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

If you’ve ever needed to “break up” with an instructor, mentor, or other dog friend then you know the pain it can cause especially in the “small world” of dog sports! Sometimes a relationship evolves in a way it no longer serves or perhaps you’d just like some different instruction to add to your toolbox. Whatever the reason, it’s not as easy as breaking up with your hairdresser!! Really like this...

I’ve 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 Amazon and anywhere books are sold: The Human...

Who hasn’t been frustrated or felt like they will never “get it?” All of us (at least at some point!). But believing we are destined for a future of frustration and downward spiral not only is our fear talking, but also our fixed mindset - that sneaky voice that says we will never change. But just one little word can flip you from a fixed mindset back into a growth mindset, and that’s where the ma...

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 thanks with a coffee or slice of piz...

Recently something I heard broke my brain. “There’s a time to work on obedience, but there’s also a time to work on trust and confidence.” The reason it got me is that I have never looked at my upcoming week and said, “I need to set time aside to work on trust.” It’s interesting, so let’s talk about how building up our dogs helps us perform better. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffe...

Forgetting the course, getting distracted or not handling the whole course the way you planned may have its roots in one of two issues - mental stamina and ring nerves. Let’s unpack how each affects our performances so you can minimize the chances of it happening again! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question for m...

Having “other people” in our environment is a constant for many of us - certainly true at trials but also classes, appointments … But how do we “use” those people to our advantage and for inspiration? How can we learn, take motivation, and generally get better as a result of always being surrounded by others? Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeac...

Strangely, dog sports can be kinda lonely in that we’re all working on our individual “stuff” without anyone to bolster us or cheer us on. Well, I’m here to be your cheerleader and tell you how absolutely fabulous you are and that I’m proud of how far you’ve come! SHARE this episode with someone who needs a lift! Want another pep talk? Check out episode #65! Really like this episode? Say thanks wi...

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...

The concept of rushing or hurrying through your goals may seem strange, but likely we’ve all done it. It’s that feeling that we just want a particular goal to be done. Or imagining what life will be like after the goal is behind us. Often it happens with stepping stone goals but it can also happen with any goal you’re ready to be over. Listen in for some ways to slow things down and get present. R...

This is a special episode as I have a guest! Fellow podcaster Cara Armour is on 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 we heard it from the dog...

So often the root of our mindset issues lies in what we believe about ourselves and the ways we spin ourselves up - the stories we tell ourselves hold a LOT of power! But unraveling and improving our self-talk can be some of the most impactful work we will ever do! So whether you have a “committee” in your head or a single limiting belief, we need to get to the bottom of it and replace it with a b...

A couple of recent examples have shown me that comparison often shows up wearing sheep’s clothing - that is, dressed as something else. Sometimes we even rationalize why comparing ourselves to another is a good thing (spoiler alert, it’s not). Let’s go through two specific examples of how comparison steals our joy and takes us off our own plan. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or...

Many sports have a walk-through of some sort. It’s that chance to create a plan and get up close and personal with the obstacles and sequences. But are you getting the most out of your walk throughs? Do you walk into the walk with your goals in mind? Or are you compartmentalizing? From my conversations with handlers, we can all be getting a LOT more out of this precious time! Really like this epis...

The fancy term would be neuropathways, but basically we want to have better responses to getting nervous or triggered by a situation. We want to use the feelings of getting nervous, for example, to remind us to do our breathing instead of making us think we will fail. Let’s flip the script in our brains for the better! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://w...

Many of us are superstitious about one thing or another - it’s how we grasp for predictability in an unpredictable world! And while for decades I considered myself a very superstitions person, I now have a different - and more empowering - take. Spoiler alert: It all comes down to our intentions and the stories we tell ourselves. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza...

My Q-Members will recognize this episode from our February lessons :) Everyone has trouble “bouncing back” from setback or disappointment - few of us just pop back up and carry on. In facts, we should be processing our “bummers” to see what we can learn instead of pretending they didn’t happen. In this episode I help you develop strategies to bounce back faster! Really like this episode? Say thank...

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? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacof...

Mental stamina is not a phrase I hear often but I think is crucial to being able to perform both for ourselves and our dogs. Normally we - and our dogs - develop it organically, but we can put a spotlight on it and get even stronger. Let’s jump in! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Got a question for me? I’m bringing back t...

If ring nerves are an issue for you then you might be nervous you’ll get nervous, which obviously only makes things worse. But it’s possible that you’re also excited - at least in part - and that could be contributing to how you feel before you walk into the ring. Let’s pull apart excitement and fear while showing why they are so closely connected in the body. Really like this episode? Say thanks...

There’s always a gap between who we are and who we want to be - in life or dog handling! And one fun way to bridge the gap is to image you’re the person already killing it! Whether you want superpowers or the voice of a generation, this is a mindset hack that truly helps! Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Don't forget, if y...

I know everyone wants a quick fix when it comes to slaying ring nerves, and while you’ll still need to practice the skills, I’ve got a few things for you to try this weekend! And if you want more on ring nerves, check out the following episodes. #88 - Where ring nerves come from. #83 - Cycle of ring nerves. #67 - Stress and ring nerves. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice o...

Whether you call it getting into “flow” or “the zone,” the result is the same - you are fully in the present moment and able to execute your plan. This is a coveted state and one we can learn to get into with more regularity and success. Don’t believe me? Listen in ;) Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Don't forget, if you w...

Most clients at one time or another tell me they want to have more/better connection with their dog. Yet, “connection” is really personal and means different things to different people. So what does connection mean for you and how can you use that to improve? Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach Don't forget, if you want more...

Ever have a surprisingly big reaction to something that happened in the ring? Like a minor mistake that causes a full meltdown? Been there! Sometimes circumstances “trigger” reactions that stem from previous experiences and can really mess up our mindset and make us question our training. Really like this episode? Say thanks with a coffee or slice of pizza! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/theqcoach D...