Do I need to know how to dance?
No. What counts is coordination and a feel for rhythm; dance technique won't get you far. Plenty of strong routines are made of simple moves, polished until they're spotless.
Dance and presentation
Dog Dancing
A few minutes of choreography to music you pick, with the dog moving and doing tricks on the beat. Of all the dog sports, it's the closest to a stage show. And it's a lot harder than it looks from the stands.
About the discipline
What Dog Dancing is
Dog dancing, also called canine freestyle, means building a routine to music. The dog moves around you, throws in tricks, flows from one move to the next and changes pace, all of it choreographed in advance.
Judges score two things separately. Technique is how cleanly the dog works. Artistic impression covers how well the routine fits the music, how original it is and how expressive the team looks.
A three-minute routine usually hides months of work on single moves. You teach each transition on its own, then join them up.
How it works in practice
What a routine contains
- moves around you: figure eights, circles, passes between your legs
- backing up, side-stepping and dance steps
- tricks: standing on the hind legs, spins, jumps
- smooth transitions from one move to the next
- the dog moves in time with the music
- costume and theme, at some competitions
Which dogs it suits
- expressive dogs that enjoy working with their person
- dogs of any size, small breeds included
- handlers patient enough to build things up in small steps
Hind-leg moves load the spine, so keep them short and don't overdo them. Skip them entirely with young dogs or dogs with back problems.
What you need
- a smooth floor the dog won't slip on
- music that matches the dog's natural rhythm
- small treats you can hand over quickly
- a mirror or video camera, so you can spot your own mistakes
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Dog Dancing
Which breeds suit it?
Any of them. You'll see a lot of border collies and poodles because they pick things up fast, but dogs of any size and temperament can take part.
How long does a routine take to build?
Months. The dog learns each move on its own, then you string them into short sequences. Putting it to music comes last.
What music works?
Pick music for your dog's natural rhythm, even if it's not what you'd listen to. A small dog moves faster, a big one slower, and on the wrong tempo the routine always looks out of sync. Film your dog walking relaxed, count the steps per minute and look for tracks with a similar tempo.
From the same category
Related sports
Heelwork to Music
Heelwork and handler positions, performed to music.
Trick Dog
Tricks taught in levels, from easy to hard.
Freestyle Obedience
Obedience exercises linked freely, the way the team wants.
We do not run Dog Dancing
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.