Dog Competition

One of the fastest growing dogs sports in the country is taking place at the Fieldhouse Fitness Center.

The American Kennel Club Agility Trail is putting dogs to the test on their speed and performance. Close to 400 dogs will be competing with hopes of moving on to the nationals.

"She came in 6th out of all the dogs," Ligato said.

Lorri Ligato and her Wheaten Terrier Mally love competing in agility. But it wasn’t always easy.

"I actually was looking for something to help her from being scared. She was attacked when she was four months old so she was afraid of everything," Ligato said.

That’s when she took her to the park.

"She was very shy but they had agility equipment so we went into this little gated area that had the equipment and she just blossomed," Ligato said.

Then she had to be trained.

"It’s been more difficult to train me there’s a lot of strategy involved," Ligato said.

"With beginner class you start without any obstacles and you just follow the handler around and just move with them when they move," Glenn Rawsky from the American Kennel Club said.

To train your dog you first start by getting them to walk through the poles then you add the bar. Malley jump.

"They start to figure out it’s no big deal and think it’s fun once they realize this is running and jumping and chasing. So it’s just a progression you just make it very very easy to start with and work up from there," Rawsky said.

Now Malley is competing in agility competitions .

"It’s basically an obstacle course for the dogs and it’s a timed and scored event. " Rawsky said.

There are three different types of courses, too. Ones with all the different obstacles including the balance beam and ramps. And others that just have jumps the weave polls and the tunnels.

"There’s also three different skill levels," Rawsky said.

They only pick on a pooch their own size they compete with pups their same height.
Malley is one of the best in the country.

"As far as Wheatens go she’s the best there’s been," Ligato said.

And she loves it.

"When she gets on the course she goes crazy for it she loves it," Ligato said.

You can see all the dogs run the obstacle courses all weekend long at the Fieldhouse in the Sunrise Center.