Dancing collie a buzz at Perth Royal Show

DANCING collie Buzz is a smooth operator.

The seven-year-old collie is mesmerising audiences at the Royal Perth Show with his performances to Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel.

Ask Buzz to deliver a bouquet with a toothy smile and he’s the canine for the job.

Owner Miriam Gaulton, of Parkerville, described his ability to perform her choreographed tricks to music as “quite advanced”.

“He’s the first dog I’ve got to this stage; he really is very smart,” she said.

Most dogs are motivated by titbits as reward, but not Buzz.

“He does like food treats but he is toy-obsessed. Squeaky toys, fluffy toys, Frisbees, he loves them all – he’ll do anything for a new toy,” Ms Gaulton said.

Buzz comes from a working sheepdog family and is accustomed to earning his keep.

His next performance of fast-paced turns and spins is tomorrow, at the last Saturday show, when he will compete with his owner in the Dancing with Dogs competition.

Ms Gaulton finds time to train Buzz in between working part-time as a veterinary nurse and painting portraits of dogs and children at her Buzz Art Studio.

She is also among this year’s novelty cake winners with her artistic piece depicting wolves playing on boulders.

The cake also gained the highest points in the open section of the competition.

Chief steward Gaena Duncan said each dog was in proportion and beautifully made.

In a new section of the cake-making competition, Rosemary McKay, of Helen Valley, won the inaugural remembrance cake category.

The talented baker said she was inspired to honour her Great Uncle Clem, who died in action in France on June 4, 1916.

“He was awarded the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the Star Medal, which we don’t have, but we do have his Dead Man’s Penny and I made a mould from it.”

Weeks of work went into creating the Anzac tribute.

The Cake Decorating Association member also came second with a colourful cake in the optical illusion section and scored a third with her miniature wedding cake.

Winners are on display in the cookery pavilion at the Claremont Showground.