AKC Agility Competition At The Fieldhouse

Over 600 pups and their handlers stormed the Fieldhouse Sunday to compete in an American Kennel Club Agility Competition.

Agility competitions are designed to demonstrate a dogs willingness to work with its handler in many situations. It takes teamwork to navigate the obstacle course in a race against the clock.

“When you start out you start out at a beginning level that’s called Novice, and then once you pass that three times you move up to Open, and then three passes in Open you move up to Excellent and then three passes Excellent take you up to Master and then you’re working towards your agility championship,” informed the competition Trial Chair Person, Carol Lowy.

Any breed or mixed dog is welcome to enter the competition. This years 12 inch level Champion Winner Keebler, was adopted by his owner, Roger O’Sullivan, when she was a 1 1/2 year old, after a former owner had surrendered her to a shelter. O’Sullivan says the key to winning is making sure your dog is having fun.

“Most of the time when you make a mistake out here it’s the handlers fault, it’s not the dog. The dog is only as good at the information that you give the dog,” stated O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan has been training Keebler for eight years and has won numerous agility competitions. He says they plan on entering and winning many more.