FOUR-LEGGED AGILITY

Dogs compete in regional championships

BARTO >> You’ll have to be quick if you ever want to catch some of these dogs.

More than 100 dogs competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dog Agility Championships at the Orchard Hills Training Center in Barto recently in June.

The canine athletes and their handlers competed for top honors as well as qualification to the Cynosport World Games of Dog Agility to be held in Tennessee this fall.

The course included hoops, ramps, jumps and tubes for dogs to get through.

The event is hosted by Keystone Agility Club, one of the oldest USDAA agility clubs in the country which has been hosting trials for the past 29 years.

Event organizer Rosemarie Huey explained how proud she is to be a part of this group of dedicated people.

“We currently have 50 members, most of them are very competitive but overall what we all enjoy most is spending time and bonding with our dogs” Huey said.

Keystone Agility Club offers classes for all level of competitors.

“Dog agility is a great sport

that anyone and any dog can participate in,” added Huey.

Guided only by voice and movement cues from their human partners, the canine athletes compete against the clock, flying over hurdles, weaving between poles, racing through tunnels and bounding onto the see-saw.

Obstacles are set according to the dogs’ height and experience level, allowing dogs of all breeds and sizes to compete.

Dog agility as a sport traces its roots to Great Britain in the 1970s.

It found its way to the United States a decade later with the creation of the United States Dog Agility Association in 1986.

The sport is now international with regional championships held in Japan, Canada, Mexico and Spain in addition to the U.S.

The United States Dog Agility Association is the world’s largest, independent canine sports authority, dedicated to promoting the sport of dog agility as a recreational, family sport that fosters responsible pet ownership.

For more information visit USDAA.com.

MAriAn DenniS — MeDiAnewS groUP Dogs literally jumped through hoops to be named with top honors in June as the Mid-Atlantic regional Dog Agility championship came to Barto, Berks county.

MAriAn DenniS — MeDiAnewS groUP Mid-Atlantic regional Dog Agility championships came to Barto in June. Dogs of all sizes competed for top honors in the agility competition.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Dogs weaved in and out of poles set up on the course during the Dog Agility Championships in Barto.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Dogs were met with challenging jumps as they competed in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dog Agility Championships.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Dogs made the course look easy Thursday as they completed all the obstacles in the MidAtlantic Regional Dog Agility Championship.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Canines and their handlers made their way through a tricky course during the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dog Agility Championship.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP A dog hustles down a ramp as his handler directs him during the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dog Agility Championships in Barto.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Dogs like this corgi showed the crowd how it’s done as they hustled through obstacles including hoops, jumps and ramps.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP A rigorous course was set up for dogs and their handlers during the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dog Agility Championships held by the United States Dog Agility Association Inc.

MARIAN DENNIS — MEDIANEWS GROUP Dogs patiently awaited their handlers’ signals to begin as they prepared to take on a rigorous course for top honors.