What to listen for:

"I care about my dog's emotional state, how they're feeling, and how confident they are. And I work on that a lot."

Two-thirds of the Dames of Detection, Stacy Barnett and Crystal Wing, sit down with obedience trainer Petra Ford, who unpacks the importance of seeing dogs as individuals, not assumptions!

Real progress, she says, starts when you stop correcting and start connecting.

Petra shares how letting go of labels like “nervous” transformed her relationship with her dog Zeal—and how trainers often project past experiences onto new dogs without realizing it. She encourages slowing down and objectively observing, not assuming. Each dog deserves to be seen for who they are, not who came before them.

Through her work with a neurologically atypical dog, Petra developed calming strategies rooted in deep pressure, similar to techniques used for autistic children. These evolved into arousal “thermostat” cues that help her dogs self-regulate and perform with clarity and joy.

Petra’s training is driven by curiosity and persistence. She doesn’t rely on recipes—she adapts, explores, and adjusts until the dog understands. Whether teaching a front or building confidence under ring pressure, her dogs learn through games, not grind. They don’t just perform on command—they actually want to succeed, themselves.

At the core of Petra’s philosophy is respect: for the dog’s emotional state, for their individuality, and for the bond they share. Titles may come, but the real reward is the connection.

Because in the end, as Petra reminds us, training isn’t about forcing the dog to meet our goals. The best trainers don’t mold the dog to fit the plan—they mold the plan to fit the dog.

Key Topics:

• Reframing "Nervous" Dogs and Letting Go of Labels (06:46)
• Using Deep Pressure for Emotional Regulation (14:21)
• Teaching Arousal Cues and Emotional Balance (16:58)
• Fitness, Recovery, and Mental Breaks (21:58)
• The Art of Adapting Your Training Strategy to the Dog (33:07)
• Why Listening to the Dog Matters Most (36:21)
• Creating Joy in Precision: Obedience as Play (41:10)
• Working Through Pressure, Not Against It (42:57)
• From Zero Confidence to Mental Mastery (49:45)

Resources:

• Petra Ford on FENZI
• Petra Ford on Facebook
• Jane Savoie - It's Not Just About the Ribbons: It's About Enriching Riding (and Life) with a Winning Attitude (affiliate link)

We want to hear from you:

• Check out the K9 Detection Collaborative FB page and comment on the episode post!
• K9Sensus Detection Dog Trainer Academy
• K9Sensus Foundation can be found on Facebook and Instagram. We have a Trainer’s Group on Facebook!
• Scentsabilities Nosework is also on Facebook. Here is a Facebook group you should join!
• Crystal Wing (CB K9) can be found here!
• You can follow us for notifications of upcoming episodes, find us at k9detectioncollaborative.com