An adventure for your dog. Peace of mind for you.
Your busy schedule doesn't mean a boring day for your dog. It also doesn't mean coming home to the chaos and mess your dog got up to while you were at work.
Ditch the same loop, same fence line, same letterbox.
More places to sniff and explore.
Your walk isn't the problem. But staying in the same neighbourhood is. Think of your local loop as listening to the same album on repeat. Your dog knows every track, and they're getting bored.
Canine Adventures mixes it up, varying the locations: coastal reserves, bushland trails, scents to follow, things to work out, and the joy that only off-lead freedom brings. Your dog gets to spend their outing with a few compatible companions and with me, working out their brains as well as their bodies.
You'll never find us at the same small dog park throwing the same ball chucker. Instead, an adventure means a fun day out for your dog, and you coming home to a peaceful household and a dog that has spent their day doing what dogs love to do: explore the world with their nose.
Sounds
Familiar?
"She comes home happy, fulfilled and tired — both physically and mentally."
I highly recommend The Pet Professor (Marianne). My dog lives for her weekly "Canine Adventure" days with Marianne and her regular dog companions.
Marianne is very thoughtful about the dogs she brings together, having usually worked with them through training, which creates a well-balanced and well-behaved pack.
The outings are tailored to each dog — water adventures for swimmers, and great walking spots for those who love to sniff and explore, all in safe environments.
When Marianne arrives, my dog can't wait to jump in the car. She comes home happy, fulfilled and tired — both physically and mentally.
That mental stimulation really shows. After the initial excitement, she settles quickly and is calm and relaxed, never reactive to what's happening outside our home. Marianne's training has made a real difference.
Marianne's energy is infectious — the dogs adore her.
Joanne & Poppy
A good adventure starts with knowing who's coming.
Your dog might love following a scent through the bush, paddling at the water's edge or taking their time to investigate every interesting patch of grass. Having friends along is part of the fun, but there's a whole world to explore beyond playing with other dogs. I choose each outing around the dogs coming that day, the space and the weather, so they can enjoy it at a pace that suits them.
That includes when we head out. Through autumn, winter and early spring, a middle-of-the-day adventure breaks up the hours while you're busy. As late spring and summer warm up, we start earlier to make the most of the cooler part of the day. The plan adjusts to the conditions, with your dog's comfort and safety in mind.
We mix up the locations too. There are familiar favourites, but we don't head to the same place every time. Different tracks, smells and spaces give your dog something new to investigate, keeping them interested in the world around them.
What your dog gets on every Adventure
Someone who knows your dog
It's me on every outing, making sure your dog is having the time of their life.
Small, matched groups
Up to four dogs maximum, all assessed and matched to each other. We keep the group consistent so they're having fun with friends.
Door to door, and cared for the whole way.
I collect your dog from home and bring them back, with a brush or rinse if they've found the mud.
How your dog gets started.
Quick eligibility check
A few quick questions about your dog and where you live, and which days would suit you. If Adventures isn't the fit, I'll explain the next step.
Meet & Greet
I come to assess your dog in person and check that they're suitable for walking in a group. We start with a 30-minute chat and introduction before your dog's first solo outing, to gauge how well they travel and how they behave outside around other dogs and people. If they get the tick of approval, we move to the next step. If not, I give you honest feedback on what I recommend to help.
Your dog's first adventure.
Your dog gets started on their weekly exploration around Sydney. The location varies, so your dog gets used to being out and about in more than one place.
Week after week.
The same trainer, a consistent group and somewhere different to explore is what makes it work. Our longest-running adventurer has over 100 walks and counting.
"Blissfully sleepy and content."
"Thank you so much for Miyuki's adventures! She has a great time twice a week with her canine buddies in lots of fun doggy places that it would be so much harder for us to take her to."
"It gives us so much happiness knowing that she is having such a great time exploring and running around while we are at work, and also peace of mind knowing that she will be safe and so well looked after."
"When we get home she has been cleaned (sometimes she's even had had a full bath after her muddy or sandy adventures) and is blissfully sleepy and content. Highly recommend Canine Adventures and we and Miyuki are very grateful!"
Vidthiya & Miyuki
Meet & Greet and membership
All new adventure clients must complete a Meet & Greet first. If your dog is suited and a place is available, I'll confirm their start date and payments.
Meet & Greet
An in-person assessment so I can check your dog is happy and safe in a group.
Membership: weekly prices, paid in four-week blocks
| Configuration | 1 adventure a week | 2 adventures a week |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Dog | $99 / week$396 paid every four weeks | $190 / week$760 paid every four weeks |
| 2 Dogs | $180 / week$720 paid every four weeks | $350 / week$1,400 paid every four weeks |
| 3 Dogs | $260 / week$1,040 paid every four weeks | $500 / week$2,000 paid every four weeks |
Weekly prices and four-week payments shown are household totals. Each four-week block includes 4 outings per dog for once-weekly membership or 8 outings per dog for twice-weekly membership. Not all suburbs are eligible; check your postcode.
FAQs
- It's a 30-minute meeting with you plus a one-hour solo walk with your dog. I'm checking temperament, thresholds, recall and how your dog handles new places without you there. Not every dog is safe or happy in a group, and no dog joins a group until they've been assessed. If yours isn't ready, you get a report on why and a recommendation for what to do first. If they are, I'll confirm a place as soon as one is available. The $195 fee covers my time either way.
- Adventures last 75 to 90 minutes, depending on the group and conditions. Collection and return are additional to that time. Coastal reserves, bushland trails, urban scent walks; the location varies. Scent work, problem solving, controlled social time and off-lead time where it's safe. Door-to-door pick-up and drop-off, and a brush or rinse if they come back muddy.
- Yes, but they must complete the Meet & Greet first. Dogs from other trainers are welcome if they are suited after the Meet & Greet. Dogs showing reactivity or severe anxiety usually need private work first; I'll tell you at the Meet & Greet.
- You're paying for your dog's place in the group, which is held for them week to week. You pay once every four weeks, whether your dog walks once or twice a week. You'll see the exact dates and amount before you pay, and a bill is reduced when a planned closure removes an outing. You can cancel or pause with seven days' notice, and I'll refund any prepaid outings scheduled after the notice period ends. Already hold a Flex-5 or Adventure-10 pass? It's honoured to its expiry; message me if you have questions.
- It depends on the season. In the cooler months, pick-ups start around 10am and everyone is home by about 2pm. In summer we head out earlier to beat the heat: pick-ups from around 8am, and everyone home before midday. I'll confirm your dog's window when they join.
- Not quite. I close for the Christmas and New Year break each year, and those days aren't billed. This year there are no walks from 24 December to 1 January, and we're back on Monday 4 January 2027.
- Adventures are currently available in the Inner West & surrounds (Botany, Mascot, Marrickville, Newtown, Dulwich Hill, Enmore). Not all areas are eligible; use the postcode checker on this page to confirm availability in your suburb.
Marianne Dawson
Behaviour Trainer & Founder, Pet Professor
Cert IV Companion Animal Services
Force-free, evidence-based, games-based training for dogs and cats across Sydney since 2018.
About Marianne