Active Dogs Win Big at Cynosport 2008

Courtesy United States Dog Agility Association Inc.

The world’s top agility, dock jumping, obedience, and flyball dogs descended on the West World of Scottsdale fairgrounds in Scottsdale, Ariz., from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2, for five days of competition and to celebrate active dogs and their owners.

Agility Grand Prix Championships
Hosted by the United States Dog Agility Association, the fifth annual Cynosport World Games was anchored by the agility events, specifically the Grand Prix of Dog Agility Championship finals, which took place on Sunday night in the main exhibition ring. Although pressure ran high during the qualifying rounds, trainer and competitor Stuart Mah of Jacksonville, Fla., who competed with his Border Collie Qwik, kept the competition in perspective: “It shouldn’t be work; it’s always play.”

Courtesy North American Flyball Association

Grand Prix first-place winners included: Jack Russell Terrier “Whim,” owned by Katherine Elliott of Windsor, Colo. (12 inch); Shetland Sheepdog, “Sizzle,” owned by Karen Holik of North Port, Fla.(16 inch); Border Collie “Steeple,” owned by Kim Terrill of Albuquerque, N.M. (22 inch); and Border Collie “Scream,” owned by Ann Braue of Eau Claire, Wisc. (26 inch).

Agility Steeplechase Championships
Saturday night featured the $10,000 Dog Agility Steeplechase and Performance Speed Jumping Championships finals. Courses for both competitions used jumpers-style courses for fast-flowing runs. Shelley Permann, a competitor from Torrance, Calif., and owner of last year’s 12-inch Steeplechase winner, 7-year-old Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Letti, enjoys USDAA’s courses. “Other leagues are more twisty, tight, turny, and that means that dogs are constantly having to decelerate,” said Permann.

Courtesy United States Dog Agility Association Inc.

Steeplechase winners included: Shetland Sheepdog “Snap,” owned by Wendy Pape of Tampa, Fla. (12 inch); Pyrenean Shepherd “Luka,” owned by Ashley Deacon of Redwood City, Calif. (16 inch); Border Collie “Juice,” owned by Marcus Topps Fate, Texas (22 inch); and Border Collie “Spree,” owned by Ann Braue of Eau Claire, Wisc. (26 inch).

More information on the Cynosport World Game results is available on the USDAA’s website.

April Balotro is the Associate Editor of Dog World magazine.