Dr. Dunbar’s 28-Day Good Dog Challenge

Finale Prep

Day 27 · Plan a Performance! Tomorrow is the Grand Finale.

Today’s challenge

Plan a 30-second routine that starts and ends with a Sit or a Bow, with your dog’s best moves in between. Pick a song and practice it 3 times. By midnight tonight, text me your song and your dog’s favorite move.

Plan your routine

Tomorrow is the Grand Finale! So today, we get ready. Plan a 30-second routine: start with a Bow or a Sit, add all your dog’s best moves in between, and end with a Bow. Be creative!

A simple 30-second routine

Start: Sit, or Bow
Warm up the crowd: a few lightning-fast position changes, with hand signals
The fancy bit: Figure 8, Circle, Spin, or Back-up & Come Fore
The showstopper: your dog’s best trick: Rollover, Bang!, Beg, or Wave
Finish: Sit, and a Bow to your audience, together!

Your dog’s repertoire

Need ideas? Here’s everything you’ve learned together. Pick your dog’s favorites:

Position changes: Puppy Push-ups, Sit, Down, and Stand, with hand signals or words
Moving: Follow Me, Heel-Sits, Follow Me If You Can, Back-up & Come Fore
Tricks: Rollover, Bang!, Beg, Bow, Shake, and Wave, Figure 8, Circle, and Spin
Calm moves: Sit-Stay & Watch Me, Jazz-up & Settle Down, Go to Your Bed

Pick a song

Something that makes you smile, and that suits your dog. Bouncy for a bouncy dog, smooth for a dignified one. Ian’s dog ZouZou’s favorite dance numbers were “The Love Club” by Lorde and “Revenge” by Pink and Eminem.

Practice three times

Keep it short and fun, with lots of praise.
Use hand signals and words, and only the occasional piece of kibble from your pocket. No food in your hand!
If your dog gets a move wrong, just laugh and carry on. Nobody’s judging. Bloopers are welcome.
Stick to what your dog loves. A happy, simple routine beats a complicated one every time.

Get ready to film

Find someone to film you tomorrow, or work out where you’ll prop up your phone. Hold your phone upright, face the light, get the whole of your dog in the shot, and leave the sound on, so we can hear your “Good Dog!” More filming tips on the Videos and Prizes page.

Spread the word by sharing your joy with your dog in public. Every twenty-five yards on every walk, stop to showcase what you’ve learned together: a short performance at every stop. That’s all it takes for others to see what you do… and want it!

— Ian

Special tips

My dog only knows a few moves.

Perfect! A routine of three moves your dog loves, done with style, is better than ten moves done badly. Repeat them, mix up the order, and finish with a Bow.

My dog gets distracted by the music.

Play it quietly in the background while you practice, and turn it up a little each time.

Thirty seconds feels long.

It goes by fast! Count how many moves you can fit in, and add a little Jazz-up and Settle Down in the middle if you need to fill time.

Can I include my family?

Absolutely! Have family members call your dog for Round-Robin Recalls, or take turns giving instructions.

What’s next

Tomorrow, Day 28, it’s the Grand Finale: Dance with Your Dog!

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