Many Calgarians say the Stampede is barking up the wrong tree with its new canine stunt act.
After 37 years, the Stampede has dropped the beloved SuperDogs franchise in favour of the Canine Stars, a similar show based in the U.S. Both involve dogs performing stunts and agility feats such as pole weaving, high jumping, Frisbee catching and fly ball. The Canine Stars act, called the Dog Bowl, adds dock diving which sees the dogs launch themselves eight metres into a large pool of water.
Jennifer Booth, Stampede public relations manager, said the SuperDogs were a mainstay for more than three decades and officials felt, based on audience surveys, that it was time for a “new experience.”
But public reaction to the news was fast and furious on social media. “Boo! The rodeo should be gettin’ the boot! And the wagon races too! Save the super dog. That’s it — Calgary is off my list” was one of 121 comments on the story. “That’s a lame argument. “Oh we need something new” you say after 37 years? I call b.s. on that. If that was the case would have happened 20 years ago. I’m sure the replacement will be fine but still boo.” “That sucks. To be honest it was one of the main reasons to go to the Stampede.” “The people loved the super dogs. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.”
Phil Shuchat, CEO of Spot On Entertainment which operates SuperDogs, believes cost was a factor in the decision, especially in the declining economy. He said the Stampede asked all of its marquee attractions to bid on their shows for this year. Shuchat submitted three options, including an outdoor one, all at a lower cost than in the past ” knowing that they were sensitive to economic pressures.”
But the Stampede told him they were going in a different direction.
“I guess when there’s a bad economic downturn, and the first thing you do is run to hire a low-cost alternative from the States, it doesn’t really send a great message. But everyone has a bottom line.”
Booth maintains the deciding factor was a desire to move the show outside of the Big Four Building to allow for more shows each day and a much bigger audience. Canine Stars fit the bill and she hopes fairgoers give it a chance.
“Sometimes change is tough for people. The SuperDogs are loved and that’s awesome,” said Booth.
“We’re really looking forward to Canine Stars coming and we don’t want to have a negative or dark cloud put over them. I think they’re a spectacular show as well and we really want to feature them and give them the benefit of the doubt.”
The SuperDogs have run stunt and agility shows at the Stampede since 1979. For much of that time, Herb Williams was the emcee. Decked out in shiny suits, he entertained the crowds as much as the mixed breed pups did. In his eighties, he retired in 2012.
“We pay homage to Herb in our style of show. It has the same level of character, panache and showbiz. But not the suits. We have to draw the line somewhere,” Shuchat said with a laugh.
He was not surprised by the public reaction to the loss of the SuperDogs at Stampede, saying there is a loyalty built up after three-plus decades.
“We’re a 100 per cent purely Canadian show, top to bottom. We’re not a high-octane, in-your-face kind of show. We’re the SuperDogs. We’re family entertainment. We’re age two to 92. We’re sentimentality.”
Shuchat said the SuperDogs will return to Calgary, at a different time, in a different venue.
“The Calgary fans are incredibly important to us. We will bring our show in a different venue, under different circumstances sometime this year….. We’re not prepared to abandon 37 years of traction and love from the marketplace. “
Calgary Stampede Giving Canada a big F-U
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