You've probably seen it: a dog and their person moving together like twin stars.
Like they already know what the other is about to do. Like the music was written with both of them in mind.
That's dog dance. And it's learnable.
What This Actually Is
It's a sport. It's also something else.
Canine freestyle is a competitive dog sport with titles, judges, and real technical depth. But the reason people stay — the reason I built a whole business around it — is simpler than that.
When you dance with your dog, you stop asking your dog to comply, and you start asking them to collaborate. The choreography is almost beside the point. What you're really building is a new kind of attention between you, one that allows your dog to participate in your shared relationship as an equal partner.
Who It's For
You might be exactly who I had in mind.
You're not necessarily someone who grew up doing dog sports. You might not even think of yourself as athletic. You're the person who loves their dog in a way that feels almost too big for regular life.
Dog dance tends to find people who:
Have tried training that felt more like management than relationship
Want to do something with their dog before the time runs out
Have a song that makes them think: we could dance to this
Suspect their dog has more in them than they've been asked to give
Have been waiting for permission to begin
If any of that sounds like you, you're in the right place.
A note for the reactive dog parent:
This isn't only for dogs who are easy in groups. If yours gets overwhelmed around other dogs, or needs more room than a typical class assumes, that's not a disqualifier — it's just information to work with. My own dog, Brontë, is vocal and not built for crowded rooms, and I compete with her anyway. It's some of the most honest work I do. Dog dance isn't about teaching your dog to ignore the room; it's about giving the two of you something to focus on instead.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Here's what we actually do.
Every dog dance journey starts with the same thing: learning to notice. What does your dog offer naturally? What do they love? What's their pace, their style, their personality on the floor?
From there, you build a vocabulary of moves: heelwork, spins, distance work, tricks that become transitions. And eventually, you put it to music. You find a song that fits your dog. You map it. You rehearse it. You perform it, or you title it, or you just do it in your living room because it's yours. 💛
My dog Brontë is opinionated, medium-paced, and deeply unimpressed by shortcuts. She's been my best teacher. You'll meet her in the choreography videos.
Dance With Me
However you learn best, there's a way in.
In person — Chicago
Weekly classes and occasional workshops at Urban Pooch and Bosly's Backyard. Real-time feedback, floor time with your dog, and a room full of people who take loving their dogs seriously and laugh a lot.
See what's coming up →Foundations of Dog Dance
A self-paced course teaching the training style, body language, and connection that make dog dance work. Includes a short routine to finish with.
Start the foundations course →Building Your Own Routine
A recorded webinar walking through the full choreography process — choosing music, mapping movement, making it yours. Pause, return, or use it as a reference as you build.
Get the workshop →Async Video Feedback
Send footage of you and your dog. Get a detailed written response: what's working, what to adjust, where to go next. No scheduling, no performance pressure — just honest eyes on your work. $85 for three submissions, $125 for five.
Get async feedback →
Beginner Dog Dance
Saturdays @ 4 pm
Urban Pooch Training: 5400 N Damen, Chicago, IL
You don't need a trained dog. You don't need to know how to dance. You just need a dog you want to be closer to.
Dog dance teaches you and your dog a shared movement vocabulary — spins, weaves, side switches, and more — then shows you how to string it into something that feels like the two of you. The training is reward-based and relationship-first. The goal isn't performance; it's a dog who has fun being with you.
Five weeks.
$200/student.
Six dog-guardian teams.
Intermediate Dog Dance
Saturdays @ 2:45 pm
Urban Pooch Training: 5400 N Damen, Chicago, IL
You know the basics and have an invitation to join Intermediate Dog Dance. Now it's about making the work feel like yours: developing your dog's fluency, expanding your shared vocabulary, and starting to shape movement into a routine that reflects your partnership.
This class is for teams who've completed a beginner series and are ready to go further. Expect more complex sequences, musicality, and a longer choreographic arc.
Five weeks.
$200/student.
Six dog-guardian teams.
About Titling
If you've been curious about titles, let me make it less mysterious.
There are three main titling bodies accessible to dog dance teams in North America, and between them there's an entry point for every level.
MDSA — Musical Dog Sport Association
The most accessible starting point for new teams. The MDSA Canine Freestyle Fun Award is exactly what it sounds like: any video of you dancing with your dog can qualify. You don't need a polished routine or a filming session. If you have something — or think you might — and you're not sure whether it's enough, just ask me.
WCFO — World Canine Freestyle Organization
itles at every level from beginner through elite. WCFO events are held in person and judged live, with monthly online titling options available as well — making it one of the most accessible paths to a title regardless of where you're located.
CFF - Canine Freestyle Federation
Known for its focus on musical interpretation and artistic expression alongside technical skills. A good fit for teams who want their choreography to tell a story.
Not sure which is right for you? Start with the MDSA Fun Award and go from there. Most teams explore more than one.