MAIN Dog Training (2025)

19/07/2025

Weekend Top Tip

Part 1: Building Value for Jumping

In agility, we spend more time rewarding start lines, contacts, and weaves — but jumping often gets taken for granted.

Yet jumping is a skill that deserves its own value. After all, 80–90% of a course is made up of jumps.

It’s not just about clearing bars; it’s about teaching your dog why clean jumping matters.

If we don’t reinforce the effort it takes to jump well — especially keeping the bars up — how will our dogs understand that jumping thoughtfully is important?

Building value for jumping sets the foundation for better focus, cleaner performance, and more confidence in the ring.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll explore how grids can help boost your dog’s jumping effort.

18/07/2025

When the Training Wheels Fall Off…

You had a plan. A purpose. Maybe even a picture-perfect session in your head.

But your dog didn’t get the memo.

Instead of nailing the skill, they’re spinning in confusion. They check out. Or worse, they try so hard and still get it wrong.

And that thought creeps in:

“I know he knows this.”

But do they? Really?

If we’re being honest with ourselves, that phrase is often more about our own expectations than our dog’s understanding. Because if they truly knew it....they’d be doing it.

Something is amiss.

Maybe they’ve guessed their way through the behaviour in the past and happened to get it right. Maybe the reinforcement history is patchy. Maybe the progression of the skill has gone wonky and we've jumped a step or three.

When it’s not working, it’s not about pushing harder. It’s about getting curious.

Split, don’t lump.

Reinforce what you want — not what you hope sticks.

And if clarity is crumbling, it’s OK to stop. To breathe. To put the session down to experience — and come back with a better plan tomorrow.

Because that moment when it all falls apart? That’s not failure. That’s feedback.
What you do next is where the real learning happens, for both of you.

And one of the very first things to consider?

Your reinforcement strategy.

How you're delivering it. Where it's happening. What your dog thinks it's for.

Join us for the Reinforcement Fix workshop on Saturday, 2nd August from 11:30am–1:30pm, where we’ll dig into the mechanics of reinforcement — delivery, timing, placement, and strategy — to help you train with more clarity, more purpose, and better results.

Just 1 space left. Come turn reinforcement into your most powerful training tool.

Grab the last spot by heading to: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MainDogTraining/MAINDogTrainingTheReinforcementFixWorkshopSaturday2ndAugust

17/07/2025

Just a Game… or is it?

With AAC Nationals and the UKI Canadian Open just around the corner, it’s easy to feel the competitive energy ramping up.

The plans. The prep. The pressure.

You want to do well, of course you do. Otherwise, why show up? You're invested, you've worked hard, and you care deeply.

But sometimes, that very drive can quietly tip us off balance. It can start to colour how we see ourselves, our dogs, and even our worth.

One bar down, a missed cue, or a moment of chaos in the ring and suddenly it feels bigger than it is.

Let’s be honest, dog agility is a sport we love, but it’s also a game we’re lucky to play.

It’s barking and sprinting and laughing with friends on the sidelines. It’s learning to trust your dog. It’s learning to trust yourself.

And sometimes, it’s pausing for just long enough to see the look of joy on your dog’s face as you reward them with a game of tug, completely unaware of what the timer said, but absolutely sure they did a good job.

Yes, you can be competitive.
Yes, you can want to win.
But don’t let it skew your perspective.

Because when the dust settles, what matters isn’t just the scoreboard, it’s the story you’re writing with your dog.

And that story is being written in the in-betweens. In the warm-ups. In the way you recover after a mistake. In how you show up, for your dog and for yourself.

So before your next event, take a moment to reflect:

🌀 What do I truly want to remember about this event — five years from now?
🐾 What does success look like for me beyond the scoreboard?
🎯 Am I showing up in a way that reflects my values — with my dog, my peers, and myself?
🌿 What am I grateful for today in this journey, right now, as it is?

Hold your goals. But hold your joy tighter.

We only get so many runs with each dog. And when you really think about it… every one of them is a bonus round.

16/07/2025

🎉🎺 DRUMROLL, PLEASE… 🎺🎉

At long last, we’re revealing the answer to June’s “Get to Know Your Main Dog Training Coaches” question!

Why the delay? Honestly… we meant to post it sooner, but someone (not naming names 👀) put the results in a “safe place” and then promptly forgot where that was. Classic. 😅

But don’t worry—we’ve found the lost files, dusted off the fanfare, and now it’s time to give you the big reveal!

Here’s how you voted:

🟣 Erin – 56% guessed her
🟠 Faren – 37% guessed her
🔵 Manca – 6.3% guessed her
🟢 Kelly – 0% guessed her

🥁🥁🥁 AND THE CORRECT ANSWER IS…FAREN❗️ 🥁🥁🥁

That’s right – 37% of you got it bang on! 🎉

Thanks to everyone who voted – and stay tuned for our next round of 'REALLY get to know your MAIN Dog Training Coaches' in our July Newsletter coming out soon. Not yet subscribed? Head here: https://mailchi.mp/08218498d132/main-dog-training-newsletter-sign-up

16/07/2025

🚨 BACKSIDE BREAKTHROUGH WORKSHOP with Coach Faren! 🚨

Sunday, August 3rd | 9am – 11am | $70 | Limited Spots

Backsides got you twisted? 🔄
Maybe your timing feels off, your position isn’t clear, or your dog lacks independent understanding of backsides—especially at a distance.

This workshop is all about unlocking backside confidence – for both you and your dog! 🐕‍🦺

We’ll dive into:
✨ Clean, short sequences that sharpen timing
✨ Flow that actually feels good
✨ Handler footwork that makes sense
✨ Building your dog’s clarity, commitment, and understanding

Perfect if you’re struggling with the skill, or simply want to level up your backside game with intention and precision.

Let’s turn those backside blues into backside BOOMS 💥

Spots are super limited – grab yours before they’re gone! Sign up here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MainDogTraining/MAINDogTrainingBACKSIDEBREAKTHROUGHWORKSHOPSunday3rdAugust

15/07/2025

💛 Agility is more than just the sport — it’s the relationship behind every run.

Those quiet moments before the startline.
The look you share after a great run — or even a messy one.
The way your dog chooses you, every single time.

👇 Tell us —
What’s something your dog does that reminds you you're a team — on or off the course?
Let’s fill the comments with the heart of why we do this.

13/07/2025

🎯 Train Like You Mean It - Because showing up confident starts with training with purpose.

🔹 Training Tip #3: Clarity Creates Confidence

You don’t get confidence from more reps—you get it from the right reps. Reps that are targeted, relevant, and purposeful.

Prepping for something like the Canadian Open means you need to know exactly what you and your dog can do... and what you can’t (yet). That awareness is power. It lets you go into trials with a game plan, not crossed fingers.

And the only way to get that clarity? You guessed it:
🔹 Think – What are my performance goals at the Open?
🔹 Plan – How do I test my current skills against those goals?
🔹 Do – Run challenging courses that mimic what we’ll face
🔹 Review – Where are the gaps? What do I need to build on?

A solid plan today means fewer surprises tomorrow. Run with intention, review with honesty, and show up with confidence.

That wraps up our “Train Like You Mean It” tip series!

If there’s one thing to take away, it’s this: confidence at a big event like the Canadian Open isn’t luck. It’s built through purposeful reps, course testing, and a clear feedback loop.

So keep thinking, planning, doing, and reviewing. That’s how you grow—and how you walk into the ring ready to run like you mean it. 💪

12/07/2025

🎯 Train Like You Mean It - Because showing up confident starts with training with purpose.

🔹 Training Tip #2: Be the Handler with a Plan

Want to walk into the Canadian Open knowing you belong there? Then every bit of training between now and then should build toward that goal.

That means having intention every time you step into the training space. It’s so easy to fall into “I’ll just do some jump work” or “Let’s try a bit of rear crosses”... but without a plan, those sessions become random noise.

Instead, prep like a pro:
🔹 Think – What does my dog actually need for success at the Open?
🔹 Plan – Design sessions to rehearse those exact elements
🔹 Do – Train with that singular focus
🔹 Review – Did it improve? If not, why? What’s the next step?

Purpose-driven training gets results. Whim-driven training just burns time.

11/07/2025

🎯 Train Like You Mean It - Because showing up confident starts with training with purpose.

Welcome to Train Like You Mean It – a 3-part tip series to help you prep smart for the UKI Canadian Open.

We’re not here to just go through the motions. If you want to show up ready, you need to train with intention, collect the right information, and use that insight to level up.

Each tip in this series will walk you through how to do just that using a simple but powerful cycle:

👉 Think – Plan – Do – Review

Let’s dig in 👇

🔹 Training Tip #1: Stop Guessing, Start Testing

If you’re prepping for something big like the UKI Canadian Open, don’t just train in a bubble. Get on courses that challenge you, courses designed in the style you’ll actually see at the event.

Why? Because running realistic, judge-style sequences is how you collect the data. It shows you what’s working, what’s not, and where your current skill set stacks up against competition demands.

This is intentional training. It’s not about random reps, it’s about putting your training under trial-like pressure to see what truly holds up.

Here’s how to use the Think–Plan–Do–Review cycle:
🔹 Think – What kind of challenges will the Canadian Open throw at you?
🔹 Plan – Seek out courses from those judges (like the one we’re running Friday night!)
🔹 Do – Run with focus, treat it like the real thing
🔹 Review – What held up? What fell apart? Use that info to guide your next block of training.

This is how smart prep works. And this is how confidence is built.

11/07/2025

🚨 Last-Minute Opportunity! 🚨

We’ve got a couple of spaces left on our UKI Canadian Open Prep Session running tomorrow (Friday 11th July) from 6pm!

You’ll be running a course designed by one of the actual judges for the Canadian Open (course map below!!) so this is your chance to put your skills to the test in a meaningful way.

✅ See what’s solid
✅ Spot what’s missing
✅ Leave with clarity, direction, and a plan

Not just training for the sake of it — this is smart prep with purpose.

📍Grab your spot and get ready to run with intention. $35.00, sign up here: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MainDogTraining/MAINDogTrainingUKICanadianOpenCourseworkPrep

09/07/2025

The Power of Visualisation in Agility

Here’s something cool: your brain can’t actually tell the difference between doing something for real and vividly imagining doing it. That’s why mental rehearsal works—it builds fluency, confidence, and coordination, just like physical reps do.

In one well-known study, basketball players were split into two groups. One group practised shooting hoops. The other group practised and visualized shooting hoops successfully. When it came to testing their skills, the visualizers outperformed the group who only trained physically.

So what does this mean for agility?

Agility is a dynamic sport, and much more complex than practising a repetitive movement like shooting hoops – sorry basketball players, but it is!

You’re not just moving your body—you’re reacting, cueing, and connecting with another being.

But that doesn’t mean visualisation can’t help. In fact, it’s an underrated tool for agility handlers.

You can visualize:

🔁 Specific handling patterns that you want to improve on

🏃‍♀️ Yourself running a course with intention, flow, connection and great timing

🧠 Post-course walk run-throughs to solidify memory on competition day

Just 5 minutes a day of focused visualisation can sharpen your skills and boost your confidence. It doesn’t replace physical training, however it will enhance it. The clearer you can picture the skill, the more fluently you can perform it.

Train your mind. Run it in your head. Watch it show up in real life.

08/07/2025

Pre-placed rewards are powerful—but only if the picture makes sense to the dog.

If the setup isn’t clear, the dog isn’t “being naughty” or “blowing you off.” They’re responding to what’s been presented.

Without a well-taught pre-placed reward marker cue, or thoughtful reward placement, we risk creating grey areas. And when things aren’t black and white, dogs fill in the blanks the best way they know how.

That’s not a training problem.
That’s a communication problem.

When used with intention, pre-placed rewards bring precision, drive, and clarity to your agility training. But it’s a skill within itself that needs to be specifically taught, and one worth spending time on.

👉 Two spaces left in our Reinforcement Fix workshop

🗓 Saturday 2nd August, 12.30pm–2.30pm
🎯 Location-specific marker cues
🎾 Toy play mechanics
🧠 Pre-placed + stashed rewards

To sign up, head to: https://www.cognitoforms.com/MainDogTraining/MAINDogTrainingTheReinforcementFixWorkshopSaturday2ndAugust

Monday	09:00 - 21:00
Tuesday	09:00 - 21:00
Wednesday	09:00 - 21:00
Thursday	09:00 - 21:00
Friday	09:00 - 21:00
Saturday	09:00 - 21:00
Sunday	09:00 - 21:00

MAIN Dog Training

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