Wave the Wonder Dog, owned and trained by Steve Stochaj, Klipsch School of Electrical and Computer Engineering department head, was recognized with the 2023 Award for Canine Excellence in the exemplary companion category.
The American Kennel Club Humane Fund presents annual awards in five categories: exemplary companion, search and rescue, service dog, therapy dog, and uniformed service K-9.
“The AKC ACE Awards are the dog world’s version of the Nobel Prize,” Stochaj says.
“Wave is a very friendly and outgoing dog. So friendly, it is hard for people who meet him for the first time to believe that he does all the activities he does. When Wave is in working mode, he has a laser focus that is exceptional,” Stochaj says.
At Aggie home football games, Wave is tasked with retrieving the kicking tee. He has grown into a campus and community celebrity and has thousands of followers on social media. Wave has AKC titles in agility, rally, obedience, tracking, trick dog, dock diving and canine good citizen. He also is a member of the Mesilla Valley Search and Rescue organization.
Wave the Wonder Dog
Dove Hall, Room 212
305 N. Horseshoe Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88003
