Arena | Dog Lovers Festival Melbourne

Daily Timetable

Friday, Saturday & Sunday

10:00 am Watch daring dogs fly up the wall in the K9 Superwall Heats
About the Show

One of the most iconic outback events is the Dog High Jump and this event – K9 Superwall – takes it to a whole new level – nearly 10ft (3 metres) to be exact!

Each daring dog, run by a handler, takes turns jumping up an ever-increasing vertical wall, until the winner is decided.

High-energy music will be pumping, and the audience will be on the edge of their seats.

Don’t miss this sky-scraping spectacle!
- Read Farmer Dave Graham's bio
In 2001, Dave leapt onto the world stage in an unusual way: as an international male model. For an intensely shy kid from the bush, the catwalk and being in front of a camera was very different. Dave had a one-way ticket around the world, travelling to over 80 countries and experiencing many different cultures. It also gave him the confidence to start sharing his incredible story.

In 2006, ‘Farmer Dave’ catapulted to fame and won the hearts of Australia in season six of “Big Brother” on Channel 10, and most recently returned in 2022 as part of the ‘Royalty Vs New Contenders’ season of the show.

Since 2006, Dave has starred in dozens of TV and radio shows, including “Dancing with the Stars”, a ground-breaking documentary on Australian Dingos on the ABC TV, a US TV pilot for Oprah Winfrey, and a revealing and emotional “Australian Story” on ABC TV.

Dave’s incredible story includes the adversity of growing up as a young gay man in the bush, the challenges to his mental wellbeing, as well as surviving a parachuting accident. Dave’s strength, resilience and determination have seen him become a professional animal behaviourist, MC, keynote speaker, brand ambassador and media personality.

Dave uses his passion for farming and rural life, along with his love of animals, as the Co-founder and Manager of Rufftrack – a youth engagement program for young people who have disengaged with school and the community. Rufftrack gives them skills, education, a sense of self-worth and reconnects them with their community.

Dave has become one of Australia’s best live-performance hosts, bringing together his love of animals and Australian bush culture to connect audiences with positive, modern training methods through entertainment, engagement and education.

Dave is a warm and engaging TV and radio personality, keynote speaker and MC natural.
11:00 am Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!
About the Show

Step into the Vitapet Arena and watch this delightful show where a team of talented Border Collies will showcase their tricks and entertain, inspire, and remind us all of the incredible wonders that can be achieved when we unleash our inner Wonderdog!

Hosted by TV vet Dr Katrina and professional dog trainer Kelly Gill, the Wonderdogs are guaranteed to bring laughter, excitement, and a lot of cuteness to the stage.
- Read Dr Katrina, Kelly Gill & The Wonderdogs's bio
Popular television vet, Dr Katrina Warren has teamed up with professional trainer, Kelly Gill and the Wonderdogs; a team of impeccably trained chocolate Border Collies and new kid on the block Alex the Papillon!

The Wonderdogs are seasoned performers and have appeared with Katrina on the Today Show, Morning Show, Funniest Home Videos, Saturday Disney and Talk to the Animals. They have also starred in numerous TV commercials and feature films and it’s a very rare opportunity to see them all perform here at the show in Melbourne given the long-trip down from their home in the Hunter Valley.
11:45 am Feel your heart race at the fast action in Flying Fast Flyball shows
About the Show

You have seen fit and agile dogs that can do things that most of us with two legs are incapable of, you have seen the clever dogs that can run rings around their humans… now you are going to see the most exciting of them all, the fast dogs!

Flyball is guaranteed to get the blood pumping in dogs and humans alike. Just like drag racing but this time with a little bit of pizzazz. Can everyone keep their head in the game to bring the ball back over the line for their team?! Can a Chihuahua run faster than a Border Collie? You will have to come see for yourself! What will it take to to bring it home for the team. We will also have a quick masterclass on how you can start training your dog for flyball, both for those with adult dogs and puppies, we will take you through the basics of how you can have just as much fun with your dog!
- Read Lucy Karbowiak, Emily Lyons & The High Flying Team's bio
Lucy Karbowiak has been training and competing with dogs since she was 14 years old. She now has a colourful team of Border Collies that show us that it is possible to have good looks and brains all in one! Her dogs can be seen regularly at dog competitions on the weekends and on the odd TV Commercial here and there.

Combining with her best friend and fellow dog trainer, Emily Lyons who has been training and competing with her dogs since she was 13 with her own colourful team of 4 Koolies and a sassy Chihuahua mix. After a little break through the pandemic, they will finally be back in the ring competing regularly in flyball competitions across Australia, charming the competitors with their good looks and wowing them with their speed.
12:45 pm Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!
About the Show

Step into the Vitapet Arena and watch this delightful show where a team of talented Border Collies will showcase their tricks and entertain, inspire, and remind us all of the incredible wonders that can be achieved when we unleash our inner Wonderdog!

Hosted by TV vet Dr Katrina and professional dog trainer Kelly Gill, the Wonderdogs are guaranteed to bring laughter, excitement, and a lot of cuteness to the stage.
- Read Dr Katrina, Kelly Gill & The Wonderdogs's bio
Popular television vet, Dr Katrina Warren has teamed up with professional trainer, Kelly Gill and the Wonderdogs; a team of impeccably trained chocolate Border Collies and new kid on the block Alex the Papillon!

The Wonderdogs are seasoned performers and have appeared with Katrina on the Today Show, Morning Show, Funniest Home Videos, Saturday Disney and Talk to the Animals. They have also starred in numerous TV commercials and feature films and it’s a very rare opportunity to see them all perform here at the show in Melbourne given the long-trip down from their home in the Hunter Valley.
1:30 pm See which doggo has the most will-power and the speed to match in Temptation Alley
About the Show

Get ready to cheer! Get ready for Temptation Alley!

Imagine this: down one end of the arena is a dog, held back by a handler. At the other end, their human – behind the finish line.

Between them is the 10-metre long Temptation Alley: a course covered in plush toys, treats, balls, chew toys, tug ropes… basically every doggie favourite you could think of.

The clock starts, the handler releases the beast and pup is off like a rocket down the alley!

Will the dog head for the finish line and leap into the arms of their adoring fur-parent, in two seconds flat? Or will it u-turn to temptation, to the delight of the audience?

One thing’s for certain: the crowd will be cheering and laughing in equal measure as we see whether the dog loves its human or a soft toy more!

If you need a good K9-inspired belly laugh this year, then don’t miss this hilarious and entertaining competition, MC-ed by the always entertaining Farmer Dave Graham & Lara Shannon.
- Read Farmer Dave Graham's bio
- Read Lara Shannon's bio
In 2001, Dave leapt onto the world stage in an unusual way: as an international male model. For an intensely shy kid from the bush, the catwalk and being in front of a camera was very different. Dave had a one-way ticket around the world, travelling to over 80 countries and experiencing many different cultures. It also gave him the confidence to start sharing his incredible story.

In 2006, ‘Farmer Dave’ catapulted to fame and won the hearts of Australia in season six of “Big Brother” on Channel 10, and most recently returned in 2022 as part of the ‘Royalty Vs New Contenders’ season of the show.

Since 2006, Dave has starred in dozens of TV and radio shows, including “Dancing with the Stars”, a ground-breaking documentary on Australian Dingos on the ABC TV, a US TV pilot for Oprah Winfrey, and a revealing and emotional “Australian Story” on ABC TV.

Dave’s incredible story includes the adversity of growing up as a young gay man in the bush, the challenges to his mental wellbeing, as well as surviving a parachuting accident. Dave’s strength, resilience and determination have seen him become a professional animal behaviourist, MC, keynote speaker, brand ambassador and media personality.

Dave uses his passion for farming and rural life, along with his love of animals, as the Co-founder and Manager of Rufftrack – a youth engagement program for young people who have disengaged with school and the community. Rufftrack gives them skills, education, a sense of self-worth and reconnects them with their community.

Dave has become one of Australia’s best live-performance hosts, bringing together his love of animals and Australian bush culture to connect audiences with positive, modern training methods through entertainment, engagement and education.

Dave is a warm and engaging TV and radio personality, keynote speaker and MC natural.

As a pet behaviourist, TV presenter, producer and author, Lara Shannon is one Australia’s most well-known animal welfare advocates and canine experts, reaching millions of Australians each year through her education work to help improve the lives of companion animals.

Starting her career in radio and television in the early 90’s, Lara has been the media spokesperson for a number of high-profile animal welfare and conservation organisations in Australia and the UK including the World Wide Fund for Nature, Planet Ark, Keep Australia Beautiful, The Orangutan Project, Wildlife Asia and others, and currently presents Channel 10’s Pooches At Play and features in Channel 9’s The Pet Rescuers (Series 1).

Lara’s early television work included regular appearances on Saturday Disney, Totally Wild and Cheez TV, teaching children about wildlife and environmental conservation issues in a fun and engaging way, while her debut documentary Ecochick Adventures: The Trans Borneo Challenge aired on Channel 9 to raise awareness of the plight of the Orangutan in 2015.

As a certified dog trainer, behaviourist and pet food nutritionist, Lara is both the Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play, now in its seventh series, promoting responsible pet ownership for the benefit of both pets and the people who love them. She was also co-producer and feature talent in the observational documentary TV series, The Pet Rescuers on Channel 9 in 2021.

Lara is the Author of World of Dogs released in October 2021 and Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog), released in June 2020, both published by Hardie Grant Books and available where all good books are sold across Australia, USA, Canada and the UK.

She is also regularly featured in TV, radio, press and online editorial and advertisements, works as a Brand Ambassador for companies including PETstock, and is a sought-after MC and speaker for events, pet expos and seminars including the Australian Dog Lovers Festival, the Cat Lovers Show, Pets in the Park events and more, with her cheeky rescue dog ‘Dynamite Darcy’ by her side. Vindi, her latest rescue dog, is also well on his way to become a bona fide TV star too!

An Ambassador for Second Chance Animal Rescue, Companion Animal Network Australia and the Companion Animal Rescue Awards, Lara’s mission is to help reduce the needless euthanasia of adoptable shelter animals to zero.

Recent Awards

B&T Women in Media Awards 2019 – Finalist: Journalist/Presenter and Finalist: Entrepreneur Category

Australia’s Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs List 2018 – My Entrepreneur Magazine
2:30 pm Feel spine-shiveringly alive watching epic freestyle-agility-combo routines in Frizgility
About the Show

A showcase of agility and disc through the fabulous sport of Frizgility, tunnels, jumps and a disc! What can go wrong?! And to finalise the Frizgility content we also have Canine Disc Freestyle routines because what is better than watching a dog catch a disc? That’s right: watching a dog jump off the back of a human to catch a disc!

These unique routines will show the audience the amazing capabilities of our four-legged friends and what you can do when you pair up with your dog and make a team.
- Read Lucy Karbowiak, Emily Lyons & The High Flying Team's bio
Lucy Karbowiak has been training and competing with dogs since she was 14 years old. She now has a colourful team of Border Collies that show us that it is possible to have good looks and brains all in one! Her dogs can be seen regularly at dog competitions on the weekends and on the odd TV Commercial here and there.

Combining with her best friend and fellow dog trainer, Emily Lyons who has been training and competing with her dogs since she was 13 with her own colourful team of 4 Koolies and a sassy Chihuahua mix. After a little break through the pandemic, they will finally be back in the ring competing regularly in flyball competitions across Australia, charming the competitors with their good looks and wowing them with their speed.
3:15 pm Witness K9s with the greatest in attitude & altitude as they soar in the Superwall Finals
About the Show

One of the most iconic outback events is the Dog High Jump, and K9 Superwall takes it to a whole new level.

Run by a handler, each dog competes to jump up an ever-increasing vertical wall to decide a winner.

The audience will be kept on edge with their antics, coupled with the high energy music, and educational components.

Heights attained by the dogs near 10ft (3 metres)!
- Read Farmer Dave Graham's bio
In 2001, Dave leapt onto the world stage in an unusual way: as an international male model. For an intensely shy kid from the bush, the catwalk and being in front of a camera was very different. Dave had a one-way ticket around the world, travelling to over 80 countries and experiencing many different cultures. It also gave him the confidence to start sharing his incredible story.

In 2006, ‘Farmer Dave’ catapulted to fame and won the hearts of Australia in season six of “Big Brother” on Channel 10, and most recently returned in 2022 as part of the ‘Royalty Vs New Contenders’ season of the show.

Since 2006, Dave has starred in dozens of TV and radio shows, including “Dancing with the Stars”, a ground-breaking documentary on Australian Dingos on the ABC TV, a US TV pilot for Oprah Winfrey, and a revealing and emotional “Australian Story” on ABC TV.

Dave’s incredible story includes the adversity of growing up as a young gay man in the bush, the challenges to his mental wellbeing, as well as surviving a parachuting accident. Dave’s strength, resilience and determination have seen him become a professional animal behaviourist, MC, keynote speaker, brand ambassador and media personality.

Dave uses his passion for farming and rural life, along with his love of animals, as the Co-founder and Manager of Rufftrack – a youth engagement program for young people who have disengaged with school and the community. Rufftrack gives them skills, education, a sense of self-worth and reconnects them with their community.

Dave has become one of Australia’s best live-performance hosts, bringing together his love of animals and Australian bush culture to connect audiences with positive, modern training methods through entertainment, engagement and education.

Dave is a warm and engaging TV and radio personality, keynote speaker and MC natural.
4:00 pm See which doggo has the most will-power - and the speed to match in Temptation Alley!
About the Show

Get ready to cheer! Get ready for Temptation Alley!

Imagine this: down one end of the arena is a dog, held back by a handler. At the other end, their human – behind the finish line.

Between them is the 10-metre long Temptation Alley: a course covered in plush toys, treats, balls, chew toys, tug ropes… basically every doggie favourite you could think of.

The clock starts, the handler releases the beast and pup is off like a rocket down the alley!

Will the dog head for the finish line and leap into the arms of their adoring fur-parent, in two seconds flat? Or will it u-turn to temptation, to the delight of the audience?

One thing’s for certain: the crowd will be cheering and laughing in equal measure as we see whether the dog loves its human or a soft toy more!

If you need a good K9-inspired belly laugh this year, then don’t miss this hilarious and entertaining competition, MC-ed by the always entertaining Farmer Dave Graham & Lara Shannon.
- Read Farmer Dave Graham's bio
- Read Lara Shannon's bio
In 2001, Dave leapt onto the world stage in an unusual way: as an international male model. For an intensely shy kid from the bush, the catwalk and being in front of a camera was very different. Dave had a one-way ticket around the world, travelling to over 80 countries and experiencing many different cultures. It also gave him the confidence to start sharing his incredible story.

In 2006, ‘Farmer Dave’ catapulted to fame and won the hearts of Australia in season six of “Big Brother” on Channel 10, and most recently returned in 2022 as part of the ‘Royalty Vs New Contenders’ season of the show.

Since 2006, Dave has starred in dozens of TV and radio shows, including “Dancing with the Stars”, a ground-breaking documentary on Australian Dingos on the ABC TV, a US TV pilot for Oprah Winfrey, and a revealing and emotional “Australian Story” on ABC TV.

Dave’s incredible story includes the adversity of growing up as a young gay man in the bush, the challenges to his mental wellbeing, as well as surviving a parachuting accident. Dave’s strength, resilience and determination have seen him become a professional animal behaviourist, MC, keynote speaker, brand ambassador and media personality.

Dave uses his passion for farming and rural life, along with his love of animals, as the Co-founder and Manager of Rufftrack – a youth engagement program for young people who have disengaged with school and the community. Rufftrack gives them skills, education, a sense of self-worth and reconnects them with their community.

Dave has become one of Australia’s best live-performance hosts, bringing together his love of animals and Australian bush culture to connect audiences with positive, modern training methods through entertainment, engagement and education.

Dave is a warm and engaging TV and radio personality, keynote speaker and MC natural.

As a pet behaviourist, TV presenter, producer and author, Lara Shannon is one Australia’s most well-known animal welfare advocates and canine experts, reaching millions of Australians each year through her education work to help improve the lives of companion animals.

Starting her career in radio and television in the early 90’s, Lara has been the media spokesperson for a number of high-profile animal welfare and conservation organisations in Australia and the UK including the World Wide Fund for Nature, Planet Ark, Keep Australia Beautiful, The Orangutan Project, Wildlife Asia and others, and currently presents Channel 10’s Pooches At Play and features in Channel 9’s The Pet Rescuers (Series 1).

Lara’s early television work included regular appearances on Saturday Disney, Totally Wild and Cheez TV, teaching children about wildlife and environmental conservation issues in a fun and engaging way, while her debut documentary Ecochick Adventures: The Trans Borneo Challenge aired on Channel 9 to raise awareness of the plight of the Orangutan in 2015.

As a certified dog trainer, behaviourist and pet food nutritionist, Lara is both the Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play, now in its seventh series, promoting responsible pet ownership for the benefit of both pets and the people who love them. She was also co-producer and feature talent in the observational documentary TV series, The Pet Rescuers on Channel 9 in 2021.

Lara is the Author of World of Dogs released in October 2021 and Eat, Play, Love (Your Dog), released in June 2020, both published by Hardie Grant Books and available where all good books are sold across Australia, USA, Canada and the UK.

She is also regularly featured in TV, radio, press and online editorial and advertisements, works as a Brand Ambassador for companies including PETstock, and is a sought-after MC and speaker for events, pet expos and seminars including the Australian Dog Lovers Festival, the Cat Lovers Show, Pets in the Park events and more, with her cheeky rescue dog ‘Dynamite Darcy’ by her side. Vindi, her latest rescue dog, is also well on his way to become a bona fide TV star too!

An Ambassador for Second Chance Animal Rescue, Companion Animal Network Australia and the Companion Animal Rescue Awards, Lara’s mission is to help reduce the needless euthanasia of adoptable shelter animals to zero.

Recent Awards

B&T Women in Media Awards 2019 – Finalist: Journalist/Presenter and Finalist: Entrepreneur Category

Australia’s Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs List 2018 – My Entrepreneur Magazine

VitaPet Arena

VitaPet Arena

Day/Time:

Daily Timetable

10:00 am Watch daring dogs fly up the wall in the K9 Superwall Heats

About the Show

11:00 am Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!

About the Show

11:45 am Feel your heart race at the fast action in Flying Fast Flyball shows

About the Show

12:45 pm Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!

About the Show

1:30 pm See which doggo has the most will-power and the speed to match in Temptation Alley

About the Show

2:30 pm Feel spine-shiveringly alive watching epic freestyle-agility-combo routines in Frizgility

About the Show

3:15 pm Witness K9s with the greatest in attitude & altitude as they soar in the Superwall Finals

About the Show

4:00 pm See which doggo has the most will-power - and the speed to match in Temptation Alley!

About the Show

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Daily Timetable

10:00 am Watch daring dogs fly up the wall in the K9 Superwall Heats

About the Show

11:00 am Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!

About the Show

11:45 am Feel your heart race at the fast action in Flying Fast Flyball shows

About the Show

12:45 pm Let the Wonderdogs teach you how to unleash your own inner Wonderdog!

About the Show

1:30 pm See which doggo has the most will-power and the speed to match in Temptation Alley

About the Show

2:30 pm Feel spine-shiveringly alive watching epic freestyle-agility-combo routines in Frizgility

About the Show

3:15 pm Witness K9s with the greatest in attitude & altitude as they soar in the Superwall Finals

About the Show

4:00 pm See which doggo has the most will-power - and the speed to match in Temptation Alley!

About the Show