THE moment 87-year-old Don Adams from Salisbury East puts on his work shirt, his dogs "go beserk".
The hounds are excited because they know it's time to put on their best behaviour and show off their agility skills - and best off all, get lots of happy pats.
The dogs - two long-coat German shepherds called T'Liea and Natishka, a Belgian shepherd called Diesel and Charlie the golden retriever - are all part of Don's Dog Show.
Retired high school art teacher Don has been taking his show to aged care facilities and retirement villages around Adelaide for 37 years, as well as visiting schools and disability support programs.
But now, due to arthritis, he's retiring at the end of this year and will be hanging up his leads for good.
"Will I miss it? You bet I will - and so will the dogs," said Don, who recently did a show at Kalyra McLaren Vale.
Staff and residents were wowed as the dogs leapt through hoops, over jumps, through tunnels and over tables.
The well-mannered pooches had their afternoon tea at a table and chairs and played the pea and cup game with hidden pieces of food.
"Such obedient and intelligent dogs, they charmed everyone and stayed around for cuddles at the end of the show," one staff member wrote on Facebook.
Don says teaching dogs to sit at a dining table for a two-course meal goes against their instinct. "But these dogs do whatever I tell them."
As well as the dogs, Don takes all his own equipment along to the nursing homes - from cones, hoops and tunnels to a see-saw and weaving poles.
It was his mother who suggested he show his canine companions to elderly residents, after he visited her in a nursing home with his dogs.
"I was sprung," Don said.
"Next thing I know I'm at home knocking together equipment and then I'm doing a show. The lady introduced me as Don's Demo Dogs and the name stuck.
"Not much has changed since that first show, although many dogs have been and gone."
Don loves seeing the residents' faces light up when they see the dogs.
"They are absolutely beside themselves and I always take the dogs around afterwards so they can have a pat."
Don's training tips (do try this at home)
- Good communication: It's no good going off at a dog they'll think you're hysterical. Their hearing is so good you just need speak quietly and firmly.
- Good communication: 'It's no good going off at a dog they'll think you're hysterical. Their hearing is so good you just need speak quietly and firmly.
- Good communication: 'It's no good going off at a dog they'll think you're hysterical. Their hearing is so good you just need speak quietly and firmly.'
- Good communication: 'It's no good going off at a dog - they'll think you're hysterical. Their hearing is so good you just need speak quietly and firmly.'
- Reward your dogs: 'You teach them, you help them and you praise them. Dogs learn by correction and praise.
- Reward your dogs: 'You teach them, you help them and you praise them. Dogs learn by correction and praise.'
- Only train 5-10 minutes a day: You don't make it intense because you'’ll just burn your dog out.
- Only train 5-10 minutes a day: 'You don't make it intense because you'’ll just burn your dog out.
- Only train 5-10 minutes a day: 'You don't make it intense because you'’ll just burn your dog out.'
