"Just have fun!”

It's the well-meaning advice we hear at the start line, from our friends, instructors, or even whispered to ourselves. But if you're trying to qualify - or chasing a title, a big goal, or just proving something to yourself - that phrase can feel more like pressure than encourage...

You miss a contact. Your dog breaks their start line. You NQ after weeks of preparation.

It stings. And if you’re like most handlers, the emotional aftershock of that mistake sticks around way longer than the mistake itself.

But here’s the truth: the mistake isn’t what’s holding you back.

I...

Have you ever caught yourself saying things like,

“I never do well under pressure,”

“I always mess up the first run.”

Or

“I’m just not good at [insert skill here]”?

Here’s the thing: Your brain is always listening. And it’s not just eavesdropping — it’s executing those thoughts like a comput...

You'd think that being a mindset coach would make me immune to nerves, self-doubt, or the occasional spiral of “I’m not ready for this!"

Spoiler alert: It doesn't.

The other morning, I was sipping coffee, scrolling through Instagram, and BAM — I saw a fellow competitor post about their stack...

Mindset is often talked about in the world of dog sports. But what does it really mean to have a strong mindset? Sure, we hear a lot about setting goals, managing nerves, and focusing on rituals, but those are only parts of a bigger picture. What I want to focus on today is how to build a well-round...

Every handler knows the feeling: your heart is racing, your mind is buzzing, and it feels like the entire world is closing in on you. Whether it's the excitement of a big trial, the pressure of competition, or just the constant distractions of life, it's easy to feel like you're losing focus in the ...

The message slid into my inbox like so many others — sweet, thoughtful, and full of that infectious post-trial glow. But as I read her words, I paused. Reread a few lines. And smiled.

Here’s what she said (paraphrased & anonymized):

"My friend and I weren't sure about entering a three-day ag...

With my national specialty just weeks away, I've added something extra to my daily mindset routine—something I don't always talk about but something I fully believe in.

Visualization.

Yep, we're going there.

Right now, I'm working up to 11 minutes a day of focused meditation and visualizati...

Have you ever had your dog perform flawlessly during practice, but the minute you enter the ring, everything falls apart? Or maybe your dog struggles during a critical part of the trial, and you find yourself unable to recover. These moments can be frustrating, but here's the reality: our dog's perf...

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 wish you could bottle up confidence and bring it into the ring every time? If only it were that easy! The truth is, confidence isn't something you either have or don't have—it's a skill you can measure, build, and strengthen over time.

That's exactly what we're focusing on this month inside...

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 ...