The cast of the President’s Choice^® SuperDogs^®’ latest production, Hip Hop Hooray, both in Vancouver at the Pacific National Exhibition and in Toronto at the Canadian National Exhibition, consists of energetic performers of all breeds and sizes.  The dogs also vary in age and experience – from versatile and reliable veterans like Puff Daddy, Leap, and Butterball, to dynamic youngsters with a lot of promise like True, Dexter, and Tonks.

Part of the thrill of watching the President’s Choice^® SuperDogs^® arises from the excitement surrounding the young dogs making their first tentative steps as first-class performers.  It can take one’s breath away.  For the younger dogs, performing before large crowds in a setting with dramatic lighting and the exquisite strains of Hip-Hop music comes with lots of preparation and training despite their tender age.  Indeed, a great deal of behind-the-scenes training gives the young dogs enough self-assurance to step into the spotlight like pros.  Dogs typically enjoy hours of practice – and suddenly they make their debut, like Jane Book’s True did over the first week at the CNE in both Frisbee and Gold Rush, and like Kyla Ballard’s Dexter did in weaves.  Kate Gartley’s Tonks has been clearing nine bars in practice on the puissance jump and will soon make his debut, while Amy White’s Captain Kangaroo recently jumped a personal best of ten bars.  At the PNE, Alex McNeill’s Auto stepped into the limelight for the very first time, 7up the viszla jumped an unprecedented eight bars, and the Sedin boxer twins, Henrik and Daniel, are now doing synchronized high-jumping. 

Long-time favorites among the cast’s performers continue to inspire cheers at their antics and athletic prowess.  At the CNE, Sherry Etifier’s Lady Gaga always puts her own spin on weaves; Jack Jorgensen’s Skeptic remains undefeated in bullseye Frisbee; and Shannen Jorgensen’s mini-Aussie Tea Cup steals the hearts of the audience at every show.  At the PNE, Kizmet the Pharaoh hound has been wowing audiences with his high-jumping skills; Snap, Crackle, and Pop, Lisa Sun’s three little pugs, have been demonstrating skillful pole-weaving abilities, delighting their fans; and Bam Bam the Boston terrier has acquired a reputation for uncouth behaviour during musical mats.  

It’s no wonder the shows at both the Canadian National Exhibition and the Pacific National Exhibition have been sold out all week.  The performers in the President’s Choice^® SuperDogs^® give back to their loyal fans the ineffable joys of self-renewal, inspired creativity, satisfying doses of unpredictability, and plenty of canine exuberance.

The President’s Choice^® SuperDogs^® perform at the Canadian National Exhibition at the Direct Energy Centre, Hall D, at Exhibition Place in Toronto, three times a day at 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. They perform three times a day at the Pacific National Exhibition in the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver at 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. Both shows run until Labour Day.