Get Your Dog On

If your pooch only knows how to sit and roll over, he's so 2006. Time to teach him the two-step, the foxtrot — maybe even the rumba. All over YouTube, there's a growing number of clips featuring real live dogs bopping through routines ranging from Grease's "You're the One that I Want" to Flashdance's "Maniac." The dogs themselves don't keep beat to the music; their owners run them through carefully timed jumps and tricks. Still — eat your heart out, Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Beals.

"It's so different than anything you've ever seen," says Sue Cianfarani, president of local doggie-dancing organization Mile High Musical Tails. "When the dog's right on the money, it's really beautiful to watch." Cianfarani's organization is sponsoring the World Canine Freestyle Association's Mile High Canine Dancers Cabaret today and tomorrow as part of the 2007 Colorado Family Pet Expo at the Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street.

Cheer on hometown pups each morning as they compete against contestants from around the country. Then, each afternoon, watch them get shaggy wit' it during freestyle demos. If that's not enough hotdoggin' for you, the expo offers numerous pet-product exhibit booths and events including Frisbee dog shows and lovable-pooch contests. Doors open at 9 a.m. each day, and admission is $8 for adults, $5 for ages three to twelve. For more information, go to www.petcolorado.com or call 1-800-946-4611, ext. 210. Sorry, only contestants can bring dogs; you'll have to save the Footloose routines with Fido for when you get home.
Sat., March 10, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sun., March 11, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.