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Snappily dressed youths marched their canine friends around a grassy enclosure Monday morning at the 4-H Dog Show.

Nine people participated in the Routt County Fair event in Hayden, which involved showmanship and obedience sections. Molly Parsons, of Steamboat Springs, took second place in the overall high score rankings. The 16-year-old was showing Maddie, her Burmese mountain dog, for the second year.

"She enjoys it," Molly said of Maddie. "She knows what she's doing now, so it's fun."

Training for the contest has improved her relationship with the dog, Molly said. But she attributed the solid showing to Maddie's expression.

"We decided that her smile is what helps her," Molly said.

Anna Brown of Hayden was grand champion of the event. She led Radar, her border collie, without using a leash during the obedience portion. She's been leading him without a leash for about three years.

Before finding out she had the overall high score, Anna said she wasn't thrilled with her and Radar's performance.

"We've had better days," she said. "But we weren't really trying that hard. : I think we're just doing it for the fun this year."

Nathan Ragan, of Steamboat, showed Shiloh the beagle, and his sister, Shannon, showed Beau the Chihuahua mix. Nathan said the showmanship portion of the contest went better than he expected. Shiloh hadn't been very cooperative Monday morning, he said.

"He was pulling, and I thought he'd be pulling in front of me when I was in the ring," said Nathan, 12. He said he has been working with Shiloh, who is a year and a half old, since December.

Though training a dog isn't easy, it has its rewards, Nathan said - like "when you get them to do something you want them to do."

The benefits are worth the efforts, Molly Parsons said.

"It takes a lot of preparation to get dogs ready to be around other dogs and to be obedient," Molly said. "It pays off in the long run."

- To reach Blythe Terrell, call 871-4234

or e-mail bterrell@steamboatpilot.com