The perfectionist's trap in dog sports

Are you a recovering perfectionist? Me too - welcome to the club. Many competitive dog handlers struggle with perfectionist tendencies—whether they realize it or not. And while striving for excellence is a great goal, perfection is a moving target that only leads to frustration.

The tricky thing is that perfectionism doesn’t always show up in obvious ways. It’s not just about wanting straight sits or clean runs. It can sneak into your handling, your training, and even your mindset in ways that actually make competing harder.

Hidden ways perfectionism affects performance

For many handlers, perfectionism manifests as:

• Ring nerves. If you feel overwhelming pressure every time you step to the line, it might be perfectionism whispering that anything less than flawless isn’t good enough.
• Over-preparing but never feeling ‘ready.’ You drill exercises endlessly, always convinced that you and your dog need just a little more work before entering a trial.
• Rigid expectations. If things don’t go exactly as planned, frustration kicks in—either toward yourself or your dog.
• Negative self-talk. Every mistake feels like proof you’re not good enough instead of an opportunity to learn.

If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. The good news? Perfection isn’t required to succeed in dog sports.

The shift: excellence over perfection

Here’s the truth: perfection is an illusion. Even the top competitors in the world make mistakes. What sets them apart is their ability to adapt, recover, and keep going.

Instead of chasing perfection, aim for excellence—which simply means doing the best you can in each moment. Excellence is achievable. It allows for progress, learning, and, most importantly, joy.

Strategies to break the perfectionist cycle

If perfectionism is holding you back, try these mindset shifts:

• Reframe mistakes. Every run is data, not a verdict. Missed Qs and messy runs are part of the sport, not proof of failure.
• Set process goals. Instead of only focusing on titles and Qs, measure progress in other ways, like maintaining connection with your dog or handling a tricky sequence well.
• Ask, ‘How can I support my dog?’ This shifts your focus from self-criticism to problem-solving. Your dog doesn’t need perfection—they need a confident, present teammate.
• Adopt a growth mindset. The best handlers didn’t get there by being perfect. They got there by learning, adjusting, and showing up—again and again.

You’re not alone

Perfectionism can be a tough habit to break, but recognizing it is the first step. If you see yourself in any of this, know that you’re not the only one. And better yet, there’s a way forward—one where you can compete with confidence, resilience, and a little more fun.

We're talking about resetting after mistakes in the Q-Membership this month - just in case that resonates!