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September Newsletter • PSR Stockdogs
Your Journey to Herding Excellence Starts Here!
Fall is already upon us, and with it comes cooler mornings, crisp evenings, and plenty of opportunity to spend more time training with our dogs. The change in season is a perfect reminder to focus on foundations—just as the year shifts into a new rhythm, our herding dog training can too. By investing time now, both on and off stock, you’ll set the stage for steady progress through the months ahead.
Let’s face it—we spend far more time with our dogs off stock than we do working them on stock. Most of us live with our dogs 24/7. They share our homes and are part of our families. We cannot emphasize enough how much our training off stock impacts how our dogs respond and work with us when stock is present.
The key is layering training gradually: start by building foundation skills with your dog in low-arousal situations. Then add challenges, making it more difficult while ensuring your dog is always successful. This creates solid skills, deepens understanding, and builds a willing partner who truly wants to work with you.
If we encounter problems—such as not stopping, not coming when called, or failing to move off pressure—we don’t try to fix it in the stock arena. Instead, we step back and revisit those skills off stock, proofing behaviors in as many different contexts as possible. Think about it: if your dog can call off chasing a squirrel, they can call off stock.
Once those foundation behaviors are solid, returning to stock work becomes much smoother. This approach removes frustration, builds trust, and keeps progress steady—hallmarks of the PSR Stockdog Training philosophy and what we teach in our online stockdog program.
Conversations & Lessons to Guide Your Journey
Our Real Talk series features Dawna Sims and Megan Sims-Kennedy of PSR Stockdog Training in open conversations about handling, mindset, and life with dogs. These monthly discussions—released around the 11th—offer insight into both your dog’s instincts and your own approach as a handler.
Next Steps modules are released every other month, with the newest module launched on September 5th. These progressive lessons are part of our virtual working dog lessons collection, guiding you step by step as you build communication, control, and connection with your dog.
Both Real Talk and Next Steps are Full Member Exclusives—created to help you grow in confidence, clarity, and calm leadership as you develop your working partnership.
Recently released courses include:
- What You Need to Know for Herding Test Classes
- Know Your Breed: The Swedish Vallhund
See you next month, Dawna & Megan PSR Stockdogs
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