What's Stopping You?

I remember my first in-person lesson. I drove three and a half hours. I had no idea what to expect…or what to do.

I wound up running around in an arena, chasing after my dog, while listening to the instructor (now one of my best friends) shout out directions: “Go to your sheep!” “Stop him!” “That looks good.” 

What part?! 

At the end of…ten minutes?? My dog was stoked. I was hooked. And I was also pretty sure my lungs were bleeding from all that running in deep sand. 

That first lesson taught me something important: no matter how much you prepare, the real learning starts when you step in with sheep. And the first time, it feels overwhelming for almost everybody.

Over the years, I’ve noticed there are a few pinch points that nearly every new handler runs into. They’re not signs that you’re failing — they’re just part of the process.

• The “Out of Breath” Problem – You’re trying to be everywhere at once, and the sheep always seem one step ahead.

• The “Didn’t Hear a Word” Problem – Your instructor is talking, but all you can think about is your dog running circles and your brain running faster.

• The “That Looks Good…But Why?” Problem – Someone says “Good job!” but you’re not sure which part you did right, or how to repeat it.

• The “I Might Be Ruining My Dog” Fear – You care so much that when things go sideways, it feels like it’s all on you.

The Truth?

These pinch points are normal. They’re the growing pains of learning a brand-new skill — for both you and your dog. Nobody skips them.

And while they can feel frustrating in the moment, they’re also the very experiences that make you a better handler. You learn to breathe, to watch, to listen, to recover — one session at a time.

Final Thought

If you’ve been in an arena or round pen, gasping for air and wondering what on earth just happened — welcome to the club. Every single one of us has been there. And those “stopping points”? They’re not really stops at all.

They’re the start of the journey — the moments that take your breath away in more ways than one. As I always remind myself: “Enjoy the view while breath taking!” 😆

I’ve got some exciting things in the works that are going to help you with all of those stopping points and more. If you’re not already signed up, now’s the time — the signup form is just below.