They trained the patterns. They practiced the skills. But the moment they entered the ring… it was like the dog disappeared.

If you’ve ever experienced this — or watched it happen — you’re not alone. And there’s a reason behind it.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on my return to the sport of obedience with Eden and Bachelor, and what it’s revealed about the overlap between performance and behavior. Because the more I work with dogs across both worlds, the more I see it:

Obedience and behavior are not the same thing.

And if you try to use obedience to fix behavior, it almost always falls apart.

But when you bring behavior work into obedience? That’s where things start to shift.

We’ll talk about high-drive sport dogs who crumble under pressure, the myths around “ruining” drive, and how teaching dogs to regulate, recover, and stay in their bodies is the key to making performance sustainable — and real.

And I’ll share a bit about my own life off the training field, too… including the moment I realized I needed to return to therapy for the same reason I teach dogs to self-soothe: because without regulation, nothing sticks.

Tone: Grounded, personal, quietly powerful

For: Sport handlers, pet parents, and anyone trying to hold it together under pressure

CTA: If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review — it helps more than you know.

🎧 Listen and subscribe: https://pod.link/1792032288

🌐 Learn more at karisolbergcanine.com

📸 Follow on Instagram: @karisolbergcanine

Some seasons ask for planning. Others ask for presence. And sometimes—like now—they ask for both.

In this real-time minisode, Kari shares what it feels like to be in that in-between space: full of to-dos, anticipation, and reminders to slow down long enough to feel the joy that’s already here. It’s a quiet reflection on timing, trust, and learning to stay grounded when life feels like it’s speeding up.

Because joy isn’t waiting on the other side of the checklist—it’s found in the pause, in the breath, and in the moment you choose to come back to yourself.

✨ If this episode resonates, please share it, leave a review, or tag Kari on Instagram — @lifelessonsfromdog or @sunmtnmalamutes. Every share helps new listeners find the show and keeps these stories reaching more dog-loving hearts.

🎧 Listen and subscribe: https://pod.link/1792032288
🌐 More at karisolbergcanine.com/lifelessonsfromdog

Sometimes, the only way forward… is slower than you planned.

In this first episode of a multi-part arc, I share the story of Roo — a highly trained dog whose emotional intensity required something deeper than obedience. What began as a standard board and train quickly turned into a lesson in presence, patience, and trust.

You’ll hear how Roo’s shutdown at drop-off forced me to throw out the plan entirely. How a bath, a muzzle, and a late-night moment shifted everything. And how the tiniest gesture — a paw on my arm — became the start of something bigger.

This episode isn’t just about a dog who needed something different. It’s about what happens when we stop measuring progress in reps and start noticing the moments that land — the ones that build connection, even in stillness.

🎧 Tone: Quiet, layered, intuitive

🔗 Let me know what questions you have about Roo — we’ve only just scratched the surface.

Subscribe anywhere you listen → https://pod.link/1792032288

Visit my website → karisolberg.com

Follow on IG → @karisolbergcanine