Dog Freestyle Dancing Is Gaining Popularity

Friday, July 6, 2007
Canine Freestyling Is Gaining Popularity in United States
By Tracy Dingmann
Albuquerque Journal; Journal Staff Writer

The vision first appeared to Rosalie James of Albuquerque a few years ago in a goofy YouTube video: a joyful but intent golden retriever dancing with its owner to "You're the One That I Want" from "Grease."

Millions of online surfers saw the video of Carolyn Scott and her dancing dog, Rookie. Most simply enjoyed the happy clip and surfed on.

But James, a dog lover, liked what she saw so much that she researched the video and discovered the emerging sport of "canine freestyling"?- or, just plain dog dancing to you and me.

"I was hooked," said James, who wanted to learn to dance with her Australian Labradoodle, Rocky. "I looked around and tried to find someone who was teaching it, but I couldn't find anyone. So I ended up teaching myself through books and tapes and contacting people over the Internet and asking a lot of stupid questions."

In 2004, James founded the Rio Grande Canine Freestylers, an Albuquerque-based group with about 15 members who meet every Saturday for practice and performances. About a year ago, a similar group started in Santa Fe, and now performances by both groups are becoming common at festivals and animal benefits around the state.

In canine freestyle, dogs learn basic maneuvers such as the "weave," in which the dog weaves through its owner's legs; the "spin," in which the dog and the person fan out and twirl simultaneously; or the "sidestep," a kind of scissor-step movement in which the dog and the person step in cadence to the music.

Owners choreograph routines by stringing moves together and performing them to their favorite songs. Sometimes, the dog and the person wear matching costumes or clothing.

The Rio Grande group usually performs at animal benefits or nursing homes, but members will consider any request, James said.

Some members of the group also compete in regional, national or international competition through the World Canine Freestyle Organization, James said. There are no cash prizes, just titles and ribbons and "the joy of having done something well with your dog," she said.

'Absolutely amazing'

No one is really sure who started canine freestyling, but it is believed to have existed in the United States and England since the 1980s, James said.

It really caught on a few years ago, after people started seeing video clips of Scott and Rookie prancing and weaving and whirling their way through that "Grease" tune. Because of the video, Scott, a Houston dog trainer and president of the Musical Dog Sport Association, is most often credited with popularizing the activity.

"When I saw that clip with Carolyn and Rookie, and saw the bond that they had, it was absolutely amazing," James said. "I've always admired working dogs, but when I saw that, I thought, 'Oh, my gosh, that is the most beautiful way they could work together.' ''

Last year, Scott came to New Mexico and did a workshop for the Rio Grande club, James said.

People take up canine freestyling for all kinds of reasons, but most just want to have fun with their dogs, James said.

Canine freestyling has a basis in dog obedience, but it isn't for hard-core obedience enthusiasts, said Mary Leatherberry, who founded the Santa Fe Dog Dance Club about a year ago. The Santa Fe club is a sister club to the Rio Grande group, and the two often plan events together.

"If you drill your dog over and over, then you won't be successful, because your dog won't show that joy and happiness at working with you," Leatherberry said.

Interested couples are asked to take lessons before joining the groups.

Almost all ages and types of people and dogs can learn canine freestyling?- one of the most capable dogs in the Rio Grande group is a deaf Australian shepherd named Marlee (after deaf actress Marlee Matlin) who responds to hand signals.

"They should have a basic background in obedience. It doesn't have to be formal, but they should know "sit," "down" and "stay" and be used to doing what is requested of them," James said. "Herding breeds tend to do very well?- they're workaholics anyway."