Pooches at Play is back this July with an 8 x 30 minute episode pet-friendly travel series.
Premiering on Saturday 20 July 2019 at 2pm on Channel 10, Pooches at Play series 4 features host, animal welfare advocate and dog trainer Lara Shannon and her new co-host, The Travel Bug’s Morgan Burrett, visiting a range of popular tourist destinations across Australia, providing pet-friendly travel tips and activities for canine companions.
There series will also feature the usual dog training, health, nutrition, grooming tips and other advice for taking care of pets when on holidays and back at home. Episode destinations and example stories include:
Episode 1 – 20 July 2019 – Melbourne to Geelong, VIC
In this episode the Pooches at Play team provide plenty of tips for preparing for a RV road trip with your pet including: pre-departure packing, car travel safety, food and anxiety tips, caravan park etiquette and things to do and see with your dog in the Bellarine Peninsula. Learn about the Cherished Pets charity group that is helping elderly and vulnerable people in the local community care for their pets during times of need.
Episode 2 – 27 July 2019 – Torquay to Bells Beach, VIC
In this episode the Pooches at Play team check out the pet friendly things to do with your dog when visiting the seaside towns of Torquay and Jan Juc, along the Great Ocean Road. Tips include after-beach grooming and other useful health, nutrition and training advice, including how to re-train reactive dogs due to anxiety and poor socialisation.
Episode 3 – 3 August 2019 – Warrnambool, VIC
The team continue their travels along the Great Ocean Road as they check out the fun things to do and see in Warrnambool with your dog, including a visit to meet the ‘Ambassadogs’ for the Middle Island Maremma Penguin Project that are helping protect the local colony of the ‘Little Penguin’. Plus plenty of training, health and nutrition tips for taking care of your pooch at home and on the road.
Episode 4 – 10 August 2019 – Goldfields, VIC
In this episode the team head across to the Central Highlights of Victoria and catch up with the Mayor of Ballarat Cr Samantha McIntosh to hear what makes Ballarat the Caravan Capital of Victoria and a popular place to visit and stay with your pooch. Meet the insta-famous staffy Axle and learn about the joys of fossicking for gold in the region, training tips for staffy breeds and other health and nutrition tips. Learn how Guide Dogs Australia is helping people with low vision and blindness get back out into the community.
Episode 5 – 17 August 2019 – Adelaide, SA
Enjoy all that Adelaide has to offer as the team check out the fun things to do in and around Adelaide with your dog, including a visit to the historic town of Hahndorf which has been voted South Australia’s most pet-friendly town. Learn about the importance of micro-chipping your pet, other food, nutrition and health tips and meet the Australian Lions Hearing Dogs, a not-for-profit organisation based in the Adelaide Hills that provides hearing dogs and training for hearing impaired people throughout Australia
Episode 6 –24 August 2019 – Sydney to Newcastle, NSW
In this episode the team visit the harbour cities of Sydney and Newcastle to check out some of the pet-friendly attractions and places to stay, whether caravanning or taking a city hotel break, with your pooch. Learn some training tips for dealing with a Husky, helping cats and dogs with anxiety stay calm, and plenty of other health and nutrition tips. Learn about the work of Dog Rescue Newcastle – a group of volunteers dedicated to the rescue of abandoned, neglected or abused companion animals.
Episode 7 – 31 August 2019 – Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast, QLD
In this episode the team check out the things to do with your dog when in Brisbane or travelling to the Sunshine Coast. Meet some talented Noosa locals including ‘Hugsy’ the surfing dog and ‘Harvey’ the life-saving staffy and learn about dog beach etiquette, hot weather safety and training tips. Learn about the amazing work of the Young Diggers Dog Squad, helping diggers cope with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) and other mental illness, and the Smart Pups Assistance Dogs, assisting children with special needs.
Episode 8 – 7 September 2019 – Melbourne / Mornington Peninsula, VIC
In this episode the team highlight the benefits of getting out and about in your home town with your pooch. They check out what to do and see around Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula. Meet Millie the assistance dog who is helping children disengaged from education an d the Australian Search and Rescue dog team in training to help Australia’s Emergency Services. Plus, our usual health and nutrition tips to help create a healthy, happy pooch.
Series 4 is supported by: Major Partner PETstock and Series Partners Big Dog Pet Foods, National Dog Trainers Federation (NDTF), Caravan Industry Association Victoria (CIAVic), New Age Caravans and Vitapet.
Pooches at Play is created by Lara Shannon and produced in conjunction with The Rusty Cage.