PORT GAMBLE — Dogs of all shapes, sizes, colors and breeds were the stars during a competition created just for them to showcase their skills. They wagged their way to Port Gamble, taking over the town for the weekend and strutting their stuff.

They and their owners came from all over, following behind with leashes, bowls, food, water, kennels, tents, kiddie pools and any other necessary — and not so necessary — supplies. Friday, Saturday and Sunday were all about the dogs.

The daring canines were talented and well-behaved, making the third annual Muddy Paws Agility Club of Kitsap (MudPACK) dog agility competition the best yet, organizers agreed.

“Everything went well. It was a good trial,” said MudPACK President and 4 Dognite Agility Training owner Shelley Malan. “Everyone had a really good time. We didn’t have too many glitches at all.”

The competition provided the chance for the stars to shed their leashes and show their tricks, new and old, to the other competitors and the spectators in attendance.

“The crowd gets really involved,” Malan said.

MudPACK member and co-creator Gail Fleming concurred, adding that the crowd was respectful and followed the rules, which allowed the competitors to focus on the tasks at hand.

“We heard some really good comments about this competition,” Fleming said. “I heard through someone else that this was a favorite show for many people who came.”

That certainly seemed to be the case for Bash, a border collie and Jack Russell terrier mix, and his owner, Sandy Battista of Vancouver B.C., as they ran a jumping course together Saturday morning. Though they were running, and jumping, in Bash’s case — and even botching things a bit — both were smiling when they finished the course. Bash was hardly winded, his white and black spotted coat as perfect as when he started.

“I’ve been doing dog agility with Bash for three years,” Battista said, adding she made sure to come to Port Gamble, for the competition and for the area.

“We love this,” said Auburn resident Lisa Axnick, speaking of herself and her dog Max, a black lab. “It’s beautiful here. It’s a wonderful place for a dog agility competition.”

Max has been competing with Axnick for six years, and on Saturday was only competing in the jumping contests. Other owners joked with Axnick that Max, a larger dog, could step right over the jumps, especially because the course is usually run by smaller dogs.

Dogs like Polly, a toy poodle, fit that bill. At 11-years-old, she was still all over her owner, Nancy Stephenson, just before they went into the ring. The dogs, young and old, were full of excitement and energy, ready for their shot in the ring.

“The thing that happens to me and my dog is I get so busy setting up the courses, I don’t have time to go get her until just before she runs,” said Malan, speaking of one of her Australian shepherds. “I’m busy, so I grab her out of her crate and go. Well, she’s so full of adrenaline that she doesn’t do very well. She needs a good 15 minutes with me working with her to calm down. Saturday we did terrible. Sunday we did a bit better.”

The days were warmer, especially compared to the 2004 competition when it rained, but the handlers had that part under control as well. Malan and Fleming said they set up kiddie pools and hoses for the dogs to frolic in while they were competing. Though the smell of wet dog may have permeated a few noses, no one seemed to mind.

In fact, this year’s competition drew a large pack of two-legged fans.

“We like getting spectators,” Malan said. “They can see what dogs do. Many of them will go home and try their hand at dog agility after watching our dogs. They say, ‘I want my dog to do that.’”

All in all, the weekend was full of doggy kisses and good natured competitiveness.

“People smiled at the end,” Malan said, noting that the dogs’ smiles were the widest of all.