Level Up is back this Saturday (plus a few honest admissions)
The photos I promised, what's changing at Level Up, and a question I'd love you to answer.
G'day,
As promised, you're getting the first look at the photos from the working dog school I attended in September at Peacocks Kelpie Stud near Seymour. Before they go anywhere else, I wanted you to see them.
A weekend among the sheep
The plan was to take Bim. I'd booked her in months ago, and I was looking forward to watching her do what she was bred for. But as the weekend got closer, it became clear she was still too sore to work for two full days. Taking her along and then asking her to sit on the sidelines while other dogs worked sheep would have been its own kind of torture for a kelpie. So she stayed home. I'm told she was a little quieter than usual while I was gone, which I've decided to take as a compliment.
Turbo came instead, and spent a good part of the weekend in his crate. That wasn't a punishment. He can look like a confident dog, but new places and a yard full of excited, barking kelpies are a lot for him. His crate gave him somewhere to come down from it all, and within minutes of being tucked away, he'd be snoozing and breathing easy. I did see a flicker of something when he was near the sheep, so there may be a little herding dog in him yet. There's some muzzle training to do first, just in case.
I spent most of the weekend with a camera in my hands, and I loved every minute of it. The shearing shed was my favourite place to shoot. The light through those old timber walls, the sheep packed in the pens, the dogs working across their backs. It's the sort of place that makes you slow down and look properly.
I also had the chance to work a few other people's dogs, which is one of the quickest ways I know to stay humble as a trainer. One dog, Chloe, is very much her owner's girl. Bec had to hide out of sight during the session, and even then Chloe knew perfectly well she was somewhere nearby. Working a dog you don't know reminds you how much of training sits in the relationship, not the commands. It was a good challenge and a good lesson to bring home.
Level Up Group Classes are back this Saturday
Level-Up Dog Training Classes
Our Level Up classes start back this Saturday, [date], at [time] at [location]. If you've been before, you'll know they've been fairly relaxed, with not a lot of structure or planning behind them. That's changing.
I'm currently building proper levels, with set exercises and assessments, so you'll be able to see where you and your dog are and what you're working towards next. There'll also be a few small changes to how the classes run, including clearer guidance on what happens if the weather turns, when to arrive, and what gear to bring.
None of that will be ready by Saturday. My brain is fighting me hard on this one, because I'd much rather wait until every piece is in place. But I keep hearing that you shouldn't wait for something to be perfect before you start it, so we're starting. You'll see the new structure come together over the coming weeks, and I'd love your feedback as it does.
Something new on the way
I'm also working on bringing a physical products store to the website. It's early days, and I'll share more once I'm happy with what's going on the shelves. More on that below, because I'd like your help with it.
An honest note from me
One of the bigger realisations I've had over the last month or so is that I've let AI tell me how to run my business. I'm still not entirely sure how it happened, but somewhere along the way I stopped trusting my own direction.
When I rebranded from Whispering Peaks Dog Training to The Holistic Dog Method, I had two clear reasons. I wanted a business that could reach people beyond my own district, online as well as in person. And I didn't want to focus only on the dog's health and training. Personal growth matters a great deal to me, and part of THDM has always been about the human end of the lead. Somewhere in the busyness, I drifted from both of those ideas more than I'd like to admit.
My endometriosis has also been affecting me a fair bit these last few months. I'm learning, slowly, that I need to look after myself and pace myself, in the same way I'd ask you to pace your dog. At the same time, this is my work and it needs to pay the bills. Finding the balance between those two things is my own little training project for the months ahead. Balanced dogs, happier lives applies to the people too, as it turns out.
Over to you
This is where I'd really value your help. Hit reply and tell me:
What would you like to learn more about with your dog?
What sort of content would you like to see more of, whether that's emails, videos, posts, or something else? Dog related or even my journey with my health or business?
What products would you like to see in the THDM store?
There are no wrong answers, and every reply lands with me personally. Your answers will shape what I build next, so it's made for you and your dog, not a formula.
Thanks for being here, and for walking alongside us.
Kirsty, Bim and Turbo ~ The Holistic Dog Method
The Holistic Dog Method
Balanced Dogs, Happier Lives
info@theholisticdogmethod.com.au
0447069210
© 2026 The Holistic Dog Method. All rights reserved.
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