Travelfwd+, By ALICE-AZANIA JARVIS; Winners: Ashleigh Buter and her dog Pudsey won this year's Britain's Got Talent A balmy evening in South-West London, and I’m trying to convince a handsome chap called Jake to cha-cha-cha. I’m hoping that as a couple we have the potential to dance in perfect harmony, and to encourage him I’ve brought along his favourite food (cocktail sausages) and put on his favourite CD (Strictly Dance Classics). But as I shuffle round the dance floor it’s clear pretty quickly that he isn’t keen. The chemistry just isn’t there. But then perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised: Jake is a dog — a borrowed Blue Merle border collieto be precise — and I am here with my reluctant dance partner in the hope that a little of the stardust of what you might call the Pudsey Effect will rub off on us.
Big future: Reporter Alice-Azania Jarvis and dog Jake have taken part in a dog dancing training class following the success of Pudsey on Britain's Got Talent Just in case you’ve been living on Mars for the past couple of months, let me explain that Pudsey is the irrepressible border collie-bichon frise-Chinese crested cross who, along with his 17-year-old owner Ashleigh Butler, has become a national sensation after delighting both audiences and the judges on Britain’s Got Talent. After winning the final in some style on Saturday night, they’re now predicted to make £10 million through public appearances and endorsements. Such has been the response to their unashamedly feelgood act that there is already something of a boom in the number of people hoping to discover a hitherto latent talent in their own mutts. So just how easy is it to jive together, or encourage an animal to jump through a ‘hoop’ formed by your arms, just like the fabulous Pudsey? There are several DVDs devoted to the subject, and classes can be found just about everywhere from Cornwall to County Durham. So I decided to pay a visit to one in Twickenham run byKathleen Stubbings, who’s been ‘doggie dancing’ for the best part of a decade. Six years ago, she founded an
academy to share her talents. Impressive: Ashleigh and Pudsey wowed the viewers and the judges with their routine to the Mission: Impossible theme. But could your dog perform the same moves? With me in the class are six other dog-lovers — including 15-year-old Lucy Hankey (who has come with her border collie Sam) and 66-year-old retired occupational therapist Chris Young (with Tod, another border collie). Kathleen, who sports rather risque jazzy pink lipstick and spiky blonde hair, is clearly used to keeping order among humans and canines. ‘Quiet!’ she yaps to a barking beagle, turning to its owner with a firm: ‘Shhh!’ Doggie dancing — or ‘Heelwork to Music’ to use its official title — has its own organisational body (yes really), the Paws ’n’ Music Association. And you thought it was just a teenager having some
fun on a reality show. Example: Kath Hardman gives a heel work to music display with dog Ginnie at Crufts, Birmingham in 2007, before Alice attempts a similar trick during the training class (You can almost hear Simon Cowell’s brain ticking over with plans for a nationwide tour boasting a whole cast of Pudsey-a-likes.) ‘Dancing with a dog is fantastic fun,’ says Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko. ‘And Britain’s Got Talent raises its profile even more.’ It took root as a serious discipline in 1990 when a two-time Crufts obedience champion named Mary Ray introduced music to her heelwork (a kind of obedience training where the dog performs different
moves following its owner’s, ahem, lead). Hi there! Dancing dog Missey appears to wave to the photographer at the training class In America, predictably, some dog owners took the idea one step further. They introduced flashy costumes and acrobatic canine leaps, and called their version ‘freestyle’. Combine the two approaches, and you have the fun, frivolous but deeply impressive dance routines put on by Ashleigh and Pudsey on Britain’s Got Talent. Something tells me I have a long way to go before Jake and I can master anything like those, however. And spangly costumes are definitely out of the question. The good news is that I’ve managed to get Jake to stand on his hind legs. The secret: a small sausage held in between your thumb and finger and he’s a lot keener to strain up to reach it. Ashleigh prefers a bit of ham sandwich to keep Pudsey keen. 
Popular: Alice was joined by six others and their pooches for the class Then, with a quick flick of the wrist, you indicate that the dog should go through your legs and out the other side. Midway through, you press your legs gently together to trap the dog between them, and then you both turn in tandem. And hey presto! You’re doing the weave. One person who’s not having any trouble with all this is young Lucy. With her long, blonde hair and model looks, she appears more suited to the catwalk than doggie-dancing. But then she’s no ingenue — having twice won Crufts, though not with her collie
Sam. Ideas: Simon Cowell's brain might be ticking over with plans for a nationwide tour boasting a whole cast of Pudsey-a-likes Lucy is especially thrilled by Ashleigh’s new-found fame. The two are friends, even competing against one another from time to time. ‘She’s a couple of years older than me,’ says Lucy. ‘So usually she comes first and I come second.’ ‘It’s great to see the kids getting into it,’ agrees trainer Kathleen. ‘Ashleigh really is
Standing on his own two a leading light.’ feet: Pudsey illustrates one of his many tricks that helped him win the talent contest and possibly land £10m One reason Ashleigh and Pudsey’s cha-cha is so impressive is because of six-year-old Pudsey’s remarkably straight back when he stands up on his hind legs.‘It means he can stand tall, and match Ashleigh’s posture.’ But if Pudsey were a bit older, he wouldn’t have the strength for the move. Too young, and he’d risk damaging his development. Kathleen explains: ‘Dogs’ bones don’t stop growing until around 12 months, so forcing them to stand upright before then could be harmful.source: dailymail ’Source: Travelfwd+,
Standing on his own two a leading light.’ feet: Pudsey illustrates one of his many tricks that helped him win the talent contest and possibly land £10m One reason Ashleigh and Pudsey’s cha-cha is so impressive is because of six-year-old Pudsey’s remarkably straight back when he stands up on his hind legs.‘It means he can stand tall, and match Ashleigh’s posture.’ But if Pudsey were a bit older, he wouldn’t have the strength for the move. Too young, and he’d risk damaging his development. Kathleen explains: ‘Dogs’ bones don’t stop growing until around 12 months, so forcing them to stand upright before then could be harmful.source: dailymail ’Source: Travelfwd+, 