It’s that time of year again—goal season! You’re reflecting on this past year, looking ahead to the next, and dreaming of what you and your dog can achieve together. But for some handlers, there’s an uncomfortable question lingering in the back of their minds: What if...
If you’ve spent any time on social media lately, you might have seen the phrase “villain era” floating around. It’s trendy, it’s cheeky, and—most importantly—it’s a reminder that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to put yourself first for...
As the end of the year approaches, it’s natural to start thinking about what’s next. For many of us, that means setting new goals and dreaming about what we want to accomplish in the coming year. But before you dive into planning, there’s a crucial step you can’t skip:...
Confidence is one of those things everyone wants, but few of us know how to build. We hear advice about staying positive, using affirmations, and focusing on our strengths, but sometimes it feels... flat. That’s where cultivating a positive handler identity comes in. It’s...
When it comes to dog training (and honestly, life in general), I see a common struggle: we set big goals, dive in with enthusiasm, and then hit a wall when progress feels slow. Sound familiar? It’s easy to get frustrated and think, “Why am I not seeing results?” Here’s the...
I'm sure you know the saying, "Must be present to win." To most of us, it means that if we want to win that raffle item, we'd better stick around until the end of the day. But lately, I've had another perspective on this common phrase - that we as handlers must be in the present moment in...
Confidence is on my mind these days. In part because the membership is working on developing confidence this month, and in part because I am really obsessed with giving my young dog confidence every time we train. (I have Moxie to thank for the latter and my coaching clients...
In dog sports, it's easy to get caught up in striving for the next big goal—new titles, clean runs, more Qs. But sometimes, the most powerful thing we can do for both our dogs and ourselves is to slow down, take a breath, and celebrate how far we’ve come. Enter the...
In my coaching calls, we talk a LOT about "evidence." Collecting it, looking for it, reviewing it. Evidence is our way of looking at just the facts - sometimes even statistics - of what's really happening in our performances without the weight of emotion.
When you think about it,...
We spend so much time attending class, taking seminars, doing online lessons, and listening to experts, but have you ever paused to create a true training plan for yourself and your dog? It seems like we are so busy going from lesson to lesson without first identifying...
Every athlete in every sport makes mistakes - even the most elite. After all, we are fallible, imperfect creatures trying to do some really hard stuff consistently alongside a partner with their own agenda. Mistakes are going to happen.
I've talked about the ache of wishing for a...
On a coaching call the other day, I said something that was an "Ah-ha" moment for both of us: "I believe that you are focusing on your process goals, but I think you're measuring by outcomes."
The handler agreed, and we went on to unpack how this was showing up and...
