RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2016 - May 15

DOG EVENTS UPCOMING EVENTS

RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2016 - May 15

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The 23rd RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2016 is on Sunday 15 May and takes place nationally.

RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2015 - Photo Credit: Patrick Jones

It is that time of year again when dog lovers nationwide get ready to participate in the annual RSPCA Million Paws Walk – all to fight animal cruelty and raise essential funds for the RSPCA.

With over 20 locations across New South Wales alone, including Sydney Olympic Park, the Central Coast, Hunter and Illawarra, you're sure to find a great walk for you and your furry friend.

In Victoria, more than 25,000 people and their beloved dogs will walk to raise funds for animals in need at 17 different locations, including a showcase event at Albert Park.

The Albert Park Million Paws Walk event is a 5km walk around the lake, which is wheelchair and stroller friendly. This will be a festival of entertainment with dog agility demonstrations, dog washes, vet advice as well as many product and food stalls. The Paw Prints Trail is a great adventure through the "event village": for your chance to win an amazing hamper prize!

RSPCA Million Paws Walk 2015 - Photo Credit: Patrick Jones

Registrations are now officially open and animal lovers are signing up across the country, but with a fundraising target of $375,000 for NSW alone, there is still a long way to go!

The exclusive 500 Club is back again to treat VIP fundraisers. Raising $500 or more online will give you access to delicious free food, the opportunity to mingle with RSPCA's CEO, Steve Coleman and chat with an RSPCA NSW Inspector.

No matter your pooch's ability, age, breed or size, all dogs are welcome for a fantastic day out! You can walk solo with your pooch or recruit your friends to walk with you.

No pooch? No worries! Even those without pooches are welcome to join in the fun. There will be plenty to do on the day with lots of exhibitors, competitions and entertainment.
Everyone who registers and sets up a fundraising page also gets a free rope Frisbee to keep their furry, four-legged friends mentally stimulated and entertained! Woof please!

To access your online discount, simply register before May 14 and start fundraising to help animals in need.

When: Sunday 15th May - Times will vary for each location

Where: Nationwide - To find a walk location near you, click here

For details and to register, visit millionpawswalk.com.au

Guide Dogs Wet Nose Day 2016 - February 28

DOG EVENTS

Guide Dogs Wet Nose Day 2016 - February 28

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a playful puppy into a responsible working Guide Dog? You can come and find out at the 2016 Wet Nose Day in Sydney.

This FREE event hosted by Guide Dogs NSW/ACT is the one day of the year when the entire Guide Dog experience is brought to you!

Wet Nose Day aims to give the public a rare insight into what's involved in the more than $35,000 process of breeding, raising and training a puppy to become a Guide Dog.

If you're a dog lover, Guide Dogs supporter, or just looking for a family-friendly day out, you can come along and enjoy the fun-filled activities of the day. 

Here's what's in-store for you on the day:

• Get some "puppy love" from gorgeous 10-week old Labrador puppies
• Watch a live puppy pre-school
• Witness some world-class dog obedience training with a range of Guide Dog demonstrations
• Get a photo with Gulliver, the world's largest Guide Dog.
• Win a $100 gift voucher to the Guide Dogs Shop in the lucky "doggie door" prize
• Plus a huge range of food options and some live entertainment

With demand for Guide Dogs growing, Wet Nose Day also aims to encourage Sydneysiders to consider volunteering to become Guide Dogs NSW/ACT Puppy raisers.

Puppy raising volunteers care for a Guide Dog puppy for a year - from when it's 8 weeks old to 14-months old, playing an invaluable role in preparing it for its potential career as a Guide Dog.

"As well as providing lots of love and cuddles, a puppy raiser's job is to introduce their pup to the sights, sounds and smells it is likely to encounter as a Guide Dog. Integral to this is teaching the pup social skills and basic obedience", said Karen Hayer, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT's Puppy Breeding and Raising Manager.

"We're incredibly grareful for the dedication of our wonderful volunteer Puppy Raisers - their generosity turns other people's dreams into a reality."

There are an estimated 300,000 Australians with uncorrectable vision loss, 100,000 of whom live in the ACT and NSW. Sadly, these figures are predicted to increase by more than 50% by 2030.

Please feel free to invite your family and friends along and let them share in the puppy love at this "pawsome" event.

Dogs are allowed on leash at the Western Sydney Parklands.

When: Saturday 28th February, 10:30am to 3:00pm

Where: Lizard Log Park, Western Sydney Parklands, Abbotsbury (entry via the large roundabout where Cowpasture Rd. and The Horsley Drive meet)

Cost: Free

For more information, visit www.guidedogs.com.au

Disaster Planning with Pets - February 28

DOG EVENTS

Disaster Planning with Pets - February 28

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Your animals depend on you to survive in a disaster: do you have a plan?

Can you imagine the stress of being evacuated during a bushfire and having to leave your pet behind?

Extreme weather and disasters can occur at any time. It is vital to include all your pets in our disaster survival plan. This workhop is designed to provide you with the tools to Prepare Act Survive.

You will learn effective strategies and practical advice on how to plan to protect your pets during a natural disaster. Bookings are essential as places are limited. 

This is a free workshop for pet owners where you will hear from experts from NSW emergency services, the RSPCA and Ku-ring-gai Council.

When: Sunday 28th March, 10am to 1pm

Where: Ku-ring-gai Council Chambers, Level 3, 818 Pacific Highway, Gordon (NSW)

Cost: Free

For details, visit kmc.nsw.gov.au/sustainabilityevents

The Modern (Stressed Out) Pet Dog - 2016 Seminar

BEHAVIOUR DOG EVENTS

The Modern (Stressed Out) Pet Dog - 2016 Seminar

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In the last 10 to 15 years the job description of our pet dogs has changed dramatically but unfortunately no one has told the dogs!

Positive reinforcement trainers on Sydney’s Northern Beaches are presenting for the first time a free educational seminar for all dog lovers. 

This seminar will help you understand your dog better and give you the tools to deal with normal but unwanted behaviours in stressful situations in an appropriate and positive way. Topics covered will include:

• "Help! My Dog is Stressed and So Am I!" - The signs and solutions of stress in dogs (by Louise Colombari from Pittwater Animal Hospital) 

• Low Restraint Handling - How to minimise stress at the vet (by The Vet Behaviour Team) 

• Stress Free Grooming - How to minimise stress at the groomer (by Maxine Fernandez from Canine Kindergarten) 

• Holidays With Your Dog - Training your dog to enjoy a stress-free holiday together (by Barbara Hodel from Goodog Positive Dog) 

When: Thursday 17th March, 7h30:9h30pm 

Where: Canine Kindergarten, North Narrabeen (Sydney)

Cost: Free

For details, visit goodog.com.au or RSVP before March 14 to info@goodog.com.au 

Bradfield Bark Dogs Day Out - March 6

DOG EVENTS

Bradfield Bark Dogs Day Out - March 6

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On Sunday March 6, fetch your fur-friend and head to the inaugural Bradfield Bark to celebrate our canine community. Council rolls out the grass carpet at 10am and the day’s program is packed with fun things for fur residents and their human companions to learn, see and do. 

“Australians are a nation of animal lovers, with one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world,” said North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson. “Dogs are an important part of our North Sydney community. 

Bradfield Bark looks to celebrate our four-legged-friends and acknowledge the health and social benefits having a dog as part of the family provides. We’ll also be fundraising for our charity partner the Sydney Cats and Dogs Home – North Sydney’s pound and the only not-for-profit pound in Sydney.”

Bradfield Bark is set to offer a perfect day of food, entertainment, music and activities including street performers, Insta-dog and opportunities at the photo booth, owner and dog look-alike competitions and dog-themed face painting.

For those looking for some puppy love, Sydney Dogs and Cats Home will host an Adopt Don’t Shop Area where people can make friends with dogs looking for a new home. For those looking to adopt a dog, trained staff will be able to match them with a canine companion that will suit their home and lifestyle.

Program highlights include a series of good dog, clever dog displays with Manly and District Kennel and Dog Training Club performing obedience and agility demonstrations. 

K9 Nose Time will show dogs doing Treibball and K9 Nose Work® - where dogs search and alert like detection dogs working in the army, at airports and in the police force. 

Professional animal trainer, Peta Clarke from Animal Training Solutions and her pack will perform dog tricks. 

The Bradfield Bark Mutt Markets will provide a chance to shop for collars, leads, bowls, coats, food, treats, toys and more. Visitors can also chat to dog trainers for tips on dog diet, health and training.

Sydney Dog Lovers enjoying the Treibball demonstration and the Mutt Markets

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT will host a puppy play place. Along with the puppies, Guide Dogs' puppy raisers will be on-hand to educate people about the role of Guide Dogs in the community. 

Among Bradfield Bark’s attractions will be off-leash play areas for dogs and children will be able to enjoy craft activities and a jumping castle – a giant dog-shaped one of course! 


When: Sunday 6th March 2016, 10:00am -3:00pm

Where: Bradfield Park, Alfred St South, Milsons Point, NSW, 2061

Cost: Free

For the program details, visit the Events page

Dogapalooza Adelaide Dog-friendly Music Festival - March 6

DOG EVENTS

Dogapalooza Adelaide Dog-friendly Music Festival - March 6

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Dogapalooza Adelaide is a unique dog-friendly boutique music festival, part of the 2016 Adelaide Fringe Festival. This is a community event that all the family can enjoy including our canine friends.

Dogapalooza 2015 - Photo Credit: Ben Searcy

This charity concert event against animal cruelty raises money for animal advocacy groups and rescue shelters. 

This year’s line-up features performances from award-winning and popular Australian musicians Chris Finnen, The Yearlings, Nigel Wearne (Vic), Kelly Menhennett, Cal Williams Jr. and The Wisps, who will perform on the green lawns of Orphanage Park, Millswood.

Dogapalooza co-founder Renae Eden said “We’re so excited to present such a fantastic line up of artists who have all generously donated their time to join us and help raise funds for such worthy causes”.

Photo Credit: Petstar Photography

Proceeds from Dogapalooza 2016 will be donated to two major not-for-profits, SA Dog Rescue and Oscar’s Law. A selection of other animal rescue and advocacy organisations will also benefit from this event.

Dogapalooza is presented by Oscar’s Law, SA Dog Rescue and the City of Unley, in addition to a contingent of dedicated volunteers.

Both four-legged and two-legged attendees will have a selection of ethical foods on offer, as well as the dog loving stalls of our beneficiary rescue and advocacy groups and boutique commercial dog product vendors. All vendors present at the event are donating a portion of their sales to the fundraising pool. 

What: live music, ethical food, dogs available for adoption, dog grooming

When: Sunday 6th March, from 11am to 3pm

Where: Orphanage Park, Mitchell Street, Millswood

Cost: $16 from adelaidefringe.com.au/fringetix or at the gate (unless sold out)

All proceeds raised will be donated to SA Dog Rescue, Oscar’s Law, Guardian Angel Animal Rescue, SA Greyhound Adoption, Alaskan Malamute Rehoming Aid Aust, Wombat Awareness Organisation, Freedom Hill Animal Sanctuary, Animals Australia and Animal Justice Party.