March 31st, 2025

A Date with Trust

I trust you.

You trust me.

What a beautiful relationship that could be.

Max and Addi reading a book on November 27th, 2021

But trust doesn’t just happen. What if I say something, make a promise—even to myself—and then forget? Or back out when things get inconvenient? Can I trust myself to hold the line, to uphold boundaries, even when it’s uncomfortable?

Structure is not the same as routine. I work hard to clearly communicate what I expect from my girls. So when the moment comes to put my foot down—to say “knock it off”—they don’t look at me sideways, wondering if I’ve lost my mind.

I need my dogs. I need them to handle sheep, to settle at home, to stay calm on 18-hour drives. I need them to trust me. And that means I must show up with consistency, fairness, and leadership—every single day.

I will always reinforce behaviors, no matter how mundane they seem. Because when life gets chaotic, I want my dogs to follow me—not out of habit, but out of trust.

Happy continued training!

Addi and The Girls