Ready to Connect with Your Dog?
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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Grab your leash and join us for our Turkey Trott!
This fun event is a great way to get moving, enjoy time with your dog,
and celebrate the season with our K9 Bondz community.
We can't wait to see you and your pup there!
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2 Half Day Nose Work Workshops
with Jen Johnson
NACSW Supervising Certifying Official
Date: Thursday, December 10th, 2026
Location
St. Martin de Porres Episcopal Church
6744 South Kings Highway
Alexandrea, VA 22306-1318
Morning Session (8:15 AM - 12:15 PM): Elevation Searches
Explore the fascinating world of elevated odor. In this workshop, teams will learn how odor behaves when the source is above ground level and how to recognize changes in canine behavior that indicate elevated scent. Searches will focus on building handler observation skills, developing search strategy, and increasing confidence in reading your dog's communication.
Afternoon Session (1:15 PM - 5:15 PM): Pooling, Trapping & Converging Odor
Odor rarely behaves in a straight line. During this session, teams will work through a variety of search scenarios involving odor pooling, trapping, and converging. Learn how environmental factors influence odor movement and how dogs work through challenging scent puzzles to locate source.
Whether you attend one session or spend the entire day with us, this workshop offers valuable learning opportunities for teams interested in improving their scenting skills and deepening their understanding of odor behavior.
About Jen Johnson
Jen Johnson began teaching with Paws Plus in 2008 through the Tracking program. Watching dogs identify and follow scent sparked a lifelong passion for canine scenting sports. Since then, she has trained two K9 Nose Work Elite Champions.
Jen discovered K9 Nose Work in 2010 with her black Labrador, Shadow. What began as a training class became a life-changing experience. Shadow, who struggled with environmental fears, blossomed into a confident search dog and earned her Elite Championship in 2019. Inspired by Shadow's transformation, Jen became a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) in 2011 and has been helping teams discover and develop their dogs' natural scenting abilities ever since.
Together with her parents, Jim and Janie Simmons, Jen teaches K9 Nose Work in the Richmond, Virginia area through Paws Plus Training, LLC. She has helped host more than 30 trial days, volunteered at countless trials, and serves as a NACSW Certifying Official, Judge, Supervising Certifying Official, and AKC Scent Work Judge.
Jen is passionate about creating level-appropriate challenges and loves watching dogs gain confidence, solve odor problems, and strengthen their partnerships with their handlers.
Jen lives near Richmond, Virginia, with her husband and children and currently trains her dogs Mango and Kiwi in Nose Work and Tracking.
Registration Information
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: $250
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. 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 November 10th, 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 Nov.15th, 2026 –
Full refund minus $25 administrative fee.
Nov.15th to Nov.30th, 2026 -
Full refund minus $35 administrative fee, if spot is filled.
On or after Dec. 1st, 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.
We are excited to welcome Jen and spend a full day exploring the fascinating science and art of scent work!
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you!
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:
.
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.
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Dr. Andrea Ballou Is Coming Back to K9 Bondz
We are excited to welcome Dr. Andrea Ballou, DVM, CCRP back for another Canine Conditioning Workshop designed to help keep your canine athletes fit, strong, and injury free.
Date: May 17, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Cost for a Working Spot: $ 100.00
Cost for Auditor Spot: $ 40.00
This workshop is ideal for dogs of all activity levels, from sport dogs to active family companions. Dr. Ballou brings her expertise as a veterinarian and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner to help you understand proper conditioning, safe strengthening exercises, and injury prevention strategies.
Dr. Ballou graduated from the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine in 2000 and completed her CCRP certification at the University of Tennessee in 2017. She specializes in pain management and currently practices at Willow Animal Hospital in Vint Hill.
Spots are limited. Early registration is encouraged.
