Canine Freestyle also known as dog dancing began to develop as recently as the early 1990’s when many dog ​​trainers from around the world began practicing obedience routines and working out to music. With the music playing in the background, it was only natural to want to do a dog dance and start choreographing their movements to match the music.
At first it was just a heel action to the music in which the dog and handler moved as one with the dog near the handler’s side as they walked around the ring performing some basic obedience movements. Mary Ray from England and Caroline Scott from the United States were two of the first and most popular dog trainers to start performing to music. Today, the heel act to the music is still a category of dog dance.
From there people started to get more creative and started borrowing ideas and movements from the dressage. Movement has become freer and more creative. The handlers began to move their dogs in lateral, diagonal, circular and backward motions. The trainers have opened up their heels to five positions, right heel, left heel, front heel, follow stance and middle heel where the dog is between your legs. People have found free dogs to be a liberating space where anything can go as opposed to strict obedience, grouping, and agility zones where certain movements were expected to occur in certain places at certain times. Freestyle dog training develops a dog that is more balanced, agile, and happy than other dog sports. In fact, having a dog that is happy and has a good relationship with the handler is one of the requirements and aspects that govern the sport. Doggie Dancing is the sport of wagging their tails.
Agility moves were introduced when people developed a variety of creative jumping tricks such as jumping on your arms, jumping off your back, and bouncing off your waist. People also started having their dogs weave their legs. First forward, then backward, while crawling, and until doing the eights. Weaving has become an essential step in the freestyle dog style.
Caroline Scott and Rocky, her golden retriever, wowed audiences with their musical style of dancing together. Their most popular routine is performed on Grease. Then the other trainers began telling stories and being comical or dramatic with their routines. Attila and Fly will always remember Charlie Chapman’s routine and their gladiator routine. Both are totally classics.
Canine Freestyle is a great sport because any dog ​​of any age, any breed and even dogs with disabilities can participate and compete. This sport allows dogs and handlers to choose the movements and songs that work best for them without strict requirements for what you have to do. You can easily train in the comfort of your own home, yard or park. No special equipment is needed. There is no special need for classroom training. Although, practicing with others always helps overcome distractions and help you develop ideas better. People of all ages can enjoy this sport from young children to the elderly who use wheelchairs or walkers. It is a great exercise for the dog and handler but is easy to do with any physical limitations one may have.
Whether you’re practicing dancing for your friends and showing off all the cool tricks and moves you know, volunteering at a nursing home or entertaining people at the park. You can take your show to the road and compete in a variety of different competitive organizations or just enjoy performing your own dance routines. Doggie Dancing is a fun dog sport to train.
