Superdogs: The Greatest Show on Earth

A Riddle: Who Draws More Fan Than Britney Spears, has achieved international notoriety, and has an about-to-be-released feature film reflecting his vision?

The answer lies in Toronto, with Canada's Herb Williams, found of the canine extravaganza Superdogs.  In 1978,the 75-year-old visionary took a long-time dream to Vancouver, B.C.'s, Pacific National Exhibition. It was his version of a "Modern Dog Show."  Since then, his vision has taken off like a... well, like Border Colie after a herd of sheep.

Most men in their seventies are strolling golf courses, tending roses in cardigans or meandering down Main Streets with sedate canine companies.  Not Herb Williams.  He spends most of his time on stage in a pair of rollerblades and owns more tuxedos than he can count.

Catching up with the innovator of Superdogs is a fear in itself, as he spends up to 200 days as year on the road.  Is is a cat-and-mouse game that eventually leads to a couple of enroute interviews over his cell phone.

Superdogs have been termed the "dog Olympics." The canine performers leap over high barriers, race through tunnels, and perform acrobatic manoeuvres.  All their anyics are accompanied by music and lights and an emcee's colourful commentary.  Doggie dance routines and comedy are also part of the mix.  The effect is sensational, to say the least.  Crowds are consistently thrilled.

William's love for dogs is indisputable.  "My life has no equal," he says from somewhere on the road between Columbus, Ohio, and Toronto.  He began his life in dog fancy as a top handler and owner of Chow Chows - still one of his favourite breeds.  The breed led Williams to more than 100 Best in Show ring in Westminister after winning the non-sporting group.

He wisely advises that Chows are not the breed for everyone, but, "They're great pieces of furniture."  With an eye for the unqiue, his is drawn to dogs that are "traffic-stoppers."  Because of the huge time commitment required to produce and co-star in Superdog events, Williams doesn't currently own a dog, but he and his wife share property with their son and daughter-in-law, and they are frequently visited by the Staffordshire Bull Terriers (also know as "English" Staffordshire Terriers) and Rottweilers who share the property.

With so much recent publicity about banned and restricted breeds, it's interesting to get William's perspective on this controversial subject - one he addresses without hesitation.  "There would be no need for breed legislation if people just familiarized themselves with a breed," he says.  As Staffordshire Terriers and Rottweilers are often targets for this type of legislation, it's interested to note that both of these breeds are regular Superdog performers.  Even more significant is the fact that the main element of a potential "Superdog" is his ability to work as part of a team.  This is hardly the image many have of these often-maligned breeds.

In face, the Staffie, as it's affectionately known, is the only breed of dog in North America who breed standard specifically mentions that it is good with children.  For this reason, it is nicknamed the "Nanny Dog" in England.  One of the top crowd-pleasers in the Superdogs show is a rescued Staffie named Tadpole.  "Staffies are funny, funny, funny," says Williams, who also confesses, "It's hard to do disco with an English Staffordshire Terrier."

Williams is confident that, "If everyone got a breed according to their lifestyle, we would have no need for the legislation."  He encourages dog owners to learn and understand how different types of dogs behave, from toy breeds to sighhounds.  His advice to people considering a Siberian Husky as a pet?  If they get loose, "get ready to go running for a while."

A hefty 40 percent of the Superdog team is made up of rescues.  While many dogs obtained as puppies know nothing other than pampered lives as human companions, adult rescues bring something a little different. "They're the best, because I believe they know they've been adopted with much love and they turn it on in the shows."

He encourages dog owners to learn and understand
how different types of dogs behave.

Williams is an advocate of the rescue dog and warmly recalls a series of shows he did in Edmonton.  The productions included different adoptable dogs from the city's SPCA, and one dog in particular caught Williams's attention.  "This bedraggled, big, shaggy dog came on stage.  He was overwhelmed [by the lights and audience], but when he approached me and put his paw up towards me... I thought, no one else is getting that dog but me."  Dr Seuss is a gorgeous Briard mix that was wandering the streets of Edmonton, unwanted.  He now lives with William's business partner, Chase, in Montreal - "because I'm away so much," Williams says.

From Bulldogs to Borzois, this rivalry for "The Greatest Show Dog on Earth" is top-notch family entertainment.  At his recent show in Columbus, the facility's head of security approached Williams.  Particularly impressed with content that was suitable for the entire family, he told William's, "We need more shows like Superdogs."
 
Williams' team boasts 150 trainers and 300 performers, but because of increasing popularity they need to recruit even more.  The process for consideration is relatively simple.  Those who have dogs with basic obedience are, more importantly, a willingness to act as part of a team, can contact Williams at his website at www.superdogs.com.  But scene-stealers beward.  Williams says there is no room for "prima donnas."

Prima donna or not, there is a clear crowd favourite, another rescue.  Some would say he's so ugly he's cute.  He's a Bulldog named Pot Roast.  "He's W.C. Fields, Mickey Rooney. He's Jerry Lewis."  Pot Roast was rescued by his owner and trainer while they were both still in New York.  Today, the pair resides in Caledon, Ontario.
 
All of the Superdogs performers live with their owners and trainers.  They are companions first, and the amount of time spent training is up for each trainer.  Most dogs may only perform two or three times a year, but big crowd favourites such as Pot Roast and high jumper Sprint, a Borzoi-Whippet cross, perform more often.

The short story is that the dogs love what they do as much as Williams (who vows never to retire) does.  With the show gaining popularity annually, it has entertained more than 30 million people over 27 years.  Soon, the film Daniel and the Superdogs will capture part of the vision of Herb Williams has for all Superdogs - where "every dog is Best in Show."

Barbara McClarty, based in Langley, B.C., breeds and shows champion Rhodesian Ridgebacks.  A third-generation breeder at Of Course kennels, wide know for it's Whippets, Barb has ten years' communications and public relations experience.  Her writing has appeared in a variety of popular and trade publications distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada.