Amber McCune

Instructor, Facility Manager & Owner

*Amber & Typo are featured in a NEW Mini Series “A DIFFERENT BREED” on Amazon Prime & Peacock! Be sure to watch Episode #7!! 

Click Here for a video link about Amber & her dogs

If you’ve ever been to AK9C then you’ve more than likely seen Amber running around Ak9c like a small tornado with a border collie following along behind her. After attending Colorado State University and the University of New Hampshire majoring both in Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Amber received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Pre-Veterinary Medicine in 2003. As a PCSA Certified Advanced Pet Care Technician Level II & Certified Red Cross Pet First Aid Technician and with over 5 years experience as a veterinary surgical technician, Amber brings medical perspective to the AK9C crew. Once destined for Veterinary School, in 2003 Amber put her plans of attending Tufts on hold to manage this great facility. At the early age of three, Amber found her first love, horses! Now, many years later Amber has moved her focus from horses to DOG AGILITY! She is now one of the country’s top agility competitors & trainers winning countless National Championships in all major venues of Dog Agility (AKC, USDAA, UKI, IDC) Amber’s love & over 25 years of horse training experience plays a huge role in her agility successes of today. She currently competes all over the country in conformation, agility, & obedience with her Border Collies. In addition, she has been selected to represent Team USA on five separate occasions, winning a Silver medal in Switzerland as well as a Bronze in The Netherlands. Her & her Border Collies have been featured in numerous TV commercials, Purina Pro Plan advertisements, an HBO Special “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel”, multiple docuseries’ including the Amazon Prime hit series “A Different Breed” and well as countless other TV broadcast appearances. 

“Notch”

🌈10/9/08-7/1/23🌈

PNAC GCH CH OTCH AGCH MACH8 PACH2 Darkside’s Kick’n It Up a Notch UDX OM2 BN PT RE DSX DJ MXF T2B3 TQX MXC2 MJC2 MXP3 MXPB PADP MJP3 MJPB PJDP MFB MFPB T2BP2 

Notch was not only a Legend but my life, my love and my soulmate…. He is the FIRST & ONLY Border Collie in AKC history to have earned an AKC National Championship (PNAC), Grand Championship in the Breed Ring (GCH), Grand Champion in Agility (AGCH), Obedience Championship (OTCH) & an Agility Championship (MACH & PACH)!  Notch was the dog that started it ALL! He sparked my love for the game of agility. Prior to him, it was a hobby- but Notch taught me it could be a passion that BOTH dog & hander could enjoy as a TEAM. Notch was my constant shadow & partner in every “game” we played. He was my world as I was his. At the Age of 11, Notch WON the 2019 AKC National Agility Championships in the 16″ Preferred division!  He earned MACH1 & MACH2 before his third birthday & was a National Agility Finalist every year that he attended The AKC National Agility Championships. He placed SECOND in Nation at this event in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 2013 out of 500+ dogs & placed 12th in 2012 out of 400+ dogs.  In July 2015, Notch won the prestigious Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge Eastern Regional in large dog agility in Boston, Mass and then went on to WIN the PPPIDC National Finals Championship in St. Louis Missouri in September of 2015! Notch has been a Gold Medalist at The UKI US Open National Agility Championships for multiple years in a row as well as a Bronze Medalist at the USDAA Cynosports World Games in 2019 at the age of ELEVEN. Notch is quite the SUPERSTAR earning a National Championship in THREE VENUES of agility: AKC, UKI & IDC- plus he earned his OTCH in less than 15 shows!! I will be forever grateful for having such an amazing partner, teammate & best friend. Notch passed away in July of 2023 just shy of his 15th birthday. He will forever be an ambassador for the Border Collie breed with his unflappable temperament, desire to please, undying work ethic but more so, his uncanny ability to be successful in every venue of dog sports that we tried. Notch was one in a million & I will be eternally grateful that I was his person. ❤❤ #NotchRocks

“Kaboom!” 

NAC2 GCH MACH5 PACH2 Shoreland’s Explosion on The Darkside CD

Kaboom WON the 2021 & 2022 AKC National Agility Championships in 24″ !! Plus, he is not only a Grand Champion in the Breed Ring & has earned MACH5, but he has WON the prestigious Westminster Masters Agility Championship at 24″ THREE Times  in 2017, 2018 & 2022. He has been a World Team member representing the USA on THREE different occasions: 

  • 2018 WAO Team USA Bronze Medalist, The Netherlands
  • 2019 IFCS Team USA, The Netherlands
  • 2020 WAO Team USA, The Netherlands
  • 2021 AKC National Champion 24″
  • 2022 AKC National Champion 24″
  • 2022 AKC Challengers Winner 24″
  • 2021 US Open Speedstakes National Champion
  • 2021 Cynosports World Games Reserve Champion Biathlon
  • 2021 Cynosports World Games Reserve Champion Grand Prix
  • 2017 Westminster Masters Agility Champion
  • 2018 Westminster Masters Agility Champion
  • 2022 Westminster Masters Agility Champion
  • 2017 British Open Finalist, England
  • 2018 WAO Team USA Bronze Medalist, The Netherlands
  • 2019 IFCS Team USA, The Netherlands
  • 2019 IDC National Finals Large Agility Bronze
  • 2019 AKC Premier Cup by Longines 4th Place
  • 2019 AKC National Championship 3rd
  • 2020 WAO Team USA, The Netherlands
  • 2021 Northeast Agility Champion
  • 2022 NorthEast Agility Champion
  • 2018 Masters Challenge Cup Reserve Champion
  • 2023 Westminster Masters Agility Reserve Champion
  • 2023 AKC Premier Cup by YuMove 4th Place
  • 2023 Cynosports World Agility Games Veteran National Champion

Kaboom has earned multiple Bronze, Silver & Gold Medals at USDAA Regional events as well as The UKI US Open. Kaboom & Amber have traveled worldwide competing in Agility & they have even filmed a Purina Pro Plan commercial which aired in February 2020. 

“Typo”

NAC ISCH CH MACH8 Elachie’s Ewe Can’t Mistake My Darkside DS AS DE MX MXJ HDM

  • 2020 IDC Reserve Champion National Finals Large Agility
  • 2022 AKC Premier Cup Reserve Champion 
  • 2022 UKI US Open Speedstakes National Champion
  • 2022 AKC NorthEast Agility Championship Champion 20″
  • 2023 AKC National Agility Champion 24C” 
  • 2023 UKI West Coast Open Games Champion
  • 2023 Cynosports World Games Biathlon Champion
  • 2023 UKI US Open Speedstakes National Champion
  • 2024 World Agility Open Team USA Member: The Netherlands
  • 2024 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Bourgbarre, France
  • 2024 Westminster Masters Agility Champion 20″
  • 2024 IDC National Finals Reserve Champion Large Agility
  • 2024 IDC National Finals Incredible Weaves Bronze
  • 2024 UKI West Coast Open Speedstakes Champion 
  • 2024 AKC ISC National Championship Cumulative Winner 24″
  • 2024 Cynosports World Games Biathlon Bronze
  • 2024 AKC NorthEast Agility Championship Champion 20″
  • 2025 Westminster Masters Agility Championship Bronze
  • 2025 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Givrins, Switzerland
  • 2025 AKC  ISC International Sweepstakes National Champion 20″
  • 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Agility Champion
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Steeplechase Finals Bronze
  • 2025 UKI US Open Finals National Champion 22″

“Howie”

GCH CH MACH8 PACH LazyDaze How’d Ewe Like My Darkside DSA MX MXJ

  • 2021 CynoSports World Games Biathlon Champion
  • 2021 AKC National Agility Championship Reserve Champion 
  • 2023 AKC National Agility Championships 3rd Place 24″
  • 2023 Westminster Masters Agility Champion 24″
  • 2023 Cynosports World Games Biathlon Bronze Medal
  • 2024 AKC National Agility Championship Reserve Champion 24″
  • 2024 AKC ISC National Championship Reserve Champion 24″
  • 2024 AKC NorthEast Agility Championship Champion 24″
  • 2025 1-TDC UKI Invitational Pentathalon Champion 20s
  • 2025 1-TDC UKI Invitational Finals Bronze 20s
  • 2025 AKC Premier Cup Reserve Champion 24″
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Biathlon Champion
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Strategic Games Bronze
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Steeplechase Finals Reserve Champion

“Shelby-Cobra”

MACH6 Darkside’s Drive It Like Ewe Stole It RI DJ MXC MJC PAD 

  • 2021 US Open Speedstakes Reserve National Champion 20″
  • 2021 US Open National Finals Bronze
  • 2022 US Open Speedstakes Reserve National Champion 20″
  • 2023 Westminster Masters Agility Reserve Champion 20″
  • 2023 BCSA Border Collie Classic Champion 24C”
  • 2024 Cynosports World Games Steeplechase National Champion 20″
  • 2025 Westminster Masters Agility Champion 20″
  • 2025 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Givrins, Switzerland
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Grand Prix National Champion 20″
  • 2025 AKC ISC National Championship: Team Champions 20″
  • 2026 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Valencia, Spain
  • 2026 Westminster Masters Agility Reserve Champion 20″

“Prove-It”

MACH2 Darkside’s It Wasn’t Me DJA BCAT MX MXJ DN

  • 2024 BCSA National Specialty Border Collie Classic Champion 20″
  • 2025 1-TDC UKI Invitational Games Reserve Champion 22″
  • 2025 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Givrins, Switzerland
  • 2025 IFCS Team USA Individual Agility Silver Medalist Switzerland
  • 2025 AKC ISC National Championship: Team Champions 24″
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Grand Prix National Champion 24″
  • 2025 UKI US Open Speedstakes Reserve Champion 24″
  • 2026 IFCS Team USA World Team Member: Valencia, Spain
  • 2026 Westminster Masters Agility Champion 20″
  • 2026 Westminster Masters Agility Overall Champion

“Motive”

MACH Darkside’s Gimme A Reason MX MXJ

  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Strategic Games Champion
  • 2025 Cynosports World Games Biathlon Reserve Champion
  • 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour Agility Reserve Champion
  • 2025 BCSA National Specialty Border Collie Classic Champion 24C”

“Metric” MACH2 PACH Rujaff Top Tottie MX MXJ DJ BCAT NF

“Zippo” LazyDaze Ewe Light Up My Darkside OA OAJ NF DS BCAT

“Hi-There” MACH PACH Sagehill Say Hello to My Darkside MX MXJ DN BCAT

“Sharky” GCH LazyDaze Attack of the Darkside CD RN DJ AX AXJ

🌈Waiting at the Rainbow Bridge🌈

“Torque” CH MACH PACH Shorelands WildRide on the Darkside RA DSX

“Quick” Ewe Can’t Catch Me Nimrod UD, MX, MXJ, MJP, MXF

“Spark” OTCH MACH PACH Border Bay’s Ewe Make Sparks Fly OM2 MXF UDX4 

Beside managing all the ins and outs of this vast facility, Amber teaches agility classes & private lessons here at American K9 Country. For more information regarding agility class or a general comment or concern regarding AK9C, please feel free to email Amber