Pahrump Valley Obedience Club hosts Rally Trials

Several dozen dogs and their owners will hold court at Petrack Park for the Pahrump Valley Obedience Club and Rally Trials this weekend.

Club President Helen Schneider said dog owners from as far as California and Arizona will attend the American Kennel Club (AKC) sanctioned event.

It's the seventh year the event has taken place in Pahrump.

The dogs qualified for the event during a previous obedience club event this month.

"They are going to show their dogs and try to qualify for AKC titles," she said. "This is a very big event and next year it will be even bigger because we're going to go to a three-day show."

Schneider said aside from purebred dogs, mixed-breed dogs are also welcome to participate.

"Mixed-breed dogs can also participate in everything but confirmation and that means the guy down the street who has got a Heinz 57 dog can enter too," she said. "All of the winners will receive ribbons and there will be a big ribbon for the top obedience dog at the trial."

The top dog from last year's competition was an Australian Shepherd.

Schneider said any dog can win in its particular category.

"We've had winners that were German shepherds and the field is wide open on who could win," she said. "It could be a labrador retriever or even a dachshund. It's all over the place."

Additionally, Schneider said only dogs that are competing over the weekend should be at the venue.

"We are urging people to leave their own pets at home if they're not going to compete in the competition because if you're not entered, you should not be on the showgrounds with your dog."

The event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.