Rockford Lutheran High School senior Grace Anderson and her 5-year-old Border Collie, Lane, are among the 24 dog owners and 29 dogs who will represent the United States at the Junior Open Agility World Championships this July in Portugal.
Anderson said she and Lane train three to four times a week depending on her homework and soccer schedule.
“Lane’s best skill in agility is her send to the weaves, and her best trick in general is probably sit pretty,” Anderson said. “My favorite part of agility has been all of friends I’ve made nationally and now internationally.”
Dogs and their handlers compete in categories of small, medium, intermediate and large dogs and by the age of the handlers. The agility competition is officially recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale — the World Canine Organization, the largest international federation of kennel clubs, according to a news release from the AKC Junior World Agility Team USA.
“Training daily and traveling the world to compete at the highest level of dog agility takes mental and physical skills, dedication, commitment and heart,” the organization said in a news release.
Dogs leap over obstacles, run through barriers and navigate tunnels as fast they can. The dogs with the fewest faults and quickest time win.
Team USA includes 23 girls and one boy. Handlers will run 29 dogs: six All American dogs, two Australian Shepherds, eight Border Collies, one English Working Cocker, one Golden Retriever, two Miniature American Shepherd, one Miniature Schnauzer, one Mudi, one Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, one Parson Russell Terrier, four Shetland Sheepdogs and one Standard Poodle.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
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