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Spectators watched as more than 20 participants paraded their dogs through the Rally-O Obedience course Sunday.

The K-9 Kids and Classy Canines 4-H groups set up obedience and agility courses for the competitors.

Julie Hall, the K-9 Kids group leader, said contestants would be judged only on their performance in the obedience course. The agility course was for fun, she said.

"I think (the courses) bring the dog and handler closer," Hall said.

The Rally-O course was made up of several specific commands that the dog-handlers and their dogs were judged on.

The duos are scored primarily on their ability to work together and how well they navigate the course. A perfect score is 100 points.

Hall said the hardest part for most of the contestants was keeping a line of communication with their dog.

"The dog will listen if they talk to them and tell them what they want," she said.

Steven Wagner said that his dog had a hard time following directions.

"Bowser just wouldn't listen to me," he said.

Steven, 13, and Bowser, a 3-year-old yellow Labrador, have been in the K-9 Kids 4-H club for two years now.

Steven said that Bowser did a lot better this year than last year.

"I used to have to drag him through the course," he said.

With a score of 92 points, Steven and Bowser earned a fourth-place finish in the teen group.

Ashley Barber, another member of the K-9 Kids club, had a little more luck with her dog.

"He sat at all the right spots," she said.

Ashley said her border collie, Banner, had a hard time listening to her and keeping the right amount of distance.

"I like to keep him ahead of me," she said.

Ashley, 14, has been in the club for four years, but this is her second year competing with Banner.

"The first year I started just to get my dog to listen to me better," she said. "I stuck with it after that."

Ashley and Banner took second place for the teen group with a score of 95 points.

The agility course, which was not scored, proved to be difficult for some of the dogs.

Dog handlers had to coax their pooches over hurdles, up ramps and through hoops and tunnels, using treats and positive reinforcement.

Steven said Bowser had to be pushed up the ramp, but once he knew there were treats up there for him, Bowser was willing to compete.

Banner went through the course for his first time, Ashley said.

"He didn't like walking up the ramp," she said. "But he does like jumping.

"Its really fun to watch him."