Energetic agility dogs and their handlers took over the Servus Sports Centre for the K9 Frisbee Worldwide Championship Alberta Regional tournament, bringing stiff competition and community support to the Border City.
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Approximately 45 dog-and-handler teams took the field to compete across two distinct organizational styles: UpDog, which focuses on strategic, puzzle-style field games, and K9 Toss & Fetch, a classic distance-and-catch sport where teams complete three 60-second rounds to rack up points.
Local event organizer Stacey Gamble emphasized that success relies entirely on teamwork and clear communication between human and hound.
“The handler and the animal have to work together to accumulate points,” Gamble said. “There has to be a connection and communication. A dog could just run without watching, and if you throw left while they go right, it all falls apart.”
Points are awarded based on where the disc is caught on the field, with smaller dogs under 16 inches receiving bonus points. Beginners can start with simple ground rollers before progressing to airborne throws.
Beyond regional recognition, participants are aiming to secure enough cumulative points to qualify for the national championships set to take place in Winnipeg in 2027.
While seeing seasoned veterans can be intimidating for newcomers, Gamble encourages prospective local handlers to jump in regardless of experience.
“It’s hard when you start and compare yourself to people who have been doing this for five or 20 years,” she said. “When we started five years ago, we were awful — it was embarrassing. But we’ve come so far, and we’re here to support everyone.”
That supportive environment is drawing a new generation of competitors, including six-year-old Jade White, who competed alongside her dog, Spice. White got her start in the sport after tagging along to agility classes.
When asked about her favorite part of the tournament, White kept her strategy simple.
“When Spice catches the disc, ’cause then you get a point,” White said.
Organizers hope to see the local canine sports community continue to expand as more residents drop by to try their hand at the disc field.
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