When Mary Greenwell, of Wright City, Missouri, and “Vanna”, her 3-year-old All-American Dog, walk to the start line at the 20th Annual AKC Agility Invitational in Orlando this December, they’ll be stepping onto the sport’s biggest stage. It’s quite a journey for the young dog who had a rocky start in life. Despite the not-so-bright beginning, Vanna has risen rapidly through the agility ranks with impressive turns of speed, skill, and never-ending enthusiasm.
Greenwell is grateful to have the opportunity to share the journey with Vanna and celebrate their partnership, built not only on a ton of training and innate talent, but also on a deep, life-changing bond.
Hurdling With Herding Shelties
Greenwell’s love for agility began long before Vanna was in the picture. Her introduction to the sport came when she accompanied her dog-loving mother to a conformation show in Kentucky, where she was competing. “They had agility going on in a different building, and I went over to watch it and thought it looked amazing,” she explains. “I had a young Sheltie at the time, who I took to some training classes, and the rest is history.”
While her beloved Shetland Sheepdogs helped ignite Greenwell’s passion for agility, it was the transition to working with Border Collies, a more intense herding breed, that would elevate her involvement in the sport.
Stepping Up the Speed With Border Collies
Greenwell credits her first Border Collie, “Sobe,” with being a major influence on her agility journey and education. She was extremely speedy and driven, and naturally gifted as a competitor.
While both Shelties and Borders are fast and intelligent, Greenwell laughs when describing how adjusting to the latter’s indefatigable nature was a steep learning curve. “Sobe was a very intense dog,” she says. “She wanted to please, but her skills were a lot better than mine, so it took me a lot to learn how to manage her speed as I didn’t want to slow her down.”
Working with Sobe significantly boosted Greenwell’s confidence in the agility ring. “She taught me about the importance of timing when communicating with your dog,” she says. “Dogs like that aren’t easy. When they’re moving so fast, and they knock a bar or miss something, you have to learn to be patient with them.”
Sobe passed away around 4 years ago at the grand age of 15 and a half. By this point, three more Border Collies had joined the household. “Trip” was an incredible rescue Border Collie who earned five Master Agility Championship (MACH) titles before passing away at 12 and a half years old. 10-year-old “Levi” is currently wrapping up his successful agility career, and 6-year-old “Garth” doesn’t compete because of a shoulder injury he had as a puppy.
However, it’s Vanna that has shaped this next big chapter in Greenwell’s agility journey.
From Rookie Rescue to Rising Star in Record Time
A few years back, Greenwell was still grieving the loss of both Sobe and Trip in close succession when 5-month-old Vanna came into her life unexpectedly. She and her littermates were surrendered to a sanctuary from a home in North Dakota affected by domestic violence. Heart of a Border Collie Rescue then placed her in a foster home.
“I was sitting out on the porch waiting to go to church, and Vanna popped up on Facebook, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her,” she says. “I really think she was sent to me, as she looked like Sobe, but she talked to me through Trip.”
Vanna’s petite and bright-eyed appearance stood out to Greenwell. “She’s a beautiful jumping dog who really excels at the sport,” Greenwell says with pride. “She was a lot easier to train than some of my other dogs.”
Building Strong Foundations for Agility Success
The timing of their partnership was perfect because Greenwell had just retired from her 35-year career in nursing. That shift allowed her to devote more time to laying the groundwork for agility, building their bond, and boosting Vanna’s confidence after so many early life changes. “I really think that Vanna has excelled because she had such a great foundation — nothing was rushed with her,” she says.
Before introducing Vanna to agility, Greenwell gave her the opportunity to learn other skills. She attended Trick Dog classes, trained in AKC Rally, and earned an AKC Fetch title. “Her passion in life is a tennis ball,” Greenwell says with a smile. “She loves you to throw it, and she’s darn good at catching it.”
It wasn’t until Vanna was almost a year old that she started learning the basics of agility. Greenwell prioritized methodical foundation work through getting once-a-month private lessons and intensive homework from AKC USA Agility World Team competitor Cassie Schmidt and regularly attending local classes in St. Louis with Jennifer MacDonald and Karen Winter.
This approach meant Vanna wasn’t pushed into competition too quickly, allowing her to understand the importance of teamwork and focus on cues, criteria, and structure.
A Rapid Rise Through the Ranks
Once Vanna was ready to enter competitions, she moved up the levels rapidly. “She excelled through everything with fast, clean runs,” Greenwell says proudly. At 3 years old, Vanna has already earned two MACHs and is well on the way to getting her third.
Her results place Vanna among the top five All-American Dogs in agility nationwide. Greenwell didn’t even realize they had achieved this accolade until someone else pointed it out late last year.
After that, she decided to work towards qualifying for the Invitational. Living near St. Louis is an advantage in this regard, as numerous trials are held at nearby Purina Farms, allowing them to compete locally on a regular basis and maintain momentum.
The Rewards of Working With Rescue Dogs
Vanna and Greenwell’s partnership in the agility ring is strong. But more importantly, she’s a beloved family member who arrived just when they needed her most. She’s also just as fun and lively at home as she is on the course.
Greenwell giggles while explaining that Vanna loves watching television. She even has a favorite commercial from The Farmer’s Dog. “She literally just stares at the television, then takes a toy, shakes it, and gets herself all worked up. It’s hilarious.”
It’s clear Vanna loves the variety in her life and having the opportunity to learn new things. Greenwell plans to dabble in AKC Scent Work with her and add to her Rally titles.
As the big day approaches, Greenwell recognizes that competing will be a somewhat nerve-wracking experience for her, no matter how much faith she has in Vanna’s abilities. However, the pair plan to focus on enjoying the experience of their first AKC Invitational together.
Regardless of the results, Greenwell says she’ll always be super proud of Vanna, and she’s thankful she was able to offer her a second chance at life. “I was in such sorrow, and there she popped up,” she says. “I’m also glad that everything turned out well for her, because life wasn’t heading that way in the beginning.”
She’s grateful for the sport, the community, and the organizations that open doors for All-American Dog competitors. “These dogs have just as much to give,” she says with conviction. And in Orlando in December, Vanna will be out to prove just that.
The AKC National Championship, presented by Royal Canin, has crowned its 2025 Best in Show! Learn more about conformation and follow your favorite breeds at dog shows throughout the year.