Dances with dogs
Bravo the miniature poodle is on her toes for owner Lisa Best of Manchester. Bravo's also highly trained in nose work, Best said. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Leeloo takes a well-earned break from learning moves. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Naomi Howe of Spruce Head and Howe's Australian Shepherd Leeloo. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
May Mitchell, foreground, with her Old English Sheepdog, Bernie, of Alna; Nancy Holmes, center, with her Carolina breed of dog, Bammy, of Newcastle; and, in the back, are Kim Odell and her Golden Retriever, Rufus, of Bath. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Barb Gibson of Edgecomb does some fancy stepping with Tugboat, her American Kennel Club breed champion Bernese Mountain Dog. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Bravo the miniature poodle is on her toes for owner Lisa Best of Manchester. Bravo's also highly trained in nose work, Best said. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Leeloo takes a well-earned break from learning moves. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Naomi Howe of Spruce Head and Howe's Australian Shepherd Leeloo. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
May Mitchell, foreground, with her Old English Sheepdog, Bernie, of Alna; Nancy Holmes, center, with her Carolina breed of dog, Bammy, of Newcastle; and, in the back, are Kim Odell and her Golden Retriever, Rufus, of Bath. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Barb Gibson of Edgecomb does some fancy stepping with Tugboat, her American Kennel Club breed champion Bernese Mountain Dog. SUSAN JOHNS/Wiscasset Newspaper
Dogs and their owners were weaving, twirling, backing up and trying out other fun dance moves in Edgecomb March 3.
Dancing duos from Edgecomb, Alna and as far as Manchester were learning some canine musical freestyle. The activity combines tricks, obedience and a sense of joy, instructor Marcia Welch told participants in a workshop at her Positively Best Friends! training facility.
A sport that started in England and Canada in the 1980s, canine musical freestyle is now the subject of competitions as near as Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.
Sunday's participants ranged from the experienced to first-timers. Kim Odell of Bath was trying it out with her golden retriever Rufus, 10 months, because she thought it would be a positive experience to expose him to. “And I love to do things with my dog,” she said.
May Mitchell of Alna and her Old English Sheepdog, Bernie, brought some disco music and other styles to dance to, along with a red feathery boa Mitchell said was being mistaken for a tug toy.
Mitchell, a research and development grant writer, had previously dabbled in musical freestyle. “It's just another fun activity to do with your dog, and it keeps us moving and active,” she said.
In addition to getting the pairs started on some basic moves, Welch gave the dog owners some insight into a good performance. An audience will most remember the start and the end, she said.
“So, make it pop,” Welch said. Starting out alone and having the dog come join them can be an exciting opening, she suggested. Any kind of music will work, but go with recordings that seem to suit the dog, and watch his body language to see if he's enjoying the activity, she said.
“If your dog isn't happy, take the time to make it happen,” she said. Incorporating a favorite toy can help. Treats are OK, too, as positive reinforcement, like for touching a prop or completing a move.
Nancy Holmes of Newcastle was doing well with her Carolina named Bammy. He's four generations out of the wild, and very lively, Holmes said.
“He's a ham,” she said. “I guess, I am, too. We just like goofing around.”
Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com
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