Have you ever seen a dog twirl, sidestep, or weave between their handler’s legs, all in perfect time to music? Welcome to the fascinating and fun-filled world of dog dancing. This captivating sport, consisting of two main styles – Heelwork to Music (HTM) and Canine Freestyle – blends obedience, tricks, and creativity, resulting in a harmonious routine between dog and handler.
What is dog dancing?
Dog dancing is an exciting canine sport where dogs and their handlers perform choreographed routines set to music.
There are generally two styles:
- Heelwork to Music (HTM): The dog stays close to the handler’s side and performs intricate heelwork in time to the music.
- Freestyle: This style allows for more creativity, including spins, jumps, weaving, and other crowd-pleasing tricks.
Heelwork to Music vs Freestyle
Heelwork to Music:
- Focus: This discipline emphasises the dog and handler’s synchronised movements, with a strong focus on accuracy and precision in heeling positions.
- Heelwork: A significant portion of the routine (at least two-thirds) must involve the dog working at heel in one of the eight official heelwork positions (see below).
- Rules: There are specific rules regarding the positions and movements, making it a more structured and controlled sport.
- Emphasis: The partnership between handler and dog, walking and moving at heel, and choreographing the heelwork to the music is the focus.
Canine Freestyle:
- Focus: This discipline allows for a broader range of tricks, movements, and choreography, with less emphasis on strict heeling positions.
- Freedom: Handlers are free to create routines that include a variety of moves, including heeling, but also spins, weaves, and other tricks.
- Rules: While there are rules regarding the routine structure and music, there is more flexibility in the movements and tricks performed.
- Emphasis: Teamwork, artistry, athleticism, and interpretation of the music are key elements of the sport.
So, to summarise:
- Heelwork to Music: More structured and emphasises heeling and obedience, with a focus on accuracy.
- Canine Freestyle: More free-form, allowing for a wider range of tricks and movements, with a focus on artistry and teamwork.
Why dog dancing?
Dog dancing is not only a crowd-pleaser, but it also brings numerous benefits:
- Mental stimulation: Learning routines and mastering new tricks keeps your dog mentally sharp.
- Physical exercise: Dancing strengthens your dog’s muscles and improves flexibility and coordination.
- Bond building: The teamwork required enhances communication and deepens the connection between you and your dog.
- Fun and rewarding: Many dogs love having jobs to do, and the positive reinforcement used in training makes this sport enjoyable for both of you.
The eight heelwork positions in Heelwork to Music (HTM)
In competitive Heelwork to Music, there are traditionally eight heelwork positions recognised internationally, although some variations exist depending on the organisation. These positions refer to where the dog is positioned in relation to the handler, and all are performed while maintaining a controlled ‘heel’ as the combination moves in various directions. The standard eight are:
- Position 1: Dog on the left side of the handler, facing forward (classic heel position).
- Position 2: Dog on the right side of the handler, facing forward (reverse heel).
- Position 3: Dog in front of the handler, facing the handler (front-facing heel).
- Position 4: Dog behind the handler, facing the handler’s back (rear heel).
- Position 5: Dog on the handler’s left, facing sideways toward the handler.
- Position 6: Dog on the handler’s right, facing sideways toward the handler.
- Position 7: Dog in front of the handler, facing away (dog looking forward, handler behind).
- Position 8: Dog behind the handler, facing away from the handler (dog and handler facing the same direction, but the dog is behind).
Handlers can smoothly transition between these positions as part of their HTM routines, often moving in straight lines, circles, diagonals, or even reverse.
Can any dog dance?
Absolutely! One of the beauties of canine freestyle is its inclusivity. Whether you have a Border Collie, a Golden Retriever, a Poodle, or even a Dachshund or rescue dog, all breeds and mixed breeds can participate. Age isn’t a barrier either—young and senior dogs alike can enjoy dog dancing, provided routines are adjusted to suit their physical capabilities.
Do you need to be proficient in heelwork to do HTM?
Technically, yes—proficiency in heelwork is essential to do well in Heelwork to Music. HTM routines rely heavily on the dog maintaining precise heel positions relative to the handler while moving to music. It’s about teamwork and synchronisation, so both dog and handler need to be comfortable with clean, accurate heelwork across multiple positions.
However, you don’t need to be a seasoned competition obedience handler to start HTM! Many handlers build up heelwork skills progressively as they train for HTM. The key is:
- Consistent focus from the dog
- Controlled movements in sync with the handler
- Smooth transitions between positions
Many teams begin with freestyle elements, learning tricks and basic musical routines, then gradually incorporate more heelwork as they progress. So, while heelwork is a core skill in HTM, it’s something you can work on and develop specifically for this sport.
Dancing with dogs in South Africa
While Heelwork to Music and Canine Freestyle are more established in countries like the UK and the USA, they are steadily gaining momentum in South Africa. Local dog clubs and trainers are increasingly offering dog dancing workshops, and some obedience and agility trainers now incorporate dance elements into their training. You may even spot HTM or Canine Freestyle performances at dog shows and pet expos around the country. Clubs affiliated with organisations like the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA) often host HTM or Freestyle events and competitions.
Getting started
Ready to give dog dancing a whirl? Here’s how to start:
- Basic obedience: Ensure your dog knows basic cues like sit, stay, heel, and come.
- Trick training: Introduce fun tricks like spins, bows, weaves, and leg lifts.
- Choose the right music: Pick tunes that suit your dog’s pace and personality.
- Work with a trainer: Look for local trainers or clubs offering heelwork, Heelwork to Music training or Canine Freestyle classes.
- Keep it fun: Positive reinforcement is key. Celebrate every small success with treats, toys, or praise.
Take home message
Dog dancing is about joy, creativity, and partnership. Whether you want to compete or have a blast dancing around the garden with your dog, this sport will strengthen your bond while giving you both plenty of exercise and, most importantly, FUN!
