A DOG who loves to boogie has won its young owner first prize in a national dog dancing competition.

Freya Joynes, 14, and her three-year-old dog, Willow, have been crowned the top dancing duo after performing a skilful circus-themed routine for an online competition, Video Dog.

It is the third time in a row The Swanage School pupil and her canine companion have won the accolade after taking up dog dancing 18 months ago.

Freya said: “I got involved when the teacher at the Purbeck Dog Dancing group saw me and Willow on a walk one day. Willow did a spin and the teacher said she’d be good for dog dancing.

“I really enjoy it and so does Willow. It’s fun training her – she sometimes does a different trick to the one I’ve asked her to do or comes up with her own moves.

“The best trick in the circus routine was when Willow jumped over my head – it took a while to practise. She landed on my head the first few times.”

Since joining the group, Freya and Willow, an Irish Terrier Cross, have performed various routines to crowds at local events including the Scruffs Dog Show at Swanage Carnival. Freya also incorporated dog dancing into her bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, which she achieved this summer through Swanage Air Cadets.

“With competitions, we sometimes have categories such as 90s music or a film,” she explained. “We pick a song, look at the lyrics and find words to base tricks on. I did a Lion King routine once and Willow would jump when the word came up in the song.

“Routines usually last around two to three minutes and you can put in as many moves as you want, as long as a quarter of the routine is heel work. The rest is freestyle.”

Freya is now hoping to impress judges at Crufts in the junior section next year.

Her mum, Sally, said she was "very proud".

“She just seems to have a flair for dog dancing and she spends a lot of time training the dog and teaching it new tricks.

“People think there’s nothing to do for young people in this area, but there’s lots of things for young people to try in Swanage.”