Apr 14, 2026 By Stephanie Kalina-Metzger 4 min read

The stars of “Mutts Gone Nuts: Unleashed!” weren’t discovered in Hollywood-they were discovered in shelters.

Once waiting quietly for their “furever” homes, these rescue dogs now leap, dance and steal the show in a high-energy comedy act coming to the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown on Saturday.

The show, created by Scott Houghton and his wife, Joan, features rescue dogs and trainers who have appeared on the NBC-TV series “America’s Got Talent.”

Barking up the wrong tree

In the 1980s, Houghton and his wife, who live in Maryland, were spinning their wheels in a comedy unicycling act before they turned to dogs after gaining inspiration from a friend with a canine act.

“We decided to switch gears, adopting three dogs from a shelter,” Houghton said.

The couple started out small, honing their act at county fairs and festivals.

“We called it the corn-dog circuit,” Houghton said with a chuckle.

In 2013, the couple received a call from their agent, encouraging them to put together a full 80-minute show for a theater crowd.

“This worked out well for us because we always meant to return to the performing arts centers,” Houghton said.

Today the act features seven dogs, most of them rescues.

“So many people love dogs-there’s something about them that draws large audiences,” Houghton pointed out.

Training the canines

Their dog-training philosophy relies on positive reinforcement.

“We find out what they really respond to-treats, toys, praise, frisbees,” Houghton said.

The couple has been working with trainer Alexandra Côté for three years now. She is, according to Houghton, “a world-class dog trainer and performer from Quebec and received a standing ovation on ‘America’s Got Talent,'” said Houghton, adding that she’s something of a celebrity in Canada.

“She has great dogs and is a positive trainer-no choke collars, completely force free. That is really important to us,” Houghton noted, adding that traveling from place to place requires extra care.

“They are all good travelers, but you need to keep your energy up and make time for walks outside,” he said.

One dog who is enjoying retirement is a greyhound named Feather.

“She now lives with my daughter and earned the title of the highest jumping dog in the world by (the “Guinness Book of World Records”) She was a rescue … and could jump 75.5 inches,” Scott said.

Tricks, comedy and chaos

Houghton offers a glimpse of what audiences can expect from the show at the State Theatre Center for the Arts.

“The opening act features Hilby, the Skinny German Juggle Boy and he’s very funny,” he said, noting that comedy plays a big role throughout the performance.

“When the dogs take the stage they bump me, steal my hat, things like that. The joke is that they behave better for Alex than they do for me,” Houghton said, adding that the kids love to see the dogs gaining the upper hand.

A Broadway World review describes “Mutts Gone Nuts” as a production that delivers “laugh-out-loud antics as the Houghtons attempt to match wits with their mischievous mutts in a fast-paced performance that leaves audiences howling for more.”

A theatrical experience

If you would have approached the Houghtons years ago and suggested they’d be working with dogs, they likely would have laughed.

“I’m still surprised to be here, he said. “It just kind of happened.”

And the concept gets more theatrical each year.

“We have LED lights, smoke machines and video projection. I feel like we’re just scratching the surface of possibilities,” Houghton said.

If there’s one thing he hopes audiences take away, it’s inspiration.

“I hope people go home and play with their dogs. If I can do that, I’ve met my goal,” he said.

Showtime is at 7 p.m. For information, go online to statetheatre.info or call 724-439-1360.