12/09/2025
Hey everyone — it’s been a minute, and I want to start by saying thank you for sticking around even though I haven’t posted in a while.
The last few months have been full in the best (and busiest) way. Between club events and starting search and rescue training with Ranger, things have been moving fast. But more than anything, I’ve been focusing on learning. I’ve been incredibly lucky to find an amazing mentor, Angela from Cottonball Canines, who has graciously taken me under her wing. I’ve already learned so much from her, and I’m genuinely excited to keep growing and pushing myself as a trainer.
As many of you know, my long-term goal has always been to work with working dogs. Stepping into search and rescue feels like a huge first step in that direction. The skills I’m learning apply far beyond SAR, and I can already see how they’re shaping me into a better, more adaptable trainer overall.
Looking into the new year, my goal is to start expanding into more specialized training and finally bring retail into the business — something I’ve been working toward behind the scenes for a while.
I also want to share something a little more personal, because nothing shows progress like being honest about the struggle. Most of you know Ranger as my recreational sled dog. One thing we seriously struggled with was helping him understand the difference between pull and walk nicely. I had been working on it for quite a while using what I’d learned in school and at PetSmart, and honestly… it just wasn’t clicking.
I did a session with Angela, she showed me an approach to try — and it worked immediately.
To be clear, I have trained a solid heel before. Sergeant was proof of that. But what I love (and sometimes hate) about dog training is that every dog is different. What works beautifully for one dog might completely flop with another. A perfect example: I spent 15 minutes trying to teach Ranger a pivot on a bucket in front of a panel of badass working dog trainers, and he absolutely refused to do it. One of my other mentors suggested a different approach — and it worked instantly. I went home all excited to try that same method with Sergeant… and it didn’t work at all 😂 He did just fine the original way Ranger hated.
That’s why learning matters so much to me. The more tools I have, the better I can help dogs who don’t fit neatly into one method or one system.
Below is a before-and-after clip of Ranger’s heel. It’s not perfect — but it’s progress, and it’s real.
Thanks for being here and supporting Coulee K9 as it grows and evolves. More to come.
