TURNER – Eleanor Fish and Ruby of Turner are perfecting their competition skills for the fourth All-Star Obedience, Agility and Rally Championships in Pennsylvania Friday through Sunday, Aug. 4 to 6.

Hosted by the All-Star Performance Dog Association at the country’s oldest fairgrounds in York, Pa., the tournament will feature the best-trained dogs in North America, including Fish’s 5-year-old Shetland Sheepdog, Ruby.

For Fish and Ruby, the three-day tournament will represent an opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of the exercises and skills required in the competition. Ruby and 270 other dogs will vie for top honors in obedience, agility, rally or combinations. Ruby and Fish are entered in the obedience competition.

The dogs travel from as far away as California and Ontario and throughout the U.S. to compete in the tournament representing 69 breeds including mixed. All have earned the titles and high scores required to compete in the tournament. The event also serves as a forum for educating the public on proper dog care and responsible ownership.

This year, the tournament includes expanded competition for the relatively new sport of rally obedience. Rally features dogs and their handlers navigating a timed obedience “course.”

Agility features fast and agile dogs racing through obstacle courses, while obedience showcases dogs demonstrating their mastery of traditional obedience exercises.

The tournament will get under way at 9 a.m. Friday in Memorial Hall at York Fairgrounds. Obedience competition will be on Friday and Saturday, while agility and rally will be Saturday and Sunday.

To find out more about the All-Star 2006 Championships, call Sherry Brosnahan at 908-725-1214, sherry@contextcommunications.com or visit www.allstardogs.org.