Canine Connection Podcast

In this episode, Laura Rixham shares her journey from a childhood love of dogs to competing in multiple sports, training her dogs in obedience, rally, and scent work, and her insights as a judge. She discusses breed differences, training transitions, and the importance of building a strong relationship with your dog. Laura Rixham shares her journey with scent work, training challenges, and the importance of handler mindset. Petra and Laurie discuss how to manage emotions, set realistic goals, and enjoy the process regardless of outcomes.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Laura's background

00:01 Introduction to Laura Rixham's scent work journey

02:25 Early experiences with dogs and training

02:39 Challenges faced during training and competitions

04:05 Transitioning between breeds and groups

05:00 The importance of handler mindset and emotional control

08:13 Using clickers to neutralize emotions in training

09:25 Getting into rally, obedience, and scent work

12:03 Setting realistic goals and enjoying the process

12:04 Transitioning from rally to obedience

14:32 Judging and how it improves training

15:45 Handling environmental issues and outdoor training

18:22 Judging as a learning experience

20:12 Supporting your dog through training struggles

22:31 Memorable moments in the ring

25:29 The significance of community and shared experiences

26:32 The human side of judging and training

30:05 Final thoughts on training, mindset, and enjoyment

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

Foundations matter. And they matter throughout your dog's career. Mastering foundation skills are critical to becoming a good handler and teammate. Creating a strong foundation sets your dogs up for success. Returning to and reviewing foundations throughout your dog's career creates a dog that is confident, motivated, sharp and animated. Join Laurie and Petra as they talk about the importance of foundations and provide actionable tips and strategies for mastering them.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Foundations in Dog Training

00:05 Mastering Foundations as a Handler

00:35 The Role of Self-Awareness in Training

01:04 Handling and Body Language Awareness

01:33 The Power of Repetition and Mastery

02:03 Building Confidence Through Foundations

02:29 Practicing Skills Outside of Context

02:34 The Value of Easy Successes

02:36 Revisiting and Reinforcing Basics

02:59 Dealing with Regression and Setbacks

03:25 Using Games to Strengthen Skills

03:51 The Importance of Self-Reflection

04:01 Shaping and Problem Solving

04:02 Avoiding Common Training Pitfalls

04:05 The Role of Consistency and Focus

04:14 Handling Mistakes Gracefully

04:39 The Continuous Nature of Mastery

04:40 Balancing Hard and Easy Training Days

04:41 Weekly Review and Planning

05:07 Final Tips for Building Strong Foundations

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

Hannah Nordstrom shares her journey from a passionate first-time dog owner to a rally competitor and instructor as well as FAST CAT competitor. Hannah and her Bedlington Terrier Breitling have already accomplished great things! Her passion, positivity and enthusiasm for Breitling and dog training is evident in all she does. Hannah emphasizes the importance of creating a foundation based on building and maintaining a trusting relationship. relationship. In this episode, Hannah and Petra discuss the importance of engagement, relationship-building, and understanding your dog's unique personality in training and dog sports. They share insights on how to foster a positive training environment and the value of patience and consistency. Hannah is also a wonderful ambassador for all dog sports. Her enthusiasm is infectious!

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction and Hannah's background in dog sports

01:54 Hannah's journey from puppy to rally champion

02:52 How environment challenges reveal training gaps

03:56 The structure and excitement of the Rock Invitational

05:55 The importance of venue and environment in competitions

06:58 Dogs choosing their handlers and the importance of patience

08:00 Fast Cat and other sports Hannah competes in

09:53 The significance of fitness and muscle building

12:07 Breed traits and unique characteristics of Bedlington Terriers

12:34 Managing arousal and environment for success

14:08 Building a relationship based on trust and confidence

16:01 The role of socialization and exposure in training

16:04 The significance of giving dogs time to engage

17:53 Handling distractions and environmental challenges

19:56 Engagement and focus in rally and obedience

20:22 Breed differences and individual personalities

22:01 The importance of relationship over exercises

23:56 Training strategies: breaking down signs and cues

24:17 The impact of social media on dog training perceptions

26:14 Long-term vision and sacrificing immediate wins

27:47 Communication and understanding between handler and dog

28:16 Celebrating small wins and building confidence

30:00 Adapting training to breed and individual needs

32:03 Creating positive associations and neutralizing fears

32:32 The importance of positive reinforcement and relationship

34:02 The value of patience and incremental progress

35:52 The impact of environment and competition stress

36:19 Final thoughts and encouragement for trainers and owners

38:12 Final thoughts on relationship, engagement, and success in dog sports

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

In this episode, Kaleigh Gagnon shares her extensive knowledge of search and rescue dogs and scent work training. Discover how dogs are trained to detect various odors and the comprehensive certification process required to become operational. We talk about how versatile and adaptable dogs can be. Kaleigh’s emphasizes the importance of learning how to read your dog’s behavior to develop a strong partnership. Search and rescue requires an enormous amount of time, dedication and sacrifice. We are grateful for all the volunteers out there!

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Search and Rescue and Kaleigh Gagnon's background

00:06 Types of search and rescue work: live find vs. human remains detection

00:14 Training and certifying search and rescue dogs in different disciplines

00:44 Teaching dogs to differentiate odors and environments

01:00 Reading your dog's behavior and body language during scent work

01:02 The importance of trust, communication, and relationship building

01:31 Environmental factors and odor movement in scent detection

01:56 Training routines, consistency, and handling during searches

02:18 The mental aspect of scent work and handler confidence

02:29 How dogs perceive odors and the science of odor wafting

02:37 Practical tips for training and improving scent detection skills

03:08 The rewarding and fulfilling nature of search and rescue work

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

In this episode, Petra and Laurie share insights on building a strong, trusting relationship with your puppy …which is also relevant for our adult dogs. They talk about the importance listening to, observing and getting to know the individual dog. They emphasize prioritizing understanding your dog over teaching behaviors. Learn to relax, build your relationship and enjoy the journey of training and bonding.

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

Petra shares a detailed account of her experience with a dog attack, emphasizing the importance of calmness, quick decision-making, and mental resilience in crisis situations. We are the anchor in the relationship. Our dogs rely on us in many ways, not just in crisis!! It’s important to be aware of how your behavior influences your dog. Dogs are incredibly resilient. It’s not unusual for a dog or puppy to become startled or frightened. How we act in that moment will have a significant impact on the dog.

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

In this episode, we meet with Reni who shares her inspiring journey from as a novice sport dog owner. We talk about to overcoming breed-specific challenges with patience, creativity, and advocacy. Petra and Laurie explore the unique traits of terriers, training strategies, and the importance of trusting your instincts in dog training. In this episode, Reni talks about her Border Terrier Gus and their journey with obedience and scentwork...and how that has enhanced their bond. Discover practical insights into training, mental management, and building confidence in competitive dog sports.

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

In this episode, Petra and Laurie discuss scent articles BUT the content is relevant to all behaviors. We talk about analyzing errors, how we handle errors differently based on “why” they occur, the importance of trusting the dog. We also talk about training strategies to build confidence and precision. Dog training is dog training…regardless of the sport or behavior.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to scent articles and handling differences

01:00 Understanding dog's sniffing experience and training approach

02:01 Clicker training and problem-solving in scent work

04:05 Teaching scent articles and handling mistakes

06:17 The importance of context and environmental factors

08:30 Handling distractions and generalization in scent training

12:22 Visual components and their impact on scent work

15:14 Using hide-and-seek games to enhance scent discrimination

20:01 Discrimination versus hot scent detection

25:22 Managing delays and steward handling in trials

33:02 Reinforcing correct indication and building confidence

42:48 Handling errors and troubleshooting in scent training

54:41 The importance of observation and patience in training

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

Petra and Laurie continue discussing how you can learn to read dogs. This discussion emphasizes the importance of observation, understanding behavior cues, and the role of video analysis in training. They share practical tips for trainers to improve their skills and deepen their connection with their dogs.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Reading Dogs and Its Importance

01:54 Behavior Cues: Yawning, Shaking, and Snapping

04:07 Context Matters: What Happens Before and After

07:01 The Role of Video in Analyzing Dog Behavior

09:59 Understanding Arousal and Its Impact on Performance

15:04 Subtle Signals and How to Recognize Them

20:04 The Power of Consistency and Mastery in Training

25:00 Building a Relationship of Mutual Understanding

30:07 Observation as a Fundamental Skill

35:00 Practicing and Improving Your Observation Skills

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025

Petra and Laurie start the discussion with Petra's new experience in the sport of nosework. They then discuss the nuances of reading dogs, emphasizing data collection, observation skills, and the importance of practice to improve understanding of canine behavior.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to Nosework and reading dogs

02:57 Understanding the Complexity of Nosework

06:13 The Importance of Reading Your Dog

09:19 Data Collection in Dog Training

12:05 Cause and Effect in Dog Behavior

15:08 The Role of Observation in Training

18:12 Improving Your Skills in Reading Dogs

21:02 Practical Tips for Dog Handlers

25:08 Understanding Dog Behavior and Communication

29:07 The Importance of Observing Your Dog

30:45 Mastering Skills for Better Dog Handling

34:19 Navigating the Challenges of Nose Work

38:24 Continuous Improvement in Dog Training

44:49 Developing a Formula for Reading Dogs

CONTACT US:

https://www.youtube.com/@canineconnectionpod

https://www.facebook.com/canineconnectionpodcast

PETRA:

https://www.facebook.com/petrafordtrainer/

www.petrasdogresourcecenter.com

LAURIE:

https://www.facebook.com/laurie.strimavicius

https://www.facebook.com/groups/trainme2025