Workshops & Seminars

Inaccessible Hides Workshop – with Alexa Karaoulis

Thursday, September 4, 10am-12pm

Description: Level - NW1 and up. Dogs need to be proficient in all 3 odors.

Limited to 8 working spots. Auditing unlimited.

Cost: $65 for members and $80 for non-members. Auditing is $25 member/$30 nonmember.

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 for Canine Athletes

Saturday, September 20, 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.

Strong Dogs Have Smart Feet

Saturday, September 20, 1 - 3pm

Prerequisites: None.
Description: Great canine athletes don’t just move fast — they move smart. This interactive, hands-on workshop focuses on refining your dog’s movement quality, improving foot placement, and building sharper body awareness. You’ll learn how to use reward placement, body positioning, and timing to help your dog create cleaner, more controlled movement patterns that translate directly to sport, work, and daily life.

Throughout the workshop, we’ll dive into how proprioception influences performance, injury prevention, and overall movement control. You’ll get real-time coaching on targeted body awareness drills, handling techniques, and advanced movement skills like foot targeting, weight shifting, and controlled movement patterns. You'll leave with hands-on practice, a take-home guide full of exercises and training tips, and access to demo videos so you can continue building your dog's skills at home.

Limited to 10 working spots, unlimited auditors.

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

Strength & Conditioning for the Agility Canine

Saturday, September 20, 3:30 - 5:30pm

Prerequisites: None.
Description: Agility dogs need more than speed to succeed — they need the strength and body awareness to handle tight turns, quick stops, and explosive movement safely and efficiently. This hands-on workshop is designed specifically for agility teams looking to build a fitness program that supports peak performance while reducing injury risk.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how targeted strength and stability exercises directly improve your dog’s performance on course. We’ll cover how to build strength for jumping and collection, improve core stability for tight turns and contacts, and enhance body awareness to support smoother, more efficient movement. You’ll receive live coaching tailored to your dog, a take-home guide with access to the first phase of our agility program and access to demo videos.

Limited to 10 working spots, unlimited auditors.

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