Top Lodge Host a Dog Law Seminar: What Every Responsible Dog Owner Needs To Know

Top Lodge Dancing Dogs held a Dog Law Seminar at Riddings, Derbyshire today.  The speaker was Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co Solicitors, who specialises in the law concerning dogs.  Visit his website for more information. DogLaw

Despite a beautifully hot and sunny day any cars containing dogs were given a nice shady spot to park, and all were content.

There was a good attendance as many people were keen to learn as much as they could from this knowledgeable man.The day led to many interesting questions being asked, but the overall impression was how the law can actually help a dog owner give their dogs the best in life, not seek  punishment, although there still remains many grey areas where you have to trust the judgement of others.

Trevor asked those present how many comply with the Law about dog tags? The response was quite surprising.  An interesting subject for discussion which dispelled many myths but showed clearly that it is in both the dog and owners interest to keep to the law and display the name and address of the owner on all dog tags and ensure they are attached to the dog's collar.   This is the biggest aid to help a lost dog back to its home. 

Top Lodge Dancing Dogs would like to thank everyone who attended the Seminar, and, of course, Trevor Cooper for a very informative afternoon.

Caught on Camera

A lovely sunny day with temperatures around 28 degrees - and a lovely breeze blowing 

 Top Lodge were asked to meet some television producers

 To chat about their lives and the sport of Heelwork To Music 

Lots of wonderful memories to recall over the decade that this trio have been together!

Good fun and relaxing too!

 What on earth is Kath describing to Lesley and Karen?

Karen - lost for words???

The team caught on camera - Kath, Chris, Lesley, another Chris and Karen

Nine dogs - can you spot them all?

Young Dewy - the baby of the pack 15 weeks - showing how well he can weave with Lesley

Next youngest - Denby 15 months - showing Spins and Twirls (and well focussed on Kath's hand!)

 Next youngest is Erin - 3yrs old - showing Roll Overs with Karen

 And time for a reward session too

Hamish - 5 yrs old - taking jumps over Lesley in his stride!

 
 Amber 7 years old - happy to show how to beg with Kath :-)

 Fly - 10 yrs old - showing how she can do Hind Leg work with Karen

Spice - 10 yrs old - showing a relatively low through arms jump with Kath

 leading up to her "Body Bopping" 

 Hamish - 10 yrs old - shows how to be shy with Lesley!

Kes, the most "mature" dog in the team at 14 yrs old - shows she can still skip as well as Karen

 And then shows how she learnt safely to be on Karen's back

 After the final height after months of training!

 Kath explaining how she taught the moves she just demonstrated

 Then Karen's turn ...................

And finally Lesley.
Thanks to Chris and Chris for taking time out to visit the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team!

Kath and Spice on Radio Derby

Kath and Spice were invited to Radio Derby today to  Aleena Naylor's Programme to talk about Britains Got Talent and training dogs to perform Heelwork To Music - or Dancing Dogs as it is more often called.

Spice wanted to get as close as possible to Aleena for an in depth interview.  They talked about BGT, dog training, and the sport of Heelwork To Music.

If you want to "Listen Again" then try this LINK and the interview starts around 2:12:00

More Qualify for the 2013 Crufts Semis

Canine Freestyle GB HTM Competition held at Tomlinson's Leicestershire was the event where three more Top Lodge Dancing Dogs qualified to enter the 2013 Crufts Semi Finals to be held at Stoneleigh in January 2013.

Lesley with Angus won the Advanced Freestyle class with their great routine to "Elegance" qualifying them for the Crufts Semi Final Freestyle.

Spice had a good result too - she was placed 2nd in Advanced Freestyle but had already qualified at Westglen Show last month

Karen with Fly won the Advanced Heelwork To Music class with their routine to "Singing In The Rain" qualifying them for the Crufts Semi Final in HTM.

Kath with Amber were placed 2nd in the Advanced Heelwork To Music Class with their routine to "Celtic Kitten" qualifying them for the Crufts Semi Final in HTM.

And in the final class of the day,  Lesley with Hamish had a great performance in Intermediate Heelwork To Music giving them a 2nd place!


Well Done to the Top Lodge Dancing Dog Team for a great weekend's results.

Karen and Fly Appear on BBC Breakfast

Following a comfortable night in a 4 star hotel in Manchester, Karen, Allan and their 3 dogs were picked up at the crack of dawn in a luxury people carrier for their 5 minute journey into Media City in Salford, which is now home to the BBC Breakfast programme.

A Beautiful If Chilly Early Morning At BBC Media City, Manchester

Situated next door to the Manchester Ship Canal, the views from the BBC building were amazing.

Private Green Room , Usually Used By Jules Holland

We were greeted at reception where everyone made a fuss of the dogs before we were issued with security badges and taken through to our own private green room – normally used by Jules Holland.

Fly Happy With The Close Up Shots

During the course of the morning we were in and out of the building many times to film live for their ‘coming up later in the programme’ teasers on the piazza adjacent to the canal.  The weather was beautifully sunny but the wind was so cold!  Anyone who has ever done any filming will know how much standing around it involves – thank goodness for my Team GB jacket to keep me cosy.  Fly also had her Union Flag coat to help to keep out the elements.

Fly, Eager to Start

We filmed around 6 teasers before the final interview scheduled for the end of the programme.  Fly was superb, always ready, willing and able.  The camera and sound crew were very impressed with her work ethic!

Mike Bushell At His Desk in BBC Sport

Mike Bushell BBC Sports Presenter Mid-Interview

Since the move to Salford is a recent one for BBC Breakfast they are still ironing out one or two teething problems.  The biggest problem we had that morning was a failure in ‘talk back’ which allows the production team in the gallery to cue in the outside broadcast and direct operations.  One of the interviews was missed due to this in spite of us being in position, but that is live TV for you!

Mike Bushell Gets A Feel For The Sport

Mike was keen to ‘have a go’ with Fly and she did her best to train Mike…  I think they need to rehearse if they are going to dance together without Mike looking like Quasimodo or John Wayne!  

Mike Happy To Get Close To Fly

 Mike had a great attitude though and Fly was very happy with him.

Preparing For The Interview With  Mike Bushell

Roving Camera following Karen and Fly's Every Move

The Big Screen Outside The Studio

Meeting Fly's Fans In BBC Sport Department

Once we had finished for the morning Mike asked if we would come through to the Sports department as the staff in there had asked if it was possible to meet Fly.  They were thrilled to meet all 3 dogs, Kes and Erin taking their turn in the limelight too. 

Finally a car back to the hotel and we were dropped off in style.  Fly met some more fans in the reception who recognised her from the TV that morning.

Thank you to Mike, Olive and the rest of the team for making our time with you a very pleasant experience.