Guess what? My human, Hsin-Yi, and I are going to a dancing competition in July!!
And Hsin-Yi has decided to try and make a new Canine Freestyle routine for the competition because she didn’t like the last one we did at the Devonport Dog Parade, to the song “Sway” .
She thought the music was a bit too fast and didn’t really suit my plodding movements (hee! hee! 
)
I think she is crazy – as usual!
We only have about 5 weeks to go until the competition and she wants to make a new routine?! Eeeeek!
But Hsin-Yi says that it’s always good to have a goal to work towards, even if it seems very difficult. One of her favourite sayings is:
“Always reach for the moon – even if you don’t make it, you’ll land among the stars”
…and she LOVES a challenge (that’s why she does doggie dancing with a Dane – ha! ha!), plus she doesn’t really care about winning ribbons anyway – the competition would just give us a chance and place to try out a new routine. So she is making up a new choreography to a song she LOVES called “Me & My Shadow” – the Robbie Williams version (you can listen to it here).
Which means we’d better start practising!! Usually, we only do dance training about once or twice a week, just for fun and to work on any new tricks I’m learning…but when we start preparing for a competition or performance, it gets serious! Then we start training every day – 10 minutes in the morning, 10 minutes in the afternoon…
So yesterday we did 10 minutes of training in the carpark before starting on our walk.
We’re working on some new moves to put in the new routine. Hsin-Yi wants to use a target stick in this new routine and I’m going to have to learn some fancy turning and reversing!
She has also taught me a new move where I sit up and “beg”, with her standing behind me, so we’re sort of back-to-back…it looks really cute and it goes with the part in the song that says “…we stick together like glue”! (see the picture at the top?)
Well, anyway – here is a short video of us practising some moves…as you can see, we still have a LONG way to go! And we haven’t even added the music yet!
After our training, we had a lovely walk around Shore Road Reserve, which is also an off-leash dog park…
And I met a new friend! His name is Jack and he is a 10yr old chocolate Labrador…boy, he sure had a lot of energy for an old fella!
His human was really friendly too – although I think he needs to learn a better way to greet dogs…mauling your head is NOT the best way to say hello!
Oomph! $%@!!*)#!!
It’s really hard for me to find playmates ‘coz a lot of dogs feel threatened by my size and get defensive aggressive when they see me or they run away, crying! Sometimes they want to play but get scared by the rough way that I run and wrestle…I need a pup that can really play rough!!!!
But once in a while, I meet a confident, sociable doggie – like Jack! - and then we have a GREAT time!
Finally, we were both exhausted! What a great play! I hope I meet Jack again!
Good luck with your new routine Honey and I Love seeing pictures of you playing with other doggies! I am so glad that you made a new friend. If you want to make one of your photos into a cartoon, go to this website: http://www.befunky.com/index.php
You'll have a lot of fun with your photos there.
Hope you have a great day!
your pal,
Bruce:)
ehehe Jack looks like a fun friend!
good luck with the training!!
By the way, I can do the march already! yup!
have to ask Sara to make a post about it
Can you teach us more training tricks? Just like you did with the marching legs?
Big licks to you and your mommy
ohhh--that was great fun--we agree about finding good playmates--it is really hard! Labs are typically a good sturdy foolish dog that can take a bit of rough housing. we love the pose on the first picture--Honey you are so clever --we could never do any of those moves. we are not motivated to impress or obey…you are outstanding! and you are huge..everytime we see you we are shocked--your chest is really deep huh? love ya Beautiful Honey girl! saige and guinness
What incredible dance moves -- i watched your SWAY routine and it is incredible and the new one i am sure will come along beautifully. I couldnt imagine doing this with my kids -- they do rally and agility so i guess it isnt too far off.
We have the same problem with other doggies the fear us and we play a little too rough sometimes so good durable friends are keepers
good luck
woodrow sweetie mj
Wow! What great dance moves! Very impressive.
We love the glue move, very cute! We know you can get it all down for the competition!
Your new playmate is awesome! I have to say that is a most unusual greeting and you were very diplomatic to accept it! Looks like it was worth it though sine you got a good romp with the boy. Your ace is hilarious in some of those pics! I like the one where Jack is on his side! Teddy our former foster pup would have LOVED to play with you. He tolerated lots of smackdowns from Moose and did not seem afraid of anything! Moose loves rough play too though. Too bad you are so far away!
Hope you get to play with Jack again soon!
We could watch that video all day and love it more every time. Who needs music? You two are just the perfect dancing pair. We can't wait to see the finished production!!! And how nice to meet Jack, maybe you can practice some dance moves with him too.
woos, the OP Pack
I can't wait to see the finished routine. I love the new back to back move!
How exciting! You have your work cut out for you, but this will be fun to watch.
We know you will do great with that new dance routine!!! We can't wait to see it!!
Jack looks like a great woofie. We are happy he wasn't afraid to play with you!
Ooh! We like your new moves! Can't wait to see the whole routine. We know it will be great!
What a great friend you found at the park!
Wuv,
Gus and Waldo
You surprised us Honey, once again. Your dancing moves are so difficult but you can do it any way. Hsin-Yi is a great teacher!
We finished our marching legs training and we are ready to learn another move! So much fun!
Kisses
Rufus and Indie
Tank woo fur sharing!
I know woo and your mom will do so well! It is furry fun to watch the two of woo…I'm not sure who is having more fun!
I love your last look at the khamera -- that is just sooo ME!
That is furry khool woo met a new park pal!
I would LOVE to play with woo!
Hugz&Khysses,
Khyra
That is a great idea! With your help I can't do it wrong! I have one question, I think you can help me: I trained Rufus and Indie without the clicker but next month I will attend to some clicker training classes (just for dog owners) and I wanted to know if I can start the clicker training with both Indie and Rufus even though I never used it with them.
Thank you so much!
Those are some awesome moves! Good luck on your next competition! Looks like you had a super fun time in the park with your new friend. Hope you get to play again.
Wags,
Pruett and Daphne
Hi Honey,
We love the glue move!! How did you learn it? It seems difficult to master!
It's great to have a good four-legged friend to play with, isn't it? We are lucky we always have each other to play with. We hope we can become good friends of yours too.
Yes, we visited Momo & Pinot and Mango & Dexter. As you said, Momo & Pinot are so cute, and Mango & Dexter are so funny!
Looks like you are going to have a STUNNING routine!!! I'm so impressed with your dance moves, Honey! Maybe someday I'll feel like settling down enough to learn things like that, but who knows?
What a beautiful dog park to run and play in. The one's near me aren't that nice, unfortunately. I'm SOOOOOO envious of you finding a new sturdy, confident friend like Jack!!! I want one!! My best friend is moving out of state next week, so I'm sad.
Behr Behr
Hey, if anyone can do it, it's you two….you're a great team. We like Hsin-Yi's saying about the moon and can't wait to see the new routine, the begging pose does look cute!
How great that you found a cool new friend, it's lovely to see you running and playing….and your ears are crazy in those pics, so funny! Jack looks like great fun….maybe he could be your new BF!
Have a great weekend
Slobbers xx
Honey! I'm so excited that we will be able to see your dance moves practice here in you bloggie!
You girls look so cute dancing together!
I heard from Rufus and Indie that you are going to start teaching us tricks here! You should do even more: you have so much experience that you should create a canine behaviour poll of advices here, or in another blog!
I'm doing fine, Hsin-Yi. I'm starting to get along with a loose leash, Carla changes her way everytime I start to pull. My only problem is getting overexcited with other dogs… I fell I'm in a leash and then I start jumping like crazy, rolling in the ground, and if someone tries to grab me, I start pretending that I'll bite… carla gets really sad. I'm such a good pup at home and in these situations she feels embarrassed, 'cause I'm such bad behavioured…
But I guess that with patiente, she will get over this with me.
Please post more about your new routine!!
Love
Pipa
Great video Honey! You can really make tight circles for such a big girl. Your backing in heel is looks very nice and straight which I know is so very difficult. I like the shape where you and Hsin-yi are back to back. Very pretty. And music choice is critical to a good routine. Barbara and her friends spent a lot of time picking the right music for me (it is worth 20% in our competition) and I love it. I am sure you will do a great routine. Looks like you made a excellent friend. It is always good to play after practice. Have fun.
Your friend,
Niamh
I'm sure you're going to have a fabulous new routine. Love the new move! You're so clever and creative to be able to think up a new routine in such a short amount of time!
I like the music too. Big band seems the perfect sound for a Great Dane. Good luck! Can't wait to see the finished product.
We loved your video Honey, you are the best dancer, and what lovely long legs!
We did wonder what some of the drivers must have thought as they drove past with you two dancing away!
Your new playmate looked like great fun -- the two of you really enjoyed your off leash play.
Our mum said to tell you that male bassets are a bit bigger but that we are particularly small -- especially Bailey. She is really tiny -- a lady once gave our mum a row for not feeding Bailey enough calcium when she was a puppy. Of course the lady didnt even want to know that we never knew Bailey when she was a puppy!!!
Have a great weekend and keep on dancing. Cant wait till you had the music too.
love and kisses
from your small friends
Martha & Bailey xxx
Woooo! We're very impressed with your dancing Honey! Your mom has taught you very well!
Good luck with practicing and we hope you both win!
Have a great weekend!
Licks and Wags
Tuffy and the Dog WOods Pack
Hi Honey!!
Thanks for dropping by our blog! hehe. U can feel free to post in either of the options. both the comments and shoutbox are fine.:) hehe. We really appreciate u visiting us!
And All the best for ur upcoming competition!:)
Continue to update us.. and we'll def stay tuned!!
Love,
Camry, Chevro and Cayenne
Hi Honey oh my I am gonna have to moniter the blogs that my Mummy visits cause she jest watched yer video and started getting waaay too exsited!!! I had to remind her that Star is alreddy in ajility and therapy training and that is enuff alreddy. Yer dansing wuz reely reely neat!!!
Yer pal Dozer
Hi Honey! Thanks for your well wishes to JD, he was 'playing' with the bee, he finds insects fascinating, but he irritated this bee too much. Hopefully he will have learnt not to do this again. He's fine now, the swelling's gone and he's eating again. Mind you, a few weeks ago he strained his paw whilst playing with his brother and quickly figured out that limping equalled biscuits. Last night, because he felt so sorry for himself, he started limping too -- you doggies are far too clever for your own good you know!
Can't wait to see your new dance in full, you'll be amazing we have no doubt. Loved the photos of you and Jack too, it's great to see dogs really having fun! Hope you get to meet up with him again. The picutre of his over-excited human WAS funny too -- you need to teach him how to hug, he he!
BFN -- xx
Honey you are the most talented girl we've ever met! Oh and beautiful and smart, too… and friendly by the looks of it!
Your mama must be super proud.
You will win the competition four paws down!
Lovies,
Dakotah & Maika
you are so very clever honey, our mummy has decided she would like to do doggy dancing with us, but we are not that keen as we are big tough boys :0) She says she will have to watch all your vids on doggy dancing as a know how on where to start.
Leans and slobbers from us
Nitro & Stripe
Heylo Honey!!
OH that Jack looks like FUN!! Can't wait to see the new routine!
Paw Paw
Diva
I know what you mean about that whole headlock thing. I let momma and master do it because I trust them, but I hate it when other people do it… it is scary!
I know how to use a target stick too! That's another thing that I can do that stupid Pee-Wee can't. That is because I have better focus.
I am glad you explained the duration of your training sessions. Ten minutes is a long time, huh? Almost makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. Sometimes even that is too long for me and I have to tell Momma ENOUGH! by either walking away or sitting down. Then she always does one of my favorite tricks one last time so that we can end on a high note.
I have heard that "we" have to do housework today. BORING! But it will be nice not to have little pee-wee dust bunnies flying around everywhere.
Slobbers,
Mango
You certainly have some wonderful adventures and make some fun friends. I bet you'll wow them at the dancing competition!
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Hey Honey! You are doing really well! Oh, how exciting you're entering for another dancing competition! I KNOW you will do really well & maybe win to! That would be so pawsome. Good luck!
Smoochies,
Solid Gold "Actress"