Canine Freestyle 101

dressage, Freestyle, heelwork to music - By Staff Writer on Thursday, August 26, 2010 - 14:19

Canine Freestyle is a modern sport for dogs and their handlers that mixes obedience, tricks and dance into a creative show.   Performances are highly choreographed and handlers use the music and dance to highlight the abilities of their canine companions. 

Other Names
Canine Freestyle is sometimes referred to as Heelwork to music, Canine Dressage and Canine Musical Freestyle.

A video of Canine Freestyle in Britain's Got Talent

Skills
Canine Freestyle requires teamwork and focus on the part of both handlers and dogs as the dogs move through a routine of heel work, jumps, aerial tricks, weaves, spins and ground work. 

Judging
Each performance is judged by a panel for Teamwork, Training, Choreography, Music and Presentation with points taken off for errors.  Dogs are judged not only on their technique and their movements but how they perform them.  Does the dog act willingly? quickly? slowly? The interaction between the handler and dog is judged and the team accrues points as they perform.

What Sets The Sport Apart
Canine Freestyle uses many of the same elements of obedience trials but does so in a creative way.  Unlike obedience, which requires teams to perform set routines without deviation, Canine Freestyle encouraged creativity ad requires the handlers to choreograph routines that show off their dogs skill level.  Each level requires certain skills but each team may combine the movements as they wish allowing for quiet cueing and praising during performances.

Breeds That Compete
Any breed is permitted to compete.

Related Sports
Competition Obedience
Rally Obedience
Agility

Associations and Clubs
Musical Dog Sport Association
Canine Freestyle Federation, Inc.