Time off pays off. dog care dog training May 01, 2023

Back when I rode horses, it was common to take longer breaks - sometimes six weeks of horses just being horses in a field. When I started competing with my dogs, I was surprised that handlers and dogs just seemed to compete all year in addition to taking classes. Where was the break?

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Where oh where did the stamina go? dog training mental skills Feb 04, 2021

I get hung up on words or concepts periodically. “Curiosity” was my word pre-2020. I was trying to get myself and others to look at training challenges with openness and wonder instead of judgment and failure. I still love curiosity and it has shifted my training and feedback habit,...

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Get your head back in the game. dog training Nov 06, 2019
Photo by Marie Acosta

In our day-to-day life with dogs – living with them, training, and competing – it’s easy to forget about the bigger picture. We focus on the goal or activity that’s right in front of us instead of taking the longer view. We easily misplace our reason...

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Connection through curiosity. dog training Aug 27, 2019
Photo by Ruth Nielsen

If you’ve ever longed for connection with your dog but aren’t sure what that looks like or how to get it, this blog’s for you!

With some dogs, connection comes easier than others. My connection with Indie seemed to be instant – she has understood me...

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How deliberate training builds confidence. dog training Jul 25, 2019
Photo Kim Perry

When we go into the ring – any ring: conformation, agility, obedience, draft, etc. – there are SO many components that go into making a performance excellent. Yet one of the main causes of not feeling confident is rooted in feeling unprepared or even just less prepared...

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