What to listen for:

“We’re always inspired by the students and all the hard work that goes on. It blows my mind every single year.”

Today, our hosts, Robin Greubel, Stacy Barnett, and Crystal Wing, reflect on their recent experience at Distraction Camp 2025, where handlers and dogs from across the country gathered on Robin's Iowa farm to build deeper relationships through the chaos of real-world distractions.

This year's breakthrough came from an unexpected source: cats. The rallying cry “I like cats” (a Crystal original) turned into a reminder to not push your dog to engage but instead allow them to choose connection. When one handler kept insisting her dog play while the dog clearly felt overwhelmed, Crystal asked about her cats. As the handler described her Norwegian cat, her dog—suddenly ignored—began seeking attention, eventually jumping up with a playful “boop” as if to say, “Hey, I'm here too!”

Sometimes we need to step back and let our dogs actively choose us, rather than desperately pursuing their attention. Like cats, we can be interesting without being overly available, which means creating pull instead of push in our relationships.

Throughout the week, handlers learned to advocate fiercely for their dogs, making training decisions based on what each individual needed rather than following a one-size-fits-all approach. Students chose different starting positions, modified exercises, and even sat out searches when their dogs weren't ready—something rarely seen at training seminars.

The diversity was something else: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels worked alongside Chesapeakes and Pomeranians, each requiring different approaches. One handler discovered her dog's love of bubbles could replace his obsession with "summer snow" (cottonwood fluff). In other words, a distraction was turned into a powerful reinforcer. Another handler learned to read her sensitive dog's signals through a ball-carrying ritual that communicated “I feel safe now.”

By week's end, the transformation was visible in both species. As one student suggested, they should rename it “Relationship Camp,” because when the handler-dog connection is strong, it’s easy to conquer distractions!

Key Topics:

• The “I Like Cats” Philosophy: Creating Pull vs. Push (04:04)
• Student Advocacy: Learning to Make Training Decisions (23:50)
• Individual Approaches for Different Breeds and Personalities (29:37)
• Building Confidence Through Safe Spaces (34:39)
• Creative Reinforcement: What Does Your Dog Love? (37:24)
• Camp Logistics and Amazing Support Staff (43:45)
• Key Takeaways (44:30)

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• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
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