A dog’s life in ‘freestyle’

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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I promised you a story about dog dancing, so I’m here to deliver.

Last weekend, a group calling itself the World Canine Freestyle Organization came to town for a weekend of workshops in dog training and dancing.

The pooch prancing is what gets everybody’s attention. The competition was actually held Friday. I think about 100 spectators showed up for the event, which features intricate twirls and “heelwork” (as in “heel, Fido!) and such. Dog and handler (don’t call them “masters” because dog and person are considered equal partners here) get graded on everything from technical merit to artistic showmanship.

But the dancing (competitors always refer to it as “freestyle) isn’t really the core of what this stuff is all about. I’m no big animal advocate, and I haven’t owned a pet in years, but these folks are all about respecting dogs and engaging in the joy of teaching and learning. Most of all, I got the feeling that it’s about finding a deeper love and respect for a creature that gives unconditional love, and we humans sure are suckers for no-strings-attached adoration.

I visited the group on Saturday at the Holiday Inn Sunspree, after the big competition, and found golden retrievers and collies and greyhounds and mixed breed dogs engaged in pretty intense training sessions with some serious experts.

Fascinated, I sat through probably 20 minutes of a Gary Wilkes’ presentation on the use of clickers and verbal commands to train dogs to do things like nose a standing target and bow. It really amazed me to watch how the retriever responded.

Bonnie Buchanan had fun zipping one of her collies, Gracie, around a cone, and me, as I sat and watched her. Her training center is based in Sanford, N.C., and she’s spent 20 years or more training dogs for movies and commercials. (Her dogs appear in some Carolina Commerical Bank commercials airing now.)

On command, her dog placed a paw on my camerabag, covered its face in mock shame, and tugged my bag’s shoulder strap. The most difficult training, according to Bonnie, requires the dog to work with another person while remaining under her command.

“Man’s best friend,” as hackneyed a phrase as that is, certainly applied to these dogs and their handlers, who spend countless hours working with their animals. As one woman told me, dogs need a job. Learning can be their job, and they can excell. In return, they love.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

  • 1

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