What if I told you that you might be practicing failure just as much—if not more—than success?

It sounds wild, but it happens all the time. Without realizing it, we reinforce habits, thoughts, and training patterns that make failure more likely. And because the brain is so good at repeating what...

Ever feel like you’ve tried everything to calm your ring nerves—deep breathing, visualization, positive affirmations—but the anxiety still creeps in?

What if I told you there’s one overlooked trick that might finally make a difference? Actually, let’s make it three.

The key is finding what clicks ...

Perfectionism feels like a good thing. After all, striving for excellence is how we improve, right? But in dog sports, perfectionism can actually hold you back rather than push you forward. If you've ever left the ring feeling like a failure because of one small mistake—or if you find yourself avoid...

Mistakes stick with us. We replay them, analyze them, and sometimes let them define us. In dog sports, one small error can feel like a catastrophe—whether it's a missed cue, an off-course moment, or just a handling misstep. But why do mistakes feel so much heavier than our successes? And more import...

Ever feel like a different handler in competition than you do in practice? In training, you and your dog flow together effortlessly. But once you step into the ring, something shifts—nerves creep in, mistakes happen, and suddenly, your solid skills feel shaky.

You're not alone. This disconnect is c...

You’ve trained the skills. You’ve put in the hours. Your dog knows their job. So why aren’t your trial results matching your training. 

If you’ve ever walked away from a run thinking, Why can’t I get out of my own way? You’re not alone. Most handlers hit a wall—not because of lack of skill, but bec...

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 "do-over" - a c...

Prologue: This is longer than usual because I'm sharing my very real struggle of getting myself back in a good headspace after a disappointing day. On Friday, Moxie and I had Rally, and it didn't go well. As I write this on Saturday morning, we are entered in Open Obedience today and Sunday. Based o...

Two different clients recently asked me, "But why do I get so upset?" My answer was simple, "Because you care."

Of course, my answer doesn't solve the problem of getting upset, and I don't think it should. What I mean is, we should care deeply about our dogs and the sports we play. It should mat...

Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to keep going when things are going well in the ring? That's the power of positive momentum, and it's just as critical in dog sports as it is in any other part of life. We shift our mindset when we focus on the positives—our progress, the bond with our dog...

We are very emotional when it comes to competing, and the reason is pretty simple: we care what happens. The downside is that the same emotion that fuels us can also get in our way when things don't go the way we expect or hope.

I'm never going to tell you not to be emotional - that's crazy talk...

Since the torch arrived to the Seine, my productivity has been in the proverbial tank. I've downloaded two apps, watched a lengthy post on the rules of Rugby 7s, and rolled out of bed early only to move to the couch in front of the TV. I am an Olympics addict.

Like the lifeguard at the swim venu...