Course Details
One of the biggest challenges handlers face is that their dog works beautifully in practice but falls apart in the ring. More often than not, the issue isn’t training the skills themselves—it’s how we’ve taught reinforcement. If your dog expects cookies to come right away and directly from you, the ring can feel like a totally different world.
In this presentation, we’ll dig into the concept of delayed reinforcement and show you how to systematically build the skills your dog needs to succeed in competition. You’ll also learn how to create clear end-of-run routines that give your dog confidence and predictability in the ring.
You’ll learn how to:
* Introduce delayed reinforcement in a way that’s clear and stress-free
* Build your dog’s stamina and confidence when rewards aren’t immediate
* Teach practical games that expand reinforcement delays
* Create predictable end-of-run rituals that tell your dog when reinforcement is coming
* Troubleshoot common problems like sniffing, quitting, or over-arousal
Whether you’re preparing for obedience, rally, agility, or other sports, these strategies will help your dog understand that reinforcement is coming—even if it isn’t right away. By teaching these skills, you’ll prevent the practice-to-ring disconnect and build a dog who can work confidently and consistently from start to finish.
About the Instructor:
Nicole Wiebusch CPDT-KA (she/her) has been active in dog sports for over 25 years. What began with 4-H quickly grew into a lifelong passion for dog sports. Her first golden retriever, Tucker CDX RAE MX MXJ, was her “crossover dog”—the one who showed her the power of positive reinforcement training and set the foundation for everything that followed.
Her second golden retriever, Toby, became an extraordinary partner, earning multiple high-level titles across sports. In obedience, Toby achieved a UDX2 and OM3, retiring just 30 points short of an OTCH (Obedience Trial Champion) due to physical limitations. He also earned an RAE in rally, won the large Advanced Rally classes at two different Golden Retriever National Specialties, and collected numerous High in Trial and High Combined awards along the way. Toby, who passed in 2021 at 15 years and 8 months, taught Nicole to embrace the joy of the journey and never failed to make her laugh in the ring.
Nicole’s third golden, Strive, is her first female and a true standout. She is a member of the Golden Retriever Club of America’s (GRCA) Obedience Dog Hall of Fame and a RACH (Rally Champion) with many High Triples and High Combineds to her credit. Strive also produced an outstanding litter that earned her the GRCA Outstanding Dam title. Today, she happily trains and competes with Nicole’s oldest daughter in rally, obedience, agility, and 4-H.
Excel, Strive’s puppy and Nicole’s fourth golden, earned his RACH in 2024. He has been a teacher in his own right, helping Nicole refine her understanding of life skills, reward markers, and the importance of relaxation in training. Nicole recently handed over Excel’s leash to her youngest daughter, who now happily competes with him in 4-H, rally, and agility.
Rise is Nicole’s youngest golden. He earned his Trick Dog title at 16 weeks and is currently training for obedience, rally, and agility.
In 2008, Nicole founded Golden Paws Dog Training LLC, where she teaches both pet owners and dog sport enthusiasts using positive, reward-based methods. She has been an instructor at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA) since 2019, teaching obedience, rally, and foundation classes. In addition, she is a CPDT-KA, a Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog evaluator, a Professional Member of the APDT, and leads her local 4-H Dog program.
Nicole lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, three children, five dogs, and four horses. When she’s not training dogs, she enjoys hiking, photography, and spending time with her horses.
