Traveling performance troupe “Puppy Pals LIVE!” comes to Schaeffer Auditorium

Wesley Williams and his furry companions dazzle with a “paw-some” show

By Amelia Lewin

On Sunday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m., “Puppy Pals LIVE!” captivated its audience in Schaeffer Auditorium with its comedic stunt dog show. 

CEO and creator Wesley Williams started the show at 20 years old as what he describes as a “passion project.” Now, seven years later, he has maintained that passion and it has led to success.

He states that in order to break into an industry to “do it with love and do it with passion.” However, even with love and passion not everything will be tail wags and puppy kisses. 

“Every day is a challenge when you’re going down the road with four dogs,” Williams said. “We’ve just faced everything with a positive attitude and I mean kind of just keeping in mind that nothing is impossible and that’s how we’ve achieved what we have in such a short period of time.”

Not only is Williams CEO and a trainer at “Puppy Pals LIVE,” but he is also a world renown unicycle rider, dubbed “The One Wheel Wonder.” He has shown off his skill at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey Circus.

This talent has enabled him to win a Guinness world record for the highest unicycle built and ridden at over 30 ft.

Now on the “Puppy Pals LIVE!” tour, Williams and trainers Renaldo Calienes and Dylan Biedrzycki travel the country, Kutztown being their most recent destination. They dazzled students and families alike with their furry friends Rudy, Cash, Gizmo, and Chip.
Before the show began, audience members walked into Schaeffer Auditorium finding not only a merchandise table, but a donation table for those who brought pet supplies for Friend, Inc., joined by their own furry friend Sissy and her owner Kim Davis.

Through a 1 hour 30 minute show, this captivating ensemble performed extraordinary tricks. Each trick was specialized for that dog’s specific personality and experience.

For instance, Rudy loves doing acrobatics so he excels at the jumps. Cash has been performing the longest so he does the salmon ladder, which Calienes says is the hardest to train for. Gizmo has boundless energy and loves his backflips. Finally, Chip is still learning the ropes but loves to show off and is a crowd favorite.

After the show, Calienes described what it was like working with the furry foursome. He talked about the patience that is required in order to put on a good performance. 

“Sometimes they’re just running around, and sometimes they’re on point, but either way it’s a fun time,” Calienes said.

To learn more about the show, the pups, see reviews, and future shows, click here for the official website.