The skill of choosing less

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 powerful, deeply human, and completely wrong.

Choosing less isn’t doing less.

Choosing less is choosing intentionally — and it’s one of the most underrated competitive advantages a handler can develop.

And yes… sometimes doing nothing is the next right step.

Why stillness freaks handlers out

Here’s the real problem with “less”: the moment handlers stop doing, all the anxious thoughts rush in:

“I should be training.”

“Everyone else is working harder.”

“We’re losing ground.”

“If I’m not fixing things, I’m failing my dog.”

Doing keeps those fears quiet.

Busyness becomes a coping strategy.

Stillness — even brief stillness — forces you to trust your process instead of just muscling through it. And trust is far scarier than effort. No wonder handlers avoid the quiet.

But avoiding stillness comes at a cost: scattered progress, burnout, and training that feels unfocused and frantic instead of intentional and grounded.

Why choosing less actually creates more progress

When you remove the clutter — the 15 different priorities, the pressure to fix everything at once — two things emerge: focus and intention.

Your brain can actually hold one priority.

Your dog can actually understand what game you're playing.

Your sessions feel calmer, clearer, and more productive.

And momentum becomes something you can sustain, not something you chase.

Choosing less doesn’t shrink your progress.

It accelerates it by giving your team something you rarely have: clarity.

What choosing less looks like in real handler life

It’s not philosophical. It’s practical:

• Picking one monthly theme instead of juggling six semi-related goals.
• Choosing the class that aligns with your team, not all the ones that sound fun.
• Scheduling intentional practice, not cramming random reps into every guilt-filled moment.
• Focusing on one ring habit you want to improve instead of trying to rebuild yourself from scratch.

None of this is about lowering your standards.

It’s about raising them — by refusing to dilute your effort.

How to actually choose less (without panicking)

Here’s the simple intention framework:

1. What matters most for the team right now?

The priority that, if improved, would change everything else.

2. What matters for this season?

Not every goal belongs to winter. Timing matters.

3. What matters for your dog?

Confidence? Clarity? Connection?

Dogs have an uncanny way of showing you the real priority.

4. What can wait?

Choosing less is not choosing forever.

It’s choosing right now with purpose.

The surprising benefits of choosing less

• More consistency
• More progress in fewer reps
• Fewer emotional meltdowns
• Clearer communication
• A calmer handler brain
• A dog who knows exactly what you’re asking
• More joy in training
• Better long-term results

Choosing less unlocks intention, focus, and sustainability — the foundations of becoming a better handler.

Doing less is not giving up — it’s growing up

Anyone can do more.

Very few can choose with intention.

The teams who focus, win.

The teams who scatter, stall.

Choose less… and watch more open up.