The Super Collies set to Wow on the America’s Got Talent Finals

September 19, 2017 By Susan Nation Leave a Comment

Sara and The Super Collies Are Living the Dream!

What an incredible journey for Sara and the Super Collies. Let's make her dream come true. Please VOTE!! — Hero Sara and Simon on #AGT Follow @thesupercollies

We are so elated to announce that our good friends, Sara Carson and the Super Collies, will be on the Finals of America’s Got Talent Tuesday 19th, on NBC (City TV in Canada).

You may have seen the Super Collies featured on Backseat Barkers and Talent Hounds, and it’s because these pups are the most talented trick dogs in the world and very generous friends.

We have followed Sara and Hero’s incredible journey for the past 5 years. Sara told me when I first met her that she wanted to be on America’s Got Talent one day. Today, I am sitting waiting to watch her rock the Finals- woohoo!

https://youtu.be/CtVPTte-5sU

Even as a teenager, Sara had such drive and was so determined, and she LOVED Hero. It was easy to see her talent and her passion for training, performing, photography and graphic design.

Hero’s Story

Even as a puppy, Hero was already so well trained and such a special dog. Their bond was amazing. Sara never shied away from a challenge and was always ready to help me on all sorts of projects and events. She particularly helped me with training my little rescue pug Kilo with positive reward based methods though an online group, and in person. Her support was invaluable and he is a different dog today with lots of cute tricks up his sleeve.

Her journey has not always been easy or 100% smooth, but it has been incredible and the hard work is paying off.

Sara and Hero appeared on numerous big US TV shows like Letterman and thrived in the spotlight. We did local Fashion Shows, Talent and Trick Competitions and Showcases and Videos and TV segments together. Sara progressed from competitor to judge and host at Canadian Pet Expo and went on to tour in the US.

Most recently, this summer we worked on travel safety tips – see HERE, blogs and videos for The BackSeat Barkers and Talent Hounds as the Super Collies toured the US performing and teaching.

America’s Got Talent Auditions

Hero and Sara auditioned for the show on TV back in June, wowing the crowd with an elaborate routine including sword fights and a wide sample of the hundreds of tricks Hero knows. We only got to see the amazing show in August. It won over Simon Cowell, a dog lover who knows talent when he sees it. He gave Sara a big hug on stage. We were so pleased when our friends were put through to the next round, but we knew the Super Collies “Got Talent!”

They delivered this awesome routine below including Loki the Puppy to wow the audience and judges again and make it through to the semi-finals. I admit, there were cheers and tears of happiness in our house.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiXsZAZx_6U&t=73s

Loki’s Story

We met Loki just over a year ago for the first time at Canadian Pet Expo as a little puppy. He already had star quality. Look at him go!

This is a great opportunity for Sara, Hero and Loki. Congratulations, we know you’ll rock it!

Please Watch the Finals and Vote for our Heroes, the Super Collies! Let’s Make A Dream Come True.

How to Rock a Roadtrip Like the Amazing Super Collies in Canada

July 21, 2017 By Susan Nation Leave a Comment

10,000km with The Super Collies in Canada

Sara Carson from the road:

We’ve had such an amazing time road tripping across central Canada, going over 10,000km in a few short weeks. It’s such a scenic country to drive through and the Super Collies had a blast taking in all the sights with me.

You can follow the Super Collies on Facebook facebook.com/thesupercollies and Instagram @thesupercollies

Of course, so it’s important to pack smart and be safe. Check out my list of traveling tips for going on the road with your dog(s).

From Manitoba to BC, The Super Collies saw a lot of Canadian Beauty

From lakes and mountains… Did you know that Canadian National Parks are free for 2017 Canada 150 Celebration.

To local wildlife…

And making new friends… Little Loki was a big hit with the kids.

We even stopped to pose with some of the provincial border signs.

In Alberta, the Super Collies Performed in the Calgary Stampede

How cool that they have a dog show at the Calgary Stampede. Hero, Marvel and Loki wowed crowds of thousands each day with Loki doing great agility and disc work and Hero achieving some incredible dock jumps. Hero really is a Super Collie. They had so much fun.

There was hardly time to sleep…

But Hero and I found time to watch our Audition for America’s Got Talent

In case you missed it, our audition for America’s Got Talent was an emotional one and we almost didn’t make it through to the next round. You can read about it here, but needless to say, Hero and I were pretty excited to watch it back. We also made it through the next round of auditions on Tuesday, July 18th.

Rain or Shine, we made it!

And you can watch the whole video of our Canadian Road Trip here:

Have you ever gone on a road trip with your dog? Tell us about it in the comments!

Sara and Hero of The Super Collies Got Talent

June 27, 2017 By Sydney Shapansky 2 Comments

Hero the Super Collie and Sara Carson Had a Life Changing Day on AGT

If you’ve ever watched America’s Got Talent you know that the show is full of incredibly talented and interesting performers of all kinds. Our friends the Olate Dogs featured one Talent Hounds thrilled us and won in 2012.

Well, get ready because our own Backseat Barkers and Talent Hounds stars Hero and Sara Carson auditioned. They did an incredible performance that even included a sword fight. After a nail-biter with the judges and an intervention by Simon Cowell, they are through to the live show. We love Sara, Hero and Simon and are so excited!

Sara and Hero

Hero is not only an amazing entertainer, but also a Qualified Therapy dog and has awards and certificates in Herding Instinct, Worlds Youngest Champion Trick Dog (At only 4 months old), Dock Jumping and Agility! Hero is one of the Most Talent Trick Dogs in the World and if you can’t wait to see what he can do, check out this video:

As well as dazzling audiences with Talent Hounds, Hero has given David Letterman Kisses, Performed for Marilyn Denis and CityTV, Played Basket Ball on Animal Planet and Skateboarded on The Family Channel. He has hosted the Canadian Pet Expo, travelled the US and Canada performing and won the Stupid Dog Trick Contest at Woofstock more than once.

Though it may seem like it happens overnight, a lot of work goes into training then preparing to audition for a show like AGT.

Sara is a gifted dog trainer and performer. She got Hero as a puppy and has spent every day since developing their bond and teaching him tricks and behaviors. She is even launching a training app with great tips which we plan to download ASAP for Backseat Barker Kilo the Pug! Check out this short video where she explains how to teach your dog to walk on your feet.

Auditioning for America’s Got Talent

Now, Sara and Hero are taking on all of America on AGT and it’s sure to be a night to remember. In a teaser we see the briefest of clips of Simon Cowell on stage giving Sara a hug.

Sara and Hero wowed the audiences of AGT the way they’ve wowed us so many times before!

Be sure to tune in on CityTV in Canada or NBC in America to watch Sara and Hero’s full audition and to cheer them on and vote for them on the live show. Woohoo! So proud.

How to Keep Your Dogs Safe When Travelling

May 30, 2017 By Susan Nation Leave a Comment

How to be safe and smart when traveling with dogs — Sara and The Suer Collies

Tips for Travelling with the Super Collies

Before we get into our adventures, I think it’s important to review what is needed to make a road trip successful and safe for both you and your dog/s! My dogs travel with more luggage than I do!

Let’s Go Over The Basics

First things first, you’re going to want to either get your pup a car restraint to keep them secure in the case of a sudden stop or accident. You can use a harness that attaches to a seatbelt or a crate or carrier. Dogs can be badly injured or even killed if they become a projectile in a collision, so you want to make sure your pet is as safe and secure as you are.

The Center for Pet Safety has done studies on several of the most popular carriers and crates for travel so you can check out your preferred carrier and see for yourself how they hold up in a crash test scenario here.

The Kurgo and Sleepy Pod equipment both seem to test well.

Never Leave Your Dog in the Car in the Hot Sun

Never leave your dog in the car alone on a hot day, even for 10 minutes with the window open, as a car can heat up so fast and this can be deadly.

Once you arrive somewhere hot, watch for hot pavement and overheating. You may want to check out some of these dog heat safety tips from Talent Hounds for useful info like how to spot the signs of overheating.

Always Pick up after your dog and keep pet-friendly spaces safe for everyone!

Leaving poop is gross and can be dangerous.

Microchip Your Dog

If you’re going to be taking your dog far away from home you should think about getting them microchipped and making sure the contact information is up to date.

Keep your Dog Safe from Bugs and Diseases

Be sure to check that all your dog’s vaccinations are up to date. Investigate what bugs or diseases like heart worms, ticks, fleas, mosquitos or flu might be a threat where you are travelling and look into ways to protect yourself and your dog.

My Travel Essentials Include:

Food – You may not be able to find your dog’s favorite brand on the road easily so make sure you have a decent supply with you. Switching foods around can cause your dog digestive issues. Use a waterproof container.
Water – You want to make sure you and your dog stay hydrated and keep a supply of clean water handy.
Non-spill bowl(s)
Treats.
Supplements and any medications.
Toys, discs and trick gear.
A Pet First Aid Kit (I carry several)
Clean Up Bags.
Blankets.
Cleaning Supplies- Because accidents do happen!
A camera and a phone to document your adventures
Bed(s)
Leash(es)- Do some research about where you’re going beforehand as some places require 6 ft leashes.
Collars and up to date tags.
Sunscreen (for you and your dog).
Calming spray and/or toys- This can be a big help if you have an anxious dog, here’s a post about products that can be helpful for soothing reactive dogs found at the Global Pet Expo this year.
Vet records and emergency vet and contact numbers – In case of emergency if you’re far away from home you want to be prepared to get your pet any treatment they may need. Pet MD has lists of Vets by location. There’s also the ASPCA poison control hotline which you can call 24/7 if your pet ingests something you fear might be toxic: (888) 426-4435
Towel in case your dog gets wet

and I am sure I missed something…

Now, if sleeping in your car isn’t something you want to do, don’t worry!!

Thankfully the Red Roof Inns are not only affordable and nice, but pets stay FREE! We have enjoyed them a few times in the past month.

They have over 345 locations spread out across the USA.