Kynic Stockdogs

12/31/2025

This is what I'll be doing today!

On this final day of 2025, I want to share my favourite and most powerful year-end, goal-setting "pre-work" exercise with you.⁣
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Even if you don't plan to set goals, I strongly encourage you to set aside a few minutes over the next 24 hours and do this 2-step exercise.⁣
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𝗪𝐡𝐲? 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. And I want you to create and amazing 2026! So...⁣
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𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝!⁣
​Set a timer for 10 minutes, and then write down everything you feel good about from 2025. Include EVERYTHING!⁣
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- Things you accomplished⁣
- Things you tried (even if it didn't work out)⁣
- Things you learned⁣
- New habits you started⁣
- Behaviours you stopped⁣
- Thoughts you started thinking⁣
- Beliefs you let go of.⁣
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Go through your journals, photos, calendar, and pile of sticky-notes and napkin scraps (if you're like me, they're plentiful), and write it all down in one big list.⁣
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Now, go through that list and pause to celebrate every entry (big and small). ⁣
Maybe give yourself a high-five, do a fist pump, or get up and do a little dance!⁣
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I'm not joking. Seriously, do something physical to help really write those good things into your nervous system. Your 2026 self is counting on you!⁣
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𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭-𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝⁣
​Possibly even more important is getting closure on what sucked about 2025. ⁣
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And by closure, I mean a sense of peace and empowerment.⁣
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Because life is 50/50. Always. ⁣
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So we need to develop a practice of processing disappointment, grief, sadness, anger, loss and other negative feelings.⁣
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Why? To make sure we don't slide into victim-mode over the past. ⁣
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Our brains use the past to predict what's possible in the future. Drawing on stories of empowerment, not victimhood, is critical for setting yourself up for success in 2026.⁣
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𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔. ⁣
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We want to access empowered, strong, confident energy when setting our goals for the future.⁣
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The energy of possibility. Of excitement. Of belief.⁣
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And to create that energy (yes, we CREATE it. It doesn't just magically and spontaneously happen), we need to get closure on the past.⁣
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How? By...⁣
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- acknowledging and being willing to feel each negative emotion,⁣
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- becoming aware of the story we're telling in response,⁣
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- and then re-writing that story so that we don't get stuck in victimhood.⁣
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This doesn't mean pretending to be happy about terrible things.⁣
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This is not about adopting Pollyanna thinking and / or lying to yourself.⁣
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The new story you choose needs to be just a real and believable as the old one. The difference is that it's a story that you like better. That serves you to believe.⁣
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This might be as simple as acknowledging that you're still here. That you are strong, and weathered the storm.⁣
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This might involve taking stock of what you've overcome, and what you learned in the process.⁣
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This might involve asking yourself what the silver lining might be.⁣
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𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐒𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲.⁣
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The goal of this exercise is to shift you into a confident, empowered mindset about what is possible for you in 2026.⁣
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This is the energy and mindset you want to be in when you set those 2026 goals. ⁣
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(𝘞𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨? 𝘑𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘑𝘢𝘯 𝟷𝟿-𝟸𝟹 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘰𝘨 𝘚𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘱. 𝘋𝘦𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯!)⁣
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Wishing you a fabulous last day of the year! 😘

10/15/2025

This Saturday! Live! Free!

If you're struggling with over-arousal in training or competing, please join me for this free Masterclass!

This training is a meaty, nerdy, deep dive into the root causes of over-arousal in dog sports.

I'll be teaching:
- The neuroscience of over-arousal and how that plays out in dog sports
- The three root causes of why dogs struggle with over-arousal
- How to identify which one(s) you're dealing with
- What to do about it

When: THIS SATURDAY: Oct 18 @ 12-2pmET
Where: Zoom
How much: FREE 🙂

This is information every dog sport trainer needs to know to create optimal performance with their dog.

See you Saturday?

( 🎥 And yes, I will send out a replay if you can't show up live)

09/18/2024

Please join me! And kindly share with anyone you think might benefit or be interested. TOTALLY FREE!

(Link to register in first comment)

Please join me, FREE, on Sept 19th (live on Zoom):

Love in Action: What Sensitive Dogs Really Need to Feel Safe and Loved!

I’m honoured and delighted to be a guest panelist for this event! It’s totally FREE!

Yes, there will be a replay if you can’t join us live. Link in first comment!

08/09/2024

Raining today, so I decided to break out my new boots for training!

I’m super excited about this footwear. Zero drop, waterproof, heavy duty soles for grip, wide toolbox for comfort. Barefoot with all the bells and whistles!

I’m working my young dogs in the wet today, and need to be able to move quickly to respond and be in the right place to support them.

That means good traction and easy movement. I move best barefoot, but foot protection is critical when working with livestock!

I’ve searched long and far, and bought many, many boots. This brand (Vivobarefoot) is my favourite for barefoot shoes, and I’m hoping these boots are the ones.

Now, to put them to the test!

03/20/2024

Join me on this deep dive into understanding and addressing over-arousal in Dog Sports!

Wednesday, March 27th (Yes, there will be a replay).

Link in first comment to sign up!

Over-Arousal is THE #1 problem in Dog Sports.

And yet?

Nearly all training solutions focus on what to do AFTER your dog is already worked-up or shut down.

Pattern games and self-regulation tactics are important and can be helpful, but they don't address the reason your dog is over-aroused in the first place.

And if you don't understand and address the ROOT CAUSE of your dog's over-arousal?

You might be applying the wrong tactics to solve it, leaving you stuck in a cycle of constant management.

I created this FREE Masterclass to teach you about the ROOT CAUSE of over-arousal, and share the skills you need to make Optimal Arousal -- at both ends of the leash -- your new norm.

Link to sign up in the comments!

03/15/2024

I’m looking to find an active home for this handsome boy where he’ll both use his mind and body on a regular basis.

Nearly 3 year old neutered male (Born May 2021).

Location: Near Kingston, Ontario.

Breeding: Amanda Milliken’s Maxine x Werner Reitboeck’s Imp. Finn. Pedigree in photos, below.

I oringally kept Rhys as my pick pup from the cross, but his testicles never descended. I then sold him to an agility home, but that wasn’t a fit. I’ve had him back since last July, and have spent the past months getting him settled into the farm routine and getting to know him.

Rhys is a very lovely boy, and a pleasure to have around. I’m looking for a home that will do more with him that I have time for, giving him 1:1 attention and some kind of job (herding, low-arousal sports, outdoor adventuring etc)

I tried Rhys on sheep 2-3x last fall and really liked what I saw. He was keen and natural, and also quite biddable with a thoughtful approach. He covered his sheep well and, after a bit of wildness, stopped / lay down on balance our first time out.

He showed me to be exactly what I was hoping from the cross. Shame about those testicles! If that doesn’t matter to you (it matters to me), keep reading 🙂

I think Rhys could make a nice herding and potential trail prospect for a novice or intermediate handler who’s looking for a dog who won’t be too hard headed but is plenty keen and with a good pedigree.

I would have kept up with his training, but life got in the way (house fire, smoke poisoning, broken arm etc.). At this point, I would like to put my time into my other dogs and find someone to give this boy what he needs.

I have no video but can take some now that the snow is gone. I’ll continue to put some training on him when I have a bit of extra time.

Rhys is very good natured, gets along with everyone, and is a charming young dog. He is easy in the house, reliable, clean, polite. Crates well, but doesn’t need a crate. Safe off-leash and a great hiking buddy. Gets along with all my other dogs (male, female, younger, older etc.). He will push back if another dog pushes him, but is neither aggressive nor a fighter.

In addition to potential sheepdog, Rhys could make a great active companion. I think he has potential as a sport prospect but given his history, a serious / competitive agility home is unlikely a good fit.

The challenges you might encounter: He is very quick to go into high arousal, which translates to exploding out of crates and through doorways, and some vocalization. He can be herdy with other dogs. He loves to RUN.

A requirement of placement will be the opportunity to run and stretch it out off-leash on a daily basis (no dog parks or ball fetching for exercise).

If you’d like to know more, please send me a PM or email me at [email protected]. Feel free to share if you know someone who might be looking for a wonderful active partner!

02/03/2024

Happening this weekend!! Totally FREE. Link in first comment to sign up!

I’m running this workshop this week, totally FREE, for anyone who loves training dogs and has goals they want to accomplish.

Herding peeps, I see you! Even if you don’t consider what you do a ‘sport’. You got goals too! Join me 🙂

Here’s what some of the participants are saying:

"Never approached goal setting like this. Very helpful!"

"Super powerful"

"Thanks for a productive week!"

"Really clear and inspiring!"

This is a comprehensive course on goal achievement, with the critical pieces you need to take action, and keep taking action, for the whole year. Right now, I’m offering it for FREE. After Thursday it will be $97.

You can binge watch the replay this weekend!! (You have until Feb 08, actually). We still have the wrap-up call with Q&A on Monday (will also be recorded).

Simply register (link in first comment) and you’ll be sent the replay page so you can dive right in! Oh, and feel free to share !!

01/27/2024

Got goals with your dog this year? Please join me! Totally free. Link to register in first comment!

4th Annual (FREE) Goal Achievement Workshop for Dog Sport Handlers!!

January 29, 31, and Feb 02 @ 12pmET

Q&A coaching call: Feb 05 @ 7pmET

Link to register in 1st comment!

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Ok! So, here's the deal! Next week I'm running my totally FREE, 4th Annual Goal Achievement Workshop, just for dog sport enthusiasts, like you!

Wanna dive deep into goal achievement? Click the link in the first comment to join the workshop!

By joining, you'll...

1. Get really clear on what you want to achieve, experience, and accomplish in dog sports (and life!) in 2024

2. Learn THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP all dog sport trainers need to master for more joy and success with their dog

(Seriously, even if you've got the rest dialed in, please come to learn this piece. Your dog will thank you.)

3. Decide on your Just One Thing (J.O.T) to prioritize, and learn why doing so will get you farther, faster

4. Create a plan you'll actually follow, confident you can pivot when life throws curveballs (as it always does)

5. Develop your strategy to keep going, even when motivation ghosts you (and it will)

6. Discover the Secret Sauce to achieving your goals that most people never do and many aren't even aware of! (Hint: it's Step 5 in my 5-step Goal Achievement Process)

*** This is NOT a "how to set SMART goals" training. Setting goals is only the first step.

This workshop is about how to ACHIEVE your dog sport goals: The skills and, more importantly, the understanding and strategies you need to keep showing up, week after week, month after month--even when life gets in the way and after you've lost motivation--until you reach your goal ***

Want in? Click the link in the first comment and signup! Again, totally FREE!

See you inside!

Hélène

11/01/2023

One of the most common pieces of feedback I give in my coaching clients and students is to stop trying to get it perfect! Stop drilling, and instead get your behaviour functional and then start using it in practice.

Polish your skills through the work! Don’t try to get perfection through drilling and then use the skill.

In my observation, this drilling for perfection before moving on with training stems from:

1) The handler worrying they’re not good enough (even if it is subconscious) and needing the dog to get it right so they can relax enough to move on to the next step.

2) The handler not knowing what the next step is, let alone the end picture. Not having this understanding holds them back and leaves them unsure and uncertain about moving forward.

Knowing when to progress and what your next step is, is both an art and a science. It comes from the combination of understanding and experience. This sh*t ain’t easy! My rule of thumb:

- If your dog does something correctly twice in a row, MOVE TO THE NEXT STEP

- If your dog gets it wrong 2x in a row, CHANGE SOMETHING. Provide more information, come at it from a different angle. If need be, step back and think it through before going back to teaching the skill.

- Once your dog has a basic understanding? Put the skill to work! Polish it through practical use, not drilling.

- Not sure how to progress? Study the bigger picture. Identify the pieces of the behaviour. Break things down into bites. Ask for help!

This is exactly what I’ll be teaching in my upcoming Handler Development workshop for Novice herding handlers (Dec 2-3, in-person near Kingston, Ontario, Canada). Curious to know more? Send me a PM!

The good thing about training a dog for work is that he doesn’t need to be perfect.
Shepherds used to train their dogs for work, and the trials were secondary; dogs would be polished up so they could compete with excellence, but work was the priority.
Today, most train for trials first, and the work is an afterthought.
When a dog is doing practical work, he can make mistakes and learn through experience with guidance from the handler, until he understands the task. This allows the dog to develop without a lot of pressure before he’s mentally able to handle it.
With most people now training for trialing, some make the mistake of striving for perfection, rather than excellence.

“Perfection” doesn't allow room for dogs to make mistakes and work things out on their own.
Those who strive for excellence understand that mistakes are inevitable and part of the path to learning and improvement, while perfectionists tend to see mistakes as failures.
Excellence we can reach for with effort, practice, and persistence. But pursuing perfection sets an impossibly high standard, not only for us but also for our dogs.

Some ideas perfectionists pursue is for their dogs to: work at the perfect distance off sheep, drill them for the perfect walk, make sure every flank is perfectly square, to name a few.
The problem with this, is assuming it is the same for all dogs- instead of making adjustments for a dogs individual type and amount of ‘eye’, directness, presence, excitability, temperament, etc.
Often these handlers have young dogs that “never really got keen enough to train” (when it was the initial over training that caused it) or an open dog that flanks rather than walks up, lacks enthusiasm for shedding, stopping running sheep, enjoying turning back, or other.

If you require perfection you can diminish your dogs spirit and their ultimate potential.
Perfectionists may sometimes gain 2-6 months at the start of their young dogs career, but often lose years at the end of it.

Dogs, and trainers alike, learn from being allowed to make mistakes, and, in turn, learning from those mistakes will pave the way for excellence.

macraeway.com

Patricia Alasdair MacRae