Let’s start with the obvious truth: some runs really do matter more.

A Q that finishes a title.
A big week at a national event.
A run that gets you into finals.
A chance you won’t have again for months — or maybe ever, with this dog.

Of course you want it badly. That part is human.

The problem isn’t...

Comparison gets blamed for a lot.

Most of the advice around it sounds something like: stop comparing, stay in your lane, focus on your own journey. And while that’s not wrong, it’s rarely enough — especially for people who actually care about what they’re doing.

In my experience, comparison itself...

There’s a particular kind of discomfort that shows up right around the new year.
Not panic. Not dread. Just… something feels off.

You look back and think, Nothing went wrong.
Maybe a lot actually went right.
So why does it feel heavy instead of exciting?

Most people assume this feeling means they’re ...

Most handlers are chronically overcommitted — not because they’re greedy for progress, but because they believe progress requires constant doing. More classes. More skills. More drills. More reps. If you’re not actively working on something, you’re obviously falling behind… right?

That belief is...

Winter gets a bad rap in dog sports. The days are short, the weather is questionable, trials slow down, and it feels like the entire sport collectively decides to hold its breath until spring. It’s easy to look at the slow season and assume momentum is impossible.

But here’s the truth: the slow ...

January gets all the credit for being a “fresh start,” but let’s be honest: it’s a chaos goblin of a month. The weather is terrible, the schedule is unpredictable, your routines are upside down, and everyone is still trying to remember where they left their motivation.

Meanwhile… December quietl...

December has this funny way of making us believe that life is “on pause” until January.

We tell ourselves we’ll get serious next month.

We’ll start fresh in the new year.

We’ll magically become more organized, more consistent, more confident, more … everything.

But handler life doesn’t reset ...

Recently, a handler on a coaching call shared something that instantly stuck with me. She said getting a new dog feels like getting a 1,000-piece puzzle: the picture on the box shows you what’s possible, but you still have to slowly put everything together. And there’s no “correct” order. You start ...

If you think imposter syndrome is something only newbies deal with, pull up a chair, friend. Because lately I’ve been reminded — again — that some of the most successful handlers in our sport still wrestle with feeling like frauds. Yes, even the ones with decades of experience, national titles, and ...

Recently, I ran my young dog, Kelsea, in her first real agility trial. There were glimmers of brilliance hidden within the chaos — flashes of speed, some magical sequences, and yes, a few detours to say hello to the ring crew. But she always came back. Every single time, she returned to me and showe...

We talk about “mindset” a lot in dog sports — staying calm, building confidence, being present — but no one really tells you what that means or how to do it.

So today, I want to give you something simple: a blueprint.

Three areas to focus on if you want to feel steadier, calmer, and more confid...

Most handlers have physical routines — potty, warm-up, treats — but forget about mental ones.

Your mindset deserves its own reps, too.

Mental routines are what steady you when the environment, ring, or pressure level changes. They keep you grounded, consistent, and connected.

And just like ...