IT'S `GO DOG, GO' AS THE FUR FLIES : AGILE CANINES VIE TO CLAIM TRI-VALLEY CHAMPIONSHIP.Byline: Enrique Rivero Daily News Staff Writer Three-year-old Mattie really showed her stuff Sunday when she jumped, weaved and maneuvered through 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. at the second annual Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Shetland sheepdog, breed of small, agile working dog perfected in the Shetland Islands in the 19th cent. It stands from 13 to 16 in. (33.0–40.6 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs about 15 lb (7 kg). Agility Trials. The only thing that prevented the Australian shepherd The Australian Shepherd is a breed of working dog that was developed in the Western United States in the 19th century from several different breeds.[1]<ref name="ascasite" /><ref name="Coile" /> Despite its name, the breed, commonly known from making it through all three levels during the two-day event at Rancho Tapo Community Park was that she didn't quite clear a jump early on and hit the bar. Her owner, Shannon Miller Shannon Lee Miller (b. March 10, 1977 in Rolla, Missouri) is an artistic gymnast from Edmond, Oklahoma. She has earned 7 Olympic Medals and 9 World Championship Medals since her Elite International debut in 1990. She is the most decorated gymnast, male or female, in U.S. history. of North Tustin, took the blame squarely on her own shoulders. ``I set her up too close to the jump and rushed her,'' Miller said. Otherwise, the 43-pound beauty performed like a dream, wowing the audience with her unusual agility on the track. Mattie can give a border collie border collie, breed of medium-sized, sheepherding dog developed in the British Isles. It stands about 18 in. (45.7 cm) high at the shoulder and weighs from 30 to 45 lb (13.6–20.4 kg). , usually among the fastest dogs around, a real run for its money, Miller said. ``She's really fast - she's unusually quick for an Australian shepherd,'' she said. Miller and Mattie were among the 175 master-and-dog teams that performed at the weekend doggie olympics sponsored by the Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Club of Northwest Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Teams came from all over, some from as nearby as Moorpark or Thousand Oaks and others from as far away as Las Vegas, said Sharon Anderson, agility field director for the New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of City-based 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. . Teams were vying for American Kennel Club titles and to qualify for the nationals scheduled for Oct. 10-12 in Chicago, Anderson said. ``I'm also here looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. dogs that have the potential to go to the world team in Denmark,'' she said. That contest, the World Agility Championships, is scheduled for the first weekend in October. And though the teams were also competing this weekend for trophies and ribbons, most were also there for something deeper and more satisfying - the sheer joy of demonstrating their skill, Anderson said. ``It's good teamwork between dog and owner, and it shows a dog's agility out on the obstacle,'' she said. The $300 in proceeds from special classes held Saturday went to the Southland Sheltie sheltie, shelty a common name for the Shetland sheepdog. sheltie eye anomaly (SEA) see collie eye anomaly. sheltie syndrome see epidermolysis bullosa. Rescue, according to event officials. A complete list of winners was not available at press time Sunday. However, California regularly produces top-notch teams and, at last year's World Agility Championship in Switzerland, three of five United States team members were Californian. ``California has always had quality dogs,'' Anderson said. ``You have high-quality dog trainers and handlers here.'' As for Mattie, she may not have qualified for the Chicago event, but she and Miller got quite a lot from competing just the same. ``It's all for fun,'' she said. ``You don't get money, you don't get anything in value but fun - and the dogs love it.'' Besides, Mattie still has the makings of a champ. Only into her first year as a competitor, she already has ``tons of ribbons - probably about 50 ribbons,'' Miller said. And in July, Mattie's set to compete in the United States Dog Agility Association national championships in Ohio. Miller thinks Mattie has a real shot at the title. ``I think she can win if we can perfect each other. I think we have as good a chance at winning as anybody,'' she said. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos Photo: (1-2--color) Torch, right, a three-year-old border collie owned by Denise Roteman, leaps through an obstacle at the Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Agility Trials in Simi Valley on Sunday. Some of the 175 master-and-dog pairs supported each other by flying team colors, below. (2) Shannon Miller gets a kiss from her 3-year-old Australian shepherd Mattie at the Tri-Valley Shetland Sheepdog Agility Trials in Simi Valley. Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News |
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