Enhance Your Canine Shoulder Assessment Skills: Workshop 2027

April 9th and 10th, 2027

The canine shoulder is a highly mobile and functionally complex region. Its performance depends not only upon the scapulohumeral joint, but also upon the coordinated activity of the scapula, thorax, cervical spine, forelimb and associated myofascial structures.

This two-day, face-to-face practical course takes a whole-patient approach to the assessment and management of canine shoulder dysfunction. Participants will explore the regional anatomy and functional relationships that influence shoulder movement, stability and load transfer, while developing a systematic approach to clinical assessment.

Practical sessions will focus on observation, palpation, passive and functional assessment, clinical interpretation and the selection of appropriate manual approaches. The course will also consider compensatory patterns and the ways in which shoulder dysfunction may affect, or be affected by, the wider body.

Suitable for veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses, veterinary physiotherapists, veterinary chiropractors, and animal osteopaths with hands-on therapeutic experience with dogs. If you do not meet the prerequisites, consider exploring our Advanced Clinical Assessment CPD courses first.

“Dustie and Eleanor are two of the most dedicated and passionate practitioners and educators I have come across. Their knowledge and expertise are remarkable, and the way they share it is nothing short of phenomenal.

They care deeply about osteopathy, what they teach and hold an exceptionally high standard. Their genuine love for what they practise and teach comes through in every aspect of their teaching, in the depth of their knowledge, the way they deliver it, and the enthusiasm they bring to it. They don’t simply want you to learn techniques, they want you to genuinely understand the reasoning behind what you’re doing, encouraging you to think, question and connect the dots.” Theresa L.

The course aims to strengthen practical skills while supporting thoughtful, patient-centred clinical decision-making.

This course is delivered as an interactive workshop, combining focused theory, guided hands-on learning, clinical discussion and opportunities to apply the material to canine patients.

Places are limited to support individual feedback and a high-quality practical learning experience.

Course Overview

Date of event: 9th and 10th of April, 2027.

This two-day workshop is ideal if you:

Have existing manual therapeutic experience and want to refine your clinical assessment of the canine shoulder.
Work with canine patients where shoulder, neck and spinal findings appear interconnected.
Want to improve your palpation, passive assessment and clinical reasoning around shoulder dysfunction.
Would like to feel more confident selecting appropriate manual therapeutic approaches based on the individual dog’s presentation.
Value small-group, practical learning with close guidance and case-based discussion.

A clear shoulder assessment does not necessarily come from testing harder or moving further. It comes from using a systematic process that helps the practitioner assess the shoulder complex while recognising how the scapula, thorax, cervical spine and distal forelimb may influence what is being felt.

Small, controlled assessment, appropriate stabilisation and thoughtful practitioner positioning can help make shoulder findings more specific. At the same time, the shoulder should not be assessed in isolation. Changes in loading, posture, scapular movement or thoracic mobility may provide important context for interpreting the clinical picture.

This balance between precise local assessment and whole-dog observation is one of the areas explored in our practical canine shoulder dysfunction workshop.

Join us for an immersive, small-group 2-day CPD event designed to refine and elevate your clinical approach to shoulder dysfunction in the canine patient.

Through focused theory, demonstration, guided palpation, movement assessment and clinical discussion, this workshop will deepen your understanding of the canine shoulder as part of the wider forelimb, thoracic and axial system. Particular emphasis is placed on the functional relationships between the scapula, shoulder joint, thorax, cervical spine and distal forelimb.

This is a relaxed, discussion-rich environment where you can ask questions, explore case examples and practise techniques under close guidance — ideal for professionals who enjoy learning through doing and already have a foundation in canine clinical or manual therapeutic work.

Who is leading the workshop?

Eleanor Andrews is AOI’s Director of Education and a Master Practitioner of Animal Osteopathy.

With international teaching experience and extensive clinical expertise, she is dedicated to advancing high-quality osteopathic and manual therapeutic practice within the veterinary profession.

Eleanor is passionate about developing practical skills, clinical reasoning and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her work has supported hundreds of professionals to strengthen their assessment skills and improve clinical decision-making in canine practice.

Who would benefit from the workshop?

This course is most suitable for:

Veterinary surgeons with therapeutic experience;
Vet nurses with therapeutic experience;
Animal osteopaths who have studied canine osteopathy;
Veterinary professionals (such as vet physiotherapists and veterinary chiropractors) who have hands-on therapeutic experience with canines and are actively working with canine patients.

This workshop is not intended for professionals whose experience is limited to general veterinary care, basic handling, observational assessment or acupuncture alone. Applicants must have a practical foundation in manual assessment and/or manual therapeutic intervention, as the course assumes prior familiarity with hands-on clinical work.

These skills can be attained via our Advanced Clinical Assessment CPD. For more information look at our CPD course pages.

When is the workshop?

This workshop will run on the 9th and 10th of April, 2027.

Key learning from the workshop

Strengthen your functional understanding of the canine shoulder and its relationship to the scapula, thorax, cervical spine and forelimb.
Refine palpation and passive assessment skills for shoulder and related regional dysfunction.
Improve your ability to interpret findings within whole-dog biomechanical patterns.
Develop more confident clinical reasoning around shoulder dysfunction, forelimb loading and compensation.
Practise clinically appropriate manual approaches in a guided, small-group setting.
Return to practice with assessment and reasoning tools that can be applied immediately.

Where is the workshop held?

The workshop is to be held at one of our facilities in The New Forest National Park Hampshire, UK.

The New Forest is filled with hotels and Airbnb, so it is easy to find a dog-friendly place to stay. Early booking is, however, recommended. Local amenities and busy villages can be found throughout the Forest.

Why study with us?

Small group teaching, with a maximum of eight delegates, ensures individual attention and a supportive atmosphere.
Beautiful setting, offering calm, green surroundings ideal for learning and professional connection.
Practical sessions designed to bridge the gap between theory, assessment and clinical application.
Delivered by a highly experienced osteopath and educator with a strong focus on canine biomechanics, palpation, integrated assessment and clinical reasoning.

How much is the workshop?

This CPD workshop is £599.00 plus VAT and is taught by one of the world’s leading lecturers in animal osteopathy and canine clinical assessment.

Spaces are strictly limited to ensure quality teaching time, practical support and individual feedback. Early application is therefore recommended.

Do I need to bring a dog model?

Delegates are requested to bring a happy, healthy dog with no severe pathologies, who is sociable and suitable to use as a model during practical sessions. Unless very well trained, entire dogs are dissuaded from use in this setting but will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you are unable to bring an appropriate dog with you, dog models may be made available; however, this carries a fee of £30 per day per dog.

Owners will need to sign a canine disclaimer before attendance and must hold third party insurance. This is standard on most policies.

Will I get a CPD certificate?

Yes. For those who successfully complete the workshop in full, a 12-hour digital CPD certificate will be awarded.

Who should not take this workshop?

Practitioners without prior canine handling or canine clinical assessment experience.
Professionals not currently working in canine clinical practice.
Anyone unable to participate in palpation, movement assessment, manual therapeutic handling or practical dog-based sessions.
Those who do not hold an appropriate veterinary, animal osteopathy or canine-related professional qualification.
Practitioners whose experience is limited to general veterinary care, observational assessment or acupuncture alone, without a foundation in manual therapeutic assessment or intervention.

Welcome

Clinical Approaches to Shoulder Dysfunction in the Canine Patient