Male from Tucson, dog-only competitors representing Arizona in an elite dog competition

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) — A Tucson man and his dog are representing Arizona in one of the nation’s biggest dog shows.

“It requires timing with you and the dog, and connection obviously,” said David Procida, dog handler, breeder and trainer.

Procida and her dog, Trigger, are more than just pets and owners, they’re teammates and best friends. this is what makes them successful.

“Connecting with the dog starts with your interaction with them. Treat them like a dog, you’ll never have that connection, treat them like your best friend,” he said.

They are the only team representing Arizona and participating in the Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge. It is an invitation-only competition with six Western Conference teams competing in Frisbee-style moves.

“The Purina Purina Pro Plan Incredible Dog Challenge is one of the biggest events in the United States when it comes to dogs, and it’s an honor to be invited to attend,” Procida said.

They have two minutes to show off their skills on a song. They will probably be able to complete around 20-35 throws during this time. They will have fierce competition, as Procida is about 20 years older than the other handlers, and Trigger is years younger than the other dogs and has only been training for two months.

As they head into competition, their biggest goal is simply to have fun. What shouldn’t be a problem for Trigger, putting away his frisbees might be the saddest part of his day.

“It’s all about the dog. It doesn’t matter where we end up. If we come 6th out of 6, you know what, we’ve been invited,” Procida said.

Procida. and Trigger travel to California on Thursday and face off on Saturday. The winner of this contest will face the winners of the East contest later in the year.

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