Paws For Thought

08/11/2024

Two weeks ago we attended the national dog agility event, and to sum it up … it was a disaster 🐾. The weather was bad, my camp spot had me walking 15 km a day in mud, wind and rain, trying to see when, where to walk courses, time to get there & back, get mud off dog before entering camper van …. I could go on !
Ok I will … The excessive walking probably made my always fragile back pain very debilitating, trying to drive to get pain killers I got stuck in mud and had to be towed out … oh and Gypsy hates rain and wind so shut down in the shoot or I scratched her as I couldn’t actually run !
So …. Now I’m back , two weeks has past and on reflection, hindsight being a wonderful thing … it was still a disaster.
However, I really don’t mind ! Stuff happens … I hadn’t trained for 4 yrs to compete in the Olympics and got a tummy bug. It was just a bad weekend
It was disappointing, but on the scale of world events, national disasters or personal tragedy …. It was just a bad weekend .
Mindset will determine, not only how you handle a bad run of luck but also how you remember it, grow from it, and how it shapes your decision in the future.
On the plus side I spent time with good friends, watched some great runs and we all got home safely 🐾

08/10/2024

I just listened to this podcast, and wanted to share it with anyone who doesn’t usually listen to to podcasts …have a listen and see how mindset will affect your training, your competition and most importantly how you process your results after a particularly bad or good weekend.
If you have a strong growth mindset, ask yourself how your values will aid your understanding of knowing if you want or need a good result.

In this episode (36:23) In this episode, we explore a powerful quote from an Olympian about the delicate balance between wanting success and not needing it for self-worth. We dive into the psychology of high achievement, the importance of resilience, and how to pursue goals without letting them defi...

05/10/2024

We are a team, my dog and I. Sometimes I am the stronger leader and sometimes she teaches me, so that I know more than I did before. We were at a competition 2 wks ago, and after the first nearly successful run, we fell apart, literally. I had zero focus, I was distracted by a family issue, and she knew I wasn’t on the page.
Having recognised we were not in tune, I tried to get my s**t together, it didn’t happen! 🤪 we went home early played on the beach and I processed the fact that my team mate reads me so mindfully … that she was leading me home, to be where I needed to be .

20/09/2024

Thank you and well done to those who did the value exercise. Knowing your top 5 values will guide your beliefs, which will drive your thoughts, decide your choices, steer your actions and therefore affect your outcomes … which all results in how fulfilled you will be .
For those who watched Susan Garrett recent masterclass the first session had a similar image to the one below, but she didn’t start with being aware of your values which I felt was a big missing piece of the mindset jigsaw !
It is our mindset which will determine how we progress with our goals … Those with a growth mindset will train their dog and also know that their top 5 values will channel their own mindset to a better outcome, those with a fixed mindset, will slip into a recurring pattern of behaviour and therefore outcomes …. Sounds complex but really it’s just a simple thing to open the mind to a new way of thinking which professional athletes do as a major part of their mental training to be the best.

13/09/2024

Values … the core to our behaviour, what drives us and helps us make major decisions. Ask a person what their values are and most will have some great replies like being honest trustworthy and good … but values are not we want or need they are something you give out.
Did you know there is an exercise to identify what your values are ? Pm me for more information …

12/09/2024

Time for a bit of a recap … we want a strong positive mindset, to achieve our goals, we want to feel fulfilled, because success is not necessarily about winning it’s about being the best we can be. Finally, that fulfilment is achieved when our mindset is in alignment with our values …. So what are values ? What are your values ?

09/09/2024

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05/09/2024

How good would it feel to… to simply feel fulfilled ? Your journey to the best place ever in your dreams, is like winning the lottery …. But to be satisfied & fulfilled … is a simple easy step away ….. how good would that feel ?

30/08/2024

Where are you now ? Not geographically speaking but in yourself.
I’m sharing with you a great life coaching tool called the wheel of life, the first is the human assessment the second, I’ve tweeted to gauge your place in your dog life journey.
How does it work ? I’d suggest you click on the photo, screenshot it, print it out and then without too much deep thought score each sector 1-10 .
1 being a low “I’m not satisfied score “ 10 being the best almost too good to be true score.
Be honest , no one else needs to see your score, you can review this in 3-6 months or a year or 2 to see how things have changed and moved for you .
Celebrate any high scores , ask why it’s so high, notice the lower score sections and know that’s where things may need some work and or change.
If any or all of this is confusing , pm me .

29/08/2024

I’m currently in Australia, however I didn’t just rock up at the airport and take the next plane out … it took some planning.
Your dog sport journey is no different, the more you plan the trip the smoother the journey.
I asked the question “Why?” Do you want to do this a couple weeks ago , so add to that where are you going to, where do you want to end up. How will you get there ?, Are you taking this trip with someone? Is it the right person? The right support? what do you need to do to get there ?
How can you plan anything if you don’t actually know where you are starting from ? More on that question next time

26/08/2024

Who has tuned into Susan Garrett’s live stream work shop this morning ?
# Part one is growing your mindset 🤪
Susan often talks about a strong growth mindset in her training video’s, as a handler who has achieved so much over the years she knows that just having great skills for her dogs and all that experience, only comes together when the human mindset is present .
Keep watching her , and keep watching here to see how basic life coaching skills will lead to a better understanding of how to grow your mindset, which we know is the X factor in any sport that will lead to less frustration and more fun .

25/08/2024

Just to finish of the weekend, which started with a suggestion to visualise your future success with your dog, clink on the link for an explanation and example of creating a vision board .

If you could wake up tomorrow with whatever success you want , what would that look like !

Have a go, I make a vision board annually usually between Xmas and the new year and I usually hit 80% as a minimum of my visions for the year . I make it on my laptop and pin the printout on my fridge or desk in my office. These are not goals as such, it’s a subtle difference … read the link and get creative 🙃

Here’s why vision boards can be an effective tool in progressing towards long-term goals.

24/08/2024

On Friday I suggested you dream big about your future with your dog, however you may be fine with how it’s going …. and that’s fine too. Just ask yourself “ where do you want to get ?”

22/08/2024

Life coaching focuses on planning for the future. Dreams are free and setting goals is easy …. So, this weekend take a moment to visualise your future with your dog / dogs,
Dont hold back ! Dream big and let your imagination be as bold as you want, if you can have any outcome in your future, time & money no object just how great does that future look !

16/08/2024

I’m in a contented place now with how Gypsy and I have progressed, and I’m wanting to give back to the dog community some knowledge I’ve picked up along the way. I’m not a dog trainer, I know plenty of good ones I can refer anyone to, but I’ve been working on a side project using the life coaching skills I was trained in 9 yrs ago. Anyone interested, feel free to like or follow my page, I’m not selling anything, although you can pm me for high value dog treats if you want 🐾
I truely believe you can have a well trained dog and an experienced handler, who will not do as well with a poor mental game & mindset as a lesser trained dog and less experienced handler who has a strong positive attitude, understanding of the mental side of sport and growth mindset.
It’s not all about the results, the ribbons and trophies. How you train, compete and play the game is a balance to the other parts of your life. Understanding how to balance other life priorities, knowing your values and how that strengthens your mindset to have less frustration and more fun!
Please pm me any questions or share the page link 🐾

15/08/2024

Many people are not really sure what life coaching is, and assume it’s a type of therapy.
It’s not therapy.
I have used the life coach model I was trained in, and applied it to the mental journey we all go on with our dog training/ competing with our dogs, who whilst many clearly love the game, have not actually chosen this lifestyle themselves.
If we can have a positive growth mindset, it will enhance the time spent at club nights, the $$$$ you spend at seminars learning skills, so much more valuable if you really know why you’re there, what you are actually learning and where you want to go with your dog training/ competition journey.
Any questions ? Pm me anytime
🙃🐾🙃

11/08/2024

Why?
Why does it even matter why I want to spend my time enjoying doing my chosen dog sport. So for the big answer to that I’d suggest a great book , called “Start with why “ … see photo . This book delves into why successful companies have a strong reason why they do what they do . For us, for you and for me, it will reset you when things are not going so well in training, or the timing of your achievements are not as you had hoped.
A strong WHY is more than, “ because I love it “. like the layers of an onion getting back to why you really spend your hard earned cash, to run around a field in the rain, before a 3 hour traffic filled trip home, get down to the real why . It can reveal why you strive in some areas of your life and not in others.

10/08/2024

What drives you to play this game? Is it the thrill of competition, spending your time with friends, or the satisfaction of seeing your dog perform at its best? Is it the fun of it, despite the challenges and setbacks?
Why do you train and compete with your dogs in your chosen sport? Please share in comments