Ask the Trainer: Team USA Gold Medalist Tawni Millet

How do you know when your young dog is ready for a higher level of competition?

How do you know when a young dog is ready to move up to a higher level of competition?

Tawni: I think a lot of it depends on not just the individual dog themselves, but the handler/trainer as well. I tend to be a little slower at training my dogs when they are younger. But I focus on a lot of flat work and foundations as well as relationship building, and then I just go out and get some trial miles and see how my dogs handle the environment. I come back with a list of things to work on, as well as what I am proud of my young team for accomplishing. If things are going well, then I might start to consider international competition as one of my goals. I feel like all my dogs have always had the potential to be in the same spot at the same time, but sometimes life outside of agility has gotten in the way of progressing as quickly as I do sometimes. I’ve been lucky to be able to focus on a very good balance of training time with Dazzle as well as fun and relaxation time. But really, just listen to your dog. I think it’s clear what they’re telling you in terms of whether your team is ready or not.

Tawni Millet, a coach and trainer operating Livewire Agility near Murfreesboro, Tenn., has turned international competitions into a bit of a family affair, having competed on five world teams with her second agility dog, Jolt, and later representing the U.S. with Jolt’s daughter and son, Little Sparkle and Legendary. Tawni and “Little” earned multiple medals in 2019, 2022 and 2023, including the 2023 IFCS All-Around Championship; Tawni also earned gold with Legendary in Individual Gamblers (2023). This year, Tawni returns to the international stage with Little’s daughter, Dazzle, who has successfully competed at several regional and national events, including Cynosport^® 2023.