Off Leash Freedom Summit

A 3-day intensive with Tara Stillwell and Sarah Stremming. Learn to take dogs off leash, alone, or in groups, with real skill and real confidence.

Dates: August 28-30, 2026
Location: Harvard, MA
Cost: $2,650
Applications close: July 29, 2026

Apply now

Course Overview

Who is this for?

This workshop is for people who want to feel confident taking their own dogs, or their client dogs, out off-leash alone and/or in groups. Whether you're a professional trainer looking for hands-on experience with group off-leash work, or a dedicated dog guardian who wants to do this well and do it safely, this intensive is designed to get you there.

You do not need to already be able to do this. You need to be willing to learn, willing to be coached, and willing to show up with an open and curious mind.

Virtual and online professionals who coach clients through off-leash work and need real hands-on experience themselves are especially encouraged to attend.

Why in person?

There is no way to convey this in words or videos alone. We're going to tell you what we're going to show you, and then you have to come and see and experience it. The pre-event material gets everyone on the same page before we dig into the hands on work of dog training in community.

What's Included

One to three live calls with participants before the event
Two recorded webinars: Tara's on the Forrest School for Dogs philosophy, Sarah's on clear communication and emotional regulation
Three days of hands-on instruction in a group capped at 12
Live demonstrations of off-leash group hiking, dog integration, trail skills, and GPS tracking, with coached practice
Lunches, snacks, drinks, and coffee provided daily, plus one group dinner

What You'll Learn and Experience

Over three days, you'll move from observing to doing. The workshop builds progressively:

Observation of off-leash group hiking with Tara and Sarah's dogs, narrated in real time so you can see what attunement, body language reading, and trail management actually look like
Hands-on human skills practice: flag technique, leash and flexi handling, long line management, deterrent tool deployment, and GPS tracking
Dog skills training with your own dog or a workshop dog: recall assessment and practice, self-regulation on trail, junction pauses, pulling over and passing, direction changes on cue
Live dog integrations coached and narrated for the whole group: the full introduction protocol, body language reading in real time, muzzle decision-making, and progression from leash to off-leash
Trail encounter practice with simulated scenarios
The tools-as-spectrum conversation: long line vs. flexi vs. e-collar vs. nothing, and what attunement has to look like before you go out with no tools at all
Group skills integration: dogs working together on trail, putting everything together in real time
The going home plan - how to continue your learning journey

A tour of The Ark

A look inside The Ark, the setting for the Off-Leash Freedom Summit.

FAQs

Can I bring my dog?

After human participants are selected, we'll talk with each person about the dog they may have available and determine whether that dog is a good fit for the workshop. We'll consider factors such as physical soundness, health, history, and comfort around groups of dogs. Dogs will be available for participants who do not have a suitable dog to bring. The workshop is designed to teach people the skills to understand, prepare, and support dogs in this work, so not having a suitable dog should not prevent someone from participating.

Is there a virtual option?

No. There is no way to substitute actually seeing this work in person and being fully immersed in it. The prerequisite webinars provide the conceptual foundation. The workshop is where the real learning happens.

I'm not a professional trainer. Can I still attend?

Absolutely. This workshop is for anyone who wants to build the skills to take dogs off-leash in groups safely and well. Professional trainers, aspiring professionals, and dedicated dog guardians are all welcome.

Why the short notice?

We're being fully transparent: Sarah lives in the UK and is in the US for a limited window this summer. This is an opportunity we're seizing while she's here, and the timeline is compressed. We know some of you are going to be disappointed that you didn't have enough notice. We also wish you had more notice. We're telling you the second that we can. None of this is convenient. The people who say "what the hell, this is important, I'm going to do it" are exactly the people we want in the room.

When's the deadline, and when will I hear back?

Applications open July 21 and close July 29, 2026. We'll notify everyone of acceptance decisions by August 1, 2026.

What happens if I'm accepted?

If you're accepted, you must pay the program fee in full within 48 hours after we send your acceptance email. The fee is non-refundable unless we're able to fill your spot from the waiting list, in which case we'll refund your payment minus any processing fees.

Where can I stay?

The Boxborough Regency is five minutes from the event and has rooms reserved through August 7, 2026 at $125 per night plus a $35 per day pet fee. Call the hotel at 978-263-8701 and ask for a room in the Off-Leash Freedom Summit block. There are not many Airbnbs in the area, but guests seeking a house should check Airbnb.

About the Instructors

Tara Stillwell

Founder of Forrest School for Dogs. Inspired by the Scandinavian forest-school model of learning through direct experience in nature, Tara built the Forrest School approach from the ground up, starting with day-training in her own fenced, wooded property and growing into the broader philosophy, integration protocols, and professional development framework taught today. She has discussed the approach on Cog Dog Radio and The Canine Classroom podcast, presented at the LEGS in Motion conference, and developed the Forrest School Professional Workshop for trainers, daycare and shelter staff, and other pet professionals.

forrestschoolfordogs.com Forrest School for Pros Patreon

Sarah Stremming

Founder of Cog Dog Radio, Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC), with over two decades in dog training and behavior and 25 years competing in dog sports. Sarah coined the term "decompression walk" and has spent years making the case that off-leash freedom in natural environments is a fundamental welfare need, not optional enrichment. Her podcast Cog Dog Radio has over 400 episodes and is one of the most substantial resources available on behavior, reactivity, training, and welfare. She brings deep expertise in attunement, emotional regulation, and the communication skills that make genuine off-leash partnership possible. Sarah now lives in the UK and is in the US for a limited time this summer teaching her Worked Up workshop.

sarahstremming.com Cog Dog Radio Cog Dog Membership Cog Dog Mentorship Program

Ready to join us?

Applications close July 29, 2026.

Apply now