It’s Me Or The Dog – With Kath And Spice

Thursday 1st June.  Just an ordinary day.  Plenty of jobs to do, washing, cleaning, dogs to walk and train, shopping to do.  And then the phone rang!!

The Its Me or The Dog Crew, Victoria Stillwell, Kath with Spice and the couple with their problem dog Lucy

The call was from a lady working for the Channel 4 TV Series – “Its Me Or The Dog”, asking if I would be willing to perform a routine of “Dog Dancing” for Victoria Stillwell, the lady who helps people train their wilful dogs into happy family members.

This was the Thursday before the Fife HTM Competition which I had agreed to help with from the early organising of the event.  I was leaving home for Scotland on Friday morning and the caller wanted me in Leeds with Spice on the following Tuesday. Well anything’s possible if you put your mind to it, so my answer was “Yes please I would love to help as long as the floor surface was is acceptable for Spice’s well-being”.

The TV Producer wanted a routine which would be an incentive to the young couple to be featured on the programme by giving them an insight into what a dog can be trained to do.  The dog in question was a rescued Staffie cross Labrador, named Lucy, who was basically so bored she made her own entertainment which always resulted in trouble.  The researcher told me that Victoria loved the new sport of Heelwork To Music and she felt it would help this couple, Rowan Martin and George Riley , with their problem dog.  George works within the music industry so the TV Producers felt there could be a link to interest both of them in resolving the problems.

The music requested was from Spice’s current routine “Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines”.  The lady from the TV Company said they had a whole library of music and getting permission to use it wouldn’t be a problem. She would find their library version and send it by Special Delivery Post in the hope that it would arrive the next day, Friday morning before we left for Scotland.  Yes, it arrived, – but it wasn’t the version we use, in fact it wasn’t anything like our version - it was an instrumental marching piece of music.

Not one to be easily defeated, I put it into the car CD player ready for our 6 hour journey North.   En-route I choreographed most of Spice’s more “spectacular” moves to the “new” music and after about 20 repeat plays, David was asking how many more times he had to listen to it!  No problem, I had adapted what we normally do and learnt the re-jigged routine as the music supplied was only very short!

Just before arriving at the venue for the Fife Competition I received another phone call. The original music had been cleared as permission had been given for them to use it!  I’m not sure if I felt relieved after all the work I had put in to the ‘new routine’ on our journey northward, but at least I could now put all thoughts and effort into helping at the Fife Show and Amber, my youngster’s first attempt in competition.

Scotland was wonderful, so much open space, so quiet!!  This made a very pleasant break from home, the computer and all the jobs I had left behind!

Monday was spent back at home sorting out the costume and liaising with the TV Company.  They gave me the address for the filming which was a Youth Centre in Headingley, Leeds, it was all fully carpeted and suited us brilliantly.

Tuesday morning was an early rise to leave home with David and all four of our dogs to arrive in Leeds before the rush-hour.  

We were first to arrive at The Youth Centre, but the caretaker had opened up for us.  The flooring was superb and the size of the room was more than adequate.

The TV crew arrived around 9:00am and straight away set up their equipment. The only unforeseen problem was the heat of the day.  It was very warm and my costume included sheepskin lined boots, and leather jacket, oh, and Flying Scarf!  This could be tiring for both Spice and me!

They asked for a full routine before filming and I explained that usually the first performance is the best with Spice. The TV Crew were quiet throughout, but they gave us such a round of applause at the end.  Apparently this was their first view of dog dancing and apart from them being very impressed with little Spice, it came as a bit of a shock to the TV Camera Crew just how much the dog and I moved around, not only across the floor but in differing heights too!!!

OK – would we run through it again? Was Spice alright?  Yes we would and Spice was thoroughly enjoying this routine.  So this time they filmed it, not quite as perfect as the first but at least I had warned them and I don’t think they noticed anything different.

A drink for Spice and a 2nd bottle of water for me!   David keeping a check on the other three dogs but luckily we had found a shady spot for parking.

Could we run through it again?   Yes, as long as we had a 10 minute break! – Spice was happy and I was keeping calm although getting hot! Then they told me – they wanted to film the entire routine without MUSIC!!!  

This was the hardest one yet, having to sing the song in my head and at the same time remember what and when to cue Spice and recall the routine in the correct order and same floor pattern.  We did our best, probably a few extra weaves when I was finding it hard to concentrate on the next move, the next command and the next phrase of music!

Rest time for Spice and me with time to cool off and gather ourselves?  No way!!  Spice had a break but I had to do an interview directly to camera explaining the sport and the benefits brought by HTM to dog and handler.  First question – What is Heelwork To Music?  I answered with not one “erm” or “pause” or “blank look”. The only trouble was they hadn’t got the sound right so they wanted me to answer it again!  Well I’m a bit “Spice-like” in that the first is always the best, but we hope when edited, that it comes over as a sensible but fun sport!

As soon as the interview was finished, Victoria arrived with the couple and their dog.   I was to be ready in start pose (Spice on my back with my arms outstretched ready to Fly!) and when they came into the room and were seated that was our cue to give it everything!   But this was our fourth complete routine and both of us were beginning to loose our get up and go, but we did do our very best to show off the routine to Victoria and her “clients”.  There were speechless! They were amazed! They loved Spice, I felt like I was Spice’s prop – and actually that’s exactly what I am!

David took Spice away for another well earned rest whilst I was asked to show the couple some simple moves for their dog, Lucy.  I was told that Lucy was not motivated by toy but always hungry.  But, she wasn’t interested in the food, she looked at the sausage and cheese and just sniffed it unenthusiastically.  However, once she realised that she was allowed to eat the food on offer, she seemed a little more willing.  With very limited time the couple learnt how to teach the dog quite a few moves and soon realised how the mental exercise of this sport is good exercise for the dog.   Spins, twirls, weaves and even a simple “puppy” recall produced a good game for them and their dog.   Lucy found it very satisfying to jump up at them, yes they were actually laughing and starting to have fun with their dog and discovering the things she could do, far better to see something positive than looking at the behaviour they found to be a problem.

The format of the show is for Victoria to revisit them after a few weeks and both Rowan and George said they would to try and have a short routine ready for her return.  Victoria is a thoroughly nice lady, she let me do the training, without hassle and she was very interested in how I taught the dog through simple luring and no hands on!

I trust that the programme will be televised in a very positive way for our sport.  It should be shown in the Autumn and Spice hopes it’s as enjoyable to watch as it was to make.