PORT GAMBLE — Giving an excited bark and dashing into its master’s arms, an Australian shepherd epitomized the feeling of the fourth annual Muddy Paws Agility Club of Kitsap dog agility competition Saturday morning after completing a weaving and tunnel course.
The pooch was not alone in its excitement, many attended the event at Port Gamble with their owners and trainers, wagging tails and happy, doggy grins. A pack of 246 dogs competed over the weekend, including an Australian Shepherd Club of America trial Friday and a North American Dog Agility Council competition Saturday and Sunday.
“We’ve been doing this for seven years,” said Graham resident Teddi Bottiger. She brought her cocker spaniels to the agility competition Saturday. “I really enjoy the people and working with the dogs. Seeing the dogs have fun is the best part.”
The trials were organized by MudPACK members, but wouldn’t have been possible without the volunteers pitching in to help change the courses, said MudPACK President Val Tangen. Each ASCA and NADAC obstacle course requires several people to construct and break it down, and the club doesn’t have enough members to tackle such an awesome job.
Central Kitsap resident Geri Mason was a little nervous as she watched her husband, Bill Mason, set up a new course with several other volunteers during the competition. This was his second trial since suffering a massive heart attack, coincidentally at a similar competition, just after running one of their dogs through a course in December 2006.
“He’s doing great, but he does get tired,” she said. “He ran this morning and got second place with his golden retriever, Denny.”
About 30 visitors were sitting or standing in the shade near the course fields, cheering for a favorite dog or just taking in the friendly competition. Some of the pooches were trying it out for the first time and had fun racing around the courses, some getting stuck in the weave poles, others deciding to set their own patterns for the course. But all had a great time and the owners rubbed ears, gave treats and generally complimented their dogs on their hard work.
“I was in 4-H for four years, I love being able to work with dogs,” Poulsbo resident Erika Scott, 16 said while enjoying the trial. “We’ve got two dogs, a golden retriever and a German shepherd mix. It looks like a lot of fun. I’d definitely give it a try.”
Bainbridge Island resident Theresa Hinton said she brought her 5-year-old daughter who already can’t wait to try dog agility competitions. This was their first dog agility experience, and it was interesting and a lot of fun, she said.
“It’s a combination of things,” Maple Valley resident Janey Wilcox said of what she enjoys about the competition. She brought her boxer Tucker, who was attempting the judged obstacles for the first time. “There’s the socialization thing and training with the dog comes full circle. This is his very first time in the ring. I think we’ll probably do a lot of looking around, a lot of sniffing. We’ll see how he does.”
