TV Event: Pooches at Play Returns for Series 11 on Channel 10
Australia’s long-running pet lifestyle and education series, Pooches at Play, returns to national screens for its 11th season starting Saturday, 1 August 2026 at 1:00 pm on Channel 10.
Hosted by certified dog trainer, behaviourist, and pet nutrition specialist Lara Shannon, the new eight-part series marks more than a decade of the show providing practical, evidence-based advice on pet health, behaviour, safety, and welfare.
What’s On This Season
With an estimated 31.6 million pets now living in 73% of Australian households, Series 11 focuses heavily on navigating modern pet ownership—addressing cost-of-living pressures, declining adoption rates, and preventative healthcare.
Joined by a panel of Australian veterinary, behaviour, and health experts, Lara and her rescue dogs (Dynamite Darcy and Vindi) guide viewers through every stage of pet care, from puppyhood and adoption to caring for senior pets.
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| Host Lara Shannon with her beloved rescue duo—Vindi on the left and Dynamite Darcy on the right. |
While dogs remain the main focus, the upcoming series also incorporates dedicated feline health and behaviour segments for cat owners.
Broadcast Schedule:
- Premiere: Saturdays at 1:00 pm on Channel 10 (Starting 1 August 2026)
- Encore Broadcasts: Sundays at 4:00 pm on 10 Drama
- Catch-Up Streaming: Available via 10.com.au
Series 11 Episode Guide & Highlights
Below is the complete weekly episode breakdown and featured breed profiles for the upcoming season:
- Episode 1 (1 August): Safe child and dog interactions, baking a dog birthday cake, achieving calmer walks, improving canine dental health, choosing practical winter dog apparel, mastering crate training, and a featured breed profile on the Shiba Inu.
- Episode 2: How calming supplements assist anxious pets, the critical importance of paralysis tick prevention, understanding dog body language and yawns, selecting the right dry food and bedding, a look at Sprint Dog racing, and a breed profile on the Yorkshire Terrier.
- Episode 3: What it means to be a "Next Level Pet Parent," grooming tips for senior dogs, what your dog's poop reveals about their internal health, the 3-3-3 Rule for rescue dogs, the benefits of titre testing, and a breed profile on the Miniature Dachshund.
- Episode 4: Managing car travel anxiety, common worms in cats, proper etiquette when greeting an unfamiliar dog, protecting long-term bone and joint health, canine health case studies, and a breed profile on the Japanese Spitz.
- Episode 5: Behind the scenes with retired Guide Dogs, essential puppy grooming tips, elimination diets explained, why dogs kick after toileting, proactive health screening, pet strollers, and a breed profile on the Corgi.
- Episode 6: All-season worm prevention in dogs, nutrition tips for longevity, the power of positive reinforcement and praise, keeping pets calm when visitors arrive, psychodermatology explained, scent work enrichment, and a breed profile on the Miniature Schnauzer.
- Episode 7: Choosing the right dog breed for your lifestyle, why rinsing dogs after swimming in salt/chlorine is vital, the benefits of novel proteins, supporting blind dogs, current shelter adoption trends, navigating senior pet end-of-life care, and a breed profile on the Afghan Hound.
- Episode 8: Managing veterinary care costs and community support programs, slow-cooked pet nutrition explained, place training made easy, calming nervous pets at the vet or groomer, natural approaches to skin health, animal welfare spotlight on Beagle Freedom Australia, and a breed profile on the Whippet.
About the Host
Lara Shannon is an Australian author, dog trainer, pet nutritionist, and animal welfare advocate. In addition to hosting Pooches at Play, she serves as an ambassador for Companion Animal Network Australia and Pets of the Homeless, and sits on the Animal Welfare League SA Board Sub-Committee.
