Jenny Gould Sports Dog Training

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Jenny Gould Sports Dog Training

Sports Dog Trainer. Reward based training. Available for private/group/online training

31/10/2025

A sit is just a sit....or is it?

I am a huge advocate of sowing seeds for the advanced exercises from when a dog is young. However, I always ensure I am sowing the right seeds to grow the finished product!

This is never so vital as when teaching positions!

Know the final picture you want to achieve before you even begin. This will vary according to the sport you compete in and also your own personal preference.

Muscle memory plays a huge part in dog sports...ensure you build the correct ones from the beginning.....

30/10/2025

A mistake handlers often make ...being able to do the exercises and being competition ready are often poles apart!

29/10/2025

✨ From Training to Competing: How to Fade Reinforcement Effectively ✨

One of the biggest challenges in sports dog training is fading reinforcement. Many handlers go from rewarding every success to offering nothing at all, and the result can be a confused or frustrated dog that stops playing the game altogether.

Here’s how to make the transition smooth, clear, and motivating:

1. Regular reinforcement when teaching a new skill
When introducing a new behaviour, reward your dog every single time they get it right. Consistent reinforcement builds clarity, confidence, and understanding.

2. Intermittent reinforcement
Once your dog truly understands the behaviour, start to reduce the frequency of rewards. At first, this might mean reinforcing every second or third attempt. This builds consistency and strengthens the behaviour because the dog understands that the reinforcement is just around the corner. But remember, dogs are masters at spotting patterns. In sports training, keeping them guessing is key to motivation.

3. Variable rate of reinforcement, the fruit machine effect
This is what keeps your dog in love with the game. Like a fruit machine, the excitement lies in not knowing when the reward will appear. Your dog works because they might win, not because they always win. When they love this feeling, then you can consider stepping into that competition ring.

Thoughtful fading of reinforcement creates confident, motivated dogs who love to work and stay engaged right through to the competition field. Build understanding first, then build the game, and your dog will never stop wanting to play.

24/10/2025

🙌🙌🙌 Kamalfernandezdogtraining

21/10/2025

💥 Re-create the Pressure 💥

If you only ever feel the pressure or nerves when you compete — that feeling will always hit hard. The trick? Re-create it. Train it. Normalise it.

Find ways to practice the pressure long before you step into the ring or the field. Build muscle memory and mental memory around that feeling — so when the real moment comes, it’s just another round you’ve already fought.

Try these ideas 👇
1️⃣ Ring Entry Drill – Practice your walk-in, stepping through the ropes exactly as you would on competition day. Make it part of your training ritual.
2️⃣ Controlled Intimidation – Ask someone who makes you nervous or pushes your comfort zone to steward, coach, or watch you train. Feel the nerves now so they don’t own you later.
3️⃣ Train in Public – Choose a busy environment where people might watch. Let the eyes on you raise your heart rate — and learn to stay steady anyway.
4️⃣ Pre-Ring Routine Practice – Run through your full pre-ring routine regularly — in different environments. The more variety, the more adaptable and grounded you become when it’s time to perform.
5️⃣ Visualisation – See it all in your mind’s eye: the ring, the lights, the judges, the atmosphere. Walk yourself through every detail until it feels familiar. If you can see it, your body and mind can believe it.

Find moments that simulate the stress — and you’ll turn pressure into something familiar, even comfortable.
Because when you’ve already trained through the chaos… the ring just feels like home. 🥊🔥

20/10/2025

🐆Born To Be Wild!🐅

🐶When I have a new puppy, it's been noted by friends how absolutely wild I let them be for the first few months.

😈And it's true! I don't like doing too much sports or life skills training until my pups have experienced life. I let them grow into who they are and let them be a puppy - all the naughtiness and mischief included!

Naturally, we work on foundation things like toy play, building food drive and ensuring domestic basics are taught but I never start the 'proper' stuff until I have a firm understanding of their personality.

The first few months are crucial for me to find out who the new pup is. What makes them tick? What motivates them - are they a foodie or toy driven? Are they an independent individual or a bit more biddable? What a pup shows in the litter can change hugely once everyone has flown the nest.

⭐️Observing all these things then helps me when we start training. Understanding who the new pup is at their core means we can train in the best way that suits them.

Some have shown me they need encouragement in training to be a bit naughty and cheeky (Queenie!), others need a bit more of a quiet and considered approach to prevent accidental b**b bites (Tove! Apologies for the TMI 🤣).

By taking the time when they're pups to let them be them and observe them means we can become the best team we can be by tailoring everything for each dog.

…and quite frankly I love to watch them being puppies❤️

What’s your puppy approach?

©️peteoxford

19/10/2025

🐾 Dog Training Isn’t Linear – And That’s Okay 🐾

Dog training is a journey full of ups, downs, and unexpected pauses. Some days you feel like you’re making amazing progress, and others… it feels like you’ve taken two steps back for every one step forward. That doesn’t mean you’re failing. That is the process.

It’s okay to feel frustrated, lost, or disappointed. These emotions are natural—they show that you care, that you’re invested, that you want the best for your dog. But here’s the key: feeling them is only the first step. The second step is learning how to bounce back mentally.

Acknowledge your feelings. Sit with them if you need to. Then pack them away, close the bag, and keep moving forward. Mental resilience is not about never feeling frustration; it’s about how you respond to it. Each setback is temporary. Each small win is a reminder that progress is happening, even when it doesn’t feel obvious.

Dog training isn’t just about teaching skills. It’s about patience, empathy, consistency, and mental strength—for both you and your dog. When you approach the journey with resilience, you model for your dog that challenges are opportunities to grow, not reasons to give up.

So yes, feel the disappointment. Feel the frustration. But don’t stay there. Take a breath. Refocus. Bounce back. Celebrate the small wins. Keep moving forward. Progress is rarely a straight line—but your ability to recover, adapt, and keep going? That’s where true growth lives. 🐶💛

18/10/2025

✨ Stay in Your Bubble ✨

One of the biggest challenges for many handlers and owners isn’t the dog — it’s the people.
The people who watch from the sidelines. The ones who glance over in the park. The ones who might be judging, comparing, or simply not understanding what they’re seeing.

And it’s so easy to let those thoughts creep in:
“Do I look silly?”
“Are they judging my dog?”
“What if they think I don’t know what I’m doing?”

But here’s what I remind my clients — and myself — over and over again:
Your focus face is just that — focus.
It’s not about smiling for the world or performing for the crowd. It’s about being fully present in the moment, tuned in to your dog, communicating in ways that no one else can see.

Because what truly matters is what’s happening on the inside.
It’s the conversation you’re having silently with your dog — through your body language, your breath, your energy, your patience. It’s the trust being built, the small breakthroughs, the quiet “yes, we’ve got this” moments that only you two understand.

The outside world? That’s noise.
People will always have opinions, but they’re not part of your team. They don’t feel what you feel. They don’t know how far you’ve come or what you’re working toward.

So, learn to stay in your bubble.
Not as an escape — but as protection.
Your bubble is where connection grows. It’s where communication becomes clear. It’s where learning happens in peace, without pressure, without fear, without judgment.

When you and your dog are in sync — when the rest of the world fades and it’s just you two, working together — that’s where the magic is.
That’s where progress lives.
That’s where you build something unshakable.

So next time you feel those eyes on you, take a breath.
Smile quietly to yourself.
And come back to your bubble — the safest, strongest, most powerful place you can be. 🐾💫

17/10/2025

🚦 Preparation = Control: Stopping the Runaway Train Before It Leaves the Station 🚦

The Runaway train was something Kamal and I discussed in our Mindset matters Live on Tuesday evening and it is something I have discussed at length with my own Dog Sports members.

When we’re heading into competition, it’s easy for excitement, nerves, and adrenaline to start building — sometimes without us even noticing. Before we know it, we’re on a runaway train of emotion, rushing toward the ring without a clear plan or sense of calm.

That’s where pre-competition routines come in. They’re not just about warming up your dog; they’re about preparing yourself.

Think of it like learning to drive.
Before you make a move, you follow the golden rule: mirror, signal, manoeuvre. You take a moment to check your surroundings, plan your actions, and proceed with control. You don’t just rush forward — you pause first.

Those intentional pauses in your pre-ring routine are the same thing.
They’re your opportunity to put your foot on the brake, gather your focus, and make sure you’re mentally aligned before stepping into the ring.

Pausing doesn’t mean hesitation — it means control.
It’s what allows you to reset your breathing, soften your energy, and ensure your dog is reading calm, consistent information from you rather than tension or rush.

When you take that that pause, that mindful moment — you regain the power to guide, not react.
And your dog feels it instantly.

💡 A calm handler gives clear signals.
🐾 A clear handler gives their dog confidence.
🏆 A confident dog performs at their best.

So before every run, ask yourself:
👉 Have I stopped my runaway train?
👉 Have I taken my pause — my mirror, signal, manoeuvre moment — to regain control?

Because every time you step into the ring with a calm, prepared mindset, you’re not just improving performance… you’re strengthening your partnership.

Preparation builds confidence. Confidence builds consistency. Consistency builds success.

16/10/2025

🌿 Perfection Isn’t the Goal

We all fall into that trap sometimes — chasing perfection.
Wanting everything to go just right.
Feeling frustrated when it doesn’t.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned (and keep relearning):
Perfection isn’t the goal. Growth is. 💚

It’s okay to make mistakes.
It’s okay to have a day when things just don’t come together.
It’s okay to feel frustrated, disappointed, or even deflated by that.

Those moments don’t mean you’ve failed — they mean you’re learning.
Every wobble, every error, every “not quite there yet” moment is part of the process of improvement.

The important thing is to keep your greater goal in mind — to focus on progress, not perfection.
To celebrate the small steps, reflect on what you’ve learned, and keep moving forward with compassion for yourself (and your dog).

In our recent Mindset Matters conversation, Kamal Fernandez and I talked about just this — the power of embracing the journey, and how to handle those nerves, anxieties, and moments of apprehension that every trainer and competitor experiences.

If you haven’t listened yet, I’d really encourage you to. 💬
It’s a heartfelt, honest chat about mindset, confidence, and growth — not just in training, but in life.

Because the goal isn’t to be perfect.
The goal is to keep learning, keep growing, and keep showing up. 🌱

— Jenny Gould

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+447818674808

Website

http://www.thegsdhub.com/

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“What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” - Erin Hanson

I am Jenny Gould and live in Bristol UK. I have trained and competed 3 home bred German Shepherd Obedience Champions and a fourth home bred dog now qualified for the Crufts Obedience Championships 2020. I believe that our dogs should have a choice whether they compete in sports competitions alongside us and that we owe it to them to show how wonderful it can be. The joy and love experienced throughout a sports journey is the most amazing feeling.....go take that leap!