Terrier Trot? Chihuahua Cha-Cha? Dogs Try Ballroom Dancing
POSTED: 11:53 a.m. EDT April 19, 2004
The music swells and Annie Schlaff and her yellow Lab Danny slip into a lively cha-cha-cha.
Across the room, straight-faced trainers reveal the finer points of dancing with dogs to about 50 attentive owners at the second annual International Canine Freestyle Conference in Portland, Ore.
Despite Danny's obvious talents, it's not quite like waltzing ol' Brown Eyes across the Roseland Ballroom. The event organizer, the World Canine Freestyle Organization, calls it a "choreographed musical program" of animal and owner -- a mixture of obedience, timing, music and costumes.
The group, based in Brooklyn, has events scheduled for May in Oregon, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, New York, Michigan and Arizona.
It has thousands of fans, and it's growing.
It is judged, there is a hierarchy, and competition can be brisk.
Top canine freestyle trainers can command $800 a day, $2,500 for a weekend workshop.
Dogs who are "highly rated" by judging panels carry considerable bragging rights for their owners.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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