Does your dog struggle to focus on you, constantly distracted by the world around them? In this episode, I dive into the truth about dog focus and engagement — and why it’s not as simple as teaching eye contact or a sit-stay.

You’ll learn:

• Why focus is a decision your dog makes, not just a behaviour

• How engagement keeps your dog paying attention even with distractions

• The real role of motivation and food in building focus

• When and how to introduce real-world distractions without frustration

If you’ve ever felt like your dog chooses the world over you, this episode will give you practical insight and strategies to start turning that around — one choice at a time.

🎧 Plus, I’ll share details about my Free Training Week: Transform Your Dog’s Focus in Just One Week, running 20th–24th October, where you can learn step-by-step how to make focus a choice your dog wants to make.

Join us:

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/focusfreeweek

Book an assessment 1-1 with me, online or face to face

⁠https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/dog-training-assessment/⁠

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode of Border Collie Geek, Martina explores the realities of recall training when prey drive enters the picture. While many owners succeed with recalls in calm environments, things often fall apart the moment a dog spots a rabbit, jogger, or even a blowing leaf. Martina explains why this happens, how the prey sequence (staring, stalking, chasing) impacts Border Collies in particular, and what you can do to bridge the gap between your training and your dog’s instincts.

To listen lore about recall go to episode 15:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6WxypisiLCkz8j3xFSoHfm?si=JItgaIh-QIa2fHX-OCim-Q

Use £20 off for the first month of the Collie Club until the 30th of September 2025

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club?coupon=20offpodcast

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

Tali is officially one! In this special episode, I reflect on our first year together, from early bonding to breakthroughs in training, sensitivity challenges, sheepdog beginnings, and everything in between.

This isn’t just a personal story, it’s a deep dive into the three pillars I believe are essential in a young Border Collie’s first year:

1. Relationship – how connection lays the foundation for all future training

2. Confidence – why building emotional resilience matters more than flashy obedience

3. Foundation Training – what that really means (hint: it's not about precision or perfection)

I also talk about the realities of raising a sensitive dog who didn’t take treats, didn’t like luring, and shut down under pressure and how I adjusted my approach to meet her where she was.

Whether you’re raising a Border Collie puppy now, reflecting on your first year, or preparing for one in the future, I hope this episode offers perspective, reassurance, and practical ideas.

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, I dig into a training cue that's taught in nearly every puppy class, but often at the wrong time. We’re talking about “stay”and why I don’t teach it to young puppies.

Instead of pushing for stillness, I believe in building motivation, engagement, and joy in training first. I share my personal experiences with my own Border Collies and explain how I teach duration and impulse control in real-life, age-appropriate ways.

If you’ve got a young, high-energy dog and you’re struggling with training that feels too rigid or advanced, this episode is for you.

Want to learn how to teach Impulse Control Games? Join the workshop, for only £15 plus the recording of it, and it's online!

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/live-webinar/impulse-control-workshop/register

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, Martina Miradoli discusses the concepts of enrichment and fulfillment in the context of dog training. She explores what constitutes enrichment for dogs, the importance of their environment, and how to balance enrichment with fulfillment.

Join me live or get the recording for this special opening to the Collie Club live to non members!

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/live-webinar/the-dopamine-box-and-its-applications/register

Do you need help with your Border Collie? Book a Discovery Call:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠ Try it with 5 days free trial!

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, I chat with Clara Hewson about how muzzles can be a game-changer not just for safety, but for a dog’s quality of life. Clara shares her journey from dog rescue to designing colorful, welfare-first muzzles that help shift public perception. We dive into why proper muzzle training matters, especially for herding breeds, and how muzzles can support behaviour work, vet visits, and daily life.

Discount for Muzzle Movement Muzzles:

https://www.themuzzlemovement.com/discount/THAT'LLDOACADEMY?ref=Thatlldoacademy

Join my Online Workshop on The Dopamine Box

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/live-webinar/the-dopamine-box-and-its-applications/register

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

Have you wanted to try flyball but you have a lot questions? I ask them for you to Gemma!

You can find more about Gemma's training and reach her out to learn more about flyball on her Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557027566977

Want to join my sport obedience workshop:

https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/sport-obedience-workshop/

I'm excited to be able to offer you all my favourite toys into a bundle at a special price JUST FOR YOU, my podcast listeners! Follow this link to learn more and listen back to Episode 70 to learn more about how I use these toys in my everyday training with my dogs and my students

⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠

Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

Get in touch:

⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠

⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

To follow me on social media:

Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

In this episode, Martina dives into the complex relationship between dogs, especially Border Collies and household cats. Drawing from personal experiences with her own dogs, she explores the different ways obsession with cats can show up and how training and management can help shift those behaviours.

Key Takeaways:

• Managing dogs and cats together can be challenging without understanding their dynamics.

• Training should target impulse control and recall not just how the dog reacts to the cat.

• Every dog is different; training must be tailored to the individual.

• Effective training starts away from distractions like the cat.

• Martina shares real-life stories and lessons from her own dogs.

• New training programs are coming soon to help with recall, focus, and self-control.

• Do you want to know more about these courses? You have 24 hours to sign up using the code ACCELERATOR10 for a 10%

  https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/recall-accelerator/

  
  

  https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/focus-motivation-accelerator/

  
  

  https://thatlldoacademy.thrivecart.com/preydrive-impulsecontrol/

  
  

  We will be using Tug E Nuff toys so grab your bundle:

  ⁠https://www.tug-e-nuff.co.uk/pages/border-collie-geek⁠

  
  

  Book a Discovery Call with me, let's have a free chat about your dog and your training goals:

  https://calendly.com/martina-thatlldoacademy/discovery-calls

  
  

  Get in touch:

  ⁠⁠https://thatlldoacademy.com/contact/⁠⁠

  
  

  ⁠⁠Join the Collie Club, my Online Academy for Border Collie Owners!⁠⁠

  https://thatlldoacademy.newzenler.com/courses/the-collie-club

  
  

  To follow me on social media:

  Facebook : ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/ThatllDoAcademy/⁠⁠

  Instagram : ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/martina_bordercollie_geek/

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