JEFFERSON — High jump, broad jump and figure eights were just a few of the challenges facing dogs, and their owners, Saturday at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds.
Two area kennel clubs sponsored the First Stand Alone Obedience Trials and Rally Trials this weekend in the Expo Hall at the fairgrounds.
The Ashtabula Kennel Club sponsored Saturday’s event and the Grand River Kennel Club is sponsoring a similar competition today at the fairgrounds.
The Rally Trials is a unique event that places a dog and its owner in a course with signs, cones and other challenges. “You have to figure out how you and your dog can manipulate the course,” said Bill Allen of Parkman who judges as many as eight trials a year.
“Everybody starts with a perfect score and you get points deducted,” Allen said of the system with the highest score winning. He said there are three divisions novice (on a leash), advanced and excellent. A contestant has to score 70 points to count in the standings.
A traditional obedience competition also was held with more than 70 dogs competing in six divisions on Saturday. A similar amount are scheduled for competition today.
David Miller, president of the Grand River Kennel Club, and Debbie Dayton, president of the Ashtabula Kennel Club, said the clubs decided there was a need for the competition and worked together to make it a reality.
Vilma Briggs came all the way from Mt. Gilead to compete. “I heard there was this great new show and I said I have to go,” she said.
Aleta Ross of Girard, Pa., said she shows dogs about 10 times a year. “I was taking obedience lessons just for pet training and I had a dog that was really good at it and I decided to show him and I was hooked,” she said.
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Dogs strut their stuff at obedience and rally trials
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