Dog show returns to Buffalo Zoo, will showcase talents of rescue dogs all summer
There’s yet another paw-some reason to spend a summer day at the Buffalo Zoo.
The Canine Champions for Conservation dog show has returned to the Buffalo Zoo’s Center Stage, with shows taking place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. every day except Tuesdays throughout the summer.
The show highlights the remarkable talents of rescue dogs, showcasing daring tricks and awe-inspiring displays led by trainers Samantha Valle and Brandon Chin of Stunt Dog Productions. Not only that, each show educates audiences on the important role dogs play in wildlife conservation.
For Valle and Chin, their shows at the Buffalo Zoo are unique to others they do throughout the year.
“This show’s style is completely different from our other theater or fair shows since we include the important messages of wildlife conservation,” Chin said. “We get to show off the dogs’ talents, inform the public about the importance of pet rescuing, and highlight the work of dogs aiding zoos in wildlife conservation. We get all these important messages across in 25 minutes, while showcasing agility, high jumping, obstacle racing, dogs jump roping, and much more. We love it.”
Valle and Chin’s team of rescue dogs sees some returnees and also new faces for this year’s shows. The dogs set to amaze audiences all summer include:
- Cheese
- Pepper Jack
- Kenny Queso
- Whittaker Jones
- Rendezvous
- Pez
- Swiffer
- Zamboni
- Ripper
- Bogo
Valle boasts quite a resume, training dogs for over 20 years and holding three Guinness world records alongside her dogs: one for highest jump by a dog (75.5 inches achieved by Feather the greyhound) and two related to jumping rope with dogs. She’s performed on The Today Show, The Tonight Show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, The Steve Harvey Show, The View, Live with Kelly and Ryan, Netflix’s Inside the mind of a Dog, ESPN and more. She regularly goes viral for her famous double dutch jump rope trick, which racks up millions of views by the end of every sport season. Valle has been doing halftime shows for the past 10 years as well, and they’re her favorite type of show to perform.
“She’s self-taught, a lot of us in the dog world have to seek it out through the internet or other trainers but it just comes naturally to Sam,” Chin said. “She can do a lot of cool things.”
For Chin, who got into dog training in 2017 while he was in college, the relationship he is able to build with his dogs is what he loves most about his work.
To build that special relationship, plenty of prep is needed, and that eventually results in the awe-inspiring performances guests experience.
It all starts during the first meeting between trainer and dog. Most of the dogs involved in Valle and Chin’s show is a rescue, and the pair regularly visit humane societies and animal shelters while they’re on the road. They’ll often come across dogs that are high energy and may not be best suited for a small home, so they adopt them, bring them along on their travels and train them.
“The training is never-ending,” Chin said. “We’ll do shorter sessions to that might be an hour’s worth a day, but there’s also training that goes when we’re not officially training.”
Outside of the dog show, Valle and Chin have the chance to explore Buffalo and the surrounding area. Besides the hiking and proximity to Canada, they’ve noticed one major thing: Western New York loves their dogs.
“Buffalo is such a dog-friendly city,” Chin said. “It’s nice to have a giant park nearby where I see people walking their dogs and there’s a lot of businesses you can go in and I’ll see dogs as well.”
The Canine Champions for Conservation dog show will be a feature included for no extra cost at the Buffalo Zoo through Labor Day weekend.
