JOE BINOYA/Acorn Newspapers UP AND AWAY- CateE, an 8-year-old Catahoula Leopard, goes airborne as she is guided over a hurdle by her handler Leslie Bickel on one of the courses of the Happy Dog Agility competition at the Tierra Rejada Ranch in Moorpark last month. Over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, dogs were jumping through hoops, walking on teetertotters and weaving through poles.

While it sounds like the circus came to town, it was actually an agility competition sponsored by Happy Dog Agility in Moorpark.

"It's a good way to bond with your dog in a really fun manner," said Kristy Netzer, owner of Happy Dog Agility.

Netzer, who lives in Newbury Park, started teaching dog agility classes 12 years ago and set up the facility on Reed Road in 2001.

Through classes and seminars, owners learn how to train their dogs and the rules of the sport. The dogs train on courses set up with fences, plastic tunnels and other obstacles they will encounter during competitions.

Simi Valley resident Rebecca Chamlee participated in the threeday event with her Shetland sheepdogs, Able and his 2-year-old son, Reason.

JOE BINOYA/Acorn Newspapers TEAMWORK- Rebecca Chamlee of Simi Valley guides her 2yearold Shetland sheepdog, Reason, during one of the competition courses. "Most training starts when the dogs are puppies," said cChamlee who is a graphic designer and teacher at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles. "There's a real process. It's very exacting. People spend a lot of time going to seminars. You have to learn what to do first and then train the dog."

There are different divisions in the competition and different categories for the dogs, including purebred, mixed breed and size.

The friendly canines navigate obstacles on the course to win points. The owner/trainers trot alongside giving vocal commands. Speed is a factor, so owners encourage their best friends to zip through the course as fast as possible.

Minnesota resident Carol Voeker traverses the country judging agility events. Voeker was the judge for the weekend competition.

"It's all about how the dog performs on the course. I'm not judging looks, or the way they jump," Voeker said. "I'm judging whether the dogs knock down a bar, hit all the contacts and follow the course."

More than 110 dogs and their owners entered the event, which was geared to the advanced level of competitors.

Chamlee's dog Able, a veteran of numerous local and national competitions, won first and second-place honors in his runs. His son, Reason, although a first place winner in a novice challenge last month, went off the mark in his event.

"Reason is so young, his little mind was blown," Chamlee joked. "No matter what happens my dogs get a kiss to begin and scruff down a bowl of chicken afterwards."

Winning money is clearly not the incentive for the dogged competitors. Most prizes are ribbons, or a toy for the dog.

While some do regard the sport as serious business, most owners said they just enjoy the satisfaction of doing a good job and the camaraderie with their dog.

"It's my hobby and a way to connect with my dogs," Chamlee said. "I have a great social network with the people I train with and show with."

For information, please visit: www.happydogagilty.com.