Recently in agility Category

Cowboy, Tess & I were invited to attend a doggie event over the weekend organized by Deborah Harpur  (left) who has rescued, raised and trained dogs to compete in agility trials.

Dubbed the Pup Paw-Tay, the Saturday afternoon event at the agility yard set up at the business run by Deborah and her husband, it was a combination birthday party, game competition and donation fest benefiting Animals Rule based in San Pedro.

It was a really great event, although we realized quickly we were out of our league. All the other dogs there knew tricks and were champion competitors. There were dogs that did figure 8s, dogs that balanced treats on their noses for long periods of time, dogs that rolled over on command and dogs that proudly knew how to take a bow when their routines were done.

Cowboy, Tess and I cheered them all on. We also had the good fortune to be on the team that placed 2nd in a game called 'My Dog Can Do That!"

Unfortunately, there were no calls for dogs that stared for bugs on the ground (Tess's favorite pasttime) or dogs that liked to hang out underneath an out-of-commission semi truck (which is where Cowboy spent a brief time during a break in the activities -- way to go, Cows):

Tess enjoyed getting some pats from other spectators:

Although the dog is Episcopalian, we don't celebrate Christmas in my house. It's not like a day goes by when he doesn't get a toy anyway.

   And the cat, well the cat has no interest in anything except pooping in the shower and sleeping.

Still, even though money is tight, Americans would rather spend money on their pets than they would other people.

Yay, America!

In a survey released last week by the American Kennel Club, 81 percent of respondents said they would buy holiday gifts for their dogs, and 69 percent would sooner tighten their belts on friends and extended family than tighten the collars on their dogs. And 65 percent would rather eat ramen noodles than make their dogs eat on the cheap.

The American Kennel Club sponsored the 2008 World Agility Championships recently in Helsinki, Finland.

The USA/AKC team was sponsored by none other than i Love Dogs Inc., a Torrance-based online company specializing in dog supplements.

Here's a border collie named Juice, who came away with a gold medal.

At right, below,is a photo of featuring i Love Dogs general manager Kimberley Foley of Rancho Palos Verdes, in the blue shirt at the right of a team mascot.

For more on the event, go to the AKC Web site.