The Key to Building Motivation

Motivation is Just an Emotion

Motivation often feels like the magic spark that gets us moving. It's that rush of excitement when starting something new or the drive you feel after a particularly inspiring moment.

But just like any other emotion, motivation comes and goes. One day, you're fired up to hit the gym or tackle a workout; the next, it might feel like a chore you can't face. Basing your fitness journey solely on motivation is like relying on the weather—it's unpredictable and unreliable.

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  154 Hits
154 Hits

E403: Denise Fenzi & Crystal Wing - Let's Talk Play

Join us for a serious conversation on all things play! Denise and Crystal share how play impacts our relationships and our training with our dogs.

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  273 Hits
273 Hits

The Key to Dog Training Success: Setting Up for Confidence and Learning

Dog training success happens when dogs are set up to learn in a way that builds their confidence and understanding. When training is designed to maximize success, dogs learn faster, stay engaged, and enjoy the process. My goal is to structure training sessions so that my dog wins as often as possible—practicing correct behaviors rather than rehearsing mistakes.
Of course, training won't always go perfectly, but by carefully reading our dogs and adjusting our approach, we can create an environment where learning is both effective and fun.

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  242 Hits
242 Hits

E402: Julie Symons - "Building Environmental Resilience"

Nosework competitions require the ability to focus and work independently in new and novel locations — so Julie joined me for a conversation on how to build the necessary levels of environmental resilience.  

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  668 Hits
668 Hits

E401: Kim Palermo - "Patterns for Performance'

Join us for a conversation on how pattern games can benefit dogs with big feelings — whether those feelings are positive or negative! Kim is a certified Control Unleashed instructor and shares insights into why the program was developed and how it can help. 

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  793 Hits
793 Hits

E400: Dante Camacho - "Building A Beautiful Heel"

 When done well, heelwork can be downright beautiful. But if you've ever tried to teach heelwork, you know it's much more complex than it might look at first. Join me and Dante for a conversation on the pieces that you need to consider to get lovely heeling with duration.

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  1229 Hits
1229 Hits

E399: Sara Brueske, Irith Bloom, Kim Palermo, and Sophie Liu, DVM - "A Look at Barky Lungey Dogs"

What do you do if you end up with a dog that barks and lunges at people or other dogs? Join us for a panel discussion on what to do first, whether it matters what emotions are driving the behavior, and what you might want to consider if your goals are to compete. 

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  726 Hits
726 Hits

E398: Janice Gunn - "Stand Your Dog: Teaching the Stand for Competition Obedience"

How solid is your dog's understanding of their stand cue? Join us for a conversation on how to teach the stand and why it's such an important skill for competition obedience.

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  1516 Hits
1516 Hits

E397: Canine Sports Medicine Vets with Drs. David Lane and Chris Zink

Join me for a conversation with canine sports medicine vets David Lane and Chris Zink about what sports handlers should know! We talk about what is included within the canine sports medicine umbrella, how to find a specialist, and where you can learn more.

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  909 Hits
909 Hits

E396: Petra Ford - "Engagement that Holds Up in the Competition Ring"

In this episode Petra and I discuss the difference between attention and engagement. Join us for Petra's advice on preparing your dog for the competition ring. 

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  1452 Hits
1452 Hits

Got FOMO? Adding a Second Dog in Training

Adding a second dog to FOMO (fear of missing out) training is no easy task. It requires patience, consistency, and careful attention to your dog's emotional state. One key part of overcoming FOMO is ensuring your dog has solid stationing skills before introducing any distractions. Once your dog is comfortable staying in one spot and can handle being left alone without anxiety, you can begin incorporating a second dog into the training session.

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  1067 Hits
1067 Hits

E395: Julie Flanery - "Gamifying Training for Your Dog"

Looking to add some joy back into your training? Join Julie and I for a conversation about ways to use games to build connection, engagement, attention and... joy!  

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  935 Hits
935 Hits

Why Rally Training is the Ultimate Foundation for All Dog Sports—and Beyond

If you're involved in dog sports or looking to strengthen your bond with your dog, rally training might be the perfect fit. Whether you're dreaming of agility titles, excelling in obedience competitions, or simply wanting a well-behaved pet, rally training lays a solid foundation for achieving your goals. Let's explore why this versatile sport is beneficial for every dog and handler team—regardless of their goals and aspirations.

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  1452 Hits
1452 Hits

E394: Bronagh Daly - "Control Unleashed for Agility"

 Have a dog that struggles to think clearly in or around the agility ring? Want to be proactive, so your dog can always keep his head? In this episode Bronagh and I talk about how to create that "thinking brain" even when exciting, overwhelming or intimidating things are happening around our dogs!  Transcript Melissa Breau: This is Meliss...
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  1331 Hits
1331 Hits

Lessons Forged in the Palisades Fire of January 2025

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, a brush fire – dubbed the Palisades Fire since it started along Palisades Drive – broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, just a few miles from my home. This wasn't a unique occurrence; brush fires happen around Los Angeles every year, and there have been small fires in Pacific Palisades before. But conditions conspired to grow the Palisades Fire in a way I've never seen in the nearly 25 years I have lived in the area.

Within a few hours, another fire, dubbed the Eaton Fire, had erupted in the Altadena area. Now two communities on opposite sides of the city were threatened. Worse yet, unusually strong Santa Ana winds that were gusting at up to 80 mph (roughly 130 kph) made fighting the fires basically impossible.
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  2793 Hits
2793 Hits

E393: Jerri Scherff - "Becoming An Influencer: Sailor Jerri's Story"

You may have seen her on TikTok or Instagram... this week the dog trainer known for sharing her videos on social media is making an appearance here on the FDSA podcast! If you aren't already following her, you'll want to by the time you finish listening.  

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  984 Hits
984 Hits

E392: Aleks Woodroffe, Julie Symons, Kayla Dever, & Stacy Barnett - Know the Nose 2

Today we brought together several of the presenters from our upcoming one day conference on nosework, Know the Nose! They share what they wish they'd known sooner about nosework, as well as how they tailor their training and handling to the dog in front of them. 

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  1961 Hits
1961 Hits

E391 - Karen Deeds: The Pieces to Creating Peace At Home

Karen and I talk about how she uses a settle behavior in her behavior work and what it means to have a harmonious household.  

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  2150 Hits
2150 Hits

E390: Denise Fenzi - Setting Training Goals & The Evolution of Circle Walking

Hear the story of what inspired Denise's popular circle method for loose leash walking, and join us for a discussion on goal setting as we head into the near year! 

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  2311 Hits
2311 Hits

E389: The One Day Conference Spectacular

In honor of our current sale, we're bringing back highlights from several previous conversations on choosing your sport puppies, dealing with adolescence, what it means to have a confident dog and what it means to have a high drive dog... and combining them for one final takeaway. 

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  1122 Hits
1122 Hits

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