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Photo by Johnny Wagner

Some athletes run, jump and perform for money, endorsements or fame. Gael does it for a trip to the cheese chair.

Gael and her owner, Cindy Mildbrand, are one of more than 90 competing teams at the Tanana Valley Kennel Club’s agility trials.

Mildbrand, who owns a dog-training business in Kenai, said it’s routine for her dogs to jump into a chair to eat spray cheese from a can after completing their agility run.

In addition to Gael, Mildbrand has bought up two golden Labrador retrievers: Boxster and Benz for the three-day event at the Tanana Valley Fairgrounds. Competitors, some with names more fitting for American Gladiators: Cholo, Ice, Splash and Bruce, get their last chance to run the courses today.

Mildbrand first saw an agility competition in Seattle in 1998 and since then, she said, “it has become a real addiction.”

“It’s a big game you play with the dog, there’s a lot of bonding,” Milderbrand said.

Mildbrand and Gael aren’t the only competitors who came from out of town. Jean Fornal, an agility and breed trainer from Arizona, is making her fifth trip to Fairbanks for the trials.

“I came all the way from Arizona because everyone is so friendly and it’s considered a sport here — there is a real sportsmanship,” she said.

Fornal said in addition to training the dogs, she also evaluates them to see if agility trials would be right for the dog’s temperament.

“They need drive, they need to love it,” she said.

But the dogs aren’t the only ones on the course, and they are definitely not the only ones who need to practice. Each dog is led through the course by a handler, who directs the dog through each stage of the trial.

“The people need more training than the dogs,” Fornal said, explaining that because the dogs will do anything people tell them, they need to be led well and without hesitation.

The Chester family from Anchorage has brought a couple of papillions and terriers for the competition. Krystin Chester is Alaska’s first and only junior handler to earn the American Kennel Club’s highest ranking: Master Agility Championship title — MACH.

She became involved with the agility trials after tagging along with her parents to competitions.

“I thought if I am going to be dragged around to the competitions, I might as well compete,” she said.

Her papillion, Teller, is a rescued dog and achieved MACH status. Now, Chester said she is now working toward making the world team for dog agility.

Chester’s parents started competing nine years ago after exploring other dog competitions such dog breed shows and obedience training but agility stands out for the family.

“Agility is more active; it’s more fun for the dogs,” Chester said.

Krystin and her mother, Donna Chester, said the family participates in about 12 competitions every year and goes to the Lower 48 three times a year to compete.

Teams at the Fairbanks trial compete in one of three experience levels: novice, open or excellent. The levels are then divided into six categories based on a dog’s height measured at its shoulders.

Teams will get to try to conquer two courses at the fairgrounds. The first is a “Jumps With Weaves” course and the second is the “FAST” event, which takes place on a course filled with jumps, ramps, see-saws and other obstacles.

Polly Divens, agility class coordinator at TVKC, said if dogs earn run the course in a decent time and avoid enough penalties, they earn a qualifying time, also known as a leg. Dogs can move to the next level of competition after earning three legs.

Before Saturday’s FAST competition started, owners wandered the course in a seemingly aimless manner but with looks of concentration on their faces. They were plotting their paths and shortcuts that could cut vital seconds off their dog’s time. The FAST course featured AKC-standard obstacles, but judges can arrange them in the competition area however they choose. After that, it is up to owners to guide their dogs through the tasks in whatever order they think is best.

Divens said every dog that ran the courses Saturday may repeat the trials again today for more chances to advance.

For people interested in considering agility trials with their dogs, Divens said “high-drive” dogs are the most likely candidate because they want to please, be active and run, but there are exceptions to that rule.

“It’s easier to reign in than motivate,” she said.

TVKC offers agility classes, and there are also a number of books and videos available about agility trials.

Divens herself got into the sport four years ago for a simple reason.

“I just love doing stuff with my dog,” she said.