Join us for our upcoming events, workshops and specialty classes, where you and your furry friend can create lasting memories together.

 

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MICHAEL MCMANUS

HALF-DAY SKILL BUILDING WORKSHOPS

K9 Bondz is excited to announce that Michael McManus will be returning to our area in April!  Michael is a highly respected National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) Certifying Official, Judge, and Certified Nose work Instructor.  His workshops are always informative, fun, and make you (and your dog) think out of the box!  This time Michael will be conducting two half-day skill building workshops which will address issues that plague many Nose work teams:   

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Workshop 1:  Mastering Multiple & Close Hides (Half-Day Intensive)

Ready to level up your multiple hide skills? This focused half-day workshop dives straight into the mechanics of teaching dogs to work multiple hides confidently, and tackle challenging close proximity problems without confusion or conflict.

We’ll refine odor obedience, clean up leaving rituals, and build clarity around when to stay, when to move on, and how to prevent unnecessary returns. Then we’ll put it all to the test with strategic close-hide setups designed to strengthen independence, precision, and thoughtful handling.  Perfect for teams preparing for upper-level competition or anyone wanting smoother, more disciplined multiple hide searches.

Workshop 2:  Elevation: Clarity Over Guessing (Half-Day Intensive)

High hides don’t have to mean high confusion. In this focused half-day workshop, we’ll strip away the guesswork that often develops from overexposure to elevated hides and replace it with clarity, structure, and confidence.  We’ll refine how dogs source elevated odor, strengthen clear communication at height, and address the handler habits that lead to premature calls and uncertainty. Through thoughtfully designed setups, we’ll rebuild understanding from the ground up, so elevated hides feel precise and deliberate, not speculative.  Perfect for teams who feel stuck in “maybe it’s high?” mode and want cleaner, more confident decisions.

When:  Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Location:  St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church, 6744 South Kings Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306-1318

Hours:   

   Workshop 1:    8:00am - registration

                         8:15am -12:15pm workshop 

   Workshop 2:   1:00pm – registration

                          1:15 – 5:15pm - workshop

Cost: 

Working Spot – All Day; Both Workshops:  $280

Working Spot – ½ Day; One Workshop:     $160

 Auditor Spot – All Day; Both Workshops:   $80

 Auditor Spot – ½ Day; One Workshop:      $50

Working Spots:  There will be 10 working spots in each workshop.  Each handler is limited to 1 working dog per workshop.  All working dogs must be trialing at the NW1/Novice level or above.  Two of the working spots in each workshop are reserved for the workshop host’s/facilitator’s dogs.  The remaining working spots will be filled by random draw.  Priority will be given to individuals who sign up for a working spot in both workshops.  If all working spots are not filled from that list, the remaining spots will be filled by random draw of the individuals who signed up for working spots in only one workshop.  The random draw will be made on March 7 or when all the spots are filled, whichever is sooner. 

Waitlist: A waitlist will be maintained for individuals who do not make the random draw.  In the event of a working spot cancellation, individuals on the waitlist will be offered a spot in order of the random draw ranking. 

Auditor Spots:  There will be 4 auditor spots available.  They will be filled in the order of signup.  Priority will be given to individuals who sign up for an auditor spot in both workshops.  If all auditor spots are not filled from that list, the remaining spots will be filled from the auditor list for a specific workshop. 

Payment:  Emails will be sent to individuals’ who are given a working or auditor spot.  Payment instructions will be in the email. All payments must be completed by Zelle (703-314-5484) by the date specified in the email in order to secure your spot. 

Cancellation Refund Policy:  

For cancellation of entries:

On or before March 15, 2026 –

Full refund minus $25 administrative fee. 

March 15 – April 7, 2026 - 

Full refund minus $25 administrative fee, if spot is  filled.

On or after April 8, 2026:  50% refund, if spot is filled.

Crating:  Crating will be your cars. 

What to Bring: Treats and/or toys and water for your dog.  Light snacks will be provided for humans, but participants are responsible for their own lunch and beverages. 

  No personal video/audiotaping of the educational portion of the workshop. You may take personal video of your own dog working. If you wish to do this, you may not post the video on any social media without Michael’s permission.