Owners to square off for dog agility contest

Nearly 100 dogs trained for agility competitions and their owners will converge on Palmetto Islands County Park in Mount Pleasant this weekend for the largest contest of the fall.

The Low Country Dog Agility of Greater Charleston Tournament and Agility Test holds two major events every year. This weekend's event offers an opportunity for anyone who wants to know more about dog agility to get a first-hand glimpse of the energy of the sport.

While it's too late to register and compete, LCDA spokeswoman Wendy Holscher strongly urges anyone interested in dog agility, or just watching a canine spectacle, to come see the event. It will take place in two rings from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, too.

"People can come and go as they please. It's a great event to watch," says Holscher, noting that the only admission is the $1 entry fee into Palmetto Islands.

For those who aren't familiar, dog agility involves a handler directing a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs generally run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives. The handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles, except accidentally. In other words, the handler's controls are limited to voice, movement and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal.

For those who may be interested in local dog agility, LCDA starts eight-week training courses in mid-October in agility, puppy training and getting dogs to return when called. The courses cost about $115 and meet at the Mount Pleasant National Guard Armory.

LCDA was started in 1992 and has about 50 members. See lcda.bravepages.com for more.