From Belgium in June through to Australia in December - via Texas, Maryland and California, USA - 2024 was an unprecedented year of regional workshops. More than 50 ADI member organizations from all three regions took part in workshops covering training, breeding, fundraising and marketing.
ADI Trainers Workshop
We kicked off with the ADI Trainers’ Workshop in Verviers, Belgium from June 9-11, co-hosted by ADI accredited organizations Os’Mose and Hachiko. 25 assistance
dogs, 14 presenters and 74 participants from four continents met for three days of intensive, hands-on practical sessions and presentations from leading experts including Vanessa Wey, Executive Director of Os’mose, and Elke de Vleeschhouwer, Hachiko’s Head Trainer and Puppy Coordinator.
Discussion groups covered diverse topics such as social interaction; the power of choice; removing the word ‘stay’ from the training lexicon; foster families vs kennels; allowing strangers to pet your dog; the pros and cons of shelter dogs; and the naming of dogs. Participants were also welcomed to Os’mose’s impressive training facility for an evening of networking, relaxing and a chance to meet triple Olympic, European and World Championship gold medalist Vincent Vanasch, whose young son has an Os’mose-trained epilepsy alert assistance dog. You can watch an inspiring highlights video of the workshop and a report by the local TV station.
Patriot Paws Service Dogs Thinking Outside the Box Workshop
Next up was the ‘Thinking Outside The Box’ Trainers’ Workshop, a trainers’ workshop presented by Patriot Paws in Grapevine, Texas in partnership with ADI from September 26-28, featuring guest presenters Ken Ramirez, Kathy Sdao and Michele Pouliot.
Billed as a ‘transformative immersive 3-day workshop experience…a golden opportunity to get hands-on training with live demonstrations from world-renowned trainers,’ the event attracted more than 300 professional assistance dog trainers from all over North America. Participants were treated to feature classes on impulse control, cue tips, and training backwards to create strong behavior sequences and chains.
“The workshop provided an enriching and educational experience for everyone involved, including the dedicated staff of Patriot Paws Service Dogs,” said Founder and CEO Lori Stevens. “The caliber of the participants and their enthusiasm left a lasting impression, inspiring us to begin planning for another workshop in 2026. Our goal for the next event is to delve deeper into service dog training behaviors by offering shorter, more focused classes and in-depth, hands-on training labs to enhance the learning experience.”
First ever ADI Breeding Workshop
October was a particularly busy month, starting with the first ever ADI Breeding
Workshop, hosted by Warrior Canine Connection October 7-9 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA. The first two days were dedicated to breeding-specific topics such as urogenital health, semen handling, gait and confirmation, and rehabilitation and fitness for breeding stock. Day three was an optional add-on day focusing on Behavior Check List (BCL), with attendees given the opportunity to practice scoring and conducting their behavior assessments.
“Warrior Canine Connection was honored to host the very first ever ADI Breeders Workshop,” commented Executive Director Rick Yount. “The incredible things our industry does all starts with the Breeding Department.”
ADI Fundraising and Marketing Workshop
Just a couple of weeks later and the focus switched to the West Coast of the USA for the Fund Development and Marketing Workshop organized by Merilyn DeFazio from Lions Foundation of Canada Dogs Guides and the ADI Marketing Committee and held in San Jose, California, October 24-25. The event was the first time ADI hosted a workshop specifically for communications, fundraising and marketing professionals. The workshop was designed to provide attendees with invaluable strategies and insights to elevate their fundraising and marketing initiatives.’
Day One saw role-playing and sessions devoted to the ADI Visual Identity Guidelines and Inclusive Language Guide; effective storytelling techniques; donor engagement, identification and segmentation; and client advocacy. Day Two covered fund development and donor cultivation; best practices in social media; direct mail strategies and event planning.
“The workshop was a huge success!” said lead organizer Merilyn DeFazio. “Thank you to the fabulous marketing committee for running some great sessions and to all of the attendees for the engaging conversations! We can definitely say everyone walked away with new tools and new connections.”
Another first for ADI Trainers’ Workshop in Australia
Not to be outdone, ADI rounded off the year with their first-ever Trainers’ Workshop, hosted by Vision Australia in Melbourne, Australia. Among those attending were Vision Australia, Australia Lions Hearing Dogs, Guide Dogs Queensland, Guide Dogs SA/NT, Everability Guide Dogs WA/TAS, Huikuang Guide Dog Foundation Taiwan, Mobility Dogs New Zealand, Hearing Dogs Australia, Integra, See Differently, and Assistance Dogs Australia.
“It was a real privilege to be part of the inaugural ADI trainer’s workshop in Oceania,” said Veronica Garcia Gil, Senior Trainer at Mobility Dogs. “The event surpassed all expectations – from the high-quality venue and expert speakers to the practical sessions and well-organized tours. Not only was it an opportunity to expand our knowledge, but the networking and social time made it an incredibly enriching experience. I left with invaluable insights and a renewed passion for training.”
Among the highlights were a tour of Vision Australia’s Seeing Eye Dog Facility - an AUS$8 million facility - the first of its kind in Australia featuring a rehabilitation therapy pool, grooming area, whelping rooms, free-run area and an indoor and outdoor puppy playroom. And of course, no workshop is complete without a social event for networking and swapping stories - in this case, an evening at the famous Hardiman's Hotel dog friendly patio in downtown Melbourne.
“The ADI trainer’s workshop in Oceania was an outstanding experience, one that offered a perfect balance of learning, networking, and social connection,” said Sarah Carley, Senior Trainer with Mobility Dogs. “The workshops were immersive, the dogs available for practical training were fantastic, and the speakers provided deep, actionable insights.”
2026 - over to you
A huge thank-you to everyone involved in organizing this year’s Regional Workshops, and to everyone who participated. These events are a vital part of ADI’s continuing growth and they wouldn’t happen without the time given so freely by so many of our members. As attention turns to the 2025 Conference - only two months away! - planning is already underway for the 2026 Regional Workshops. If your ADI organization is interested in hosting, contributing or helping to organize, please contact Elizabeth Reberk and visit the Workshop page.
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Martin Atkin, Communication Consultant for ADI.