Sit, stay - and play

Who let the dogs out?

Yumans attending the fair Friday have the answer.

Participants in the Dog Obedience Show had a chance to show off their pooches' skills Friday at the Yuma County Fair.

They went through tunnels, over ramps - and even some went off the beaten path - but the crowd loved every second of it.

Nine-year-old Blake Legros has worked with his dog, Snickers, for about four months to get ready for the fair.

Mom Michelle Legros said it's good for her son to be involved. "It helps give him a little bit of responsibility; helps him connect with the dog."

Snickers, a five-year-old Yorkie Chihuahua, was one of the smaller participants, but that didn't stop her from doing what the bigger dogs could do.

Legros said one of his favorite things to do with Snickers is the jumps.

That's also 9-year-old Hanah Sims' favorite part. She works with Pepper Pots, a two-year-old Shetland sheep dog.

"It's just really fun that I get to jump with her," she said.

Hanah's mom, Michelle, said at home, Pepper Pots likes to help direct Hanah and her sister, Molly, who is 6.

"Their jeans have holes in them," Michelle Sims said, pointing to the calf area - that's because Pepper Pots is a herding dog, and she's helping herd the girls when playing at home.

Molly Sims works with six-year-old Sadie, a yellow Lab.

Sadie's family, the Burches, help organize the show.

Dad Wes and daughter, Emily, 16, not only organize it but run the program at their home every other week. That's where the participants gather to train their dogs.

Emily Burch also participated in the show with her dog, Jennie, a four-year-old golden retriever.

One of her favorite parts about the program is both the people and their four-legged friends. "Just seeing the kids come out here and have fun (and) watching the dogs and the kids grow."

Wes Burch said this is the fourth year the group has put on the show.