Carson City dog going for national title

Carson City’s Cathy Philipp and her Miniature American Shepherd, Sunny, are contenders at this year’s American Kennel Club National Agility Championship, a competition in which the quickest, most agile dogs in the country aim for the title of National Champion.

Philipp and Sunny met rigorous standards to qualify for the competition. At the event, set for March 27-29 in Reno, they will run timed agility courses off-leash and strive for a perfect score of 100.

Agility, one of the fastest growing canine sports, is an activity that allows dogs to follow cues from their handler through a timed obstacle course of jumps, tunnels, weave poles and other objects.

This year marks the 19th AKC National Agility Championship and sixth Preferred National Agility Championship for dogs jumping lower than their measured jump height.

Coverage of the event, with J&J Dog Supplies, MAX 200, MAD Agility and Clean Run Productions as sponsors, will be posted on the AKC National Agility Facebook page. Admission to the event is free.

For more information, go to http://www.akc.org/events/agility/national/.