Hans Klose
Highlights:
· Hans travels with 18 dogs although only 12 of the dogs are in his act. He has four Standard Poodles, seven Fox Terriers, one Great Dane, and a couple of mixed-breed dogs.
· Most of Hans’ dogs were rescued from pounds.
· Hans’ father, an acrobat and foot juggler, joined Ringling Bros.® in 1956. His mother – a Radio City Music Hall Rockette when she met his father – rode the elephants.
Klose’s Performing K9s
Growing up with parents in the circus, Hans Klose thought he might choose a different life for himself. So he took a job that led him to the same office with the same people, every day. Before long, he was back with his family’s laughable, lovable canine troupe, which makes its premier in Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOMSM.
“That was more of an occupation,” he says. “This is more of a life.”
Hans’ father, an acrobat and foot juggler, joined Ringling Bros.® in 1956. His mother – a Radio City Music Hall Rockette when she met his father – rode the elephants. Over the years, they had three children. Hans is the youngest.
As time passed, his parents formed a dog actand Hans took over the family’s laughable, lovable canine corps eight years ago. His wife, Mariya, a former Russian acrobat, also joined the show, performing handstands and creating hurdles for the dogs to jump over. The troupe was performing with a Shrine Circus in Indiana when it was tapped to join The Greatest Show On Earth®!
Hans has 18 dogs, though just 12 are in the act. “Dogs that have been with me, I don’t let go.”
He has four Standard Poodles, seven Fox Terriers, one Great Dane, and a couple of mixed-breed dogs. He bought the poodles from breeders, but rescued the others from the pound. “These dogs are my life. When you work with them every day of your life, they become part of your family.”
“Not every dog can do every action,” he says. “Some are better at jumping, doing somersaults or standing on two legs.” The little one, Spiderman, can climb a wall in its pen. It also jumps off a 16-foot high-dive into its trainer’s waiting arms. “He will even sit on my shoulder like a parrot.”
For these skills, the dogs are rewarded with hot dogs. Hans says they know he has hot dogs when they perform. After the show, he empties a couple of packages. “They know the time of day and the costume I’m in. It’s amazing how they know the time.”
Hans says the hardest thing is teaching the dogs not to bark.
Traveling is the hardest part of circus life, Hans says. With his family retired, he’ll probably settle down some day, too. He’s a good welder, having built all his props, cages and an addition to his truck. He thinks welding would be better than an office job.
But for now, Hans and Mariya look forward to traveling the country on a two-year tour with Ringling Bros. Their most anticipated stop: Madison Square Garden.