The dog days of summer are just that for more than 50 canines competing in the local leg of a U.S. national championship to determine the top agility dog.
The United States Dog Agility Association's Eastern Canada Regional Championship took place this weekend at the Red Barn Event Centre on County Road 27, just outside the Barrie city limits near Ardagh Road.
More than 50 dogs and their handlers competed for top honours as well as qualification to the Cynosport World Games of Dog Agility, to be held in Tennessee this fall.
Sandra Orr not only has a dog in the race, but is also one of the trial chairs that helps oversee the event.
Orr said the Red Barn Event Centre is just one stop on a bigger tour for those in the competition.
“This is one of the regionals and we’ve been holding it for five or six years now,” she said. “A lot of the competitors here this weekend are coming from as far away as Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands and all over the U.S.
"It really is a signature event and we’re fortunate to have it in our own backyard.”
The majority of dogs in the competition were border collies.
Orr’s smooth-coat border collie, Zydeco, is 10 years old and was among the dogs competing today.
“There do tend to be a lot of border collies in certain height divisions. They’re measured to their withers to determine how high the jumps should be for them,” Orr said.
“In the 20-to-22-inch division, you will find a lot of border collies, being that’s their usual height, but we’ve got Corgis here, Papillons and some Shelties (Shetland sheepdogs).
"There is a strong mix of dogs competing.”
The event concluded Sunday with winning dogs and handlers receiving awards and, in some cases, cash prizes.
Winners will then move on through higher levels in hopes of eventually getting to October's world championships in Tennessee.
