WORKSHOPS,
TALKS Events AND MORE
Free on-demand Webinar: Rescue Radar with PPGA
With my co-presenter, Jess Sandstrom from Howling Success, we created this Rescue Radar: Spotting red flags and green flags in the rescue and shelters to help anyone considering adopting or fostering a dog feel more confident and informed about navigating the rescue world.
Jess and I entered the animal training through rescue, sheltering, and fostering. We’ve seen the very best (and worst) of what’s out there — and this talk is our way of sharing what we’ve learned.
In the webinar, we go over:
✅ Green flags — What ethical, responsible rescues do well, like offering ongoing support and being transparent about behaviour and health
🚩 Red flags — Things to watch out for, like outdated training advice, no vet care, or lack of contracts and policies
❓ What to ask — The kinds of questions that can help you feel confident choosing a rescue group, whether you’re fostering, adopting, or volunteering
Whether you’re a first-time adopter or want to know how to better support good rescue practices, I hope you’ll find this helpful.
You can reserve your tickets and watch the webinar whenever you want via this link—and it’s free for everyone!
– Alex
Dig Dog Training at Castlemaine Pride Picnic
We’re thrilled to be joining the Castlemaine Pride Picnic with our own little Dig Dog market stall.
We’ll be joining the celebration of community, culture, and creativity that brings together LGBTQIASB+ folks. Find the Dig Dog Training stall where we’ll be:
✨ Talking all things dogs — from training tips to enrichment ideas
🍪 Slinging the good treats your pup will love
🎨 Stickers, snuffle balls and more from other creators such as Live Sick Die Ill and more.
💖 Supporting inclusive rescue organisations like our friends at Humane Animal Rescue
We can’t wait to see you there! We will have cash and card services available, and keep an eye on our social media for what we’re preparing.
Find out more about Castlemaine Pride at Castlemaine Pride Picnic.
K9 Nosework With Positive Paws
Join me this Sunday for K9 Nosework with Julie Barber of Positive Paws.
Positive Paws is hosting K9 Nosework Workshops for you and your pup in Elphinstone Reserve. I’ll be attending, helping out, and watching my dog try it! The workshops are suitable for most dogs, including reactive or nervous pups.
Why try K9 Nosework?
Nosework is a great activity to build optimism for our anxious pups, tire out adolescents, and use their brains for complex problem-solving while building your bond and enjoying your dog in their dogness and giving your dog a natural outlet to hunt, search and explore, using their nose and their brains!
How it works
Only one dog is in the search area at a time, and dogs are either crated or in their cars in between. This makes it nervous dog-friendly. You will be able to watch the dogs search during each other's turns, learning about how different dogs work.
Are you worried about your dog alone in your the car?
Set them up with a friend or partner and a book who is happy to hang out for the afternoon. Give them Lickimat, a Kong, or a good chew to keep them busy in the breaks. If you are concerned, I will be about to pop in and check on them. The Elphinstone Reserve is a lovely, quiet spot. When I ran similar sessions for Canine Hoopers, we found dogs did really well between their turns, even though they all had different experience levels at being left alone in the car!
The Details
The Introduction to K9 Nose Work class is at Elphinstone Hall (15 minutes drive from Castlemaine).
Dates are:
Sunday, September 1st (1 – 4 pm)
Sunday, September 8th (1 – 4 pm)
Sunday, September 15th (1 – 4 pm)
To graduate, you need to attend all three sessions (9 hours)
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me or Julie.
PPGA 2024 conference
Join me at the PPGA 2024 Conference in Sydney. I will be discussing SEO Fundamentals: Talking to Robots to Talk to People. Learn about how SEO can help you be found on the internet, what you need to consider, and how to get started.
Canine hoopers Workshop Castlemaine
ALL SPOTS SOLD OUT
CANINE HOOPERS coming to Castlemaine, Saturday May 4th
CANINE HOOPERS’ Penny Pardoe-Matthews (KPA-CTP), is joining us from Canberra to introduce us to the world of Hoopers!
NOTE: ALL SPOTS SOLD OUT!
Canine Hoopers is a dog sport for dogs and their humans of all ages and abilities, focusing on bond and connection with you and your dog.
This day will introduce you to Hoopers, allowing you to learn about the sport and try it out in a safe, fun way. You will also take home what you did today and more information on how to get started at home!
Penny and Bobby running a Hoopers course
Suitable as an activity for reactive, anxious, and nervous pups, Hoopers do not require behaviour training or experience with dogs sports.
Although, a good starting point is for your dog to have a reasonable recall (at least 60% of the time) and be responsive to their name.
As only one team is in the arena for training at any time, your dog will need to be crated (in a crate you supplied) or in your vehicle unless it is your turn in the arena. You are welcome to bring another handler to come with you on the day.
INTRODUCTION TO CANINE HOOPERS DETAILS
four workshops
a maximum of four dogs and handler teams
Saturday, May 4th,
located at an undercover arena 5-minute drive from central Castlemaine
Registration is only $50 per handler and dog team