Dancing Dogs: Training your Best Friend

 		 

940-433 WOOF (9663)          (214) 476-5577                         

dancingdobe@aol.com                   PO Box 211, Boyd TX 76023
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Mary Waugh Swindell

Mary started her dog training vocation with her "pound puppy" Gwen, from the Collin County Humane Society (now the SPCA McKinney).  Gwen excelled in her first obedience class, and quickly became the star pupil. 

Gwen later received a Limited Privledge number from the United Kennel Club to compete as an English Shepherd, and finished her CDX in that venue.  Gwen and Mary began agility training, but Gwen was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia, and so she played in agility but did not compete often. 

For 16 years Gwen helped Mary to teach classes, perform demonstrations, and keep peace and order in the free world.  It was tough work keeping those rowdy Dobermans in line!

 

 

 

In 1996 Mary contacted Nancy Christensen of Renejade Dobermans and brought home a chubby little pup who she called Devon.  Devon grew into a hansdome, confident dog whose benevolent nature and wicked sense of humor tickled those he met.  While he participated in obedience and agillity, Devon's love was Freestyle Dancing.

In 1999 Devon was featured in Animal Planet's Breed All About it, where he danced for millions, showing off his favorite backwards moves, jumping through Mary's arms and mugging the camera.

Devon performed Freestyle demonstrations at the Cotton Bowl Parade, countless benefits and shows thoughout the country.  His michevious smile and love of the spotlight helped him to make friends everywhere along the way.

In 2001 a grouchy pup from Devon's second litter decided that he was leaving Cleveland and ready to go to Texas.  Named after the movie character Cassanova Frankenstein, our Cassanova has become an agility dog extraodinare.  Following in his daddy-dog's famous footsteps, Cassanova is making his mark on the agility community and in TV with his agility prowess. 

In 2006 he completed the Clean Run Ultimate Weave Pole Challenge in under 12 seconds, and placed first at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge Regional 60 weave plole competition, due to air on ESPN2 this summer.  He will be at the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge National Competition this fall, airing on ABC in January.

In 2003 Mary married the co-founder of Dancing Dogs, her husband Michael.  They merged their 2 dog loving families into a 5 dog household with the addition of 2 rescue Dobermans from Doberman Rescue of North Texas.

Madeira is a true rags to riches story; when Michael saw her, she was rescued from the streets of Fort Worth, afraid of dogs and people, scarred and abused.   Lots of love, patience and training from Michael has brought her full circle, to a sucessfull agility competitor, CGC evaluation dog, and now our (human!) baby's nanny.