Dogs take over the fairgrounds for the Lost Coast Kennel Club show

The Lost Coast Kennel Club's Performance Cluster brought a weekend of dog sports to the Humboldt County Fairgrounds, featuring agility, barn hunt and Fast CAT competitions.

"It's a performance cluster weekend for the Lost Coast Kennel Club, and like the name suggests, there are many activities for our four-legged friends at the Humboldt County Fairgrounds."

Along with agility competitions, where dogs navigate obstacles alongside their handlers, canines with strong noses were put to the test during the barn hunt competition.

"He likes to jump and run. That's about it. I don't think he does. Their dogs don't see the course until the first time they come in the ring, so they don't really know what they're going to do. And they just love running and jumping and all that. And they like the connection with the owner more than anything, getting there and making the owner happy. And they think that's wonderful," said Mike and Jack, participants.

In barn hunt competitions, dogs must locate rats that are safely contained within protective tubes hidden among the course elements.

"You'll hide it underneath so that people can't see them when they come in. And so your dog has got to be really willing to sniff everywhere, just try to find that rat. And that's the hard part. And then you have to be in tune enough to your dog to know when to go, 'Oh, that's a rat,'" said Mike Lake, barn hunt chair for the Lost Coast Kennel Club.

Fast CAT also remained a crowd favorite throughout the weekend.

Participants said activities like these help strengthen the bond between dogs and their owners.

"If you just have an animal that sort of sits around and you never interact with them, you're missing a lot. You know, it's not wrong, but you're missing a lot. To get that bond you get with training and going to venues together and, you know, staying in hotels and camping and all that stuff that goes with it," said Kris and Teagan, participants.

Whether competitors are chasing ribbons, earning points or simply spending quality time with their dogs, organizers say there is something for everyone.

"If you want to watch something really fun, come on down. It doesn't cost anything to come down here. You can come down and watch dogs all day long do all kinds of neat stuff. And it doesn't cost you anything other than the fuel to get here.

People are welcome at any event we have here. People are welcome and encouraged to come and enjoy what we're doing. And you never know, you might go, 'Whoa, I'd like to try that.' And there will be somebody here that will talk to you and try to get you to do it," Lake said.

For more information about the Lost Coast Kennel Club, visit its website.