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PUBLISHED: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Shake, rattle and roll over
By CHRIS WILLIAMS
Source Staff Writer
Shelby Township is going to the dogs.
The nationally recognized Rock and Roll K-9s will bark to a rock and roll beat at the Shelby Township Municipal Grounds on July 16 as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Summer Concert Series. The free concert gives audiences of all ages a chance to see some of Detroit’s most talented canines strut their stuff to popular music.
Pam Koons, owner and director of Rock and Roll K-9s, said animal lovers will have a blast watching the dogs perform various tricks for an enthusiastic audience.
“People just seem to love it and they really love the dogs,” Koons said.
During the show, some of the group’s 40 dogs from around the area will perform various tricks and take part in several contests. A fly-ball contest keeps the dogs running, while the high jump sees which canines can leap the highest. The popular “grand prix” portion of the event has each dog navigating a course of rock-and-roll themed obstacles to their own rock music and events such as the high jump see just how skilled each beloved pet is. The louder the crowd cheers, Koons said, the more the dogs enjoy it.
“The dogs have a great time and they really pick up on the energy of the crowds,” she said. “One of our dogs who does the high jumps really feeds off the crowd. The louder they get, the higher she jumps.”
Rock and Roll K-9s have been entertaining audiences throughout the state for more than 13 years, although Koons said the rock-and-roll styling of the act came about as a happy accident when they approached the Novi City Council for permission to perform at the city’s annual “50s Festival” in 1995.
“We approached the board and told them what we wanted to do and they asked us if we had a name for our act,” Koons recalled. “We really hadn’t even been expecting them to say yes so fast, so we hadn’t even thought about it. I came up with the name Rock and Roll K-9s’ on the spot and it stuck.”
Since then, the group has toured the state, bringing a mix of dogs to each event and dazzling crowds as the animals race through tunnels, around obstacle courses, play “musical mats” and show off their obedience and agility skills.
Most of the dogs who participate with the group have an obedience and agility background and Koons said the show is intended as a fun reprieve from the intense and competitive shows many dogs are trained for.
“This is just a fun thing we get people to do with their dogs. It’s a break from the dog shows, where they have to compete,” she said. “Our big thing is that we hope people will see what we do and see that it’s something fun they can do with their dogs.”
The Rock and Roll K-9s will perform at the Shelby Township Municipal Grounds on July 16 at 7 p.m. The event is free and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to sit on. For more information, contact the Shelby Township Parks and Recreation Department at 731-0300
PUBLISHED: Sunday, July 13, 2008
Shake, rattle and roll over
By CHRIS WILLIAMS
Source Staff Writer
Shelby Township is going to the dogs.
The nationally recognized Rock and Roll K-9s will bark to a rock and roll beat at the Shelby Township Municipal Grounds on July 16 as part of the Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Summer Concert Series. The free concert gives audiences of all ages a chance to see some of Detroit’s most talented canines strut their stuff to popular music.
Pam Koons, owner and director of Rock and Roll K-9s, said animal lovers will have a blast watching the dogs perform various tricks for an enthusiastic audience.
“People just seem to love it and they really love the dogs,” Koons said.
During the show, some of the group’s 40 dogs from around the area will perform various tricks and take part in several contests. A fly-ball contest keeps the dogs running, while the high jump sees which canines can leap the highest. The popular “grand prix” portion of the event has each dog navigating a course of rock-and-roll themed obstacles to their own rock music and events such as the high jump see just how skilled each beloved pet is. The louder the crowd cheers, Koons said, the more the dogs enjoy it.
“The dogs have a great time and they really pick up on the energy of the crowds,” she said. “One of our dogs who does the high jumps really feeds off the crowd. The louder they get, the higher she jumps.”
Rock and Roll K-9s have been entertaining audiences throughout the state for more than 13 years, although Koons said the rock-and-roll styling of the act came about as a happy accident when they approached the Novi City Council for permission to perform at the city’s annual “50s Festival” in 1995.
“We approached the board and told them what we wanted to do and they asked us if we had a name for our act,” Koons recalled. “We really hadn’t even been expecting them to say yes so fast, so we hadn’t even thought about it. I came up with the name Rock and Roll K-9s’ on the spot and it stuck.”
Since then, the group has toured the state, bringing a mix of dogs to each event and dazzling crowds as the animals race through tunnels, around obstacle courses, play “musical mats” and show off their obedience and agility skills.
Most of the dogs who participate with the group have an obedience and agility background and Koons said the show is intended as a fun reprieve from the intense and competitive shows many dogs are trained for.
“This is just a fun thing we get people to do with their dogs. It’s a break from the dog shows, where they have to compete,” she said. “Our big thing is that we hope people will see what we do and see that it’s something fun they can do with their dogs.”
The Rock and Roll K-9s will perform at the Shelby Township Municipal Grounds on July 16 at 7 p.m. The event is free and attendees are encouraged to bring blankets or chairs to sit on. For more information, contact the Shelby Township Parks and Recreation Department at 731-0300