Meet the World-Class Canines from The Marvelous Mutts
Ashlyn Pecchio
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The Marvelous Mutts is a traveling, high-energy canine spectacular. Founded by friends Nadja Palenzuela and Kara Gilmore, the action-packed dog sport entertainment show has captivated audiences of all ages across the country.
Meet the Mutts
The world-class canines featured in The Marvelous Mutts are not the average show dogs. Each dog has a heartwarming adoption story, as the show exclusively showcases rescue dogs. The Marvelous Mutts team emphasizes the importance of animal rescue and shelter adoptions. Palenzuela and Gilmore personally select rescue dogs for the show, seeking out high-energy dogs that may not quickly acclimate to a typical home environment.
Indy (left) and Diego (right)
"Because of their energy levels and desire to play, our dogs need a lot of exercise daily, making them perfect for the show," Palenzuela said.
Each dog has a distinct personality and unique skill set, which determines their role in the show.
- Ay Ay Ay: Border Collie mix with agility skills
- Azucar: Australian Cattle Dog with frisbee skills
- Boo-Ya: Australian Kelpie with agility and frisbee skills
- Diego: Malinois with frisbee and dock diving skills
- Gallo: Australian Cattle Dog mix with frisbee skills
- Indy: Border Collie with agility, frisbee, and dock diving skills
- Moose: Labrador Retriever with agility and dock diving skills
"My favorite part of the job is hearing people say we encouraged them to rescue a dog. We're leaving an impact by helping animals find homes," Palenzuela said.
Preparing for the Paw-fect Show
Palenzuela and Gilmore have trained and performed with dogs for most of their lives. Training for The Marvelous Mutts always starts with a foundation built on basic principles, such as focusing on positive interactions.
"I reward positive energetic behaviors that most pet owners would discourage," Palenzuela said. "It's okay if they get excited as long as they stay focused."
Stunts that require the dogs to pause or stop action can be the most challenging for Palenzuela and Gilmore due to the dogs' enthusiasm during performances.
Socialization is a large portion of The Marvelous Mutts' training process. The dogs typically perform and interact with large crowds, so proper preparation is crucial. Palenzuela likes to take the dogs to social environments, such as dog parks and select stores, to get them used to meeting new people.
The Marvelous Mutts have performed at the park numerous times, including stretches in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019. Palenzuela's favorite part of a Carowinds performance is the enthusiastic audience and their involvement in the show.
Witness the action-packed thrills of The Marvelous Mutts daily during Carowinds' Spring Break event, March 29 to April 7. Download our free mobile app to access showtimes.
