It’s been about a month since we packed the car and T@B camper, loaded up the agility stuff, and headed to the Thanksgiving Cluster 2025 for our second year. And honestly, I still don’t think I’ve fully processed how wild and wonderful this weekend was.
Last year, this event was pure chaos for me in the best way, because it was also Moose’s second trial ever. He was barely a year and a half, and I was basically holding it together with adrenaline, snacks, and wishful thinking.
This year felt completely different.
Moose is 2.5 now (still very young), and even though we entered a lot of classes (because apparently I enjoy keeping things interesting), he showed up like he belonged there. Confident, happy, and ready to play the game with me.
@happydogleague Moose news! 🫎 📰 Mister Moose is going to the FINALS in the Northeast Agility Championship at the annual Thanksgiving Cluster!! This was his very first time entering the championship, and I honestly just hoped we would have some nice runs and have fun with friends. Instead, my little Wild Moose On The Run decided to show up in a big way - # 5 out of 36 dogs in his class. I am so proud of this dog. Win or lose in the finals (there are so many amazing dogs here), he has already made my whole weekend. (2 more video to come of the runs that qualified us) #agilitydog #miniamericanshepherd #agilitytrial #thanksgivingcluster #akcagility
The Vibe of Thanksgiving Cluster
If you have never been, Thanksgiving Cluster is a full-on agility experience (technically not just agility, there are other dog sports going on at the same time as well). Multiple days, multiple rings, lots of teams, lots of movement, and that feeling that something exciting is always happening. It’s held at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
And it’s not just regular classes. There are special events layered into the weekend too, like the Northeast Agility Championship, team competition, and more.
Year Two Looked Like This
Because it was our second time, I expected it to feel familiar.
It did, but in the best way. Familiar didn’t mean boring. It meant I could actually enjoy pieces of it without feeling like I was constantly behind. I knew the general flow. I knew how the days would feel. I knew that even with a plan, something would go sideways and I would have to laugh and keep moving.
And Moose? He was so much more settled this year. Not perfect, not robotic, not “never makes a mistake,” but ready to work and ready to play the game with me.
The Big E experience, Upgraded
One of the best changes this year: I brought my T@B camper and stayed right at the Big E.
That alone made the weekend feel more relaxed and more fun. Not having to leave the grounds, not having to fight traffic, not having to “rush out and rush back,” just made everything smoother. I could actually breathe. I could settle in between runs. I could enjoy the whole atmosphere instead of feeling like I was constantly in transit.
It turned the weekend into an experience, not just a schedule.
Entering the Northeast Agility Championship
The Northeast Agility Championship is one of the special “big event” pieces that happens during Thanksgiving Cluster, and it adds a totally different layer to the weekend. It’s still agility, but it feels more like a championship format than a standard day of classes.
Here’s the simple breakdown of how it works: you run a set of required classes, your combined results determine whether you advance, and then finalists come back for a primetime finals event. It’s fast, competitive, and high-energy, but it’s also a really fun way to challenge yourself if you’re already planning to be at the Cluster.
For this event, teams enter multiple classes across the first part of the weekend. The scores from those runs are combined, and the top teams in each height and division move on to finals. There’s also a second-chance path into finals for teams who are close, which keeps it exciting right up until the last qualifier.
@happydogleague Our master jumpers agility run #thanksgivingcluster #agilitydog #akcagility #agilitytrial ♬ Unstoppable (I put my armor on, show you how strong I am) - Sia
Finals night has its own vibe. The crowd is bigger, the energy is louder, and it feels like everything is happening in a spotlight. It’s the kind of run where you can feel your heart in your throat, but in a way that makes you want to do it again.
I originally entered The Northeast Agility Championship because it sounded like a cool challenge to add onto an already packed weekend, and because it’s the type of event that pushes you to show up with a plan and trust your dog. I truly did not expect what came next, but I’m really glad we went for it.
Moose Made The Finals
Moose made it to the finals.
That sentence still feels unreal to write.
Finals night was a completely different experience than anything I imagined. The energy in the building, the lights, the crowd, the whole feeling of it being a “big moment,” it all hits different. And then add this on top: we were on live TV.
That was one of those “wait… is this really happening?” moments.
The Result I’ll Never Forget
Moose finished 5th place in the 16-inch Regular class.
I’m proud of the placement, of course, but I’m even more proud of how he handled the whole weekend. The environment at Thanksgiving Cluster is intense. It’s busy. It’s loud. It’s a lot. And he stayed Moose through all of it. He showed up happy, committed, and ready to run with me.
Last year he was basically a baby at his second trial ever. This year he ran his heart out and ended up in finals.
That growth is the part that gets me.
The People Who Made Me Feel Confident
I can’t write about this weekend without writing about the people who helped me get there, because this was not just a “me and Moose” story. This was a community story.
Jenn from The Agility Playhouse
Jenn is the reason I entered the championship.
She convinced me to go for it, and she had been there for me long before this year’s cluster. Last year, before the event, she generously offered to come and practice on dirt in her class so we could see how it felt, because the agility at Thanksgiving Cluster is on dirt and that can feel totally different than what you’re used to.
This year, she helped me feel prepared, but more than that, she helped me remember what matters. She has a way of grounding you in the best way, and reminding you that this really is a game our dogs play with us because they want to be with us. That mindset shift changes everything.
Jeff from Agility Rush
Jeff’s energy is something special.
The way he supports his students is phenomenal, and it’s contagious in the best possible way. He inspires you to push harder and run faster, and to believe you can do more than you think you can.
The way he cheered for me and Moose during finals was probably the best part of the whole night. I heard his voice the entire time. When you have someone like that in your corner, it makes you feel brave.
My dear friend Nicole
Nicole is the reason I went last year, and I’m so glad she talked me into it.
She’s always there to cheer me on, keep me honest, try new things, and remind me to enjoy the process. I love going to new events and trying new venues with her, and 2026 is already looking bright and fun-filled.
Also, getting to share these weekends and travels in our T@B campers together makes it even better. It turns trials into memories, not just weekends on the calendar.
My friend and vet Harmony
Harmony somehow knew right away that I was going to get completely sucked into agility, even back when I started with my first dog Tucker.
She’s always there when I hit an agility block, when I need to talk something through, or when I just need someone to be excited with me about how Moose and I are doing. Having a person like that in your life, someone who gets it, matters more than people realize.
The Part I Love Most About Agility
There are so many people I’ve met through the agility world, and a lot of them are real friends now. Supportive, encouraging, inspiring people who genuinely want you to succeed.
That’s what makes weekends like Thanksgiving Cluster feel so big. It’s not just the runs. It’s the people. It’s the shared excitement. It’s the cheering. It’s the “I can’t believe that just happened” moments that you get to experience with your crew.
A month later, I’m still replaying this weekend in my head.
Second time at Thanksgiving Cluster. First time staying at the Big E in my camper. First time entering The Northeast Agility Championship. First time making finals. Live TV. Moose in 5th place. The best kind of chaos.
And most of all, a dog who reminds me why I love this sport in the first place.
If you were there and you cheered for us, thank you. I felt it. We felt it. And I’ll carry this weekend with me for a long time.
