Cebu to host dog agility contest

CEBU, Philippines - For the first time, a national competition for dog agility will be conducted in Cebu City on Saturday and Sunday.

Dog lovers from the cities of Cebu, Bacolod, Zamboanga and Davao will participate in the contest, which will be staged free to the public at 3 p.m. at the Paseo Arcenas Center in sitio Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe.

City veterinarian Alice Utlang said the K9 CARE or Cebu Agility Run Enthusiast will sponsor the contest.

K9 CARE president Jute Sandiego said spectators will surely enjoy the event.

Sandiego said dog agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy.

The courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without human direction.

During the competition, the handler of the dog must assess the course, with precision and speed equally important.

A dog lover, Ryan Ong, yesterday brought his dog to City Hall and showed to reporters how it will obey his command.

Utlang said the activity would be part of the celebration of the national rabies prevention month in June.

Sandiego said even a street dog can be trained although the handler needs patience because it will take time to train the animal.

“Maayong motan-aw g’yud sila karong Sabado ug Dominggo kay wala may bayad. Sigurado g’yud sila nga malingaw,” said Sandiego.

Utlang is planning to hold another show at the Plaza Sugbo weeks from now. – THE FREEMAN