May 1, 2008

Forget about Dancing with the Stars, how about Dancing with the Dogs? Musical Canine Freestyle is what they call it – pets and their owners dancing to music.

Like any other competition, the anticipation can be felt backstage as the competitors wait their turn to go on. But before imaginations run wild, the dogs do not dance on their hind legs, and it’s a dance competition that was not inspired by the hit series.

Musical Canine Freestyle has been around for nearly 20 years, which sets the bar even higher for the dancers waiting in the stage wings. They know they will face exacting judges and an audience that may not be able to believe their eyes.

One of the competitors is Donna Taylor, of Littleton, Co., who wows the crowd.

“I’ve never seen movements like that,” one spectator said of Taylor’s partner’s moves.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” another spectator said. “The dog and the trainer do a fabulous job.”

Dancing to songs like, “You’ve Got a Friend in Me,” the dogs jump and turn and weave with their owners as partners in movements set to the music.

While some spectators were surprised that dogs had the ability to respond so precisely to the dancing of their partners, the choreography is the result of days, weeks, month and in some cases, years of training.

“We taught our dogs to back up around us and then go through our legs,” Patti Burrows said. “And that move alone took a year to teach.”

For a fellow competitor, Lynn Swanson, said her dog loves to bow, so she found a way to work with it.

“He just naturally did that, so you say, OK, so that’s a natural move, and you just label it, and say bow, and he does it,” Swanson said. “But other moves are very, very difficult for dogs they don’t understand moving side ways, they don’t understand they have a rear end, so it’s hard for them to figure out where it’s going.”

Musical canine freestyle got its start in Canada, the United States and Europe at about the same time. Now there are 35 clubs around the world, including one in South Africa.

“It is growing by leaps and bounds,” Patie Ventre, founder of World Canine Freestyle Organization said. “We started our fiscal year March 1st, and we’ve had more events this year so far than in our first two years of existence.”

The sparkle in the costumes and the dance steps make it look a little like Broadway. But this is a serious competition, the dogs and their owners are vying for titles and trophies.

While it’s called canine freestyle, it really is a team sport. Not only is the dog being judged, but so is the owner and at various levels of difficulty.

From beginners to pro, the competitors come from all kinds of backgrounds. But some of the dancing couples got their start in obedience classes -- after finding out there was more to life than just sit and stay, they began dancing.

“They have more fun doing this,” Shirley Durnal, a freestyle competitor said. “Obedience is real formal and boring to them. Whereas, dancing with

them, they’re just more able to be themselves. Yes, they do enjoy it -- he especially enjoys it.”

Winston, who Durnal rescued from a shelter, is a title holder in canine freestyle. But, sometimes even a pro, facing an appreciative crowd, can find it tough to stay on task.

“They are dogs, sometimes they’ll do whatever they want … they’ll do their own routines,” Swanson said of the occasional partner who will run off stage mid-performance.

For the owners, though, no matter what happens, there is personal satisfaction, where nothing is better than spending time with their best friend.

“It’s just very rewarding sport, and as hokey as it sounds, it’s fun,” Burrows said.

For more information, visit canine-freestyle.org, musicaldogsport.org, worldcaninefreestyle.org.

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