The Q Coach Pod | Mindset Coaching for Handlers with Julie Bacon

If you’re hungry to learn and level up your handling, you’re likely seeking out various instructors and experts to learn from. Seminars, online courses, group classes, private lessons, and even podcasts could be helping you OR making your brain swim in overwhelm. Being a total nerd myself, I will always advocate for the opportunity to learn, but there is such a thing as too much input especially i...

While there are a bunch of mindset skills in my proverbial toolbox, some are more often used than others. These are my five (plus one) go-to mindset skills which have become habits at this point. I absolutely use all of these at every single trial. LMK which ones resonate for you!! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a qu...

Let’s face it, things rarely go as we plan them. In these moments we can either have a complete meltdown or shrug it off and move to plan B (or C). While our responses are likely somewhere in the middle, we could all use to be a little more adaptable and accepting of the many variables in our trial environments. Here are five ways to get you started being more adaptable. Really like this episode?...

While so much of our performance mindset can be practiced without our dogs, sometimes we need the real thing - or as close as we can get. Finding ways to mimic the trial environment not only helps us, it also helps our dogs, AND it helps us understand how to respond to our dogs. In this episode I’ll share several ways you can mimic the trial environment or any environment that triggers you so you...

It turns out that going after a feeling is more powerful than pursuing an outcome (blame the researchers). We want a new van not because the seats fold flat but because of how it makes us feel - secure and safe, for example. This is true for our outcome goals, too - we want the title because of how we will feel when we get it. There’s also a “predictability factor” that plays a role. Let’s unpack...

I love watching elite athletes be elite. Regardless of the sport, watching people be amazing will never get old for me. The Olympic trials have been playing out across multiple sports and in addition to terrific performances, I am obsessed with their mindset habits. So obsessed, that I’ve made a list of seven habits I’ve observed that we can all adopt! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a c...

We fall into the comparison trap for all sorts of reasons. My latest opinion is that sometimes we compare ourselves to others because we require feedback - we want to see how we’re doing. Are we ahead? Behind? Should we be working harder? Dog sports can be lonely and lacking in feedback and comparison can fill that void - just not very well! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or sl...

I saw a post that reminded readers to “do it anyway,” and I knew I had to unpack that old adage. In short, I think this adage is skipping a lot of important details - after all we don’t just walk up to a cliff and jump without a parachute! No, there is much more to “doing it anyway” so let’s unpack that today. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymea...

I knew it would be a great conversation, but I had no idea that multiple-Westminster-winning, and podium-loving Cynthia Horner is such a devotee of the importance of a strong mental game! She had me at process goals. Fan-girling aside, listen to what Cynthia has to share about the importance of mindset when it comes to major competitions and why she wishes her dog “good luck.” Really like this epi...

I’m all excited to share a preview of my new class, “From good to grit.” This episode will give you an overview of what mental toughness is, how it’s different from grit, and why we need both to pursue the big goals we have for ourselves. I’m excited to talk about this topic and give you a preview into what will be a great course! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizz...

I posted a reel the other week that got a big reaction. It said that what’s making us nervous is our fear of repeating the past. This hit home with a lot of folks so I thought I’d unpack it this week and give you some ways to turn those thoughts to the positive! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question for me? Or a...

Logically, we all know that pushing ourselves to do harder things will make us better handlers, BUT it’s just so cozy in our comfort zones! Today I’m going to share seven things you’ll learn from pushing yourself PLUS five ways to make growth a habit! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question for me? Or a topic idea?...

The energy we bring when we compete or even pick up a leash is critical to our success. After all, our dogs are brilliant at picking up on our energy! Yet even with the best of intentions, “stuff” happens and we will find ourselves needing to get ourselves back in the right state quickly. This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership where we spent a month last summer getting our energy on point -...

We think we have to be motivated in order to pursue our goals, but that’s just not true. We need discipline when our motivation inevitably wanes. Motivation is emotional. Discipline is rational. Still, life is easier (and more fun) when our motivation shows up to the party. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question f...

Thanks to a question submitted, I bring you the full report of how Moxie did her weaves in public and what that meant for me in terms of mindset. Then I give you a new phrase to incorporate into your visualizing and general goals prep. You might be surprised to learn why it works SO well! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach G...

Let’s face it, we are not at 100% every single day - including trial days. For those days when you are just not feeling it, it’s okay to push through, but the best thing might be to simplify your goals and expectations. The same works if you (or your dog) is overwhelmed by an environment or otherwise can’t give it their all. Try it, you’ll like it! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffe...

Often the cause of our performance anxiety is fear of failure - not Qing, messing up in front of others, or even not being seen as “ready.” But what if we saw each time we walked into the ring as an investment in our future team? With this perspective, we literally cannot fail, we can only invest in our future. This is especially helpful for our young dogs or dogs having new experiences. Really li...

Of course we all have those days - the ones that make us want to throw in the towel or pick up a new sport. But sometimes, we end up in an emotional puddle because the events of the day were all just too much. In other words, we ran out of stamina and that run that usually wouldn’t affect us so much is giving us big feelings. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! ht...

This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership: Being able to bounce back, reframe, reset, recover … is critical especially when we have multiple runs in a day. We don’t usually have time to contemplate the “feedback” we just received in a run when we need to get back into the ring. Instead, we have to get really good at resetting our mindset so we can get back into the present and execute our next...

Running multiple dogs or running a new dog poses different challenges - one of them being figuring out your ideal energy level. Today’s topic comes from a client who is having trouble finding that same “oomph” for her young dog when there doesn’t seem to be anything on the line. Also, happy 3 year anniversary to this pod and THANKS for being on this journey with me! Really like this episode? Say t...

You might be surprised to learn that many Gold Medal winning Olympic athletes struggle with depression once the confetti has been swept up. Their whole lives were focused on that podium, but without a clear next step they spiral. Dog handlers do this too - we struggle with motivation once a dog has accomplished all we set out for them. What are we to do? I got you. Really like this episode? Say th...

This episode is pulled from the Q-Membership: The thing about self-talk is that our thoughts become our beliefs which become our actions which become our results. So, yeah, what we think about is REALLY important! We can’t be perfect all the time, but we can get faster at recognizing and reshaping our negative thoughts before they get out of control! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a cof...

I recently heard someone say “If you’re not getting the results you want, it’s because your intention doesn’t match your attention.” Whoa. That one hit me. It’s critical that we are giving our valuable attention - and energy - to what we want (alignment) instead of what we don’t want (like past failures!). Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoff...

We all have (multiple) limiting beliefs - those beliefs that affect the actions we take. And many of us have limiting beliefs that get in our way in the ring - yuck! Today we are going to uncover those nasty things and also share five ways to send those negative beliefs packing! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a quest...

There are times we should be “pushing through” and times we should be finding some balance. This is true not only for ourselves, but our dogs as well. Knowing when to push - when to dig deep - is crucial, and often we have to be our own cheerleaders. But knowing when to recover is equally important for ourselves and our dogs. Donations & contributions via Venmo: Username JulesBacs. Email DogQC...