Clever canines
Americas Got Talent’s fluffy winners come to Summerside
Many people dream of winning “America’s Got Talent” (AGT), but for the Olate Dogs troupe, it became a reality in 2012.
The Olate Dogs will be bringing their show full of adorable dogs doing incredible tricks to the Harbourfrnt Theatre stage in Summerside on Aug. 15. The dog show, led by Richard Olate and his son Nicholas, along with their 11 dogs, were scouted by AGT and asked to audition for the show, and they tried to say no.
They had been on TV shows before like “Regis and Kelly” and the “Today Show,” so they didn’t really want to drag the dogs over to the auditions and wait in line, especially since they had never seen the show before, said Nicholas.
They were in Orlando, Fla., at the time of the offer and when the scout told them the show was in Tampa, it was harder to say no.
“I guess we’ll go,” the fatherson duo agreed. Performing on TV shows is always difficult. You always have to figure out where to take the dogs out, and where to hold up with 11 dogs when you’re not
filming, said Nicholas.
After getting through the preaudition in Tampa, they got sent to New York for the live auditions.
The plane got in at 2 a.m. They finally found a hotel that allowed dogs at about 3 a.m. and had to be at the studio at 5 a.m. until the show taping at 9 a.m.
“I don’t know if this is worth it,” said Nicholas.
When they stepped on that stage though, they knew it was. The excitement on that stage
was so different than what they were used to, so when they advanced to the next round, they were excited to keep going, he said.
Richard has been teaching dogs to walk on their hind legs, do back flips, and so much more for almost 50 years and Nicholas has been walking in his footsteps for 19 years now.
Unlike your traditional athletes, these dogs only train about one month out of the year, and it is far from strict.
“Dogs don’t ever forget anything. Sometimes me and my dad will be rusty after taking a few months off and the dogs will already know what to do,” said Nicholas.
To be honest, the dogs are kind of lazy, he said. Trying to encourage them using praise and love, that’s always been the only tactic his father used.
Richard grew up quite poor in South America, and when he took a street dog in, he didn’t even have food for himself, let alone the dog, his son said.
Instead of treats, 12-yearold Richard just loved the dog. Praising, hugging and kissing, that’s all he could afford, and the dog loved it.
Now, with 11 dogs, the training methods haven’t changed much. Love is the best treat the dogs could get.
“If the dog progresses quickly, they get kisses and love, and if it takes longer for them to catch on, that’s fine too, they still get petted, kissed and loved,” said Nicholas.
The Olate Dogs will be on the Harbourfront Theatre stage on Aug. 15, with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m.