DOGS STAY COURSE IN TESTS OF AGILITY.Byline: Kevin F. Sherry Daily News Staff Writer At 18 months old, Solo has just begun his competition career and has plenty of time to learn. The 10-inch-tall papillon papillon (păp`əlŏn'), breed of toy dog whose origins are obscure but whose widespread existence in Europe is attested to as early as the 17th cent. It stands from 8 to 11 in. (20.3–27. pup did not exactly sparkle during competition Sunday at the All Breed Canine Agility Trials at Rancho Tapo Community Park, said Kathy Peterson, Solo's owner. Solo's trouble with running the obstacle course obstacle course n. 1. A training course filled with obstacles, such as ditches and walls, that must be negotiated speedily by troops undergoing training or participants in an obstacle race. 2. - through tunnels, over hurdles and over a teeter-totter - may be entirely psychological, said Peterson, who traveled to the event from Chino Chino (chē`nō), city (1990 pop. 59,682), San Bernardino co., S Calif.; founded 1887, inc. 1910. It is the business and processing center of a diversified farming (notably dairying) area. . ``Three months ago he was on a teeter-totter, and a cocker jumped on it and catapulted him off,'' she said. Weighing just six pounds, ``he makes a very easy catapult.'' About 250 pedigreed dogs of all kinds competed at the event, sponsored by the American Kennel Club American Kennel Club (AKC), national organization in the United States devoted to the advancement and welfare of pure-bred dogs. It is comprised of approximately 500 autonomous clubs. as a fund-raiser for the Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Sheltie sheltie, shelty a common name for the Shetland sheepdog. sheltie eye anomaly (SEA) see collie eye anomaly. sheltie syndrome see epidermolysis bullosa. Rescue Shelter. Solo might want to take some lessons from Chole, a 62-pound, 3-1/2-year-old Weimaraner who did really well in the agility-testing event, according to owner Lori Limbocker. Chole began competing on obstacle courses about a year ago, Limbocker said. Both owner and dog got interested after Chole's puppy classes. ``Now we compete almost every weekend,'' she said. ``We're agility addicts. . . . I just love the sport.'' In obedience shows, collies and retrievers typically have an advantage, Peterson said. But in agility trials, ``you see all sorts of dogs that can do well,'' she said. All dogs go through the same obstacle course, although jumps are modified for each dog's height, Peterson said. Smaller dogs have an easier time cornering and turning, she said. Before each trial, owners ran through the course alone to plot where to position themselves when commanding their dogs through each obstacle. ``You know what your dog does best, your strengths and your weaknesses,'' Limbocker said. Teamwork is the greatest reward of competition, she said. ``We're really starting to work together as a team,'' Limbocker said. ``It's such a great feeling when you're working together with your dog.'' CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1--Color in Simi Edition only) Petunia petunia, any plant of the genus Petunia, South American herbs of the family Solanaceae (nightshade family). The common garden petunias, planted also in window boxes, are all considered hybrids of white-flowered and violet-flowered species from Argentina. , a Labrador, weaves through poles in agility trials in Simi. (2--Color in Simi Edition only) Larry Ribbeck signals his Weimaraner, Fritz, down a steep plank. (3) (Ran in SAC and Conejo Editions only) Patti Liermann nuzzles her golden retriever golden retriever, breed of large sporting dog developed primarily in Scotland in the mid-19th cent. It stands about 23 in. (58.4 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 60 to 75 lb (27.2–34.1 kg). Crosby at a contest. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News |
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