Direct K9 Weekender 16-18 October 2026
This is one of those weekends when where dog lovers are spoilt for choice. The hardest job is choosing between breed shows, dog sport, rescue meet-and-greets, pet photography, markets and Melbourne’s Dog Lovers Festival.
Everything below was checked against an original organiser, venue or governing-body source. Listings with missing details or conflicting information have been left out.
Competition events are generally intended for entered dogs. Do not bring a pet dog as a spectator unless the organiser confirms it is permitted. The Dog Lovers Festival is also a leave-your-dog-at-home event, apart from accredited assistance and service dogs.
Adelaide
Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club Show Weekend
Friday 16 October at 6:30 pm; Saturday 17 October at 9:30 am; Sunday 18 October at 9:00 am
David Roche Park, Cromwell Road, Kilburn
The Staffordshire Bull Terrier Club of South Australia has an open show on Friday evening followed by championship shows on Saturday and Sunday. Entries have closed, but the weekend timetable is confirmed on the Dogs SA upcoming events page.
Hound Club Championship and Open Shows
Saturday 17 October | 9:30 am and not before 10:00 am
David Roche Park, Cromwell Road, Kilburn
The Hound Club of South Australia begins with its specialty championship show at 9:30 am, with the open show starting no earlier than 10:00 am. The complete program is in the official club schedule.
Para District Obedience Trial
Saturday 17 October | Judging from 10:00 am
Jenkins Reserve, Saints Road, Salisbury
Para District Obedience Dog Club has classes from CCD through to UDX, with vetting from 9:15 am to 9:45 am. Advance entries have closed. Class details are available in the official trial schedule.
Pointer Club SprintDog Weekend
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October | Judging from 9:00 am daily
Ridley Reserve East, Elizabeth
The Pointer Club of South Australia runs a SprintDog trial on both days, with vetting from 8:00 am. Both trials are full and entries have closed. See the official TopDog event page.
Whippet and Greyhound Club Conformation Shows
Sunday 18 October | 9:00 am and not before 10:00 am
Ring 3, David Roche Park, Cromwell Road, Kilburn
Whippets and Greyhounds are judged in an open show from 9:00 am, followed by a championship show no earlier than 10:00 am. These are breed conformation shows, not greyhound racing. The full program is in the official club schedule.
Border Collie Club Group Five Agility, Jumping and Games
Sunday 18 October | 9:00 am; games not before 11:00 am
Elliot Goodger Memorial Park, Willaston
The Border Collie Club of South Australia has agility and jumping from 9:00 am, followed by games no earlier than 11:00 am. The event is restricted to eligible Group 5 and related register categories, so competitors need to check the entry conditions in the official trial schedule.
Rhodesian Ridgeback Club Championship Show
Sunday 18 October | 11:00 am
Ring 4, David Roche Park, Cromwell Road, Kilburn
The Rhodesian Ridgeback Club holds its specialty championship show on Sunday morning, with judged property classes following General Specials. See the official club schedule.
Chihuahua Club Judged Parade and Championship Show
Sunday 18 October | 9:30 am and not before 11:30 am
David Roche Park, Cromwell Road, Kilburn
The Chihuahua Club program begins with a formally judged parade at 9:30 am. The championship show follows no earlier than 11:30 am. Competition details are in the official club schedule.
Noarlunga City Scent Work Trial
Sunday 18 October | Judging from 1:00 pm
Pimpala Primary School, Vanstone Avenue, Morphett Vale
Noarlunga City Obedience Dog Club has an afternoon scent work trial covering Excellent Vehicles for untitled dogs and Masters Exterior. Vetting begins at 12:15 pm and entries are closed. See the official TopDog event page.
Bring Your Dog to Bar Septimus
Sunday 18 October | 2:00 pm-5:00 pm
Bar Septimus, 220 Grenfell Street, Adelaide
For a quieter Sunday option, Bar Septimus is inviting dogs into its outdoor seating areas for the afternoon, with water bowls and a welcome treat advertised. Dogs are not permitted inside the bar, so book an outdoor Grenfell Street table or Market Archway bench through the official event page.
Brisbane
Beenleigh and District Kennel Club Show Weekend
Friday 16 October from 5:30 pm; Saturday 17 October from 2:30 pm
Dogs Queensland Sports Grounds, 247 King Avenue, Durack
Friday evening begins with an open show at 5:30 pm, followed by a championship show no earlier than 6:30 pm. Saturday brings two more championship shows, with the second starting 10 minutes after the first finishes. The complete program is in the Dogs Queensland August Gazette.
Carseldine Markets
Saturday 17 October | 6:00 am-12:00 noon
133 Dorville Road, Carseldine
Carseldine has fresh produce, breakfast and artisan stalls, with leashed dogs welcome throughout the market. Owners need to keep their dogs under control and clean up after them. The target date is confirmed on the official Brisbane events page.
West End Farmers and Community Markets
Saturday 17 October | 6:00 am-2:00 pm
Davies Park, West End
West End offers a longer Saturday market with produce, food, artisan stalls and live music. Dogs and other permitted pets are welcome on lead. See the official Brisbane event listing.
Jan Powers Manly Farmers Markets
Saturday 17 October | 6:00 am-12:00 noon
Little Bayside Park, Manly Harbour
The Manly market is a bayside option for fresh produce and ready-to-eat food, and the organiser explicitly welcomes dogs. The 17 October occurrence is confirmed on the Jan Powers Farmers Markets website.
Silver Linings Pet Rescue Adoption Day
Saturday 17 October | 10:00 am-2:00 pm
PetO Virginia, 1836 Sandgate Road, Virginia
PetO Virginia is hosting Silver Linings Pet Rescue for an in-store adoption day. The notice does not identify which animals will attend, so contact the store if you are hoping to meet a particular species or animal. Visitor dogs are welcome under the store’s pet policy. Details are on the PetO events calendar.
Greys 2nd Chance Meet and Greet
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October | 9:30 am-4:00 pm daily
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, outside Coles
Greys 2nd Chance will have rescue greyhounds at Indooroopilly for people interested in adoption, fostering or learning more about the organisation. The listing confirms the rescue dogs, but not permission to bring ordinary pets into the shopping centre. See the Greys 2nd Chance event calendar.
Walk for Awareness Brisbane
Sunday 18 October | Village from 7:00 am; walk starts 8:30 am
Captain Burke Park, Kangaroo Point
This community charity walk has 5 km and 9 km options, with leashed and supervised dogs welcome. The organiser notes that many dogs attend, so it is best suited to dogs comfortable in a crowded setting. Registration and route information are on the official Walk for Awareness website.
Beagle Club Wynnum Manly Beach Walk
Sunday 18 October | 8:30 am-11:30 am
Meet at Pandanus Beach opposite Charlotte Street and Wynnum Esplanade, Wynnum
The Beagle Club of Queensland is joining the Hound Club for an on-lead social walk of about 4 km towards Manly Boat Harbour, followed by morning tea and a raffle. Bring water for your dog and check with the club if you are attending as a guest or with another breed. Details are on the official club event page.
Melbourne
Precision Agility Academy Trial
Saturday 17 October | 8:30 am and not before 12:30 pm
KCC Park, 655 Westernport Highway, Skye
Precision Agility Academy has morning and afternoon agility and jumping trials, with Novice, Excellent and Masters classes. Entries have closed. The exact session times are in the approved club schedule.
Werribee Double Obedience and Rally Trials
Saturday 17 October | 9:00 am and not before 12:00 noon
Presidents Park, corner of Heaths and Rowes Roads, Werribee
Werribee Obedience Dog Club runs two obedience trials and two rally trials across the day. The afternoon sessions follow lunch and cannot begin before noon. Program details are in the official club schedule.
Melbourne Lure Dog Club SprintDog Weekend
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October | Judging from 8:30 am daily
KCC Park, 655 Westernport Highway, Skye
Two separately entered SprintDog trials run over 100 metres, one on each morning. Check-in and vetting begin at 7:30 am. Entries are closed and capped, and the start may move 30 minutes earlier if the schedule’s heat trigger is reached. See the official Saturday and Sunday event pages.
Poodle Club Obedience and Rally Trials
Sunday 18 October | Obedience from 9:30 am; rally not before 12:00 noon
KCC Park, 655 Westernport Highway, Skye
The Poodle Club of Victoria has a restricted-to-breed obedience trial in the morning followed by an open rally trial. Entries have closed. The judging sequence is set out in the approved club schedule.
Borzoi Club of Victoria Open Show
Sunday 18 October | Judging from 10:00 am
KCC Park, 655 Westernport Highway, Skye
The Borzoi Club’s 35th open show includes breed classes, property classes and handling competitions. The date is Sunday despite a weekday typo in one governing-body notice. Current details are on the official ShowManager page.
Dog Lovers Festival Melbourne
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October | 9:30 am-5:00 pm daily
Melbourne Showgrounds, Epsom Road, Ascot Vale
The Dog Lovers Festival fills the Showgrounds for two days with breed clubs, adoption information, Pat A Pooch sessions, shopping and demonstrations. Dogs are supplied by exhibitors and organisations; visitors must leave their own dogs at home unless they are accredited assistance or service dogs.
There is also a full competition program. Canine Disc runs from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm on Saturday, Flyball takes over the Dog Bowl during the same hours on Sunday, and DockDogs runs across both days with Big Air, Extreme Vertical and Speed Retrieve events. The Sunday Big Air final begins at 3:00 pm.
Festival tickets and visitor information are available from the official Dog Lovers Festival website, with the DockDogs timetable published separately.
PetO Pakenham Halloween Photography and Adoption Day
Saturday 17 October | Photography 9:00 am-4:00 pm; adoption day 10:00 am-3:00 pm
PetO Pakenham, 825 Princes Highway, Pakenham
PetO Pakenham has two activities on Saturday: Halloween pet photography with Julies Pet Photos Plus and an adoption day with One At a Time Pet Rescue. The adoption notice does not identify which animals will be attending, so check with the store if you want to meet a particular animal. Visitor dogs are welcome under the store’s pet policy. Both listings appear on the PetO events calendar.
PetO Moorabbin Halloween Photography
Saturday 17 October | 10:00 am-2:00 pm
PetO Moorabbin, Kingston Central Plaza, 288 Centre Dandenong Road, Mentone
Pipsqueak Photography will be taking Halloween pet portraits at PetO Moorabbin on Saturday. The store welcomes visitor dogs, but it is worth calling ahead about sittings, bookings and photography charges. Event details are on the PetO store events page.
The Rose St Artists Market
Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October | 10:00 am-4:00 pm daily
60 Rose Street, Fitzroy
This free art and design market has indoor and outdoor areas and welcomes dogs. Both weekend dates are confirmed on the official Victorian tourism listing.
Melbourne Colour Frenzy
Sunday 18 October | Arrive from 8:30 am; activity starts 9:30 am
Jells Park, off Ferntree Gully Road, Wheelers Hill
Colour Frenzy is an untimed, non-competitive colour and foam outing supporting local animal rescues. Friendly dogs may attend on lead, provided they are comfortable around adults, children and other dogs. Read the dog restrictions and ticket information on the official Melbourne Colour Frenzy page.
Greyhound Safety Net Meet and Greet
Sunday 18 October | 11:00 am-1:00 pm
PetO Richmond, 474 Victoria Street, Richmond
Greyhound Safety Net will be at PetO Richmond with information about its rescue work, along with puppuccinos and bandana decorating. Visitor pets are welcome in the store, but ask staff before introducing your dog to the rescue greyhounds. See the PetO events calendar.
St Kilda Esplanade Market
Sunday 18 October | 10:00 am-4:00 pm
Upper Esplanade, St Kilda
The Esplanade market combines local art, design and food with a sea view. Dogs are welcome and must remain on lead. Check weather updates and visitor information on the official market FAQ.
Oak Hill Gallery Market Day
Sunday 18 October | 10:00 am-2:00 pm
Oak Hill Gallery, 100 Mornington Tyabb Road, Mornington
This free community market brings local makers and art stalls into the gallery’s historic setting. The council describes it as dog-friendly. Date and visitor details are on the Mornington Peninsula Shire event page.
There is more than enough here to build a full weekend, but your dog will not mind if the final plan is simply a walk and an afternoon nap. If you are heading to an event, open the linked organiser page before leaving home for any weather changes, booking requirements or late access updates.