As 2025 draws to a close, I find myself incredibly grateful for the opportunities this year has brought. This year has been full of meaningful work. I helped hundreds of families across the Iron Range strengthen communication and connection with their dogs. I also coached dog sports teams toward their goals and taught local 4-H youth how to train with kindness, clarity, and respect. As we head into our 18th year in business here on the Range, my commitment to improving relationships between dogs and their people remains stronger than ever.

Serving Dogs and Families on the Iron Range

Throughout the year, we continued to make improvements to our training facility to better serve our local clients. My assistant trainers, Angela and Teri, remain an essential part of the Golden Paws team. Together, we offered 14 Basic Manners classes and 7 Advanced Manners classes in 2025. We also refined our puppy training program, which is available year-round through open enrollment.

In addition, we offered a wide variety of specialty classes to support dogs and handlers at every stage. These included Canine Good Citizen, Dealing with Distractions, Agility, Rally, Tricks, and more.

Teaching Beyond Minnesota

Beyond our local community, I continued to teach students around the world through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Teaching alongside such an incredible group of instructors is always an honor. This fall, I also had the opportunity to teach at the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Training Camp in Maryland. Meeting online students in person and making new connections along the way is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do.

Our Dogs and Their Journeys

This year has been a quieter one on the dog sports front. My older dogs have completed their Rally Championships, and my youngest isn’t quite trial-ready yet. Strive, now 12½, continues to enjoy agility with my daughter Lexi. Thankfully, she has no idea she’s a senior. Excel, now 8½, is training and showing with my daughter Maddie, and I’m hoping to get both girls to more agility trials in the coming year.

Kyra, our nearly 9-year-old black Lab, is happily partnered with my son Levi. My dog Rise is approaching 2½, and we’ve been busy building solid foundations. I’m hopeful we’ll make our ring debut this year. Lexi also has a one-year-old yellow Lab puppy, Ripp, who is enthusiastically learning all the things.

Supporting the 4-H Dog Program

I remain deeply involved in the 4-H Dog Program. In addition to serving as our county’s dog leader, I am honored to sit on the State Project Development Committee. Our 4-H kids had an outstanding year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them. We took six kids and seven dogs to State. Together, they earned six Grand Champion titles, three Reserve Champion titles, and many blue ribbons along the way.

Watching these young handlers grow in skill, confidence, and connection with their dogs is one of the greatest joys of my work. Supporting these kids matters deeply to me. They are the future of our dog sports community.

To all of my clients, students, and families: thank you. Your trust, dedication, and support make this work possible, and I am truly grateful to be part of your journey with your dogs. I wish you and your dogs a wonderful year ahead, and I hope to see you in class—whether here at Golden Paws or online—very soon.

–Nicole