April 2nd, 2025

Purposeful

When I train my dogs, I usually start by letting them move freely. I watch and see what shows up—what needs work that day. That method isn’t for everyone, and especially not ideal when practicing recall.

Addi and Rylee on the terrace on March 21, 2021

So what if I trained purposefully for just 5 to 10 minutes a day? I’d grab a long lead, pick one thing to focus on—maybe recall, maybe heeling—and keep it simple.

Let’s say recall. What kind of recall do I expect? Personally, I want my girls to turn on a dime when I call. How do you get there? The smallest, clearest, most consistent steps. And lots of them.

For us, it took years. Minute details, endless repetition. Practice, patience, and yes, some frustration. The border collies picked it up quickly. The terriers, not so much. But we got there—together.

Now, I train on purpose. I pick my topic. I train. And I enjoy the process.

Mastery isn’t the goal. The journey is. And if you keep raising the bar, the relationship you build with your dog is second to none.

Happy training.

Addi and The Girls