Stop apologizing for being nervous.

How many times have you heard a handler say, “Sorry, I’m just so nervous”? Or maybe you’ve said it yourself. We apologize for nerves as if they’re a flaw, as if being nervous means we don’t belong in the ring. But here’s the truth: nerves aren’t a weakness. They’re part of the game.

We get nervous because we care — about our dogs, about the work we’ve put in, about the outcome we’re hoping for. Sometimes the care is about the partnership itself, and sometimes, yes, it’s about the result. Either way, nerves show up because what we’re doing matters to us. And that’s not something to apologize for.

So why do we apologize? For many of us, it’s not just about being polite — it’s a form of “pre-explaining.” We think if we let others know we’re nervous, it’ll somehow make sense if things don’t go as planned. It’s a way of protecting ourselves from judgment: “See, I told you I was nervous, so don’t hold it against me.” The problem is, every time we do this, we reinforce the idea that nerves are bad, when really, they’re not.

Science tells us that nerves are our body’s way of giving us energy to perform. That adrenaline rush is your sympathetic nervous system kicking in, and it’s the same system that lets athletes, musicians, and yes, handlers, rise to the occasion. Without nerves, you’d feel flat and disengaged. With nerves, you get heightened energy, and sometimes even sharper focus. In fact, that “tunnel vision” you feel in the ring? That’s your brain narrowing in on what matters most.

The tricky part is that nerves and excitement often feel the same in the body — racing heart, butterflies, sweaty palms. Sometimes it’s one, sometimes it’s the other, and often it’s a mix of both. Which is why it’s important to pause and ask yourself: am I nervous, excited, or both? The label you put on it changes how you experience it.

So, how do you work with nerves instead of apologizing for them? A few ideas:

• Acknowledge them: Instead of “sorry,” try saying, “Yes, I’m nervous — that means I care.”
• Shift the interpretation: Nervous can mean energized, focused, ready. Change the story you tell yourself about what those feelings mean.
• Ground yourself: Use breathing, visualization, or a mantra to steady your energy before stepping to the line.
• Practice nerves: Put yourself in mini-pressure situations. Take a class and treat each run like the real thing. Or at home, walk to the line, pause, and imagine the judge saying, “Are you ready?” Rehearse the feelings so they’re less intimidating.
• Reflect afterward: Use your planner or journal to note when nerves helped, when they distracted, and what you learned. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns — and proof that you can manage nerves without them running the show.

The bottom line: nerves are not something to apologize for. They don’t mean you’re weak, unprepared, or out of your league. They mean you’re invested. They mean you care. And with the right tools, they can actually help you perform at your best.

So next time nerves show up, don’t say you’re sorry. Say thank you — then use them.