From goal setting to getting control of ring nerves, Julie Bacon, The Q Coach, champions handlers who are on a mission to achieve big goals. Julie Bacon is The Q Coach, a mental skills coach who works with dog handlers across various venues of competition. Mindset coaching is hardly new; the best of the best have always valued the mental aspects of competition. Thankfully, this type of performance coaching is available to all of us who are serious about achieving our goals with our dogs. No ...
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#193: REMIX: She’s singing our mindset song! (Interview with Cynthia Horner!)
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I knew it would be a great conversation, but I had no idea that multiple-Westminster-winning, and podium-loving Cynthia Horner is such a devotee of the importance of a strong mental game! She had me at process goals. Fan-girling aside, listen to what Cynthia has to share about the importance of mindset when it comes to major competitions and why sh…
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#192: REMIX: Grief. It’s a b*tch. (Interview with Cara Armour)
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Cara and I both lost dogs this year and it rocked us as grief can. We both believe that as a community we don’t always talk about grief, and if we do, we don’t do it so well. So today we face grief head on and give all of us permission to walk through our unique grief journeys in whatever way we need to. Want more of Cara? Her podcast is Startline …
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#191: Don’t drag the past into your future. (A clean slate for 2025.)
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I’m already in goal-setting mode for 2025, anxious to tackle big things next year with hope and optimism! But before we leave 2024 in the rearview, there are some things we need to process. Today I’m giving you homework and several exercises to help you process this last year and walk into ‘25 like a boss! Support this podcast by saying thanks with…
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#190: Turns out, we need a decompression habit. (Or at least a post-trial ritual.)
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A great suggestion from a listener brings this topic of decompressing after a trial. We need to not only process the quality of our runs, but also the emotions of the trial. Our dogs need to decompress too - they’re just better at finding balance. Let’s create some new habits. Support this podcast by saying thanks with a “virtual” coffee (or in my …
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#189: Must be present to win. (Or Q, or get a title … you get the point)
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On one hand, we know that the present moment is the only moment we have any control over. On the other hand, we have a REALLY hard time staying there! Why? Let’s break down why it’s so hard along with some tangible steps you can take to improve your “get present” skills. Support this podcast by saying thanks with a “virtual” coffee (or in my case, …
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#188: Confidence is a skill. (It’s also a kick-butt persona that you can adopt!)
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We tend to think we need to be confident before we do something, but it’s just the opposite. We become confident as we hone our skills and gain experience. We can accelerate our confidence by picking up and applying some simple skills, and perhaps by embodying someone really cool. Let’s break it down. Support this podcast by saying thanks with a “v…
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#187: Are you measuring by your outcomes? (Hint: You should be measuring against those process goals.)
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Lately, it’s a theme with my coaching clients - they are focused on their process goals when they walk into the ring, but they are measuring their success by the outcome when they walk out of the ring. Whoops! When we do that we negate the progress we are making and can cut down our own confidence - yikes! Let’s fix that! Support this podcast by sa…
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#186: Switching leashes, switching mindsets. (Resetting for different dogs.)
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Many of us run multiple dogs at shows and it’s not the easiest thing to switch our mindsets when we trade-out dogs. Sometimes we carry over what just happened in the ring to the next dog which doesn’t always work. Or sometimes we are just really thrown by how different the dogs are. You know I like to unpack things, so let’s get started! Support th…
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#185: Top 5 mindset themes. (Or where to focus your efforts.)
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We talk about sooo many topics related to developing a strong mindset, yet most can be sorted into these 5 buckets. A strong mindset is the sum of very learnable skills, all of which can improve your confidence and consistency over time. Mindset is a handling skill - time to treat it as such! Support this podcast by saying thanks with a “virtual” c…
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#184: Your crate-to-gate needs a refresh. (Cara Armour and I tell you why.)
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I talk a LOT about the importance of rituals, and within those are your “crate-to-gate” routines. Who better than Cara Armour of Startline Pod to break down the components to help you create the ultimate routine? Cara and I break down why getting these routines right will set you up to perform at your best - no matter the venue. Support this podcas…
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#183: Pedestal problems. (Are you making yourself feel less-than?)
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When we make other things, events, people, dogs … better than ourselves, we make ourselves less-than. Obviously, that’s not good for our confidence, imposter syndrome, or ring nerves (just to name a few!). I get it, big events ARE big deals - but we deserve to be there. And yes, there are other better handlers out there, but they’re not judging you…
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#182: I totally ditched my young dog. (Disconnection takes a lot of forms.)
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Recently I entered a conformation show which also hosted CGC and Trick evaluations. While we came home with all the right ribbons, my day could not have felt more disconnected from my young dog. I was so in my head and worried about my own handling that I completely ditched her (energetically that is). Learn from my mistakes!! Really like this epis…
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#181: Are you using your dog as a shield? (And other weird things we do to protect ourselves.)
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As humans we want to feel safe - protected from failure or vulnerable experiences or other scary stuff. Being the creative species we are, we come up with some interestings ways to protect ourselves, including using our dogs to shield us from the scary stuff. Don’t worry, I’ll explain (and it’s pretty common!). Really like this episode? Say thanks …
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#180: Honeymoon phase is over. (Working through the frustrating times.)
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Puppies have their honeymoon phase too - when they are perfect, can do no wrong, and the sky’s the limit! And then it ends, and the frustration begins. No, this is not a doom-and-gloom session, just reminding us that training a dog is hard and we need the right mindset to get through the tough times. Support our sponsor, Saint Rocco AND score yummy…
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#179: Getting the most from a seminar (Yes, there’s mental management involved!)
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Seminars are their own type of animal - they can make us feel like superstars or convince us we haven’t done enough. While there is the ever-present comparison trap, there are other aspects of preparing for seminars that can help you get the most out of them both during and after the event. Want more on seminars? Check out episode #36 from the firs…
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#178: It’s a stressful world (And we’ve got to get a handle on it!)
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Stress is part of everyday life to the point it has become some twisted badge of honor. But taking our stress into the ring will not get us the results we crave! Get a preview of our “month of stress” when we dive into the causes and remedies whether you’re experiencing fleeting ring nerves or lasting anxiety. Ready to take the stress quiz? https:/…
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#177: Ambition or patience? (Hint: you need both.)
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We joke about our personal patience, yet we know we need patience when it comes to dog training and even our own mindset development - it takes time. Contrast that with our ambition - all the goals, hopes, and dreams we have for ourselves and our dogs. We want what we want and we want it now! How do we balance patience and ambition? And is patience…
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#176: Are your goals on a pedestal? (You might be losing sight of fun.)
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Are your goals driving you forward or holding you back? In our latest episode, we explore the dangers of putting your goals on a pedestal, from the trap of perfectionism to losing sight of the journey. Discover how to maintain a healthy perspective and enjoy the process while pursuing your dreams. Support our sponsor, Saint Rocco AND score yummy tr…
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#175: Are you getting too much input? (Some signs and what to do about it.)
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If you’re hungry to learn and level up your handling, you’re likely seeking out various instructors and experts to learn from. Seminars, online courses, group classes, private lessons, and even podcasts could be helping you OR making your brain swim in overwhelm. Being a total nerd myself, I will always advocate for the opportunity to learn, but th…
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#174: My personal mindset hacks. (5 +1 things I always do.)
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While there are a bunch of mindset skills in my proverbial toolbox, some are more often used than others. These are my five (plus one) go-to mindset skills which have become habits at this point. I absolutely use all of these at every single trial. LMK which ones resonate for you!! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizz…
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#173: 5 Ways to become more adaptable. (We all could use to be a little more flexible.)
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Let’s face it, things rarely go as we plan them. In these moments we can either have a complete meltdown or shrug it off and move to plan B (or C). While our responses are likely somewhere in the middle, we could all use to be a little more adaptable and accepting of the many variables in our trial environments. Here are five ways to get you starte…
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#172: Are you proofing your mindset? (Yes! We can set up scenarios to proof!)
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While so much of our performance mindset can be practiced without our dogs, sometimes we need the real thing - or as close as we can get. Finding ways to mimic the trial environment not only helps us, it also helps our dogs, AND it helps us understand how to respond to our dogs. In this episode I’ll share several ways you can mimic the trial enviro…
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#171: So you think you’re chasing a goal. (Spoiler alert: you’re not.)
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It turns out that going after a feeling is more powerful than pursuing an outcome (blame the researchers). We want a new van not because the seats fold flat but because of how it makes us feel - secure and safe, for example. This is true for our outcome goals, too - we want the title because of how we will feel when we get it. There’s also a “predi…
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#170: 7 Olympic-level mindset habits. (Yes, I’m fan-girling over the Olympic trials.)
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I love watching elite athletes be elite. Regardless of the sport, watching people be amazing will never get old for me. The Olympic trials have been playing out across multiple sports and in addition to terrific performances, I am obsessed with their mindset habits. So obsessed, that I’ve made a list of seven habits I’ve observed that we can all ad…
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#169: What’s comparison telling you? (Define success for yourself.)
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We fall into the comparison trap for all sorts of reasons. My latest opinion is that sometimes we compare ourselves to others because we require feedback - we want to see how we’re doing. Are we ahead? Behind? Should we be working harder? Dog sports can be lonely and lacking in feedback and comparison can fill that void - just not very well! Really…
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#168: Afraid? Do it anyway! (Or don’t - it’s your fear!)
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I saw a post that reminded readers to “do it anyway,” and I knew I had to unpack that old adage. In short, I think this adage is skipping a lot of important details - after all we don’t just walk up to a cliff and jump without a parachute! No, there is much more to “doing it anyway” so let’s unpack that today. Really like this episode? Say thanks w…
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#167: She’s singing our mindset song! (Interview with Cynthia Horner!)
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I knew it would be a great conversation, but I had no idea that multiple-Westminster-winning, and podium-loving Cynthia Horner is such a devotee of the importance of a strong mental game! She had me at process goals. Fan-girling aside, listen to what Cynthia has to share about the importance of mindset when it comes to major competitions and why sh…
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#166: Are you mentally tough? Gritty? (Should you be??)
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I’m all excited to share a preview of my new class, “From good to grit.” This episode will give you an overview of what mental toughness is, how it’s different from grit, and why we need both to pursue the big goals we have for ourselves. I’m excited to talk about this topic and give you a preview into what will be a great course! Really like this …
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#165: Do your past mistakes haunt you? (Let’s stop fearing your past.)
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I posted a reel the other week that got a big reaction. It said that what’s making us nervous is our fear of repeating the past. This hit home with a lot of folks so I thought I’d unpack it this week and give you some ways to turn those thoughts to the positive! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buyme…
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#164: Seven things you learn from trying. (And how to make it a habit.)
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Logically, we all know that pushing ourselves to do harder things will make us better handlers, BUT it’s just so cozy in our comfort zones! Today I’m going to share seven things you’ll learn from pushing yourself PLUS five ways to make growth a habit! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com…
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#163: When the energy goes off the rails. (Get back on track fast.)
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The energy we bring when we compete or even pick up a leash is critical to our success. After all, our dogs are brilliant at picking up on our energy! Yet even with the best of intentions, “stuff” happens and we will find ourselves needing to get ourselves back in the right state quickly. This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership where we spent …
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#162: Getting your motivation back. (Or not.)
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We think we have to be motivated in order to pursue our goals, but that’s just not true. We need discipline when our motivation inevitably wanes. Motivation is emotional. Discipline is rational. Still, life is easier (and more fun) when our motivation shows up to the party. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https…
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#161: Two words: Of Course. (Plus, Moxie does her weaves!)
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Thanks to a question submitted, I bring you the full report of how Moxie did her weaves in public and what that meant for me in terms of mindset. Then I give you a new phrase to incorporate into your visualizing and general goals prep. You might be surprised to learn why it works SO well! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice …
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#160: The power of simplifying. (Especially when your energy is in the tank.)
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Let’s face it, we are not at 100% every single day - including trial days. For those days when you are just not feeling it, it’s okay to push through, but the best thing might be to simplify your goals and expectations. The same works if you (or your dog) is overwhelmed by an environment or otherwise can’t give it their all. Try it, you’ll like it!…
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#159: Nervous? Try this shift. (Taking the long view is powerful.)
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Often the cause of our performance anxiety is fear of failure - not Qing, messing up in front of others, or even not being seen as “ready.” But what if we saw each time we walked into the ring as an investment in our future team? With this perspective, we literally cannot fail, we can only invest in our future. This is especially helpful for our yo…
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#158: Ever cried in your car? (It could be a stamina thing.)
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Of course we all have those days - the ones that make us want to throw in the towel or pick up a new sport. But sometimes, we end up in an emotional puddle because the events of the day were all just too much. In other words, we ran out of stamina and that run that usually wouldn’t affect us so much is giving us big feelings. Really like this episo…
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#157: Resilience IS a handling skill. (I’m kinda passionate about this one.)
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This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership: Being able to bounce back, reframe, reset, recover … is critical especially when we have multiple runs in a day. We don’t usually have time to contemplate the “feedback” we just received in a run when we need to get back into the ring. Instead, we have to get really good at resetting our mindset so we c…
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#156: Getting it up. (Hey! I was talking about your adrenaline - sheesh.)
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Running multiple dogs or running a new dog poses different challenges - one of them being figuring out your ideal energy level. Today’s topic comes from a client who is having trouble finding that same “oomph” for her young dog when there doesn’t seem to be anything on the line. Also, happy 3 year anniversary to this pod and THANKS for being on thi…
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#155: What happens after your dream comes true? (Yes, this is a real problem!)
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You might be surprised to learn that many Gold Medal winning Olympic athletes struggle with depression once the confetti has been swept up. Their whole lives were focused on that podium, but without a clear next step they spiral. Dog handlers do this too - we struggle with motivation once a dog has accomplished all we set out for them. What are we …
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#154: Time to master your self-talk. (Let’s be honest, we all need some help!)
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This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership: The thing about self-talk is that our thoughts become our beliefs which become our actions which become our results. So, yeah, what we think about is REALLY important! We can’t be perfect all the time, but we can get faster at recognizing and reshaping our negative thoughts before they get out of contro…
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#153: Is your attention subverting your goals? (Alignment is everything.)
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I recently heard someone say “If you’re not getting the results you want, it’s because your intention doesn’t match your attention.” Whoa. That one hit me. It’s critical that we are giving our valuable attention - and energy - to what we want (alignment) instead of what we don’t want (like past failures!). Really like this episode? Say thanks with …
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#152: Are limiting beliefs getting in your way? (Plus, 5 ways to banish them!)
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We all have (multiple) limiting beliefs - those beliefs that affect the actions we take. And many of us have limiting beliefs that get in our way in the ring - yuck! Today we are going to uncover those nasty things and also share five ways to send those negative beliefs packing! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! …
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#151: Are you pushing through when you shouldn’t be? (How to tell when you need some balance)
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There are times we should be “pushing through” and times we should be finding some balance. This is true not only for ourselves, but our dogs as well. Knowing when to push - when to dig deep - is crucial, and often we have to be our own cheerleaders. But knowing when to recover is equally important for ourselves and our dogs. Donations & contributi…
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#150: 5 ways to kick the imposter vibe. (Plus 5 sources of those icky thoughts)
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Imposter syndrome hits all of us at some point, making us feel less-than or unworthy. Because I know how you like lists (ha), I’ve got 5 common sources and 5 things we can do when imposter syndrome starts invading our thoughts and beliefs. Donations & contributions via Venmo: Username JulesBacs. Email DogQCoach@gmail.com. Really like this episode? …
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#149: Befriending your triggers. (Reinvent them as handling cues!)
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Triggers come in all forms. It can be a particular sequence, or a location, or just the right set of circumstances that send you into a bit of a tizzy. These types of triggers evoke memories of mistakes and mis-cues making us nervous and even fearful of making the same mistake. But what if we could make those triggers work FOR us? It’s possible! Do…
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#148: Everyone needs boundaries. (Mind your sandbox!)
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People tend to think of boundaries as defensive and largely negative. I disagree. I think that deciding what is in and out of your sandbox is not only important self-care but ideal for creating our best competitive mindset. With good boundaries we can feel more secure and confident - who doesn’t want that?! Really like this episode? Say thanks with…
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#147: Grief. It’s a b*tch. (Interview with Cara Armour)
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Cara and I both lost girls (dogs!) recently and it rocked us as grief can. We both believe that as a community we don’t always talk about grief, and if we do, we don’t do it so well. So today we face grief head on and give all of us permission to walk through our unique grief journeys in whatever way we need to. Want more of Cara? Her podcast is St…
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#146: Finding flow (It doesn’t have to be an accident!)
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Handlers have practically yelled, “BUT HOW DO I GET INTO THAT FLOW AGAIN?! I WANT THAT!!” Getting into the “flow state” is pretty magical yet it’s equally as frustrating if we are unable to duplicate the moment when we want to. The good news is we can learn to get ourselves back into flow so we can compete at our best. Like everything, it’s going t…
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#145: Feel like you’re getting passed by? (Letting comparison fuel you.)
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A handler told me in a coaching call that she felt like she was getting passed {by another team}. I felt that to my core. It’s so easy to look around and feel like we are getting passed by other dogs or handlers. Yet when viewed through the right lens, comparison can work for us and help to fuel our goals. Let’s get a new perspective for the new ye…
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#144: Handlers are just built differently (Even in their fitness journey.)
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We are kicking off Season FOUR (wow!) and 2024 with a bit of a common resolution: fitness. But as always, we have our own hot take on handler fitness so I brought in Liz Joyce whose Canine Handler Fitness has been helping handlers get stronger and faster. Good news! It’s not about weight! It’s about having the speed, strength and stamina to do what…
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