Episode 55: The Power of Foundations

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