People who are active with their pets intrigue me. And when I say active, I mean doing things like doing agility training or enrolling in therapy dog programs.
Back in February, I participated on a panel with some fellow Middle Tennessee Sister in Crime authors, one of whom was Beth Terrell. We got to talking about things outside of writing, and she told me about how much fun she’d been having with her little puppy that she got about a year ago. Specifically, she was raving about the puppy dancing classes they’d been taking.
I thought that’d make a fun interview. Sort of shake things up around here. (Pun absolutely intended.) So get your boogie shoes on and enjoy these fun answers. (Thanks again for your time, Beth!)
Courtney Mroch: What kind of dog do you have?
Beth Terrell: I have two dogs. One is a Tibetan Spaniel, Karma. The other is a Papillon, Luca.
TOP: Karma. BOTTOM: Luca. Photos provided by Beth Terrell and used with her permission.
CM: How old are they?
BT: Karma is 15. Luca is a year and seven months old.
CM: How long have you had them?
BT: We’ve had Karma for 13 years; we got her when she was two. We’ve had Luca for a year and four months.
CM: How did you find out about puppy dancing classes and why did you decide to try it?
BT: I have quite an extensive collection of books about dogs: dog breeds, dog psychology, dog training, things to do with your dog, and so on. I also read several dog-related magazines and research them on the web. I kept coming across references to an activity called “canine freestyle,” which is heeling and tricks choreographed to music: dog dancing. I looked into it a little further. (Google freestyle dog, and you’ll find some great videos on YouTube. One is called “Gladiator Dog.” Another good one is Carolyn Haines and her golden retriever, Rookie, dancing to “You’re the One That I Want” from Grease.)
CM: How did Luca do? Did he love it?
BT: He does seem to love it. He’s gained a lot of confidence, and his ability to focus is improving. Of course, he’s still very young, so he’s a little distractible. When we first started, we would go to class, and he wouldn’t do any of the exercises; he was too busy trying to wander around and see everything. Then we’d come home and work on it, and he’d do it perfectly. And the next class, the teacher would be surprised that he was able to do it. Then we’d learn a new trick, and it would be the same thing all over again. We’ve improved a lot, though. He works much better in class, and he loves it. You should see him perk up when I get out the clicker and treats, which tells him it’s time to do his tricks.
CM: Do you two do a lot of dancing outside the classroom now? (In other words, at home.)
BT: We haven’t been able to practice at all for the last eight weeks, because Luca broke his left front leg and has had to wear a cast and be quiet. He got his cast off two weeks ago, and in two more weeks, we can go back to class. When he’s well, I try to practice with him every day, a few short sessions of five or ten minutes each, but I don’t always do it. Sometimes I just like to snuggle with him and Karma.
CM: What was your favorite part?
BT: Honestly, everything I do with him is my favorite part! I love to watch him figure out something new. I think our favorite tricks are “spin” (a clockwise 360 degree clockwise turn) and “twist” (a 360 degree counterclockwise turn).
CM: Was it what you expected?
BT: I’m not sure exactly what I expected. I was looking for something fun to do with Luca, something he and I would both enjoy and that would help strengthen the bond between us. It’s certainly done that. He’s the first dog I’ve had that I’ve done this kind of formal activity with. It’s not easy, but it’s great fun.
CM: Are there any other kinds of classes you want to take with your dog?
BT: We took the basic puppy class and a beginning agility class, just getting used to the obstacles and gaining confidence. As soon as Luca is able, I want to take some more agility classes, and our freestyle teacher is having a seminar on off-leash heeling that I want to take. We really need that one! And we want to keep taking freestyle classes so that Luca can unleash his inner Fred Astaire. I’ve already picked out his little tux.
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