Canine Masters 2025 is preparing to take centre stage at The Capitol in Melbourne on 15 November, with a full day of natural health learning and connection for pet lovers and industry professionals.

Backed by major sponsor The Pet Food Shop, the event is co-hosted by Augustine Approved founder Phivo Christodoulou and Michelle Cummins of the Natural Pet Farmacy and STAN Pet Beds.

“We’re thrilled to launch the very first Canine Masters event; a groundbreaking experience for anyone passionate about natural canine health,” said Christodoulou. “It’s a global coming together of some of the most respected minds in the field.”

Among the headline speakers are US clinical herbalist Rita Hogan and veterinary homeopath Dr Michael Dym, alongside international experts Carolyn Ingram and Amy Renz, as well as Australian representatives including Lyka co-founder and integrative veterinarian Dr Matthew Muir and Augustine Approved founder Christodoulou himself.

Cummins described the event as a showcase of global expertise, innovation and collaboration.

“Canine Masters is more than a conference. It’s a leading forum for advancing canine health and wellbeing through natural, science-backed practices, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of an event that brings such valuable knowledge to our pet loving community,” she said.

Christodoulou emphasised the event’s role in responding to growing demand for holistic alternatives.

“It’s not about competition; it’s about collaboration and community. We’re creating something special for the pet wellness industry and giving back through shared knowledge, connection and spirit,” he said.

Rita Hogan, clinical herbalist, educator and author of The Herbal Dog noted that dogs’ natural resilience was being eroded and that they needed more than isolated treatments, requiring whole-system, individualised support.

“It’s summits like Canine Masters that are leading the way by teaching people how to work with nature, not against it,” she said.

Her presentation will focus on the foundational role of the nervous system in overall canine health and how it influences digestion, immunity, the endocrine system and the cardiovascular system.

“I’ll be sharing how to recognise the signs of nervous system imbalance, and how to bring it back into harmony using herbal medicine,” said Hogan.

From Australia, integrative veterinarian Dr Matthew Muir will present on preventative approaches to canine care. He is Clinical Director of All Natural Vet Care and Co-Founder of Lyka Pet Food, with many years of experience in functional preventative medicine and wholefood nutrition.

In his talk, titled A Functional Medicine Approach to Preventative Canine Care, he will explain how a proactive and individualised approach can help prevent disease before it starts and how pet parents can work in partnership with their vets to support long-term wellness.

“We’re seeing a rise in chronic conditions, like cancer, autoimmune disease and digestive disorders. Functional medicine allows us to address these at the root level rather than simply managing symptoms, and reshape preventative pet care and outcomes,” said Dr Muir.

He encouraged pet owners to think further upstream and take action before issues develop, rather than waiting to react.

“Whether you’re a first-time dog owner or a seasoned natural health advocate, this event is welcoming, practical and packed with tools you can take home and use to add healthy years to your dog’s life,” he said.

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