Activities For Dogs With Owners Who Like Dancing

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Activities For Dogs With Owners Who Like Dancing

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Introduction

Dancing can be fun, relaxing and great exercise. People who like to dance may find themselves holding the paws of their canine companion and waltzing across the room or cradling their small dog in their arms and dancing away the evening. There are many more activities that you and your dog can participate in other than an impromptu dance recital in your living room. These activities will help create a strong bond with your dog and be great fun for you both. Before diving into any of these activities, take the time to check them out and research the requirements.

Dog Dancing

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

Music

Treats

Leash

Collar

Activity description

Canine freestyle dancing is an actual thing. Those who love to dance now have a way to dance with their dog without looking crazy and the best part is that there are people all over the world that enjoy this activity. The Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) even hosts the Dog Dance World Competition. Dog dancing is basically choreographed trick training set to various styles of music. When watching this fun activity you will be able to recognize some basic obedience moves. Dog dancing does take a lot of patience and time to be able to choreograph an entire dance routine with your dog. This can be extremely difficult and must be practiced each day so your dog learns the sequence of tricks that must be performed. Most people looking to start canine freestyle dancing will begin by doing trick training with their dog and then building on those tricks. There are even some dog clubs that offer dog dancing classes or individual training.

Step

Start with basics

Dog dancing is simply choreographed tricks, therefore, you must start with the basics before you can dive in and create a full routine with your canine dance partner. Teaching them a few basic tricks along with basic obedience commands will go a long way in getting your dog ready to hit the dance floor with some cool moves. Enroll in an obedience class and then see if you can find a dog club that offers trick dog training.

Step

Be patient

Your dog does not naturally have cool moves to stun the crowd. It takes months of working every day before your dog will be ready to perform an entire dance routine. You will need a ton of patience, plenty of treats and praise and an iron will to not give up. Even if you are not planning on entering the world dog dance competition, it will still take time and persistence for your dog to learn how to dance with you.

Step

Have fun

The most important thing to remember when learning how to dance with your dog is to simply have fun. If you are not having fun while learning canine freestyle dancing then you need to find another activity that you do enjoy with your dog. There will be times when you become unbelievably frustrated with the whole process. When this happens, praise your dog, give them a treat and take a break. Never become so frustrated that your dog feels like they have done something wrong. Always keep training upbeat and light so it is fun and something everyone wants to keep doing.

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Agility

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Moderate

Normal

45 min

Items needed

Agility Equipment

Treats

Leash

Collar

Activity description

Sometimes agility can be compared to a complicated dance. While this may be a bit of a stretch, agility is a great way to bond with your dog and keep in shape. Dogs have to race through an obstacle course that includes a teeter totter, weave poles, tunnels and jumps. Their owners have to keep up with them, guiding them through each of the obstacles and offering encouragement throughout. Some dogs do not find competitive agility fun and that is just fine; agility is not for everyone. Take your dog to an agility course and slowly walk them through the obstacles. If they shy away or put on the brakes throughout the course, chances are this is not an activity they will enjoy!

Step

Find a club

Most people wanting to begin agility with their dog do not want to purchase or set up a full agility course in their backyard. It can be very pricey and quite large. Before going out and purchasing the jumps, tunnels, weave poles and such, find a dog club that offers agility and join a class. You will know if this is something you enjoy without putting out a ton of money.

Step

Introduce obstacles

Once you have found a club and probably joined a class, you will start introducing your dog to the various obstacles found on an agility course. Take it slow and use plenty of praise and treats. Other experienced handlers may even bring their veteran dogs onto the course and have your dog follow them through the more daunting obstacles like the tunnel or bridge.

Step

Build speed

It takes time for your dog to become as fast as those dogs you see in competitions. You may even think it is absolutely impossible to run the agility course in under a minute. But keep working at it and let your dog pick their pace then encourage them to speed it up once they are comfortable. Some dogs simply love doing agility and cannot wait to get out there; others will go through the obstacles just to please their owner. Your dog’s enthusiasm for the activity will dictate whether they will be competitive or if this is simply a fun thing to do every once in a while.

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Trick Training

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Normal

30 min

Items needed

Treats

Leash

Collar

Activity description

Have you ever longed to impress family and friends with your canine’s intelligence? It is actually pretty easy to amaze guests when you have worked with your dog to learn new tricks such as greeting guests with a hand shake, fetching a needed item, opening a cabinet or drawer or other neat and entertaining tricks. While it may seem easy to teach some of these tricks, it does still take a lot of patience and practice to get it right. Some dog clubs even offer classes so you and your dog can work together to learn new and interesting ways to amaze people. It also can be useful around the house when you need an extra hand!

Step

Start small

Most trick training will build on basic obedience skills. Therefore, teach the basics before starting on any tricks. There are plenty of basic obedience classes that you can join or you can teach your dog at home. After they are steady in their obedience, teach them a simple trick such as a handshake. Use the same command and plenty of praise and treats.

Step

Build on the basics

Once your dog knows the basics and has learned a few simple tricks, start building on those tricks. You may even look for a dog club that offers trick training classes or you can watch training videos. Use positive reinforcement and never scold or be negative with your dog when they are learning new tricks. Persistence and repetition will be two words that you learn well when doing trick training with your dog.

Step

Entertain others

Your family and friends will be amazed when your dog shows off their abilities at your next house party. Make sure your dog knows what is expected of them before asking them to perform in front of a crowd so you both can complete the trick without a hitch. If your dog happens to get stage fright with so many people watching, still praise them and try again later. There are even trick dog competitions you can enter with your dog.

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More Fun Ideas...

Walking

Walking with your dog is a great way to exercise and have fun. You can even perform some dance moves with your dog while taking a stroll around the block. You can stop periodically and have your dog do a leg weave or a spin and then start walking again. Have fun and enjoy spending time with your dog!

Swimming

Swimming may not be something you would think of when talking about people who like to dance. However, swimming is a fun, graceful way to get your exercise and you can enjoy your time in the pool with your dog swimming at your side. Put a life vest on your dog if they are not a strong swimmer and start in the shallow end.

Conclusion

Owners that like to dance can enjoy this hobby with their dog by introducing canine dance or other activities into their day. Just like with any other activity with your dog, it will take training, consistency and persistence. Find other like-minded dog people and help each other out and have fun while learning new things with your dog. Get out there and bust a move with your dog and keep you both happy and healthy.