PORT GAMBLE — With big doggie grins, man’s best friends will be turning up in packs to strut their stuff this week in Port Gamble. They will run, jump, weave, dodge, climb, play dead, sit and stay, all with the greatest of ease and with a huge smile for the crowd.

These happy pooches will be accompanied by their masters, who will all be there to compete with their four-legged friends.

The third annual Muddy Paws Agility Club of Kitsap (MudPACK) dog agility competition will be unleashed July 7-9, and the fur will be flying, literally. The basis of the event is to show off members’ dogs’ agility through a series of courses.

“Each organization has different rules,” said MudPACK member and co-creator Gail Fleming, who has entered her dog, Jagger, in the competition’s novice level. “On Friday, we’ll be going by Australian Shepherd Club of America rules, after which we’ll have a Canine Performance Events fun match. The rest of the weekend we’ll be using North American Dog Agility Council courses and rules.”

In the past, MudPACK has adhered to other organizations’ rules. Last year, it even set up a special course for small dogs.

“We organized a course with the Teacup Dog association’s rules,” said MudPACK President and owner of 4 Dognite Agility Training Shelley Malan, who has entered her three Australian Shepherds, Casey, Tica and Brenna. “It was for little dogs only, 16 inches high or smaller. The equipment was miniaturized.”

“The Teacup competition was hysterical,” said MudPACK member and owner of Guiding Hands Pet Obedience Noel Ritter. “It was like watching hamsters running the course.”

Ritter, Malan and Fleming all talked about their dogs with reverence and joy, each saying they do it for their pets, for the fun and for the community.

“Calamity just has a ball out there,” said Ritter, speaking of her 9-year-old Australian Shepherd. Calamity is one of two dogs Ritter has entered in this year’s competition. Jiggy, also an Australian Shepherd, is the other.

“They’re like my children. Don’t get me started talking about them, I’ll never stop,” she added with a laugh.

All the competitions, except for the CPE fun match, are judged, and the dogs earn ribbons or titles depending on how well they do. The fun match is purely for practice, Fleming said, allowing younger dogs to gain experience without judgement.

“A lot of work goes into building a relationship with your dog for competition,” she said. “Getting the dog to love the games as much as you takes time.”

All canines are welcome to enter in the MudPACK competition, mixed- or pure-bred, Malan said. Though registration has closed, the kinds of dogs participating arewide and varied.

“There must be about (170) dogs entered,” Fleming said. “Six games go on each day, with three levels each: elite, open and novice. There are 18 events judged in each ring, and we have two rings.”

Spectators are more than welcome to attend, but if they decide to bring their dogs, Fleming requests that they are kept on leash at all times. She also requests that children be kept close.

“Some of these dogs are OK with children, some aren’t,” Fleming said, noting that even those who are at excited for the competition and could be wound up even more by other canines and children. “We request that spectators respect the competition.”

The dogs have been well-trained, and though excited, still work hard during the competition.

Ritter, Malan and Fleming all stress that happiness and play must be kept in mind while working with dogs.

“Take your time to learn and enjoy the process,” Ritter said. “Take it one step at a time, and never stop playing with your dogs. It’s a game for them and you.”