Newshound Ady & Flo www.sunlive.co.nz

Action is my middle name, so I was so excited to receive an invitation to the dog agility event this weekend. Usually it's my job to the put the boss through the hoops and drive him up the wall.

But this weekend is all about the dogs tackling the obstacles.

The champions of dog agility are competing at Papamoa's Gordon Spratt park this weekend. All types of dogs and people of all ages will be putting their pooches through the hoops, over the see-saws and up the walls.

Shelley Clark, who runs schnauzers Tully and Fergy, says the event is a bit like the old TV programme Tux Wonder Dogs, although no sausages to pinch and the competition is highly competitive at this level.

'A lot of people just do it to have fun with their dog.

'Our club is the Tauranga Dog Training Club and we are running the competition in conjunction with the Mount Agility Club. It starts at 8.30am and usually the competition finishes around 3pm, followed by prize giving. Our website is taurangadogtraining.com we run classes for those who wish to take up the sport.”

They say dog agility is the king of dog sports.

Imagine the most fun a dog can have – leaping over a variety of jumps, tipping a see-saw, zipping through a slalom of upright poles, negotiating a narrow dogwalk and zooming through tunnels. To a dog, an agility field is a doggy amusement park. Whether you're looking for a venue where your dog can burn off some excess energy in a safe, constructive manner, or if you're interested in competing in the sport, agility training offers amusement and challenges for both the dog and handler.

With the handler in charge of strategy, and the dog given the athletic responsibilities, the team negotiates an obstacle course, performing each task in the correct sequence.

Emphasis is placed on accuracy and speed. Safe execution of each obstacle is paramount, with faults being assigned for knocked down poles, missed contacts (the start and end of the see-saw, A-frame and dogwalk), or taking an obstacle out of sequence.

Wow, sounds like fun. I just have to prise Ady off the couch!

- Flo