Mutts Gone Nuts

Show biz lore says you should never compete with kids or animals, but Scott and Jane Houghton of Mutts Gone Nutsdidn’t take it to heart. The comedy duo returns with all their adorable rescue dogs for a high-energy, high-wire show for the entire family. Kids, parents and grandparents will love the adorable pooches and the humans who they let on stage with them.

Known as the “disorderly duo,” the Houghtons have been performing together as a comedy team since 1984. They were known for blending physical comedy and circus artistry and they traveled the world from Tokyo to Las Vegas. The two performed at Lee Greenwood’s theater in Tennessee and as the featured comedy act for Greenwood in Las Vegas and Tennessee. They spent seven years with Dolly Parton’s production, “Dixie Stampede.” In 1996, they adopted their first rescue dog and began fostering dogs in their off-season for a local rescue group. Using reward-based training, they brought Chico into the act in 2005. By 2007, they’d reinvented their act as Mutts Gone Nuts.

The two added additional two-legged performers, Samantha Valle and Jonathan Burns. Valle is one of the world’s top trainers and a spokesperson for animal rescue. She and her rescue dog, Geronimo, hold the Guinness World’s Record for a dog jumping rope Double Dutch. They have appeared with David Letterman and Steve Harvey. Burns became fascinated with magic as a child and he learned that contorting his body and other antics could actually earn him a living. He has appeared at colleges and festivals around the world.

The four-legged Chico, who is (probably) a Chihuahua and Pomeranian mix, is only 15 lbs., but he knows he’s the boss. Feather, the group’s first Greyhound, is a rescue who was saved after she couldn’t run fast enough. She may not be the fastest Greyhound, but she has jaw-dropping jumping skills. She has the unofficial world record for the highest jump by a dog. Pixel, also known as Wheels, is a border collie mix. She can outrun and out-maneuver much bigger four-legged performers and is Chico’s understudy,

Charlie is a Jack Russell terrier who was rescued from the shelter on his last day. He’s agile and loves to climb, which makes him a perfect wire-walking dog. Chuck Taylor is a Frisbee-playing border collie who was given up because he herded sticks instead of cows. Geronimo is a cattle dog mix who is the only dog in the world to jump into two spinning ropes at the same time. Rox Steady is a Heinz mix who looks just like Geronimo. Her specialties are agility and tricks. Paco, who was picked up as a stray in Wyoming, does everything from high jump to barrel. McNerdy’s favorite toy is the Frisbee and he could play all day. He dazzles the crowd with his athletic ability.

These are some of the cutest dogs in the world, and they have some clever humans. You’ll have a great time enjoying the antics of some of the most talented dogs in show business.