Janette Manrara climbs into her daughter's cot
They might have two left feet, but that doesn’t stop our dogs dancing with excitement when they see their dinner bowl is about to be filled, according to a third of pet owners.
Now Strictly stars Janette Manrara and her husband Aljaz Skorjanec are calling on pet owners to film their very own Canine Pop stars as they enjoy a bit of tail-shaking or yap dancing for the chance to be included in a celebrity dance video.
In fact, 61% of owners cherish mealtimes as a top activity to bond with their dog and 90% have created specific dining rituals, over half (61%) always feeding them in the same spot, while over third (34%) serve up tailored food in personalised bowls (33%) to keep their pet healthy and happy.
Of the 2,000 British dog owners polled, 88% said their pet will tell them it’s time to dish up, some (56%) stare meaningfully at them, others sit gazing at the food cupboard, 50% will start wagging their tail and 26% said their dog will start ‘talking’ to them or tapping their paw – sometimes on the food bowl.
Over a third (38%) said they look forward to feeding time to seeing their pet’s happy personality shine and feel it is a great bonding moment and 33% love witnessing a doggie dance of joy when they treat them to their favourite meal and 31% adore seeing them spinning around.
In celebration of the cherished bond felt at mealtime and the mealtime routines, Tails.com has partnered with renowned Strictly Come Dancing dancers Janette and her husband Aljaz to launch a “Dinner Dance” competition, inviting dog owners around the nation to showcase their dogs’ adorable reactions.
Dog lovers Janette & Aljaz said: "We’re excited to be merging two passions of ours, dancing and dogs! The way we choreograph and move within our routines has always been inspired by real life; the things we see and experience, even stories we’ve heard.
"Both having had cherished family dogs and knowing all too well what that special bond feels like, we want to see all the paw-tapping, the bursts of energy, the play bows and everything in between, they might even be our next inspiration."
Tails.com behaviourist Carolyn Menteith says: "One of the joys of living with a dog is creating a strong relationship and having that canine best friend that you’ve always dreamed of. We build this bond with our pups over time, through play, exercise, training, mutual trust and, of course, food! Food is a primary reinforcer for dogs – in other words, no one has to teach a dog that food is good – it just is! It’s one of the reasons that using treats to train tricks and behaviours is so successful – and is why mealtimes are so special and so exciting.
"It’s not just our dogs that love dinner time though. For us, giving our beloved dog something delicious, and taking care of their nutritional needs, is deeply rewarding and we enjoy watching our dog relishing the food we’ve given them. It’s no wonder that owners love to watch their dog’s excitement in anticipation of dinner – and laugh at some of the antics and ‘dance routines’ that each individual dog shows while waiting for their meal."
Owners can submit videos of their dogs’ reactions during dinner time by visiting the Tails.com blog for the chance to be featured in their celebrity dance video.
Carolyn Menteith’s tips on the best ways to inspire your dogs to dance:
1. While us humans have to practise our dance routines, for dogs it is much more of a natural expression of their excitement and joy. Every dog is unique, and some will show their dinnertime moves with some noisy and energetic creative ‘dance’ displays, while others will be more self-contained in showing their culinary expectations. Enjoy your dog’s own unique talent and remember, just like us humans, not everyone is a dancer!
2. Laughing and smiling at your dog while they are performing their mealtime routine is a great way to encourage them, and to join in with this great bonding opportunity. Don’t be tempted to withhold their food in order to encourage more moves though. Your dog ‘dances’ through joy and happiness - you don’t want to turn that to frustration or behaviours that are rude or unsafe.
3. Work on teaching your dog fun tricks at all times of the day - not just mealtimes. The more things they learn to do with you - like spins, twists, play bows and waves - the more steps they have to choose from when they are building their own routine!
