That'll Do Academy - Martina Miradoli

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That'll Do Academy - Martina Miradoli

Helping Border Collie owners turn chaos into connection through training, education & support.
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From puppies to adult dogs, real-life advice from a trainer who understands the breed inside out. My job as a specialist trainer is to understand everything that happens into your dog's brain. I have owned Border Collie for 16 years training them in every possible way, for every day life and sports. I specialise in the crazy ones, that want to chase everything that moves and don't want to listen a

nd focus. Together we can improve your relationship for better lead walking, recalls, off lead time and in general a much more relaxed and happy life together. I work on 1 to 1 programs to concentrate on your needs and your dog problems and customise around each individual teams! Get in touch by complete the contact form on my website and I will get back to you to book a phone call! https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/

I'm based in Cheshire but I work remotely too.

18/09/2025

Learning from Mistakes — in Knitting, in Dog Training, and in Life

The first feeling we get when we realize we’ve made a mistake is usually defeat. That sinking thought: “I’ve done it all wrong.”
You want to cry. Or give up.

That’s exactly what happened to me last night. I was halfway through knitting a hat, working on a complicated stranded pattern in beautiful Shetland wool, my first time juggling five colors. I was confident I was doing it right… until I looked at the chart and realized I had swapped them. I was finishing the third chart in the wrong place.

My first thought? “That’s it. Months of work ruined. I’ll have to undo it all or abandon the project.”
And honestly, if I had undone everything, I probably would have given up completely.

But instead of collapsing into defeat, I took a breath. I looked back, reached out for help, did some research, and found a way forward. It turned out I didn’t need to throw away all that work, I could just undo the mistake and carry on.

And isn’t that just like dog training?

You think you’ve done your research. You’ve had dogs before. You’ve got your Border Collie puppy and you’ve planned it all out. And then suddenly, it all unravels. Things go wrong. You feel hopeless. You even wonder if maybe you should give up and re-home your dog to someone “better.”

But here’s the thing: once you reach out for help, once you get guidance and a clear plan, you start to see light at the end of the tunnel. You see improvement. You and your dog start working together again. And that moment feels like finally taking charge of the problem and turning it into progress.

In life, we learn through mistakes. It would be wonderful if learning came without them, but that’s not reality. Mistakes are part of the process for us, for our dogs, for anyone learning anything.

We need to be prepared not just to learn, but also to fail. Because failing isn’t the end, it’s just a step in the process. Even our dogs, despite our best efforts, sometimes fail in training. But those small failures are how they build resilience, new skills, and a deeper understanding of what’s being asked.

Every mistake brings us closer to mastery. At the start it feels discouraging. But over time, you realize mistakes aren’t the enemy, they’re the teacher. And when you embrace that, you stop fearing mistakes… and start using them to grow.

Ps: if you also need a hand with stranded knitting, reach out 😂 with this hat I have failed so many times I’m mastering the art!!!!!

16/09/2025

🎙️ Border Collie Geek Podcast is coming back! 🎙️

After a big break, I’m ready to bring the podcast back – and I want to make sure the episodes are truly useful for Border Collie owners like you. 🐾

This is your chance to get involved!
👉 What questions do you have about Border Collies?
👉 What behaviour, training, or breed topics would you love to hear covered?

You can ask something general about Border Collie behaviour and training, or even something specific about your own dog (just remember, if it’s about your dog, I’ll need lots of details to give a meaningful answer).

Your questions will inspire the next podcast episodes – and of course, I’ll share them here once they’re live so you don’t miss out. 💡

So tell me… what’s one thing about Border Collies you’d really love me to cover on the podcast?

15/09/2025

From the North West of England… what a day! 🌧️ If you’re brave enough to head out in this wind and heavy rain, you’re amazing! Personally, I don’t mind a bit of rain, but when it’s blowing sideways and you can’t even see where you’re going… no thank you.

That’s when indoor training becomes my best friend. And the best part? There’s so much you can do indoors with your dog!

✨ Here are just a few ideas:
1. Competitive obedience skills
• Heelwork and heel position
• Pivoting
• Distance control
• Stays
• Holding a dumbbell
• Target work
2. Trick training – fun and mentally stimulating.
3. Pattern games that make your walks easier.
4. Scentwork games to tire them out using their nose.
5. Fitness exercises to build strength and body awareness.
6. Movement puzzles and problem-solving games to get their brain working.

Rainy days don’t have to mean boring days. With just a little space indoors, you can keep your dog happy, stimulated, and learning.

12/09/2025

Kennels are struggling and are full. Before you think that rehoming your Border Collie because you struggle with them is the easiest choice, think twice.

Instead invest time and money in their training and give them the best life. Rescues cannot take any more, there are too many unwanted dogs out there.

10/09/2025

The number of times people come to me saying “we tried treats, but they didn’t work” is endless.

Whether it’s cars, other dogs, people, or anything else their Collie reacts to the story is always the same. And every time, I explain: it’s not the treat that changes the reaction.

A treat is just one of many tools we use to reinforce and maintain an alternative behaviour. The real work isn’t about distracting your dog in the middle of a meltdown, it’s about changing the patterns they’ve built over months or even years.

And changing those patterns doesn’t mean interrupting the reaction while it’s happening. It means building new habits and new responses first, away from the trigger, and then gradually reintroducing the challenge when your dog is ready.

That’s how real training happens. 🐾

👉 I can help you do this, I’ve done it hundreds of times with reactive dogs just like yours.

Book a Discovery call so we can have a chat about it, comment with CALL

08/09/2025

I hope to inspire my success with my own dogs and our journey through social media, blog and podcast to give you path forward. A way to see where your life with your dog could be if you put the work in.

No amount of work though will change what your dog is: a highly strong bred workaholic.

Kite is 20 months old and he is my shadow, my best bud, my team mate but what he is not, he is not a “pet”.

He has great skills that give him freedom, a temperament to die for (that’s genetic) and our relationship makes him easy for me to manage him as he WANT to do things for me.

The reason I’m writing this is a reality check for everyone. He hasn’t been done any sheep work for a couple of days and we haven’t done big walks either and he has only done some obedience training yesterday but probably not enough.
This morning i found his vetbed shred in bits and he is now going around the living room hunting spiders. He killed one and now he is looking for more 😂

I didn’t give him a job, he found himself two.

This is the reality of living with a Border Collie, bred to work, with a brain and body that has needs! He can settle, he can sleep all day if I ask him to… that’s not the point. The point is not how good he can behave if I ask him to, the point is what HE NEEDS. What your farm puppy NEEDS. What they have been bred to be.

This should be the reason to train them properly so they can be off lead and enjoy running, play a sport so they can use their brain and body, have time to take them for adventures, make their life fulfilling.

If you are there waiting hoping your puppy will grow out of being a Border Collie you might be disappointed one day.

Get training.
Get in touch.
Thatlldoacademy.com

07/09/2025

A member on my group asked me this question:

“At the moment, the dog training world can feel really confusing. There’s so much information out there, different opinions, different methods, and lots of debates about what’s right and what’s wrong. When you have a young or challenging puppy, it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out who to listen to and what advice to follow. Sometimes the advice online doesn’t cover important things, like how pain or stress can affect behaviour, and it’s easy to get lost in all the conflicting information.”

I completely understand that feeling. Social media has amplified it because anyone can share their views with a wide audience, and it’s hard for people to filter what’s accurate, relevant, or applicable to their own dogs. Some conversations about training are really important, but they’re often complex and should ideally happen between professionals who understand the nuances.

That said, here’s my take:

Even though social media can be a great place to showcase training and offer tips, at the end of the day, you have to trust your own instincts on a person method . If a method or piece of advice doesn’t feel right for you or your dog, it probably isn’t the right fit. You are the one living with your dog every day, you know what works, what your dog responds to, and what you feel comfortable applying.

When I choose trainers or techniques, I ask myself:
• Do I feel comfortable with this approach?
• Can I realistically apply it with my dog?
• Am I seeing real improvement with these methods?

Your judgement is what matters most. I can give guidance and suggestions, but you’re the one who knows your dog best.

That’s also why I use social media in a certain way. I share enough for people to get to know me and pick up small tips, but I don’t go too deep into philosophical videos or detailed techniques online. Complex topics need more space, explanation, and personalisation whether that’s in person, through a webinar, or via a structured course. Every dog is an individual, so what works for one may not work for another.

So yes, it’s a confusing space out there, but trust your instincts, observe your dog, and make choices that feel right for both of you.

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http://www.thatlldoacademy.com/

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