Workshops & Seminars

Nosework Workshops – with Joyce Smuda

Saturday, January 17, 9am-11am: High Hides

Requirements: Experienced odor dogs. Auditing for less experienced handler welcomed!!!

Limited to 8 working spots. Auditing unlimited.

Cost: $65 for members and $80 for non-members; $25 member/$30 non-member to audit.

Stormy Day, Stay & Play Games Workshop with Gold Standard Pet Services

Sunday, January 18
1:00pm – 5:00pm

Prerequisites: Please, no reactive dogs. There will be 10 dogs in each room. Dogs will
see and be working around each other. This is not a sport-specific workshop!

Description: When the weather keeps you and your dog indoors, fun doesn’t have to
stop! Join us for “Stormy Day, Stay & Play,” a hands-on workshop with Gold Standard
Pet Services where you’ll learn creative and engaging indoor games designed to tire out
your dog—right from the comfort of home. Discover new ways to keep your pup
mentally stimulated, physically active, and happily entertained, no matter what’s
happening outside. It’s the perfect way to strengthen your bond, beat the rainy-day
blues, and make every day a play day!

Number of attendees: Limited to 20 working spots. Unlimited auditors.

Cost: $65 members, $80 non members, $25 audit. To audit, email the registrar.

K9 Performance Unleashed Canine Conditioning Seminars

About the presenters:

Kristina Opalecky is a student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine with her VMD anticipated May 2025 and is a Certified Canine Athlete Specialist (CCAS). She holds National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer Certification as well as United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy Running Coach Certification and is currently a human strength and conditioning coach for Team Run Run. She has experience with the PennVet Working Dog Center and their fitness, detection, and law enforcement training as well as agility, disc, canicross, and herding with her own dogs. She has also completed the PennVet Working Dog Center’s Working Dog Practitioner Program’s online modules and in person training. In addition to her training at PennVet and through the CCAS program, Kristina has externed with Cornell University’s Sports Medicine, University of Missouri Sports Medicine, and Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine group. She has been training as a K9 handler for Northeast Search and Rescue since June 2023.

Julianna King is a student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine with her VMD anticipated May 2026 and is a Certified Canine Strength & Conditioning Coach (CSCC). Jules spent the 2024 summer at the PennVet Working Dog Center with the PennVet Sports Performance and Medicine team assisting in research projects, dog training, and medical evaluations and interventions. Jules has additionally externed at Florida Veterinary Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, University of Tennessee Sports Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation, and Cornell University’s Sports Medicine. With her history as a division 1 athlete for Ohio State, Jules has a passion for sport specific programming and conditioning. She has been training as a K9 handler for Northeast Search and Rescue since January 2024.

Fitness Foundations

Saturday, February 14, 9am - 12:30pm

Prerequisites: None.
Description: Join us for an interactive, hands-on workshop designed to help you and your dog build a solid fitness foundation that supports sport, work, and active lifestyles! Perfect for those new to canine conditioning, this class breaks down the why behind each exercise while teaching you how to perform them correctly and safely. Each team receives individualized coaching to ensure your dog is appropriately challenged — whether you're prepping for competition or simply want to keep your canine strong, fit, and injury-resistant.

During the workshop, you’ll learn how physical fitness plays a critical role in performance, injury prevention, and long-term soundness. We’ll cover proper posture and form for exercises, teach you how to create effective warm-up and cool-down routines, and show you how to recognize fatigue and adjust your training accordingly. You'll leave with hands-on coaching, a take-home guide full of exercises and training tips, and access to demo videos to continue your dog’s fitness journey at home.

Limited to 10 working spots, unlimited auditors.

Cost: Working spot $80 member, $100 non-member; auditor $25.

Fitness for Senior Dogs

Saturday, February 14, 1 - 3pm

Prerequisites: Age 7+
Description: Fitness for Senior Dogs is a gentle, low-impact class designed to help older dogs stay strong, mobile, and comfortable as they age. Through carefully guided exercises, this class supports joint health, improves coordination, and helps maintain muscle mass—all at a pace that’s safe and enjoyable for senior pups. This session is tailored to accommodate common age-related changes such as arthritis, stiffness, or reduced endurance, with plenty of rest breaks and positive reinforcement. Whether your dog is slowing down or simply needs extra support to stay active, Fitness for Senior Dogs promotes confidence, comfort, and quality of life—helping golden years stay happy and healthy.

Limited to 10 working spots, unlimited auditors.

Cost: Working spot $55 member, $75 non-member; auditor $25.

Fitness for the Sporting Canine

Saturday, February 14, 3:30 - 5:00pm

Prerequisites: None.
Description: Fitness for Canine Athletes is a high-energy, performance-focused class designed for dogs who love to work, compete, and stay at the top of their game. This class emphasizes strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and body awareness through structured, sport-specific exercises. This session targets injury prevention, improved performance, and faster recovery.Fitness for Canine Athletes is ideal for dogs preparing for competition or maintaining peak condition year-round—because strong bodies build confident, capable athletes.

Limited to 10 working spots, unlimited auditors.

Cost: Working spot $55 member, $75 non-member; auditor $25.

Nose Work Seminars – with Michael McManus

Location: Girl Scout Camp Valley Forge. 100 Juliette Low Way, Valley Forge, PA 19481

Saturday, February 21, 9:30am-4:30pm: The Trial from Hell!

Every competitor eventually faces that trial, where every hide is hard, every search area pushes your limits, and nothing seems to go your way. This workshop prepares you for those days.

Learn how to keep your cool, adapt under pressure, and help your dog stay in the game when everything feels stacked against you. We’ll work through:

• Strategies for high-difficulty hides and complex search areas
• Mental skills to stay sharp and focused under stress
• Training drills that build resilience in both handler and dog
• How to stand out by staying steady when others fall apart

This isn’t just about surviving the worst-case scenario, it’s about owning it.

Sunday, February 22, and Monday February 23, 9:30am-4:30pm: Patterns & Handling

Patterns & Handling: Guiding the Search Without Getting in the Way
Great searches don’t happen by accident, they’re shaped by thoughtful patterns and intentional handling. In Patterns & Handling, we’ll explore how the choices you make with your body, leash, and hide placement influence your dog’s search far more than most handlers realize.

This seminar focuses on developing effective search patterns that promote independence, confidence, and thorough coverage — without micromanaging or restricting the dog. We’ll examine how handlers can use positioning, motion, and restraint to support the search rather than interfere with it, and how poor handling habits can unintentionally create gaps, missed hides, or dependency.

You’ll learn how to:

• Use patterning to create clarity in large or complex search areas
• Handle in ways that support independent problem-solving
• Recognize when your handling is helping — and when it’s hurting
• Adapt patterns and handling strategies to different environments, dogs, and search goals

This seminar is appropriate for all levels, from teams building foundations to experienced competitors refining efficiency and strategy. Whether you tend to over-handle, under-handle, or aren’t sure what you’re doing at all, this seminar will give you tools to move with purpose and intention.

Handle less. Communicate better. Let the dog do the work.

Cost: $250 for members, $280 for non-members. Auditing is $40.