Dog Dance, also known as ‘heelwork to music’, ‘canine freestyle’ or ‘doggy dancing’. It is a challenging and fun dog sport for both owner and dog. In principle, all dog breeds can participate in the competitions, but it will be easier for some breeds than for others. There are several competitions, one is more comparative and stricter, the recreational class is actually suitable for anyone who has mastered Dog Dance a bit.
Dutch Dog Dance Association
Doggy dancing has been a dog sport in America for a while, but this Dutch organization has been registered with the Chamber of Commerce since 2009. The organization has devised the Dutch regulations for Dog Dance. If you want to participate in competitions, you must also have a starting card from NDDB. The organization aims to develop and grow Dog Dance in the Netherlands.
The qualifying matches
Do you really want to compete comparatively and come up higher and is your dog 12 months or older? Then you can participate in the qualifying matches. The qualifying matches are divided into the following groups:
- Beginners – The performance should last between 1:30 and 2:30 minutes. If you achieve a 7.5 or higher on technical and artistic aspects, you will receive a promotion point. With 3 promotion points you can go to the next class.
- Novice – Feed is no longer allowed. You need an 8 or higher to earn a promotion point. Also with this class, you can proceed to the next class with 3 promotion points. The dance must last between 2:00 and 3:00 minutes.
- Intermediate – The dan must last between 2:30 and 3:30 minutes in this class. You need an 8.5 or higher for a promotion point.
- Advanced – In this class, the dance should last between 3:00 and 4:00 minutes. You need a 9 for a promotion point.
- Champion class – This is the highest attainable level, here the rules of Advanced apply, but the competition makes it especially difficult.
Negatives and disqualification
If your dog barks excessively during the performance you can get negative points, this also occurs with a verbal correction or manipulation. In addition, there are several reasons why a team can be disqualified:
- In case of antisocial behavior from the handler (the owner of the dog) to the jury or employees.
- There is unnecessary danger to the wellbeing of the dog or the handler leaves something in the ring that disturbs the next competitor.
- When leaving the ring early.
- When music is too short or too long for the class in which you start.
- If the dog leaves the ring prematurely with four legs (if this is because the dog is startled by something unexpected outside the ring, the routine may sometimes be repeated).
- If the handler doesn’t put down his props in one go or if it takes longer than 60 seconds
- If the handler has food or a target that he can use to attract the dog
- If the dog is decorated or wearing anything other than a regular collar
- If the dog soils the ring.
What does the jury pay attention to?
You are not bound to certain exercises, you do the geography yourself or come up with it with a trainer. There are fixed parts that the jury assesses. It can be divided into two categories, namely the technical part and the artistic part. In the technical part you will be assessed on:
- dancing – How well does it fit to the rhythm
- fluency – how easily the exercises merge
- execution – how easily the dog responds to the signals
- content – what for and how many exercises
- difficulty
During the artistic part you will be assessed on:
- ring use – what percentage of the ring is used (the ring is at least 10×15 meters)
- animation and interaction – how is the cooperation between owner and dog
- choreography
- public appreciation
- costume and props
- coordination
Junior qualifiers
There is a special junior category for young people under 18.
- Level 1 – A 5.5 must be achieved for a promotion point, with 2 points you can move on to the next class. The routine is between 1:30 and 2:30 minutes.
- Level 2 – The length of the routine is the same as in level 1. However, one must get a 6.0 or higher for a promotion point.
- Level 3 – The length and the number of promotion points to be allowed to continue are the same, only now a 6.5 must be achieved for a promotion point.
- Level 4 – Everything remains the same, only a 7.5 must be achieved for a promotion point.
- Junior Champion – This is the highest possible class for the juniors.
With the juniors, it is especially important that the team has visible fun and that the routine uses 50% of the ring during the routine.
Recreational competitions
As you can read, there are quite a few requirements for the competition group and it can be difficult to get promotion points. If you want to compete where it is less strict you can participate in recreational competitions. The dog may remain on a leash and rewards such as food and toys are allowed. If you do run qualifying competitions, you can always participate in recreational competitions. You will not receive a promotion point or grade, but a kind of report from the jury with feedback.
- Starters – in this class you can only start once, this is intended for those who have never run a race.
- Seniors – These classes allow dogs to participate who are 8 years or older or handlers who are 65 or older.
- Open heelwork to music – 75% of the routine must consist of followwork. Whether you go sideways, backwards or forwards, the dog follows you.
- Freestyle to music – All exercises are allowed as long as it does not endanger the dog, owner or bystanders.
- Paradancers – Intended for handlers with disabilities.
- Brace – Intended for a handler with two dogs.
- Pairs – Two bosses and two dogs are allowed to do a routine or alternate at the same time.
- Team – With three or more bosses with a dog, you may participate in the team category.
Recreational qualification class
If you would nevertheless like to be assessed with a grade, you can participate in the recreational qualification class. You may bring food as a reward, but it should not be the case that the dog literally chases the food. The ring for the recreational class, the ring may be smaller than 10×15 meters.
There are only two levels, level 1 and 2. In level 1 the routine should last between 1:30 and 3:00 minutes, in level two between 2:30 and 4 minutes. With a 7.5 you get a promotion point and with 3 promotion points you can participate in level 2.
You are also less likely to be disqualified in this class. You will be excluded if:
- The handler shows antisocial behavior towards jury or employees or punishes his dog unnecessarily.
- The safety or health of the dog is endangered.
- The dog is decorated with something other than a normal collar.
- The length of the permitted music is exceeded