About 20 big and small canine athlete SuperDogs performed at the Bow Wow Factor show during their first trip to Lethbridge this week.
“I’ve seen dogs just being themselves, really,” show host Grant Dempster said. “When they run around they like to be very happy; sometimes they don’t exactly like to do what they are told.”
Local Deborah Patterson-Williams is apprenticing to become a SuperDogs trainer with her pooch, Saber.
“Teaching them tricks help them bond with you and they become an all-around better companion,” she said.
Dogs will be dogs and it takes some training to become a canine athlete: they have to be willing to do the tricks and be a part of the show.
“You have to build a relationship with your dog when they are young so they will want to work for you,” SuperDogs trainer Meaghan O’Neill said. “So when you build that relationship they will do anything for you. Any treats or any toys… that will just build the motivation.”
You can see the pooches perform at the Bow Wow Factor show during the rest of Whoop-Up Days at 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. daily Aug. 23 to Aug. 27.