SIBLEY, Iowa - Canines took center stage at the Osceola County Fair late Thursday morning for the Dog Agility Showcase. Just under a dozen dogs and their handlers strutted their stuff through the show ring while overcoming a series of obstacles. Seasoned veterans and new contestants met the challenges head-on before a cheering crowd.
Brooklyn Jansma and dog Patches were first-time contestants in the showcase. In order to take part in the showcase, dogs must complete a year of obedience training before they can enter the show ring. Having just completed training, Patches was finally eligible to take part.
Brooklyn said she practices twice a week with Patches, but he can have a mind of his own. He struggles with jumping over the bar, she said. Brooklyn’s father, Chad, said it isn’t Patches’ short stature that is the culprit but more so his stubborn streak that leads the bulldog to barrel through rather than clear the bar.
Hannah Dagel and dog Raven entered the showcase for the second time this year. Raven has participated in obedience competition at the fair for three years and won Reserve Champion this year. Dagel said she works daily with Raven on obedience and on the agility on a weekly basis.
Even with a consistent training regimen, Dagel said there are times that Raven needs a refresher course.
“Some days she’ll be on top of everything, and some days there is just one thing that she doesn’t want to do,” Dagel commented. “We go home, work through that part and next time she comes back stronger.”
Samantha Pausma is also a veteran of the dog showcase with Radke, her Golden Retriever. The pair have been in the showcase three years in a row and also practice once a week to keep Radke’s skills sharp.
The route
In the showcase, the dogs were first presented with an A-frame ramp to climb up and down the other side. Following the ramp, the dogs had to jump over a bar that was adjusted based on the size of the dog, making the showcase fair for all of the four-legged competitors. The dogs would then travel through a tunnel to meet their handler on the other side. For some, the task was a breeze; for others, it was a bit of a struggle.
Jill Berkland experienced the struggle firsthand when dog Louie tried to avoid going through the tunnel. Louis managed to escape the tunnel’s entrance three times before finally being coaxed through by closing off his escape route.
After the tunnel, each canine jumped over a wall barrier, again adjusted for height, before entering a chute. Similar to the tunnel, the dogs met their handler on the opposite end. Dogs and their handlers received a five-second rest while the dogs laid down on a platform. Berkland again had a good time with Louis who decided to gain an advantage by jumping on the shorter platform first on two attempts and refusing to lay down until Berkland joined him on the platform herself.
The much-needed rest is followed up by a series of weaving in and out of poles before completing the course with another jump over the wall.
Agility contests are often judged based on the time required to complete the course. Fortunately for the fair contestants, this one is just for fun. Some dogs completed the course at breakneck speed, while others, like newcomer Patches and fellow bulldog Bodhi, a veteran of the dog competitions at the Osceola County Fair, prefer a much slower pace. Dr. Loretta Berkland, who owns Bodhi, said this year may mark his retirement from competition unless a young 4-Her needs a canine companion for competition.
For a video of the showcase, visit dglobe.com. The Osceola County Fair continues in Sibley, Iowa through Saturday.
