A Sidmouth woman and her ‘dancing dog’ will be competing at Crufts next month.

Lorna Syrett and her four-year-old border collie Nora have qualified for the UK Freestyle Final of the ‘Heelwork to Music’ class, in which dog and owner perform a choreographed routine to music.

They earned their place after taking part in last year’s competition and will be dancing to the same piece of music, but have introduced some different moves. They are the only contestants from Devon and Cornwall to have made the final 10.

Lorna explained that, as dogs are not natural dancers, the technique is to teach Nora a series of tricks and moves and train her to carry them out in response to signals as the music plays.

She said: “The dogs should be taking instructions from the owners through subtle cues that are built into the handler’s dance moves rather than them knowing the music, although the dog will often know their music as they hear it a lot and will get excited when it is played (I know my dog knows her song which is Jump in the Line).

“They also learn the sequence of certain tricks in the routine so it is up to the handler to make sure to slow the dog down so that they do them in time to the music, so that they look like they are following the beat.”

Contestants are scored on three categories: the content and flow of their routine (it should look like a seamless performance rather than a series of separate tricks), the accuracy and team performance (how well the dog and owner work in partnership) and the musical interpretation (how well the routine fits the music, including any changes of pace or rhythm). Points can be deducted if the dog barks ‘excessively’ during the dance.

Lorna has had Nora since she was a puppy, and says Nora ‘absolutely loves’ dancing. She said: “I love dancing with Nora as it amazes even me how clever she is and how much she enjoys it.” The pair often rehearse on Sidmouth Beach or Woodbury Common: “It’s good practice ahead of the distracting environment that is the Crufts main ring.”

Crufts takes place from Thursday, March 9 until Sunday 12.

VIDEO: Check out Lorna and Nora’s 2022 dance routine.