Celebrating the dog days of summer

Call it the dog days of summer.

Canines big and small, long- and short-haired bounded through obstacle courses, paraded in front of judges and preened for the cameras Saturday at Fuji Park, wagging their tails and seeking boundless approval from their owners.

The joy of seeing their pets " members of the family, really, was not lost on Kim Munoz of Johnson Lane, who brought Remy, her 14-month-old long-haired Chihuahua to the park to participate in an agility course.

Munoz has been training Labrador retrievers, border collies and Chihuahuas for a decade.

"Any dog can do it," she said. "You just have to keep it positive."

It didn't look terribly easy. Dogs of varying sizes jumped over feet-tall barriers, scampered through tunnels, ran across see-saws and romped through freshly-mowed grass, as their owners prompted them with treats and words of praise.

Remy rolled through the course with ease, his owner prodding him with pieces of cheese and words of praise.

"He's just a baby, just starting his training," Munoz noted, adding that she works with Remy about five minutes each day. "I just give him lots of praise, and lots of rewards."

The Northern Nevada Dog Days of Summer showcase attracted preened poodles, coiffed Chihuahuas and buff border collies, which Candy Johnson of South Lake Tahoe noted were bred for working.

"She loves agility," Johnson said. "That's what she's here for, and she knows what she's doing better than I do. She's definitely having fun."

To say that these dogs and their owners were amped for the experience wouldn't be accurate. With each obstacle course run, each inspection by a judge, these dogs glanced to their owners' eyes for approval.

The experience was especially sweet for Jon Kirkpatrick of Carson City, participating in his first-ever competition with his 8-month-old Doberman pinscher, Hartwoods Hot Mambo.

In the working dogs category, Kirkpatrick scored his first win in a competition Saturday, assisted by his young coach, 16-year-old Taren Kinney of Washoe Valley.

Kinney watched as judges remarked on Mambo's form, the color of his teeth and his sleek lines. When they were finished, Kirkpatrick walked away with a giant first-place ribbon.

"I love it," he said. "When you're out there, you know they want to please you. It's a great new hobby."

Contact city editor David Mirhadi at 881-1261 or dmirhadi@nevadaappeal.com