Startline Cara Armour

Positive reinforcement isn't just a training method; it's a lifestyle, one that can transform not only the way we interact with our dogs but also how we approach life's challenges. For many, myself included, it's been a profound shift in perspective.

Positive reinforcement training isn't just about rewarding good behavior; it's about fundamentally altering how we perceive and respond to our dogs' actions. It encourages us to shift from a fault-finding mindset to a solution-oriented one, focusing on reinforcing desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones.

But positive reinforcement goes beyond just training techniques; it's about building a relationship based on trust, mutual respect, and understanding. As someone who's practiced various training methods, including e-collar training, I've come to appreciate the nuanced effectiveness of positive reinforcement.

In the world of dog sports like agility, where precise communication and teamwork are paramount, positive reinforcement shines as a guiding principle. It challenges us to communicate clearly, reinforce desired behaviors consistently, and adapt to our dogs' individual needs and learning styles. And while the journey may not always be straightforward or glamorous, the rewards—both in terms of performance and the bond we share with our dogs—are immeasurable. So let's embrace the power of positivity, not just in training our dogs, but in all aspects of our lives.



To follow me on TikTok and see the awesome Wendy biting my feet video click here https://www.tiktok.com/@getactivepaws the video is pinned to the top



Happy to be listening and learning? Want to keep me motivated? You can ⁠⁠buy me a matcha or a chai latte by dropping some coin here⁠⁠ (hit the donate button right there on the homepage).


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When our dog is stressed, we often find our connection breaks.

Picture a Venn diagram where two circles, stress and connection intersect. It is here that we need to find our way back into connection and away from the dark cloud of stress.



While connection has much to do with our dog's ability to perform the behavior you have cued, stress can prevent a known behavior from being able to occur in an environment for which you cannot or do not train, like a trial.



In the episode, I discuss how you can look for this stress, how you can use class to train through it and examples of how I moved that dark stressy cloud out of my way.



Keep in mind, each team is different, for some stress-relieving behaviors before entering the ring are paramount, for others they are detrimental.



Happy to be listening and learning? Want to keep me motivated? You can ⁠buy me a matcha or a chai latte by dropping some coin here⁠ (hit the donate button right there on the homepage).


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After listening and then re-listening to Daisy Peel's The Agility Challenge Podcast Episode 13 on Where to start when you're starting and what makes an expert an expert I was inspired to discuss with my listeners the points I agreed with as well as expand upon this concept. I wanted to discuss what makes a good trainer and how can you be a good student, it is a two-way street.

I am still very much both. Hopefully, I will continue to be a trainer but I will ALWAYS be a student. I am a consumer of education and it is in my team's best interest to find a trainer or trainers that best fit my needs. I also have a responsibility to be a good student to whatever trainer I choose.

Happy to be listening and learning? Want to keep me motivated? You can ⁠buy me a matcha or a chai latte by dropping some coin here⁠ (hit the donate button right there on the homepage).




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When Julie Bacon from The Q Coach reached out to me to record an episode on the grief we both recently experienced we talked off-air after the episode about life and such. She asked how I was doing and I said I was stuck in inaction, and in that moment I realized I just inadvertently asked for help from the best person to offer it.

While my grief certainly didn't help matters, I was trapped in the frozen tundra of my mind for quite some time. I have been performing to standards, I have remained organized and task-oriented but I have not been growing. I have been slacking on my passion projects, the big one being this podcast!

So Julie did what she does best, she snapped me into action! Here I am with another podcast out and a rejuvenated sense of my why's and how to start getting what I want to get done, not what just needs to get done.

I get a bit vulnerable and sound a bit scattered but I'm guessing some of you can relate. Learn what advice Julie gives me to get out of my head and get going.

Happy to have me back, want to keep me motivated? You can buy me a matcha or a chai latte by dropping some coin here (hit the donate button right there on the homepage).

If you want support like I received, check out Julie's Q-membership!




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In my day job of promoting pet first aid & CPR training I set Google alerts to scan the Internet for anything related to pet first aid & CPR. When I received a ping about a veterinarian-founded company that was filling a much-needed gap in pet care I reached out and had to learn more. Their products are just what pet owners and pet care professionals need to bridge the gap between comfort and a vet visit.
My car now carries many of their products so when I am on the road, I know that if something goes wrong with my pets medically, I am even more prepared.
Learn about the efficiency and empowerment My Simple Pet Labs products and services are bringing to the pet market.
Per usual, I receive no compensation for this, these are just great products I found their a Google alert that I thought should be shared with my listeners.
If you do feel like helping this podcast continue to grow, consider donating or taking advantage of the offerings on my patreon page.

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Let's be more holistic in our view of the agility community, the good and the bad, not everything will be perfect and we cannot lean towards one or the other too heavily. Remain in the center and accept that things may sometimes be amazing and sometimes not but as long as events occur more towards center, we will be Ok. 

There will always be outliers, dogs that are over-aroused in and out of the ring, reactive dogs, nasty reactive people etc. but the statistics aren’t showing that AKC agility events are getting worse. We aren’t getting bit and hiding it. And people are not breaking rules when they ask for space and time. They are preventing incidents and managing situations, they should be applauded for their efforts to keep everyone safe.

I discuss ways we can continue to improve our community, our relationship with our dogs and get back to having fun.




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