Episode #37
Episode 37: Dancing Dogs and TV Dreams with Sara Carson
Matt Covey interviews dog trainer and performer Sara Carson, who began training dogs at age 11 and has worked in obedience, agility, protection, service dogs, and especially canine freestyle “dancing with dogs.” Carson describes building a social media following, early TV work on The Late Show with David Letterman, and how casting and heavy scripting on America’s Got Talent led to both opportunities and frustrations, including last-minute routine changes and a pushed “homeless” narrative; she notes the stress of TV timelines for dogs and handlers. Now performing at Dollywood with Stunt Dog Productions, she works six days a week in three daily shows with rotating dogs. She discusses what audiences find impressive versus what’s hardest, emphasizes choosing dogs with the right performance temperament, advocates tricks and sports to build learning and bonding for pet owners, explains her luring-heavy training and fading lures without punishment, and addresses force-free vs balanced approaches.
