Last weekend went to the dogs in 100 Mile House with the Cariboo Agility Team Agility Fun and Games in the Cariboo, Association of Canada-sanctioned agility trial at Lumberman’s Park ball field.
The Aug. 27-28 event drew 61 participants from many parts of British Columbia, including Prince George, Quesnel, Sorrento, Kamloops, Delta and Mission, and seven from the South Cariboo.
The sweltering 30 C weather created extra challenges for both dogs and handlers, but a water pool set up for the canines helped them keep their cool.
Saturday saw 189 runs completed, beginning at 8 a.m. and going until 5:30 p.m. On Sunday, 163 runs were tallied in the same time frame.
Cariboo Agility Team president Roxanne Ziefflie says participating dogs ran the gamut of breeds, from a delicate Papillon to a rambunctious Pomeranian, a 10-year-old border collie called Sarge, duck tollers, and a large Bernese mountain dog named Alfie.
“Alfie just went out and had fun. It was pretty hot for him.”
The trial included standard runs for each of the starters, advanced and masters levels, as well as four games runs at each of those levels.
The object was to have dogs complete clean, qualifying runs in any of those categories to put towards earning titles, says Ziefflie.
Among the major titles earned during the weekend was the Agility Trial Champion of Canada (ATCHC) title that went to a blue healer named Bud, owned by Al Henke of Prince George.
“It’s quite a thing to get the ATCHC. It means that he’s accomplished his master’s level in everything.”
Biscuit, a Nova Scotia duck toller, owned by Roger Ryf of Prince George, earned a bronze level award, and a Belgian shepherd named Angel, owned by Marilou Dobie of Quesnel, attained the Advanced Agility Dog of Canada level.
100 Mile dog-owner Brenda Witt saw her papillon, Tempest, attain the Agility Dog of Canada level.
Ziefflie says there were many qualifying runs recorded on the weekend, which means the runs were clean and completed within the time limit.
Judges for the event were Brigitte Hole of Mission, Witt and Ziefflie.
According to Ziefflie, the local agility club has 10 members who train almost year-round, both at her home at 108 Mile, and in the winter, in an indoor arena at 105 Mile.
She says newcomers to dog agility training are often surprised to see how much their dogs are capable of.
“People don’t realize how much their dogs can do. There are different ways of motivating dogs and you just have to find out what works for your dog. Once you find what the motivator is, it’s easy.”
She lists food, squeaky toys and tug toys among the top motivators.
The agility trial also earned $400 for the 100 Mile House Food Bank Society through camping fees collected from trial participants.
For more information about dog agility, contact Ziefflie at 250-791-7330.
