Are You Ready to Win More Now?
Dec 30, 2025
The wrapping paper is in the trash. The decorations are getting a bit dusty and ready to pack back up for another year. You’re kind of over Christmas music right now.
And maybe you’re thinking about 2026 and your show-ring goals.
May I recommend adding some continuing education to your goals? Because the more you know, the better you’ll show. And the better you show, the more chance that you’ll win.
Yes, it IS just that simple. And there are a LOT of ways learn...continuing education can come in the form of
- finding a breed mentor – someone who’s been in your breed a long time and had a lot of success.
- apprenticing to a professional handler, learning the art of showing dogs from the ground up.
- reading a book of dog show success tips. (shameless plug – here’s a book filled with dog show success tips for you!)
- attending an online seminar. (shameless plug – I do monthly online seminars and there’s a sale going on that ends on 12/31/25 – grab this deal now!)
- attending live seminars and handling classes. (shameless plug – I do live seminars and handling classes too!)
Here’s some good advice from other great trainers:
- Lee Whittier - “Everything your dog learns is a trick you can use to teach stand-for-exam, show-the-mouth, movement and that enviable free-stack.”
- Michelle Santana - “Short, concise, fun training makes happy dogs — and happy dogs make enjoyable show dogs.”
- Norma Smith – “Pay attention to the length of your stride. Your dog matches what you do, so if you want long strides from your dog, you need to take long strides, too.”
There isn’t just one way to achieve your conformation ring goals. There are many different ideas on how best to each one thing or another. Each trainer has different experiences with different breeds and brings different perspectives to what and how they teach. Each dog learns in a different way, each handler hears things differently, and so it’s great to learn from more than just one person.
Learn from everyone, everywhere, all the time.
If you choose to learn from me, thank you and I’m honored to help you learn and grow. If you don’t choose to learn from me, I’m still happy to have you reading this and hope you’ll find a nugget now and then that you can use.
Because there IS one sure-fire way to torpedo your conformation ring goals – be that person who refuses to learn and grow and just complains and makes excuses when they don’t win.
Nobody wants to be that person, right?
