TEAM
TEAM
Kat and Lava are an incredible freestyle dance duo from Calgary, featured at the Calgary Stampede Dog Bowl. Chris and their now-retired dog, Lexi, performed tricks on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2014.
Kat & Chris Jansen

The Canine Stars
Trainer

Since
2018

Specialty:
Freestyle Dance and Disc

Alberta
Canada

THE CANINE STARS TEAM

Trainer

BIOGRAPHY

Interview with

Kat & Chris Jansen

March 11, 2021

By

@CANINESTARS

Q: What’s your specialty in The Canine Stars shows?

Kat’s specialty in the Canine Stars shows is Freestyle Dance with her dog Lava. She also does agility and dock diving. Chris’ specialty is disc. His specialty trick is juggling discs before throwing one for his dog.

Q: Tell us about your pack…your family of dogs.

Kat and Chris have three dogs. Lexi is the oldest at 12 years old (now retired). She was rescued from the Calgary Humane Society. Lexi is probably a mix between lab, border collie, and shepherd. Lexi and Chris performed one of their signature tricks (climbing a ladder) live on the Late Show with David Letterman in 2014. Lava is the next oldest at 4 years old. She is a red merle border collie. Lava loves to do EVERYTHING, including tricks, freestyle, disc, agility, and dock diving. Loufy is the newest member of the pack. She is a standard poodle and is 10 months old. She is learning the ropes from her big sisters.

Kat & Chris Jansen

Kat & Chris Jansen

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performing dogs

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Kat & Chris Jansen

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retired stars, and those waiting at the bridge

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Q: What are your favorite Canine Stars shows and adventures?

Our favorite Canine Stars show is the Calgary Stampede. We love getting to perform for such a huge crowd and in our hometown.

Q: What are your top FOUNDATION skills that you like to train?

There are a few important foundation skills we teach our dogs: leave it, then luring, and focus.

Q: What are your favorite TRICK skills that you teach all your dogs?

Three favorite tricks are bow, leg weaves, and jump over arms in a circle.

Q: How did you get started in dog sports and dog training?

Kat started training her family dog when she was young. She started with tricks and then got into agility in Junior High School. She then started assisting and teaching agility and eventually started her own agility business in highschool. Later on as an adult, Kat became more passionate about trick training and became a Certified Trick Dog Instructor. She now teaches trick classes for fun. Chris started getting into dog training as an adult. His passion was parkour and did a lot of training with his dog Lexi. Chris has also dabbled in agility and disc.

Q: Outside of performing with The Canine Stars, what is your “normal” life like?

Kat is a Registered Psychologist. When she is not playing with her dogs, she provides therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. Chris enjoys his time away from the dogs in the finance field.