U.S. Team Scores Big Win In International Dog Agility Competition

Thursday, March 1, 2001

U.S. Team Scores Big Win In International Dog Agility Competition (NAPSA)—In a recent competition, 28 nations cheered for each other—and America won the gold. The event was the World Agility Championships, held in Porto, Portugal in the first week of October. The American team, organized by the American Kennel Club and sponsored by The Iams Company, earned gold andsilver medals in the team competition. Extreme Sports for Dogs Agility at the world-class level is extreme sports for dogs. Dogs speed through an obstacle course, flying over high jumps, caroming through tunnels, and dancing across dog walks that are like balance beams suspended four feet in the air. It’s about as much fun as dogs can have with their fur on. “T’m an adrenaline junkie,” admits team member Barbara Davis of Newman Lake, Idaho. “Part of the fun of it is that it’s so fast.” Making the Team Agility may be the world’s fastest-growing sport. There are thousandsof trials held across the for the competitors. “Your team matesare relying on you,” says Jean Lavalley from Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who was at her first international competi- Agility competitions are described as being fast-paced fun for dog-lovers. United States each year, with everyone from young kids to grandmothers competing. Dogs selected for international competition are world-class athletes—and mentally tough competitors. Thousands of fans from 28 nations noisily cheered their country’s dogs at this year’s world championship. “The place is full of people with face paints, funny hats, air horns, and cow bells,” says U.S. team coach, Dan Dege. A Special Victory It was a pressure-filled event tion. “You don’t want to let your team, coach and captain down.” Along with fierce competition came great camaraderie, say U.S. team members. “We all love dogs,” says Davis. “Tf we couldn’t speak each other’s language, we’d give a thumbs up. Or someone would come up to us and smile and pat us on the back andsay “Good!” After two days of competition, America’s mini dogs (dogs under 16 inches tall) won the silver medal, behind Finland. The U.S. standard team (over 16 inches) won the gold in the big dog division. As the U.S. team enjoyed the customary celebration, AKC Agility Director Sharon Anderson realized this victory was special, even by international standards. She says, “T looked up, and people from every country were chanting, “U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!”