Scott and Joan Houghton have been performing together as a duo since 1984. They have played variety stages and festivals throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan as Jessie & James, a comedy juggling and unicycling act. They spent three years as the featured comedy act with country music's Lee Greenwood both in Las Vegas and Tennessee, and seven years with Dolly Parton's production, Dixie Stampede. In 1996, the couple adopted their first dog from a shelter in Knoxville, TN and later began fostering dogs in their off-season for a local rescue group. They practiced reward-based training methods though the influence of positive trainers Pat Miller, Jean Donaldson, and Karen Pryor. Their second dog Chico made his stage debut in 2005, and by 2007 they had hung up the unicycles and reinvented their act into Mutts Gone Nuts!
Samantha Valle joined Mutts Gone Nuts in 2014. She is a gifted trainer, and her dogs are hands down, some of the best canine athletes in the world. Valle grew up on Long Island, NY and when she turned 15, her father took her to a shelter to pick out her first dog. Now at 36, Valle has not only become one of the world's top trainers, but she is also a great spokesperson for animal rescue. She and her rescue dog, Geronimo, hold the Guinness World Record for a dog jumping rope double dutch! They have appeared on The Late Show with Dave Letterman and The Steve Harvey Show. She also holds a Guinness World Record with Feather! When Valle is not performing you can be sure she is hanging out with her dogs hiking, scootering, canoeing, or working on some new tricks.
Hilby, The Skinny German Juggle Boy opens the show with his infectious personality. A native of West Berlin, Hilby now resides in Ithaca, NY with his wife and family. He is one of the most sought-after variety performers in the country, bringing his uniquely funny show to young and old alike. One cannot help but be charmed by his lovable personality, and impeccable comedic timing as he manipulates objects ranging from bowling balls to hedge trimmers. The New York Times called him “Rivetingly Absurd”; Hilby is sure the win your heart.
Mutts Gone Nuts’ canine performers live on a small farm just north of Baltimore, Maryland, along with two miniature horses (Chaps and Tango) and two Potbelly pigs named Tofu and Nelly. When the dogs are not doing shows, they enjoy chasing squirrels, learning new tricks, and taking naps. Once a dog is no longer interested in performing in the show, they retire with a full pension and live out their lives on the farm. All the dogs are all USDA licensed and are lovingly cared for by Dr Pema at Holistic Veterinary Healing in Germantown, MD.
If you are thinking about getting a pet, please remember different breeds have different needs. Do some research to ensure you find a good match for your family. Millions of dogs and cats enter shelters each year (often through no fault of their own). Please consider adopting, not only will you get a new best friend, but you’ll save a life too!www.Petfinder.com is a great place to start looking.