Canine Freestyle is a creative interaction of obedience and trick behaviors combined with music and pulled together with choreography. Beginning freestyle emphasizes the dog/handler bond, teaching behaviors to the dogs and exposure to simple choreography. Behaviors are taught from the ground up and each behavior builds to more advanced behaviors as the team progresses and increases its understanding for both the handler and dog. No dance experience is required on the part of the handler. The Freestyle community is a small group of people interested in “dancing with their dogs”. Because the community is small, the classes offered vary with the needs of the students. Not all classes will be offered every cycle. Prerequisites are required for each level of Freestyle. Levels may be combined to better serve the students.
Click to Contact Freestyle Class Registration
BEGINNER
Freestyle Fundamentals
Freestyle Fundamentals is a foundation course which easily transitions into developing one’s own freestyle routine for competition and/or performance.
Positions, behaviors, and transitions are taught and practiced.
The minimum prerequisite for this class are dogs and handlers with skills similar to those acquired in HOTC Beyond Manners classes. Advanced handlers and dogs are welcome.
The goal of Freestyle Fundamentals is foremost for dogs to have fun!
Freestyle Routine Development
This class is an extension of the Freestyle Fundamentals Class. Those in the class who wish to develop a routine remain and we use skills their dogs know - to music.
INTERMEDIATE SKILLS
As of August 2024, the "Come and Go" class is training time open to any Freestylers who want to work on skills in the training room. Instructors are available to help students work on specific skills as required. The class description below does not apply to classes labeled as "Come and Go".
This class will build on the positions and behaviors learned in the prerequisite class, Freestyle Fundamentals . Students will learn how to add to the beginner moves in order to create compound moves. The moves that will be introduced will be tailored to the individual student's routine. WOW moves will be included in the class to add spice to your routine!
INTERMEDIATE CHOREOGRAPHY
As of August 2024 the "Come and Go" class is training time open to any Freestylers who want to work on choreography and routine development. Instructors will be available to help students work on choreography and individual issues in their routines. The class description below does not apply to classes titled as "Come and Go".
Prerequisite or concurrent class is Intermediate Skills. This class will walk students through building a routine. Although we do non-competitive performances as well as video and live competitions, the class will be taught to conform to competition rules. Included in choreography is music selection, costuming, props, back chaining and, of course, choreographing the routine. The class members are encouraged to work together to help each other with their routines. This cooperation and exchange of ideas is an important part of the creative process and helps to make the class interesting and fun!
COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES
HOTC"s freestyle group, the Canine Co-Motion Freestylers, compete through WCFO (World Canine Freestyle Organization) and perform in the community and North Alabama region for civic groups, schools at all age levels, churches, senior groups, city-sponsored activities, and other groups that enjoy the interaction of talented and well-prepared dogs, handlers, costumes, foot-tapping/hand-clapping music. Handlers are encouraged to develop routines when their dogs and have achieved basic skills and are moving toward more advanced behaviors. Freestyle is an audience-driven sport. One of our goals is to share the bond of dog/human teams performing to appear as if they are dancing. You may request more information on our performances via the Contact Us webpage.