See Spot Sprint And Leap And Prance During Agility Competition

With the gutsy athleticism of Mary Lou Retton and the suave artistry of Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rugby soared through hoops and pranced on balance beams Saturday.

But unlike the more famous athletes who likely hydrate with Evian, Rugby - a giddy 7-year-old from Calgary - slurped water from a bowl and piddled on the grass.

Such is the life of a champion bearded collie.

Rugby and 80 other dogs have been leaping, tunnelling and see-sawing this weekend in a regional agility tournament at North Pines Junior High School. Owners from as far away as Los Angeles and Minneapolis watch as dogs sprint through a modified equestrian course, sponsored by the Spokane Dog Training Club and Working Agility Team.

Spokane’s contest is unusually popular this year because it’s the last of 15 semifinal competitions in the country. The top dog today will advance to San Antonio, Texas, for the August championships - the illustrious 1995 Pedigree Food for Dogs Grand Prix of Dog Agility.

Today’s finalist is the dog who runs the standard course in the least time with zero faults. Judges levy faults when dogs jump through obstacles backward or scurry through a stray tunnel meant to fake-out all but the most focused dogs.

The winner of the contest gets $200 to offset transportation costs to San Antonio. The big victor there gets a trophy and a shot at national stardom. When the agility competition debuted in 1987, semi-finalists and their owners appeared on David Letterman.

“That was probably better than prize money,” said Sandy Rogers, a trainer from San Francisco.

Collies - natural herders who love to jump fences and scurry through brush - pervaded the mid-size dog competition. Australian shepherds, mini-pinschers and shelties roamed the field as trainers shouted, “Settle down!”

Onlookers weren’t sure if the trainers were trying to soothe high-strung pups or their own frazzled nerves. Although the winners don’t receive prize money, champion jumpers sire high-priced puppies, garnering prestige for their owners as agility training gains popularity.

Participation by the United States Dog Agility Association in the Spokane area has increased more than 25 percent a year for the past three years, and many owners who shun competition take their dogs to agility classes for obedience and bonding.

“In agility shows, the owner is taking the dog through A-frames, tunnels, tires and jumps. The dog develops a high level of bonding and training. Some dogs even know the words ‘right’ and ‘left,”’ said Dan Dege, a USDAA judge.

Pound-bred mutts and coiffed cockers pant in harmony this weekend and in all USDAA competitions. But controversy looms in the dog agility arena: The American Kennel Club, the nation’s largest dog-owner group, started this year to sponsor its own agility competitions open only to pedigreed pooches.

Mixed-breed buffs are upset.

“To tell someone that they can’t come out and play with their dog is rude,” Dege said.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo