Autumn Agility Trials

It’s time! Time for the Paducah Kennel Club’s annual Autumn Agility Trials! This year it’s bigger, warmer, drier — and did I mention bigger?

Four days, with competitors from all over this great country. And the competition has gotten stiff, indeed. Members of the WORLD TEAM are coming to Paducah to compete.

Here’s the scoop:

Where? Paducah Regional SportsPlex, on Highway 60 just west of Kentucky Oaks Mall.

When? Thursday, Oct. 22, 4-9 p.m., and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 23-25, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

How much? Free for spectators. Yup, you heard it, F.R.E.E.

Get this: there will be more than 250 dogs running on Thursday, all at the most advanced level – Excellent. The trial is filled to capacity on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with 330 runs each day!

Dogs from teeny Yorkies and Chihuahuas to giant Great Danes and everything in between will jump and weave and go through tunnels and over see-saws and through tire jumps, just like you’ve seen on TV. Plain ol’ amateur dog owners compete against the World Class pros. The jump heights go from 4 inches for the teeny weenies, to 24 inches for the big dawgs. 

The dogs start at the Novice level, like Martha Veach’s young Labrador Retriever, Wilson, in the above video. Martha is a Paducah Kennel Club member who is an RN in Western Baptist Hospital’s Birthing Center, in her other life.

PKC Agility Chair, Gene Glastetter, competes with his young Belgian Malinois, Versace. “It’s as much fun as anything you can do with your dog,” says Gene. “It is the fastest growing AKC sport in the country, because the dogs and the people just have a ball.”

And, yes, this trial’s reputation has spread. You can see members of the World Team (just like in this video) right here in Paducah! Paducah Kennel Club members will be wearing red shirts and will be happy to answer questions. See how the Dog Walk, the A Frame and the Teeter Totter have the bottom sections painted yellow? That’s a safety feature. The dog must place one paw in that yellow section on the way down, or she is disqualified. And in the weave poles, the dog must always enter with the first pole on his left.

So do come out and watch this addictive sport! Remember, admission is free. Bring some money if you want to shop the special vendors who will have booths or if you want a snack. But leave your own dog home. For safety reasons, AKC rules state that only dogs entered in the trial are allowed on the grounds.

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