Canine Freestyle – Dancing with dogs

Dogdance is a dog sport that is suitable for everyone. It consists of a series of exercises and tricks that are accompanied by music to create a joint choreography for humans and dogs. Fun and creativity are required.

What is dogdance?

Dogdance comes from the USA and is derived from the dog sport of obedience. It involves the exact and at the same time joyful execution of set exercises. There are also examination regulations for dogdance, from which some rules can be taken. The focus is on having fun with the dog. In principle, it is about gradually teaching the dog tricks that are combined with running routes.

The crowning glory is when this results in a choreography that is coordinated with music. Many choreographies tell a story in a similar way to a musical or a play. You can regularly admire the results at dog events. This is where the best performers show off their skills and ensure that the audience applauds.

What requirements are important for dog dancing?

The great thing about dog dancing is that it can be practiced anywhere and at any time of year. What's more, no sports equipment is required. So you can start at any time - provided your dog is physically fit. However, there are a few prerequisites: first and foremost, you need to enjoy being active with your dog. Bring fun, motivation and creativity with you. Infect your dog with this so that it also enjoys practising this dog sport. This is the perfect way to keep a dog mentally and physically busy. It is an advantage if your four-legged friend likes treats. Many dogs will do more or less anything for this.

It would also be a good prerequisite if the dog has already learned how a clicker works. In this case, you have the advantage that you don't have to constantly search for treats, but instead click briefly for each desired behavior. Each click is followed by a reward. If you want to delay the reward, you can only use the clicker after a sequence has been successfully completed. However, dog dancing works just as well without a clicker to start with.

How do I start dog dancing?

The aim is to perform a dance together with the dog that is coordinated with the music. To do this, you first need to rehearse various exercises and tricks. Your dog may already be able to do one or two of them. This could include, for example, "give paw" or "do a little man". Basic commands such as "come" and "heel" are also very useful if you want to practise dog dancing.

Simply start training a little more with your dog throughout the day. You can also do something for basic obedience at the same time. Everything should be done without coercion. Instead, positive reinforcement in the form of treats and words of praise is required.

What tricks are there in dog dancing?

Anyone who has ever watched a professional dog dancer will hardly be able to remember all the tricks. Because there are countless of them. These include relatively simple ones such as "do little man", "heel", "give paw" and "slalom through the legs", but also more challenging ones such as "give me five", "bow", "jump through the arms", "walk backwards" and "turn in a circle". There are no limits to your creativity. To make it easy for you to get started, you can simply practise and improve the tricks that suit your dog.

How do I learn "slalom through the legs"?

hund-laeuft-neben-dem-bein-magazin-dogdancing-contentimage-560x375 A rather impressive trick that is not that complicated to learn is "slalom through the legs". Learning a trick is a learning of concepts in which the dog has to work its way to the goal. As with many other exercises, a hand target or target stick serves as a good orientation aid for the dog.

Have it stand to the right of you in the heel position. Take a large step forward with your left leg. Hold the hand target or target stick in your left hand and use it to lure your dog through your legs. Praise him as he walks through. As soon as he stands to your left in the heel position, give him a treat as a reward. Now repeat the whole thing from the other side. As soon as the movement sequence is correct, add more and more steps before giving him a reward. However, the dog should already be very experienced before you stop rewarding every step. Over time, the individual steps can be taken more quickly. If your dog is afraid to go through your legs, you can support him with a treat in your hand.

How long can I train for?

Dogdancing can be relatively strenuous for a dog that is not used to regular training. This is all the more true if it is a young dog. They only have a very short attention span. An exercise should therefore only last a few minutes before a break of two to three minutes is planned. Dogs can vary greatly in this respect. Some can't get enough and are very attentive and enjoy it, while others need longer breaks.

Don't force your dog to do anything, as this could take the fun out of this sport. Dogdancing should be fun for both dog and owner. It is therefore best to start a session with tricks that the dog has already mastered. Then he can proudly show off his skills. Then the demands can increase. At the end, there should always be a sense of achievement and not frustration because an exercise didn't work.

Rehearse a choreography

Decide for yourself when the time is right to work on your choreography. If you are aiming for a professional performance, make sure that your story and your concept are coherent. The music and choreography should fit together perfectly. Find a suitable song and then think about which trick could go with certain passages.

It can take a long time until a choreography is perfectly rehearsed. For dogs, this requires a longer phase of uninterrupted concentration. But don't let this discourage you. Just have fun and don't ask too much of your dog and yourself. It should be fun for everyone at all times.