GILLETTE - After a roll in the grass, a few quick circles and high leg stretches aimed at the base of a tree, pooches of all varieties trotted back into the Cam-plex arena, where the real fun was.

According to dogs' "jump height," the canines and their owners eagerly took to the tunnel course, where the dogs had to navigate a color-coded series of long tubes, carefully reading their owners' body language and voice commands.

One young man ran extra hard, as if trying to race his Pembroke Welsh corgi through the course. Both received enthusiastic applause.

"It's hard to get her to run," said 17-year-old Chris Nelson, a bit winded after the run. "So I tried to get out ahead of her."

It's hard to say how Annie, Nelson's corgi, will do in this competition, Nelson said. She's 6 years old and not overly motivated, and she's competing against the best of the best. This is the North American Dog Agility Council's annual championships.

The competition began Wednesday at Cam-plex in Gillette and will continue every day from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. until winners are announced Sunday night. The competitions are open to the public at no charge.

As for Nelson and Annie, they're just glad to be here.

"There is competition, definitely. But mostly, people are here to have fun," said Nelson, who hails from Cataldo, Idaho.

Some 265 of the nation's most agile canines are here for the competition, and each has competed all over the country this past year to earn high enough scores to get a shot at the finals.

"These dogs are all athletes. They're not just your average backyard dog," said Christy Teets of Rapid City, S.D., who will compete with her papillon, Flair.

Forget the dog show circuit, spoofed in the 2000 comedy "Best In Show." Rather than a pageant, these dogs love to jump, run, zigzag and climb.

"It's a performance sport. We think it's more fun," said Colleen Flam of Delano, Minn.

The competitions also include weave poles, obstacles and independent performance, although the tunnel competition ranks favorite among the dogs themselves, according to most agility dog owners: What dog doesn't like burrow through the covers? The fasted time wins, but there's a greater appreciation for how well a dog and its owner work together on the course.

"It's kind of a dance. There's a real joy when things just click," Teets said.

Reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 682-3388 or dustin.bleizeffer@casperstartribune.net.

* What: North American Dog Agility Council's annual championship competition.

* Where: Cam-plex in Gillette

* When: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Sunday

* How much: Open to the public free of charge]]>