Generally canine freestyle competitions and events are seen as a step up or a much more advanced level of obedience training combined with teamwork and choreography. Many people equate canine freestyle to equine dressage, where grace, movement and elegance are combined with athletic ability, precision and obedience work.

Of course the challenge all comes in since the dog is completely off-leash for the performance, with the handler rarely making any type of physical contact or verbal commands to the dog. Rather the dog is cued by body movements and hand signals, plus by keeping direct eye contact with the handler to watch for signs of upcoming commands.

In doggy dancing the handler and the dog develop a routine, typically to a piece of music that has a good beat that the dog can move to. Basic obedience moves such as heeling, sitting, rolling over, walking on the hind legs and moving the front legs in time with the human's movements are all included in most routines. Additional options include sidestepping, weaving through the owner's legs as he or she walks or dances, spinning in circles, jumping over props or virtually any other movement you can think of. Tricks can be included in musical freestyle but are not allowed in all classes of doggy dancing.