Dancing Dogs! A Complete Guide to ‘DWTS’ Cast’s Pets

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A Complete Guide to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Cast’s Pets: Cheryl Burke, Val Chmerkovskiy and More

Updated on: January 3, 2025

Cheryl Burke and Val ChmerkovskiyShutterstock (2)

While many of the Dancing With the Stars professionals are used to sharing their dancing talents on television, some of their closest companions are waiting for them in the wings — their pets.

Val Chmerkovskiy and wife Jenna Johnson, who got married in April 2019, share two toy poodles.

“My three forever Valentines 🖤,” Johnson wrote when she shared a sweet February 2022 Instagram snap of her husband and the dogs lounging in bed.

The couple previously shared dog Anastasia before its death in August 2018.

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“[Anastasia] brought so much happiness to me and really changed my perspective on a lot of things,” Chmerkovskiy told Us Weekly at the time. “I didn’t grow up with dogs, I never experienced that love that you can have for an animal, so this was new. And again, the permanence of death is also really frightening and scary and how it came out of nowhere, so it’s definitely [been] a week-and-a-half for me. … Time heals all and keeps it moving and that’s what’s most humbling about this whole thing. It’s very devastating and there’s nothing I can do now.”

Scroll below to meet the pets of DWTS:

Credit: Shutterstock (2)

A Complete Guide to ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Cast’s Pets: Cheryl Burke, Val Chmerkovskiy and More

While many of the Dancing With the Stars professionals are used to sharing their dancing talents on television, some of their closest companions are waiting for them in the wings — their pets.

Val Chmerkovskiy and wife Jenna Johnson, who got married in April 2019, share two toy poodles.

“My three forever Valentines 🖤,” Johnson wrote when she shared a sweet February 2022 Instagram snap of her husband and the dogs lounging in bed.

The couple previously shared dog Anastasia before its death in August 2018.

Scroll below to meet the pets of DWTS:

Credit: Courtesy of Alan Bersten/Instagram

Alan Bersten

Bersten adopted a dog, whom he named Jeff, in October 2024.

“I’m officially a daddy,” he gushed via Instagram. “The sweetest boy in the whole world!”

Three months later, Bersten confirmed via X that he was bringing the pup on the 2025 DWTS tour.

Credit: Courtesy Cheryl Burke/Instagram

Cheryl Burke

“Ysa and her many personalities 🐾,” Burke captioned a snap with her Frenchie via Instagram in February 2022.

Credit: Courtesy Jenna Johnson/Instagram

Val Chmerkovskiy and Jenna Johnson

The So You Think You Can Dance alum shared a sweet selfie with her husband and their pups in November 2021.

Credit: Courtesy Lindsay Arnold/Instagram

Lindsay Arnold

Arnold, who shares daughter Sage with husband Sam Cusick, is also a proud dog mom to Moose.

Credit: Courtesy Ruby the Creature/Instagram

Sasha Farber and Emma Slater

The estranged couple rescued dogs Ruby and Grinch, who both have their own Instagram accounts. In August 2022, Us confirmed that the pair called it quits after four years of marriage.

Credit: Courtesy Derek Hough/Instagram

Derek Hough

The DWTS judge and girlfriend Hayley Erbert share dog Luna and cat Palo.

Credit: Courtesy Carrie Ann Inaba/Instagram

Carrie Ann Inaba

Inaba frequently cuddles with Peanut via her Instagram.

Credit: Courtesy Mark Ballas/Instagram

Mark Ballas

The former DWTS pro and his wife, BC Jean, rescued dog Hendrix in 2015.

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