After a successful run in the Yukon, the woman who introduced dog puller sports to Canada is looking to expand into other territories.

“The Yukon knows the dog puller now,” said Erika Rosza Atkinson, president of the Predators Dog Puller Sport Athletic League.

She first introduced the sport to the Yukon in 2015 at the Canadian Dog Puller Championship.

There, 26 dogs and their handlers competed in two different events: running and jumping.

In running, the handler sets the ring rolling upright like a hoola-hoop and the dog grabs it while in motion and returns it back to the handler.

In jumping, the handler holds the rings in front of them as the dog jumps to grab each ring.

Both events are timed and teams receive one point for every loop they perform in 90 seconds.

At last weekend’s Yukon Dog Puller Championship, 25 teams competed in puppy, small dog, large dog and heavyweight dog divisions.

Rozsa Atkinson first saw the dog puller at a dog show in Europe.

“There was something about it,” she said.

When she returned to Canada she told one of her canine trainers, “I don’t know what it is, but we’re doing it.”

They began using the rings in canine training and then Rosza Atkinson discovered the sport.

Puller rings come in a set of two. There are different diameters for different sizes of dogs. The material floats, is soft and strong, and is good in both extreme heat and extreme cold, said Rosza Atkinson.

When they get to rolling on the ground, they have a life of their own, she says and mimic the movements of a prey animal.

She believes the puller rings could replace toys and are invaluable in canine training and bonding.

The sport has gained popularity in Ukraine (where it was invented), Russia, Japan, Italy, Greece, Czech Republic, Slovakia and England.

Currently, the Yukon Dog Puller Championship is the only competition in Canada for the sport. But Rozsa Atkinson is hoping to change that.

With its growth in the Yukon, she is setting her sights on further developing the sport in areas outside of the Yukon.

She is currently training facilitators in B.C. to train others on the dog puller.

Over the weekend, on a windy and drizzly Saturday morning, new canine champions and their handlers were crowned.

Lucian (Gordon Rozsa) received the Puppy Cup.

Szotyi (Renata Lendvai) was awarded first-place trophy; Barley (Cathy McNeil) was awarded second-place trophy; and Lily (Carol Foster) was awarded third-place trophy.

The Sportsmanship Trophy was given to Woola and Dixon (Raelene Paul).

In the puppy division, Lucian (Gordon Rozsa) took first with 13 points in running and 57 in jumping; Taco (Bonni Ritchie) was second with 11 running points and 56 jumping points and Simba (Cheryl Wishart) was third with 10 running points and 43 jumping points.

In the small dog division, Casey (Debbie Last) took first with 7 running points and 53 jumping points. Ziva (Zsofi Wagner) was second with 6 running points and 26 jumping points and Sable (Laura Wishart) was third with 4 running points and 26 jumping points.

In the Large dog division, Szotyi (Renata Lendvai) was first with 7 running points and 152 jumping points. Barley (Cathy McNeil) was second with 6 running points and 116 jumping points and Lily (Carol Foster) was third with 10 running points and 110 jumping points.

In the heavyweight dog division, Koda (Stephanie Campbell) was first with 1 running point and 100 jumping points. Meeka (Jenna Peterson) was second with 3 running points and 68 jumping points. Dixon (Raelene Paul) was third with 67 jumping points.

The Predators Dog Puller Sport Athletic League meets twice a week and more information can be found by emailing yukon.predators@gmail.com