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

Imposter syndrome hits all of us at some point, making us feel less-than or unworthy. Because I know how you like lists (ha), I’ve got 5 common sources and 5 things we can do when imposter syndrome starts invading our thoughts and beliefs. Donations & contributions via Venmo: Username JulesBacs. Email DogQCoach@gmail.com . Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! h...

Triggers come in all forms. It can be a particular sequence, or a location, or just the right set of circumstances that send you into a bit of a tizzy. These types of triggers evoke memories of mistakes and mis-cues making us nervous and even fearful of making the same mistake. But what if we could make those triggers work FOR us? It’s possible! Donations & contributions via Venmo: Username Ju...

People tend to think of boundaries as defensive and largely negative. I disagree. I think that deciding what is in and out of your sandbox is not only important self-care but ideal for creating our best competitive mindset. With good boundaries we can feel more secure and confident - who doesn’t want that?! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacof...

Cara and I both lost girls (dogs!) recently and it rocked us as grief can. We both believe that as a community we don’t always talk about grief, and if we do, we don’t do it so well. So today we face grief head on and give all of us permission to walk through our unique grief journeys in whatever way we need to. Want more of Cara? Her podcast is Startline Podcast and she can be found on all the us...

Handlers have practically yelled, “BUT HOW DO I GET INTO THAT FLOW AGAIN?! I WANT THAT!!” Getting into the “flow state” is pretty magical yet it’s equally as frustrating if we are unable to duplicate the moment when we want to. The good news is we can learn to get ourselves back into flow so we can compete at our best. Like everything, it’s going to take a little practice! Really like this episode...

A handler told me in a coaching call that she felt like she was getting passed {by another team}. I felt that to my core. It’s so easy to look around and feel like we are getting passed by other dogs or handlers. Yet when viewed through the right lens, comparison can work for us and help to fuel our goals. Let’s get a new perspective for the new year! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a co...

We are kicking off Season FOUR (wow!) and 2024 with a bit of a common resolution: fitness. But as always, we have our own hot take on handler fitness so I brought in Liz Joyce whose Canine Handler Fitness has been helping handlers get stronger and faster. Good news! It’s not about weight! It’s about having the speed, strength and stamina to do what we do - from moving crates in and out of the buil...

We want to believe there will come a time when pressure doesn’t exist, but that’s just not true. The good news is we build a tolerance to pressure and other things that make us nervous. What trips us up now is different than what undid us in year one, for example. But we can learn to perform alongside pressure and even use it to our advantage! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or...

I’m kinda obsessed with our energy. Talking about energy used to be considered “out there,” but there’s enough science now to know that the energy we bring to the table really does affect everything around us - especially our dogs. And the same is true for them - their energy runs up the leash as well. Listen on my take about energy and why I now set energetic goals. Really like this episode? Say...

We love lists, don’t we? Probably why this episode was so popular. These aren’t necessarily “hacks,” but this episode talks about five things you can do to strengthen your mindset and improve your mental game. They also just happen to be the most popular themes in my coaching and membership. Commit to these five practices and you’re confidence and consistency will improve! Really like this episode...

This was my personal favorite this year. I had been wanting to do this interview ever since I read Beth Anstandig’s book, The Human Herd. In the introduction, Beth talks about how we “settle in” and it applies so much to humans AND our dogs that I just had to talk to her for the pod. We also go to some cool other places so plan to listen to this one a couple times!! Beth’s book is available on Ama...

This was my most listened to episode in 2023 and with good reason! Fellow podcaster Cara Armour joined to help us link the other side of stress - our dogs. Understanding our dogs and what they’re telling us is critical to finding the right solution and for us to choose the right response. We are two beings on a team heading into the ring each carrying our own story of what’s happening. It’s time w...

Our ring nerves originate from many possible sources - some of which we will uncover. But no matter the origin, ring nerves can get in the way of us performing at our very best. Learn the source, what happens in our bodies, and what you can do to minimize the kind of stress that’s between you and your desired Qs. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buy...

While it’s cozy in our comfort zones, we don’t get better hanging out there. We need to find reasons - and motivation - to leave our comfort zones in favor of growth and achieving big things. If you have a BIG goal, you’re first going to need to get comfortable being uncomfortable while finding inspiration all around! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://ww...

Since last week had such a big response - and a lot of unanswered questions - I am bringing in a fun expert to help us out! Lizzie Larock is a leader in positive psychology and she just happens to know our handler audience quite well. Lizzie shares a model for fun that may just help us enjoy ourselves a bit more this weekend. You can find Lizzie at TheLifeFeast.com and listen to her podcast as wel...

It may seem crazy, but a LOT of handlers have a very hard time defining “fun” both in their dog lives and their non-dog lives. It turns out, “fun” is a very subjective thing and a bit more complicated and nuanced than you might expect. Still, we say we want our dogs to have fun and profess that we want to have fun, but is anyone having fun?? Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or sl...

In the wake of an incident that happened at an agility trial, social media is buzzing! But rather than comment on the incident, I’d rather turn our attention toward how something like this can affect our mindset and how we show up as handlers in our respective sports. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question for me?...

We are really good at seeing how stress and energy shows up in our dogs - often in non-desirable ways - but we are less adept and seeing that behavior in ourselves. Let’s face it, we need to give energy an outlet or it will find one even if that means scouring the city looking for a dog toy! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoac...

If you’re listening then you are on a journey to improve your performance in the ring. Yet often, when we decide to improve, we seem to have more challenges pop up - in other words, the game gets a lot harder. It’s not your imagination. When we decide to level up, the universe delivers more challenges that will (eventually) make us better handlers. But growth can be painful! Really like this episo...

Expectations are really outcome goals in disguise. They sneak in all logical and rational but often leave us frustrated and disheartened. We think having patience is the answer - especially with young dogs - but that’s only part of the solution. Let’s uncover why expectations are so darn tricky. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theq...

When we come back to our sport after an injury or rehab, we bring a lot of baggage with us. We doubt our ability to perform and worry that the injury will reoccur. We are also “rusty,” and it takes a while to get our groove back. At the root of all of it is fear, so let’s address that and get you back in the ring! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.bu...

OMG we are so hard on ourselves! But when we get down on ourselves too much, we aren’t honest about our true progress. This month in the membership we’re diving dep on how to measure more honestly and therefore build your confidence instead of destroy it. Here’s an overview of the month which I hope will help you measure honestly. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizz...

Sometimes life bites us in the butt. Our dogs can’t continue in the sport we both love, an injury derails our plans, or some other unforeseen circumstance forces us to give up on a goal. It’s grief and it sucks. Let’s dive into this yucky topic together and come out with some strategies to help. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theq...

Sure, a solid performance mindset is made of a lot of skills, tools, and experience. But of all of them, I put resilience at the tippy-top. Success is not a straight line (duh!) so we are constantly facing something and getting through it, or getting frustrated and having to work through it. Without resilience, getting to the other side is a LOT harder. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a...

While I think the ego is generally misunderstood, it is quite tricky in how it sneaks into our mindset - and not in a good way. Whether it’s trading our process goals away or comparing our journey to another’s, the ego can derail our plans. Luckily, recognizing this is the first step to getting that ego under control! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://ww...