Canine competitors rush toward a win

By Johnny Johnson

Published: March 29, 2008

TULSA — For Chris Hatchett, play time with her pet sheltie is complicated. It often involves hurdles, hoops, tunnels, ramps and zigzag poles.

"It's a lifestyle,” she said of her dog's training. "I'm kind of an absentee wife a lot of time.”

But the training and all the traveling to qualifying events will pay off this weekend as Hatchett and her prize-winning 6-year-old dog, Zoe, become one of seven Oklahoma dog/owner teams to compete in the AKC National Agility Championship at Tulsa's Expo Square.

"Getting here is a big deal,” Hatchett said. Everyone competing in the national championship had to travel to different competitions and get enough qualifying rounds and speed points to earn the right to be there.

This weekend's event makes the second national championship try for Hatchett and Zoe, but this year the Tulsa resident is glad she didn't have to travel as far. Last year's event was in Columbus, Ohio.

"This is a big coup for Tulsa to have this here,” she said. "This is the nicest facility they've had. It's just incredible what they've done to the fairgrounds here, so I'm sure they'll be back.”

Sharon Anderson, director of agility for the American Kennel Club, said she was happy to return to Oklahoma for the 12th annual championship, since the original competition was held in Guthrie in 1996.

In all, Anderson said, the Tulsa event will feature 723 of the most agile dogs from 43 states and Canada, competing in four size categories.

"We wouldn't ask a Yorkshire terrier to compete against a Great Dane,” she said.

While all dogs are agile, Anderson said, some breeds are more so than others, and this year's event will showcase 72 breeds that are, in their own right, "the cream of the crop.”

"But this really is a team competition,” Anderson said. "You move your shoulder one way and the dog goes that direction. It's got a lot to do with body movement and you and your dog moving as one ... at top speeds.”

Oklahoma City resident Kristin Koldahl knows that her dog, Sheltie, is capable of doing well.

Her only concern this weekend is trying to keep up, so they can both finish well together.

Koldahl is on a kidney transplant list, and she's afraid her medical condition may get in the way.

After an initial run Friday, a red-faced Koldahl praised her dog as she tried desperately to catch her breath. But she was smiling.

"I think we did pretty good,” she said, still breathing heavily. "I ran as fast as I could, so I'm pretty happy.”

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