Posted on 12/03/2008 12:04:22 PM PST by BGHater
No, you're mind isn't playing tricks on you. Forget "Dancing With the Stars" - the latest reality-show dance craze is "Dancing With Dogs," which airs Saturday at 9 p.m. on Animal Planet.
The two-hour special takes a fly-on-the-wall look at 28 very different dog-and-handler teams as they compete in the World Canine Freestyle Organization's (WCFO) dance championship in Rhode Island.
"People are dancing all over the world with their dogs," exclaims Patie Ventre, the Brooklyn-based founder of the WCFO and grande dame of the show.
"We had competitors from the U.S., Australia, South Africa, England, Germany and Finland."
Ventre creates intricate routines around her skating and ballroom-dancing background with her Border collie, Dancer, rehearsing daily in a park near her home in Sheepshead Bay.
"I have a certain stride, and my dog is perfectly paced to me. We're also very fast," says Ventre of her signature style, adding that New Yorkers regularly contact her for lessons and tips on getting started.
"Each team is unique," she adds. "Some are dramatic and might do songs like Broadway's 'Phantom of the Opera.' I've seen a Charlie Chaplin- and even a gladiator-themed routine."
Founded in 1999, the WCFO has almost 3,000 members worldwide, including Cassandra Hartman, a dog trainer from Ontario.
"There are several divisions, from absolute beginners just having fun right up to intermediate and advanced," explains Hartman, who has been freestyling for six years with her four golden retrievers and now also judges WCFO events.
"Routines are scored on technical merit and artistic impression. The highest level is the 'perfect dance partners.' There, you're seeing performances that take years to develop."
Although handlers are only allowed to perform with their own dogs, any breed is welcome.
"You can see little pugs dancing around, Chihuahuas, glorious Afghans moving gracefully across the dance floor - that's what makes it so special. It's such a combination of creativity and different people and breeds, it's always fun to watch," Hartman enthuses.
Of course, having dozens of dogs and handlers competing together also makes for even more unpredictable television than your average celeb reality fest.
"The teams have so much fun that they often forget that anyone's watching, but sometimes there's a peeing accident or something scares your dog and it runs out of the ring," says Ventre of the most common mishaps.
Laurie Sullivan, a competitor from Stamford, Conn., recalls her disastrous first foray in the ring four years ago with her golden retriever, Timber.
"It was a train wreck," she remembers. "I was so nervous, but Timber did great and his tail never stopped wagging. That really helped me go into the ring the next time."
In contrast to the notoriously ultracompetitive world of dog shows, the pressure's off when it comes to chasing those impressive WCFO trophies, Sullivan says.
"It's not about winning at all," she protests. "I'm so impressed with everyone who goes out there and really works hard.
"It's really about watching the bond and the relationship and all the incredible things dogs can do if you just ask."
Wanna dance with your dog?
Top freestyle dancer and trainer Cassandra Hartman offers her six steps for getting started:
1 Make sure your dog is obedient and well socialized and can execute basics like heel, sit, stand and stay.
2 Select toys or treats that your dog really enjoys to reward him for good work.
3 Practice walking and moving to music, including changing direction, with your dog. Pace your dog, and reward it a lot for moving with you and stepping in time to the music.
4 Try some simple tricks that your dog is comfortable with. Some dogs might naturally want to roll over. Running through your legs and waving a paw are also among the easier moves to teach.
5 Pick a piece of music that's fun for you both and suits your dog. A Chihuahua might work best with a light, fast-paced piece, while a larger breed's movement might suit something heavier or more dramatic. You have to enjoy the music, because you'll be hearing it a lot.
6 Combine changing direction with a little trick done to music, and you can begin choreographing a simple routine.
Laurie Sullivan shakes a leg with her pooch.
Patie Ventre gets down with her dog.
Carrie Neri and her pup bust a move.
bump for later
My favorite, too. I just clicked the link and watched it again. It still makes me LOL, and I’ve watched it a few dozen times before this.
That Golden loves to dance!
Thank you for your comment and the one about 'letting dogs be dogs' - there is nothing making Chandi do this, only her love for what she does - no collar/lead, or coercion - I'm sure from her wagging tail and look on her face, that she prefers to perform than to be treated like the majority of dogs are in the world - I expect they'd love the chance to use their brains and bond with someone, rather than being treated just 'like a dog'!
Some of them are creepy to watch but I’m amazed at how well the dogs are trained.
Sorry to keep pinging you but my post #10 needs a little explanation ... in the video with the dog ... the dog has been traind to dance the way a horse is trained to do “Dressage” ... like the horse in the second video. That is why she is dressed the way she is.
I do dressage on a very elementary level (as part of combined training) and I also do dogs, but not freestyle. But my little Lab who has had a little training in everything (obedience, agility - actually a LOT of training there, she has her AX and AXJ - hunting retriever) will dance with me just spontaneously because she loves to. Also, agility trains them to follow your shoulder movements, so if you lead with your shoulder they will follow.
Oh man, that was awesome! I really liked that guy’s style.
Great pictures on your home page! Dancing With Dogs, LOL sounds like a great movie! Mine dance for food. My wife calls them wiggly butts!
Carolyn Scott and Rookie!!! That was amazing and adorable!
They can clear a coffee table with their tails at the same time.
I only know one Irish Setter, and bless his heart he hasn't got two brain cells to rub together. He's still stuck in Novice agility trying to get his first Q, while my dog's in Masters, and they started at the same time . . . but I know somebody else on FR bred a very nice Irish Setter that has her MACh in Agility, so it's not a universal trait . . . of course I've known some Labs that were as dumb as a bag of hammers too.
What possible reason could you have for wanting to imprison people who train their dogs to dance?
Or did I miss a sarcasm tag somewhere?
Awww, ping.
Cute!!
Ping.
King of the Hill
Quotes from “Dances With Dogs”
Written by Norm Hiscock
Directed by Anthony Lioi
HANK: Nothing tastes sweeter than self-discipline.
BOBBY: It’s called “Musical Canine Freestyle.”
HANK: Liar.
BOBBY: No, it’s a real thing. They have contests and everything. It started up in Canada.
HANK: They’re supposed to be our allies!
HANK: No more dancing or any other Canadian tricks.
BOOMHAUER: Talkin’ ‘bout man’s best friend, man, can’t dress her up like a little ol’ lace poodle, man, it’s a dog, a dang ol’ dog, man, talkin’ ‘bout dignity, man... no dignity.
KAHN: So you want to dance with my dog. But what’s in it for the big dog: me, Kahn? How about you pick up Doggie’s poo from my yard? That way, child prodigy Connie get to study more, poo-picking hillbilly get to dance with dog. Universe in harmony.
HANK: You’re dancing with the neighbor’s dog against me and Ladybird?
BOBBY: Well, what was I supposed to do? Not dance with a dog? And anyway, you said Ladybird was too old to dance. If you’ve pumped her full of pain pills, I’ll have you both disqualified.
HANK: What do you care? It looks like you’ll dance with any dog that’ll have you.
BOBBY: Oh, he’s not just any dog. This little fellow may poo like a buffalo, but he dances like Britney Spears.
BOBBY: You’re scared, old man! You’re scared of my moves!
PEGGY: Hank, this is all very simple. You both want to dance with dogs. Right. You each have a dog you can dance with. You take your dog to the garage. You dance with her there. Bobby gets to dance with his dog in his bedroom. Everybody gets to dance with a dog. Everybody wins.
HANK: Fine, go home to Bobby and the neighbor’s dog. While you’re at it, why don’t you just move in with Kahn and Minh? You can eat rice every day and never celebrate Christmas.
HANK: Boy, these dogs are dressed to the nines. Like they were going to dance at the White House. Don’t worry, Ladybird, we’re gonna win this thing. It’s not just about pageantry, it’s about a man and his dog dancing together. That’s what the people came to see and that’s what we’re gonna give ‘em.
DON: We are witnessing a dream. I hope I never wake up and this dream lasts forever. A boy, a dog, a dance.
DALE: Boy, the alley’s dead today.
SKETCH RANDALL: I wish everyone who denies the pure athleticism of dog dancing could see what I’m seeing right now.
I picked up the 40th anniv celebration issue of “Reason” mag, as it came with a DVD of Drew Carey shredding various political stupidities (although he’s also in favor of “medical marijuana” — and based on his past, he’s probably had to be restrained from a segment on “surgical Scotch”), including an independent restaurant in AZ where the county authorities have tried to close it down by fining it for outdoor dancing — under a 60 year old law against, you guessed it, outdoor dancing.
Blatant promotion of friviolity. I have no problem if people want to dance with their dogs in the privacy of their own homes as long as it is between consenting adults (calculated on the basis of dog years where appropriate, of course) but just don't make it a public display or, worse yet, a sport.
Are you some sort of modern Puritan/Quaker/Shaker or something? Or are you of a certain “faith” that abhors canines and music?
A little frivolity is a good thing. This doggy-dancing is no more or less frivolous than professional sports, or recreational music, or any number of things that bring joy and fun into people’s lives.
I know I won’t change your mind, but I am truly surprised someone here would take such a dim view of other people’s hobby.
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