built her career here, the story is about something much bigger than a trophy.

Small State, Big Stage 

Asked what it means to represent New Hampshire at Westminster, Amber doesn’t hesitate. “I am so proud to represent such a small but mighty state in such a big way,” she says. “The Westminster Masters Agility Championship is such a prestigious award, and I am so honored to have won it with Prove-It.”

That pride is well-earned. Westminster’s agility competition is no casual event. Each run features a fresh layout of 18 obstacles that competitors have never seen. They get just eight minutes to walk the course and commit it to memory before their dog ever sets paw in the ring. Then it’s full speed, off-leash, guided by body language and voice alone. No second chances.

“Trust your training, Amber. Go for it. He’s ready.”

Here We Go, Buddy 

The few seconds before entering the ring at Westminster, with hundreds of spectators, a national broadcast, and 300 competitors watching, might paralyze most athletes. Amber’s ritual is characteristically grounded.

“I typically kneel down hugging him right before we go into most big events, and Westminster was no different,” she says. “I knelt down, hugged him, kissed him on the head, and said, ‘Here we go, buddy.’ It’s those last few seconds where I can connect with him and remind him that we’re doing this as a team.”

She knew Prove-It was the fastest dog in the field. She also knew that speed alone doesn’t win. Precision does. “Mistakes can happen to anyone,” she reflects. “So I tried to be calm, focused, and most of all, to trust him. I told myself: trust your training, Amber. Go for it. He’s ready.”

The Dog Who Was Bottle-Fed Into a Champion 

Prove-It’s story begins even before birth. He was a singleton puppy with no siblings in his litter. When his mother faced serious pregnancy complications, she was placed on strict bed rest and high doses of medication that prevented her from producing milk. From his very first moment in the world, Amber was his only source of food.

“I bottle-fed him every two hours, played with him like another puppy, and didn’t leave his side until he was eight weeks old,” Amber says. “It was quite the undertaking, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

That early bond has become something extraordinary on the course. Prove-It is, by Amber’s description, “ridiculously fast, but also oh-so accurate.” His reaction time is so sharp that he can adjust his path mid-stride, shaving crucial seconds off their runs. Most remarkably, she says, he seems to anticipate her movements before she makes them.

“He is my best friend, constant shadow, bed buddy, and teammate,” she says. “He is a very special little soul, and I am so very grateful to be his person.”

Rooted Right Here: American K9 Country 

Amber’s path to the top of her sport runs directly through this community. American K9 Country, the family facility in Amherst where she has worked since leaving UNH in 2003, was built by her mother, Celeste Maurer, herself an accomplished trainer with a clear mission.

“She built this facility because she wanted to help dog owners better communicate with their dogs and, in turn, have dogs enrich our lives as we enrich theirs,” says Amber. “Our facility is, without a doubt, the reason I am the trainer I am today.”

She is emphatic on this point: the Westminster win belongs to the community, not just to her. “I would not have any of the trophies, gold medals, or national championships without the tens of thousands of students who have come through our doors and trusted me to help them train their dogs. Each dog teaches you something new: a new way to be a better trainer.”

Away from the competition circuit, she runs the full scope of a 50-person operation, teaching agility classes, managing payroll, updating the website, handling HR, and, as she cheerfully admits, “even cleaning the toilets.” In a family business, no task is too large or too small.

Speed, Desire, and a Lot of Trust 

For anyone who has never seen dog agility live, Amber has two words: “Speed and desire.” Newcomers are consistently amazed, not just by how fast the dogs move, but by why they run. “Dogs do this sport because they want to, not because they’re forced,” she says. “It always astonishes people that we can guide a dog through an obstacle course, including slaloming through 12 poles, at full speed, without a leash.”

The deeper joy, she says, is what the sport does for the human-animal bond. Her favorite moments aren’t her own victories. She loves watching a first-time student step out of the ring after completing their very first trial run.

“They come out completely astonished that they and their dog just did that course together,” she says. “How amazing that our facility can help owners enjoy their dog as a teammate and a member of the family, not merely a dog.”

Switzerland, Paris, Amsterdam, and Back Home 

The months ahead include international competitions in Switzerland, Paris, Amsterdam, and Spain. When asked how she balances that world with life here at home, Amber laughs. “Balance? What’s that?!” she says. “Honestly, there is no balance. This is just what I do. I make it all work.”

She is not exaggerating. While traveling in her motorhome between competitions, she does payroll by hand, not with a cloud-based system, but with a desktop computer and printer she brings on the road, overnighting checks each week. “Crazy, I know,” she says, “but it’s just how we roll.”

A Message for Bedford’s Dog Owners 

To any resident who has never considered dog agility, Amber has a simple message: Come try it. “Any dog can do agility. Any person can do agility,” she says. “Men, women, young, old: we all compete together. The dog agility community is just that: a community of people who love their dogs so much that they play this crazy sport with them for fun.”

“If you want to have fun with your dog in a way that creates amazing teamwork,” she adds, “try dog agility. I promise you and your pooch will be hooked.”