M Squared Dog Training & Australian Shepherds

11/17/2025

Watch Mel Compete with Sparkle, Gimme & Scorch at the UKI US Open in FL this week! - https://mailchi.mp/53e987655240/new-fall-schedule-18255231
Plus news & updates to MSquared Class schedule

11/16/2025

I can't wait for some FUN with my dogs in the SUN! This year I am traveling with 3 M Squared Students/Friends for their very first time at this event. I am super proud of all their hard work and dedication this year to get to the USO- one of the biggest National Events in the US. My 3 Musketeers (Gimme, Scorch & Kaleo) have matured and I am looking forward to some fun runs with them, and my best girl Sparkle is ready!
Thank you Keisha Komschlies for the pretty Schedule below. David Hawley's USO App is a lifesaver for this event! The only guaranteed times are at the start of the day. Often this event runs early. There are 6 rings so pay attention to the jump height and ring # listed below if you want to catch us!
*Kaleo will be running with our good friend David, he is also a 20” dog and will run in the same rings as Scorch.

https://www.4leggedflix.com/live-stream

11/09/2025

All day everyday- Teamwork over titles!

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗦𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲

TITLES v. TEAMWORK

I see it all the time and if I’m honest, I’ve felt it myself too when I first started agility back in the late 1990’s. That little thrill when you come off a run resulting in a “Double Q.” That rush of pride when your dog achieves a new title. That moment you think, “We’re getting closer to that championship!”

It’s exciting. It’s validating. It’s motivating.

But there’s another side to that feeling. One that quietly affects how we train, how we handle our dogs, and even how we feel about agility itself. My first MACH back in the early 2000’s suddenly shifted my perspective of how I looked at training and agility. I started to see another psychological side to all of this.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗟 “𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵” — 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗜𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗦𝗼 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹

When we earn a Q, a QQ, a title, or a ribbon, something very real happens in our brains. The dopamine system lights up. It’s the same neurochemical response triggered by any form of achievement, but it’s also the same reward loop that fuels addiction.

Every time we walk out of the ring with a clean run, our brain gives us a hit of dopamine. That little surge of “YES!”that feels so good. And just like any good feeling, our brain wants more of it. So, what do we do? We enter another trial. We plan another weekend away. We chase the next title, the next run, the next chance for that same emotional high.

It’s not weakness. It’s neuroscience. This is the same loop a gambler experiences pulling the slot handle. Win or lose, the possibility of winning keeps the brain chasing the next pull. For us, it’s the possibility of that next clean run, or QQ, or the next big title. And just like with gambling, when the focus becomes the high, the foundation, the patience, the training process, the quiet work needed to become better, starts to fade into the background.

That dopamine hit of a clean run can start to overshadow the real heart of the sport; training, teamwork, and growth.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝘆

When ribbons become the goal, training often takes the back seat. We stop investing time in foundation work or skill building exercises because it’s not “trial exciting.” We even skip strength and conditioning sessions (if it is done at all) because we’re rushing to the next event. Sigh

We run even when something feels off in our dogs or ourselves, because we’re so close to that next title.

But every great run, every consistent performance, every confident, joyful dog you see out there, they are all built on quiet, deliberate, unglamorous training days. Those sessions where you work on start lines or contacts, those hours cuing a better turn, those walks where you’re conditioning your dog and strengthening its core instead of chasing another ribbon.

That’s where the magic really happens. That is what my first and last MACH taught me.

𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

This isn’t about guilt, it’s about awareness. We’re all wired to want progress and recognition. But imagine if we redefined what “winning” means in agility. So what if:

�A win was your dog holding a perfect start line with confidence.
�A win was running a course with trust and flow, regardless of the Q.
�A win was prioritizing your dog’s physical and mental wellbeing over another trial weekend.

I actually think the most people subconsciously KNOW this but unfortunately consciously forget.

And this is the biggest take away for me. This is what I found on the other side of my first MACH....

ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴄᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴡᴀʀᴅ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇꜱ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʀᴀɪɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ɪɴᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ. ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʟᴀʀɪᴛʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪʙʙᴏɴꜱ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴏᴀʟ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʏᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴛ ᴏꜰ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʀᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ ᴍɪɴᴅꜱᴇᴛ.

𝗠𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗬𝗼𝘂

Next time you feel that tug to sign up for “just one more trial,” pause and ask yourself: “What do I really want more of? Titles or teamwork?” Because I promise when you focus on the process, the ribbons will follow. And when they do, they’ll mean so much more.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you ever feel that pull toward the next title, even when you know more training time would help?

10/25/2025

It's been several days since Bodhi left me, now I have the strength to share his memory. Thank you so much to Sandra Z. Bourdeaux for the beautiful video she put together for me in his memory 💕❤️🥹 Video link below
https://youtu.be/HjDiC_UG89A?si=Ew24SZEd_9lD1dsl
Bodhi
04/12/2011- 10/19/2025
MGAS Bodhi, AX, AXJ, XF, CGC, RSE, JSE, GSO, DNA-VP,
Bodhi was more than a dog—he was a steadfast companion, teacher, protector, and the heart of a journey that spanned over 14 years.
How do I sum up 14.5 years with my best boy, my Novice A dog in a paragraph?
As much as I knew it was coming, I was still not ready.
Bodhi was a friend to all that met him. I am grateful that many of his friends came to say their good-byes in the last weeks. He was an amazing ambassador for the Aussie breed, in our time together he never put a paw wrong, he always gave me everything he had and taught me how to dream even when some said we shouldn’t or couldn’t. He was forgiving when I made mistakes and, in the beginning, there were many. When I lost my mother, he was my rock. When I had a traumatic cervical injury, he was my rock forcing me to get up and keep going during recovery. When I had to leave NY and start all over in MD after what I thought was supposed to be forever, he stayed tight to me, licked my tears and nudged me to keep going. Bodhi helped me navigate a new community of agility friends, helped me start my kennel by siring some amazing dogs. Bodhi introduced me to my first real agility friend Maria Barnum- Thank you Maria for educating us back then!! As nice of a dog as he was, in his younger years, he was protective of me. The only time he ever was wary of a person was when we were in downtown Baltimore alone together, when he alerted with a low growl to a strange person on the street who was following us. I am glad I trusted him that day. Bodhi was forgiving and accepting of all the puppies and guest dogs I brought into our home. He was a great pack leader, leading by example, appropriate when necessary but always kind to guests that stayed with us. He loved my sons, and anyone that was in his circle. He particularly loved his Aunt Robin & Uncle Skip at Stoney Acres when he would stay for short periods when his girls were in season. Bodhi was always the first dog I had potential puppy owners meet, I knew they would be hooked once they met him, he was such a good boy! He was even a demo dog and school master helping to teach dog training and agility to my students. I will always regret not competing him to his full potential, however instead his role turned more to teaching me new skills to help my future agility dogs. Bodhi sired well rounded pups that are still working as Therapy dogs, Dock Diving, Agility, Rally/Obedience, scent work and all-around amazing family dogs. Bodhi was the quiet presence in my background that I always knew I could count on, and now he is gone….
I am eternally grateful for all the dogs Bodh sired, as well as some of my best dogs, Dazzle, Cherry, Wabi Sabi, Kaleo, Grandpa to Gimme & Rev and so many more!
I hope you will be waiting for me and that you find Dazzle across the Rainbow Bridge. I love you always and forever my Bo-Bo ☹
Thank you to all my friends and family for your support and love for my bestest boy

Bodhi was more than a dog—he was a steadfast companion, teacher, protector, and the heart of a journey that spanned over 14 years.__________Bodhi was more th...

10/13/2025

Thank you to Kathleen Wright for allowing me to breed my Cherry to Punch in 2024. This litter has just started to compete in agility. (All from this litter went to sport homes & 1 tberapy dog). From everything I have heard from owners and seen from the pups local to me, I think we have some superstars in the making!
Today my SUPER 🌟 Baby Rev` ran her first ever "real " run in UKI Novice Speedstakes at 7.1 yps!! Her first run we did as NFC (Not for competition) . Both runs were stellar, FAST, tons of distance driving the lines, no off courses! Her only mistake was a dropped bar which I take the blame for. I was far behind and had to cue a rear cross (which we have NOT trained!) She headchecked me and dropped the bar BUT continued forward to drive to the tunnel, good girlie! I am so blown away with what she is showing me! At barely 16 months and over 7 yps look out ! she will only get faster!
(For our non agility friends YPS- yards per second is the speed of the dog covering ground over obstacles. 7 yps is at the Top of the chart, you don't see many 7 yps dogs. Agility is about skill & speed, running clean with no errors as fast as they can. There is alot more to agility than just dogs jumping plastic- so many variables in handler speed, teaching dogs verbal vs physical cues, choices of this or that against speed and so much more. Its definitely not a sport for the faint of heart 🤣

Rip & Orca were equally awesome in their SS runs
I am so in love with Rev & the pups in this litter! I am definitely breeding Cherry back to Punch in January so if you are considering a puppy please contact me to get on the list now. I already have deposits for this litter!
*also Gimme to Scorch around same time in January, list also started.

10/08/2025

NEW Fall 2025 Class Schedule - https://mailchi.mp/8d6c4f293ce5/new-fall-schedule Something for everyone, Manners/Tricks & More; Agility Foundations; Agility Skills/drills, Advanced International Coursework; Wicked Weaves, Contact Proofing; Recall Field Trip Classes! Come play with us

10/07/2025

THIS!! M Squared dogs are a true testament to the H360 program!

10/01/2025

Paws & Pints Spooktacular - https://mailchi.mp/073dc6cc36e0/paws-pints-spooktacular
Save the Date! 11/1/25
Doggie Costume Contest, CGC/Trick Testing, My Dog Can Do That!; Tunnel and Weave Contests, 50/50 Raffle and More!