Compass Canine - Sara Seymour

03/07/2025

I'm actually, finally getting my Scentwork: Step By Step course loaded. Blimey - it's jam packed!

Photo credit - Wendy Searle Photography

01/07/2025

I've undertaken a couple of agility judging appointments this year, with a couple more to go. And I've also got a number of weekends comepting under my belt. Here's the honest truth - at times it can be frustrating!

Being really petty, it can be frustrating to set a course with the intention that a certain route is taken to then see people do really random stuff 😂 However, that's not the reason for this post...

I'm getting increasingly frustrated with how 'errors' are dealt with by many handlers. For a start, more often than not the error is down to the handler, not the dog. That can be hard to swallow, but it's the truth. The dog is doing the best they can, in the situation they're in, with the skills they have.

Peak seemingly forgot what 'check check' meant this weekend - truth be told, I suspect my feet were pointing the wrong way 🤷‍♀️ That's on me, not him. Now, if I send him to the jump again WITHOUT CORRECTING MY FEET, chances are he's going to repeat the 'error'. How would it be fair to blame him? And yet, that's what I see in the ring. All. The. Time.

Here's the other thing - if you have to ask your dog to take a jump four times before they turn the correct way, what you've actually done is practised doing it 'wrong' three times before getting it 'right'. This can be especially frustrating if you haven't changed anything else in the picture.

Ripley taught me a LOT about dealing with errors, and not repeating things. Peak is a lot more forgiving, but if you've read my email newsletter this week you'll know he will still let me know when I've mucked up 😉 Luckily for me, last year I started working with Hélène Marie Lawler and actually became one of the coaches in her Optimal Arousal Blueprint program. Digging deep into her work really cemented what I already knew, and gave me the confidence to change my approach. Sometimes I still forget, because I'm only human after all 🙈 For the most part, we try to just keep going, no matter what 💞

Hélène has her popular Root Causes of Over Arousal workshop available at the moment, and I have my own special link for you (basically, if you go on to join her program, I may get some commission) I just watched the Q&A this morning, and it's GOLD! You get instant access when you sign up 👍

https://compasscanhelp.com/root-causes

Photo credit Rebecca Reed Photography

19/06/2025

How does your dog tell you they've had enough? And what do you do about it? The full session this clip was taken from was just under five minutes - that inlcuded refilling treats, and two toy breaks. On the third set, Peak was done. Going for his toy was his way of telling me that. Grabbing it the first time could just have been because he wasn't quite ready to start again, but the second time was a clear 'nope, I'm done'.

So we had a play, and moved on to something different. Simples.

Want to see the full session? I'll add a link in the comments 😁

11/06/2025

Treat delivery day!

02/06/2025

New blog post alert! Please tell me it's not just me...

One of those days where you think you've got it all planned, but forget some crucial bits...

20/02/2025

Shhh... 🤫😱

19/02/2025

I have questions!

What days/dates are good for people in March for a Movement Puzzles session? This will be a follow on from previous sessions, and we'll be looking at introducing a new puzzle. Options are Mondays or Wednesdays (not 19th Mar)

Is anybody interested in learning some Lost Item Recovery? Mainly just for fun, but can be a useful skill too!

Either Rexon, or am up for suggestions on other venues!

For your viewing pleasure, Ripley and Peak doing their monthly Movement Puzzles challenge ( 😉)