Blog

If you're working on heelwork, you're going to encounter mistakes. Crooked sits, forging, lagging, loss of attention — they're all part of the process. The key to handling heeling mistakes is recognizing that errors aren't failure; they're feedback. When a dog makes a mistake during heeling, it usually means the criteria were too high, the environment too challenging, or the dog wasn't prepared for that level of difficulty.

Instead of pushing through or correcting the dog, use mistakes as information. Occasional blips are expected. But if mistakes start happening repeatedly, that's your cue to pause and reevaluate your training plan. Backing up a step or two is not a setback — it's how you build clarity. 

Whether working with your first agility dog or your fifth, the right foundation can play a huge role in your team's success. Join us for a conversation on how to build the skills you'll need as a team... even if you have minimal access to equipment. 

It's easy to fall into the habit of only practicing skills you know that you and your dog are good at — in this episode, Julie and I talk about how to avoid that issue, and how to continually evaluate where your nosework dog is strongest, identify holes, and ensure you continue to progress in your training together. 

The life stages our young sports dogs go through can come with dramatic changes and significant transitions - so what's normal? How do we decide what to prioritize? What are the current best practices when it comes to socialization? Join us for a conversation on all things puppy and adolescent!

Crystal Wing joins me for a conversation on how to build your training around a great relationship with your dog by balancing mindset and mechanics.  

Ever have a situation where your dog refuses to move forward? In this episode Kathy Sdao and I talk about what balking is, why we think dogs do it, and what we can do about it. 

Join handler fitness trainer, Liz Joyce, and me for a podcast all about how you can start — or restart — your fitness journey, gently.  

When you and your dog reach the Master level of rally, you'll face a whole new challenge: master rally signs. These signs go beyond the basics of sit, down, and heeling. They ask for precision, teamwork, and independence all at once. For many teams, this level is where rally really gets exciting—but it can also feel a bit intimidating. The good news is that with the right training plan, you and your dog can tackle these signs with confidence and even have a lot of fun along the way. 

Heather and I discuss what skills you need to earn your CGC, the sticking points that can cause trouble for some teams, and how to decide if your dog is a good fit for therapy work from there.

Using props for stays isn't required, but it can be incredibly helpful when you're first introducing the concept of stillness. Props provide structure, give dogs a clear physical boundary, and act as reminders to hold position. From platforms to gates and stations, the right prop can make teaching stays easier, clearer, and more effective.

Control Unleashed games and patterns can be a powerful tool whether you're working to rehab reactivity or build bomb proof sports behaviors. But how we do go from just learning the games to actually using them in the real world? Kim and I discuss exactly that in this week's podcast! 

Agility puts a lot of strain and stress on our dogs' bodies... but fitness training can go a long way to ensuring they still enjoy a long sports career. Join me and Ashley for a conversation on how workling on canine fitness can improve your dog's agility skills, especially when it comes to technical jump training!

Talking about Negative Reinforcement can cause some big feelings in the positive training community - but in this episode Karen and Sophie take a look at when it's inevitable in our dogs' lives and what we should be thinking about for our own dogs. 

Dogs with a lot of interest in the environment, who come to the outside world with big feelings or who need an outlet but aren't safe off leash are our topic in this episode! Erin shares how dog powered sports can help and Tracey shares insights from working with prey-driven dogs. 

Curious what musical freestyle is and whether it might be for you? Join Julie and I for a conversation that includes tips and tricks for laying out your routine, choosing which tricks to train, and more!

This is one of my rotating Nosework topics — and it tends to meet a lot of resistance. That either tells me something… or just confirms that change is hard. We all feel comfortable doing things the way we've always done them. I'll admit, I'm not one to overhaul my training approach quickly — but change can be good! Trying new ideas can be transformative.

 When it comes to teaching Rally behaviors, props can make a huge difference in both how quickly your dog learns and how cleanly they perform the skills. Whether you're introducing something new or polishing an existing behavior, the right prop provides clarity, precision, and support for both dog and handler.

Jane Ardern joins me for a conversation about how our release cues can influence our dog's state of mind and ability to learn. She shares what the field-bred spaniels she's owned have taught her about frustration, frantic behavior, anticipation, and relaxation... with several helpful takeaways bound to apply to any dog sports team.