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The Canine Freestyle Federation, Inc.
he Canine Freestyle Federation, Inc. (CFF) is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1995 by Joan Tennille. It is the oldest canine freestyle organization in the US. Its founder was one of the first to formally introduce “Canine Freestyle” as a new dog sport in this country when she choreographed routines for four of the top AKC obedience dog and handler teams who performed them at The Gaines-Cycle Classic in 1993. CFF titles: CFF awards multiple titles in Canine Freestyle competition in the following regular classes: Level I, II, III and IV. The titles for each are abbreviated respectively as CFFI, CFFII, CFFIII and CFFIV. “If the Level IV title is earned with three scores of 80 or higher, then, the Champion title is awarded: CH CFFIV,” says Gaea Michel, CFF President. She competes in Canine Freestyle with her Rottweilers and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Within each level of competition, the handler may compete with a single dog or a Brace. Titles earned in Brace competition are designated as follows: CFFIB, CFFIIB, CFFIIIB and CFFIVB. There also is a team category in which dog and handler teams may compete. A team is composed of up to five dog and handler units. Each performance is scored by two judges. In order to earn each title, exhibitors must receive a combined judges’ score of 65 or better out of a possible 100 points at one titling event. Routines presented at all competition levels are scored in five different categories: technical training; teamwork; choreography; appropriateness and use of the music; and presentation and artistry. Each judge awards a maximum of 10 points in each of the five. As in other dog sports, the dog must meet certain requirements by performing some specific techniques or movements at each level of competition. “In Level I competition, dogs must heel on the right and left side and execute circles, serpentines, or pivots,” Mitchel says. “As competition levels advance, lateral movements as well as backing are added requirements. Dogs could perform backing for example, while heeling on their handler’s right or left side. They also could back away from their handler while in front of him or back
Elaine Nabors and Rhyme (CH Starbright Once Upon a Time, CD, CH CFF IV) are shown earning their first leg for the Champion title. Photo by Jim Poor.
Gaea Mitchel and PeliAnn (Lewiswood Coppelia Fianna, CD, RE, AX, MXJ, NF, CFF IIT, CFF IV) at the close of the performance that earned the CFF IV title. Photo by Jim Poor.
away from either side of him. A pace change at all levels of competition is required too.” While Level I competition is performed on-lead, all other levels of competition are performed off-lead. “With each advancing level of competition, there is increasing complexity in the choreography and dog work. Level I competition simply shows the dog’s movement to music with a rhythm that matches the dog’s trot and uses the space wisely. At Level IV, the dog and handler must perform a routine that’s 2-1/2 to 4 minutes in length and demonstrates the dog’s flexibility, athleticism and training,” Mitchel says. Despite some required movements, CFF competition affords the handler much latitude when choreographing routines. Unlike obedience competition where a specific number of exercises must be performed in a precisely defined way, here, the handler may emphasize his dog’s strengths while deemphasizing its shortcomings.
Betty Swenson and Yahtzee (HTCH Lacy’s Yahtzee, CDX, HXAs, CH CFF IV) shown during a live performance. Yahtzee is the only dog to date to have fulfilled the requirements for the CH CFF IV title twice. Photo by Jim Poor.
Eligibility, prerequisites and guilds: CFF competition is open to all dog and handler teams. In order to compete, it is helpful if dogs have some basic obedience training. “Basic obedience is the foundation for almost all dog sports that involve the dog moving in proximity to the handler. Most [Canine Freestyle] instructors prefer that dogs entering their classes have some obedience training, while others absolutely require it. “Rally training is even more useful. If all a dog has been taught to do is to ‘heel’ and ‘come’ in obedience, then, it doesn’t have much of movement vocabulary. Rally dogs are trained to do different kinds of movements like pivots; serpentines around cones; and sits, stands and downs while in motion. That means they come to freestyle with more skills,” Mitchel says. As an organization, CFF is composed of individual members who belong to guilds. Guilds hold titling events as well as support members as they develop their routines. With only four or five CFF Guilds holding a two-day trial annually at present, those interested in competing at a CFF titling event would need to travel in order to do so. (Although extremely popular in the UK, Canine Freestyle is a sport in transition in the US. Interest here is growing but hasn’t reached anywhere near the saturation of Agility. Although the AKC has expressed interest in Canine Freestyle, it has not recognized the sport to date either.) For more information about CFF, those interested may visit http://www. canine-freestyle.org/guilds.asp. Continued on page 106
Dog News 45