A 6-week online course for high-energy sport dogs and the handlers managing them.
This course is special to me as anybody who knows me - I have struggled with this with my dogs and nothing seemed to help. This sent me on a journey (still in progress) of understanding me and my dog as no amount of training seemed to help. We are still not there yet - my dogs are still crazy but also getting some brillant work. This course is a combination of all the things I have tried and learnt.
Investment: NZ$180 | 6-week course
Format: Online | Video lessons, written exercises, video submission, Zoom add-on ($20/session)
Is this course for your dog?
Your dog is not out of control. They are over threshold. And there is a difference.
Over-arousal in high-energy sport dogs is a common challenge and one that I have struggled with. But this struggle has taught me alot. The barking before the run, the inability to settle ringside, the moment at the gate where no amount of food or cueing gets through. Or like mine the dog who goes into sniffy, or zoomie mode in the ring. It is not a training failure. It is a physiological state, and it is workable.
From Fired Up to Focused is a six-week course built specifically for sport dogs and their handlers. Whether you compete in agility, obedience, flyball, or any other sport, if arousal management is your biggest challenge, this course is for you.
It is also useful for high-drive pet dogs who are not in sport but who tip into over-arousal in everyday life.
What we cover across 6 weeks
The science of arousal: what is happening in your dog's brain and body when they go over threshold
Reading your dog's individual arousal signals before threshold is reached
Building a genuine off-switch: the settle as a trained skill
Handler arousal management: your breathing, your body, and your role in the arousal loop
Impulse control games including the 1-2-3 game and the two-bowl game
Controlled arousal cycling: raising and lowering arousal deliberately
Building distraction tolerance systematically, from home through to venue
Venue warm-up protocols for training and competition days
How the course works
Each week new video content is released covering that week's concept, with full written game instructions in your participant workbook. The workbook is yours to keep and use alongside the videos throughout and after the course.
You can submit short videos of your training at any point and I will give you written feedback. Zoom calls are available as an add-on at $20 per session if you want real-time support or want to talk through something directly.
The course runs for six weeks. You keep access to all the material after it ends.
A note on the handler section
This course includes dedicated content on handler arousal management: breathing exercises, humming for vagus nerve activation, body scan and release techniques, and how to build your own pre-run ritual.
Handler arousal is contagious. A handler who arrives at the ring already regulated gives their dog the best possible start. This is not an afterthought. It is half the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: My dog is not a competition dog. Is this course still relevant?
A: Yes. The principles and games apply to any high-drive, high-energy dog who tips into over-arousal in stimulating situations. If your dog loses it at the park, at the vet, around other dogs, or in any situation where the environment gets too exciting, this course gives you a practical toolkit.
Q: My dog can work fine in training but falls apart at trials. Will this help?
A: That is exactly the pattern this course is designed for. The gap between training performance and trial performance is almost always an arousal and environment management issue. Week 6 specifically addresses the transfer from home and training to competition environments.
Q: Is this course suitable for dogs at the beginning of their sport career?
A: Yes, and starting early is an advantage. Building arousal management skills from the beginning of a sport career is much easier than retrofitting them later. The foundations work regardless of experience level.
Q: Will I need special equipment?
A: No. The games in this course require standard training equipment: treats, a mat or towel, a tug toy if your dog is toy motivated, and a long line. Nothing specialised.
Q: How is this different from general obedience training?
A: This course is specifically about the physiological and emotional state of over-arousal, not about teaching specific behaviours. You are not here to teach your dog to sit. You are here to teach them to regulate their own state and to give you the tools to support them in doing that. The behaviours you have already trained will work better once the arousal piece is sorted.
Q: The handler section makes me a bit self-conscious. Do I have to do it?
A: You do not have to do anything. But I would encourage you to try it. The connection between handler state and dog state is genuinely significant, and the tools are simple and practical. Most handlers who try the breathing work notice a difference quickly.
Q: How do I submit video?
A: Via a special facebook group. Short clips of your training sessions work well. I will give written feedback within a few business days.
Q: Is there a Zoom option if I get stuck?
A: Yes. Zoom calls are available as an add-on at $20 per session. If you want to talk through something in real time or want me to watch your dog live, get in touch and we can arrange it
