Sammy the performing dog plays the ukulele.Photo by Chris McCormack
Sammy the performing dog plays the piano.Photo by Chris McCormack
Sammy the performing dog plays the ukulele with owner Doreen Percy.Photo by Chris McCormack
AT the age of seven, Sammy is on her way to becoming a one-dog band.
Already an accomplished ukulele player, Sammy has also picked up the rudiments of playing keyboard and is now considering her potential as a percussionist.
Sammy's best friend and musical trainer Doreen Percy, 59, of Redland Bay, just shrugs and smiles and describes her room mate as "a very smart girl".
Doreen teamed up with Sammy almost five years ago, taking to her heart the neglected spoodle (cocker spaniel/poodle).
"When I got her she had no personality. I took her to cafes, on walks and on car drives and she gradually came out of her shell.
"You could call her a people person/spoodle. She's just beautiful - a mush pot who wants to be loved," Doreen said.
While Doreen runs her fingers across Sammy's fur ("Feels like chenille, doesn't it?"), it is clear there is more to this relationship than simple petting.
On cue, Sammy rolls over, turns 360 degrees in the air, does a high five (both paws), shakes hands, dances and sits like a bunny. And the non verbal signals don't come from any dog training manual. They are what Doreen calls: her "thing".
"It's easy to teach a dog tricks. You just use positive reinforcement, praise and consumable rewards," Doreen said.
Treats include raw vegetables and fruit, favourites being capsicum, carrots, cucumbers and melon.
"She's a healthy girl," she said.
"Sammy loves to play for an audience. She wants to please me. She has a lovely personality and just wants to have fun."
A bit of recognition doesn't go astray either and Doreen admits to tearing out the other animals when a local pet groomers made Sammy the February 2010 calendar girl.
"That way, she could be my calendar girl the whole year," Doreen said.
Who said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks?