Doing nothing IS the plan

dog training rest Jun 18, 2025

There’s something I learned while riding as a kid that’s stayed with me ever since: horses need time off. Not a day, not a weekend — I’m talking full weeks, sometimes a month, of rest. No riding. No training. Just time to be horses.

 

We understood it wasn’t a luxury — it was necessary. Their bodies and minds needed to reset so they could come back stronger, healthier, and more eager to work. That same philosophy stuck with me as I transitioned into dog sports. And it’s just as true now for both our dogs and ourselves.

 

But in a world where we’re always pushing for the next title, the next Q, the next goal rest can feel like a step backward.

It’s not.

In fact, it might be the smartest step you can take right now.

 

Elite athletes build in recovery — so should we

If you follow Olympic athletes or professional sports teams, you’ll notice something interesting: their training programs always include recovery. Not just sleep or stretching but full-on rest days, low-impact weeks, and even off-seasons.

 

Why? Because recovery is when adaptation happens. That’s when muscles repair, neural pathways reorganize, and mental fatigue lifts. If you skip rest, you don’t just stall progress — you risk injury, burnout, and regression.

 

Yet in dog sports, we often expect ourselves (and our dogs) to go full tilt every week, all year long.

Training.

Competing.

Traveling.

Planning.

Evaluating.

 

It’s a lot. And without rest, it starts to show — not just in our results, but in our mindset.

 

Your dog needs time off. So do you.

A few years ago, I attended a dog conditioning seminar, and the presenter emphasized something that stuck: dogs need weekly recovery. Not every session should be high-impact or mentally demanding. Downtime isn’t laziness — it’s maintenance.

 

It’s a chance for their bodies to heal micro-strains before they become real injuries. It’s space for their minds to let go of trial pressure and re-center.

And here’s the kicker: we need that, too.

 

You may not be running a marathon every weekend, but you’re showing up, giving your all, and riding the emotional rollercoaster of competition. That takes a toll. Without breaks, your nervous system never truly resets — and it gets harder and harder to bring your best self to the ring.

 

The emotional cost of nonstop effort

When we never stop to rest, we start to confuse productivity with progress.

 

We think more weekends, more reps, more effort will eventually tip the scales. But more is not always better — especially when it’s being fueled by frustration, anxiety, or comparison.

 

Rest doesn’t just reset your body. It resets your perspective. It helps you remember why you do this. It helps your dog remember that the ring is fun. It lets both of you return with fresh energy — and often, better results.

 

A break doesn’t mean you’re falling behind

Some of the most successful handlers I know intentionally schedule rest. They take a week off after a big push. They swap drills for hikes or beach days. They pause competing so they can come back with clearer goals.

 

This isn’t about giving up. It’s about staying in the game — mentally, emotionally, and physically — for the long haul.

 

If your dog loves this sport and so do you, then build in the space to protect that love. Rest is how we make sure the flame doesn’t burn out.

 

One final thought

If you’re chasing points, titles, or invitational cutoffs right now, I see you. It’s intense. But when that season ends — take the break.

 

Don’t fill it. Don’t guilt yourself out of it. Just rest.

 

You might be surprised how much clarity, joy, and progress come from doing  nothing.

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