Canine freestyle apparently began in Canada, then jumped to Britain and quickly blossomed (as often seems to happen with new dog-oriented sports!).  Following is an abbreviated history of its development and evolution; a more detailed version can be found at the website www.worldcaninefreestyle.org:

1989
Val Culpin, British Columbia, Canada has a dream and works on developing a sport called canine freestyle, dancing with dogs. Dawn Jecs, Puyallup, WA, USA and her Border Collie Checkers did first routine to music at a seminar.

1990
Robert Harlowe, a dog trainer from the UK, gave an open Ad Hoc meeting at the Cycle Classic, Greenville, SC and talked about canine freestyle (heel work to music, canine dressage). I overheard Terri Arnold speaking about dogs, music, dancing and though that this was great for our publicity efforts and to get the public interested in basic obedience training, especially the younger generations. Mary Ray, top obedience competitor in the UK did a variation of obedience heelwork to music at Crufts.

1991
Musical Canine Sports International (MCSI) founded in Canada. First Canadian Demonstration given at the Pacific Canine Showcase in Vancouver.

1993
MCSI held their first competition under rules at Pacific Canine Showcase. The first demo at a Cycle Obedience Event, the Western Regional in Tacoma WA took place.

1994
By end of 1994, we were able to identify 2 different styles of freestyle that were developing. In Canada you had very dramatic, theatrical routines with highly costumed competitors. In the USA, the demos were illustrating tightly controlled, heeling and dressage type movements with attention mostly on the dog and very reserved costumes in general.

1995
The Canine Freestyle Federation performed the first Freestyle Demo at the AKC Invitational.

MCSI held Championships in Canada. Globally, demos were popping up and requests for videos became international (Japan, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, Australia and Canada).

By 1995, there were at least 2 supposedly different styles of freestyle in the USA, canine freestyle and freestyle heeling (heelwork to music). The Canadian events were becoming less dramatic, less theatrical and more conservative costumes were being worn. The USA events were beginning to be less controlled, some Off-Leash teams began appearing, movements were getting more theatrical and costuming was becoming more flamboyant.

1996
There were demos at Pup-Peroni Obedience Events in Detroit, MI, Reno, NV and Raleigh, NC. MCSI held another Championship in Canada. CFF did another demo at the AKC Invitational and several other demos.

"Canine Freestyle" was started in England by Ann Clayton. "Heelwork to Music" held its first competition in the UK sponsored by Pedigree. Ian Dunbar's K9 Games held a "Waltzes With Dogs" Event.

Our events and information were now carried on all the major dog show sites. On Friday Evening, November 15, 1996, on the eve of the Classic Obedience Championship in Springfield, OR, the First Pup-Peroni International Canine Freestyle Championship took place at the Red Lion Hotel in the ballroom. The 20 entries were International- evenly split between the USA & Canada. Many were unknowns such as Carolyn Scott and her Golden Retriever "Rookie" from Houston, TX and Michael Pape and his Border Collie "Ketch" from Tampa, FL. It played to a standing-room only crowd over 650 with hundreds being turned away. It was the first canine freestyle competition in the United States and the first time titles in this new sport were granted. Carolyn came in first and Michael second in the Off Leash division.

By 1996 we again saw styles of freestyle changing within groups and geographic areas. Canada was much more controlled, but increasing again in drama and costuming. The USA was getting further away from basic obedience movements, concentrating on team work, new creative movements and flashy costuming at the MCSI and Pup-Peroni events. CFF events were less dramatic, concentrating on the dog working, more heelwork to music and conservative costuming, more concentration on the dog, not the team. England's competition saw an influx of costuming with more creative teamwork and less heel work, a result of their viewing the videos from Pup-Peroni events.

1997
This year was marked by 4 competitive events. Demos continued at Pup-Peroni Obedience Events in Louisville, KY, Bethlehem, PA and Tacoma, WA. Members of the Pup-Peroni Canine Freestylers Team did demos at the following events: International Kennel Club Show, Chicago, IL; Bay Colony Cluster, Boston, MA; Chicagoland Family Pet Show; AstroHall, Houston, TX; APDT Conference, Memphis, TN; Pennsylvania State Fair; breed and obedience shows and club specialties shows. Press coverage was extensive and included TV and print worldwide.

A CFF team did a demo & Sandra Davis did an MCSI demo at the AKC Invitational. The 2nd Heelwork to Music Competition in the UK had 24 Entries. The first CFF Competition was held in September in Suffolk, NY with 10 entries. Sandra Davis published "Dancing With Your Dog" the first teaching video.

In 1997 First Pup-Peroni Canine Freestyle FUNMEET was held in honor of the UKC 100th Anniversary, Kalamazoo, MI in June. It was the first time all styles of freestyle were accepted & judged under same rules. The competitors enjoyed the exchange of ideas and both MCSI and CFF members placed among winners.

The year culminated in a multi-breed, multi-style demo at the Bay Colony Cluster Show in Boston MA on December 4th through 7th. Demos included: Charles Chmura and Shetland Sheepdog "Sport", Donna Duford & Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen "Chie", Verne Foster & Portuguese Water Dog "Tugger", Janice Henderson & Cocker Spaniel K.C. Freckles, Betty Lewis & Whippet "Halo", Laura Rabschultz & Newfoundland "Gus", Nancy Triou & Flat-Coated Retriever "Pal" and Cyrille Young & Golden Retriever, "Arielle". This demo illustrated the versatility of breeds involved in this sport. Each routine was different and interesting and all were tailored to the ability of the breed performing.

1999
World Canine Freestyle Organization LTD was founded.

2000
WCFO starts first titling competitions world wide

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