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...

In my coaching calls, we talk a LOT about "evidence." Collecting it, looking for it, reviewing it. Evidence is our way of looking at just the facts - sometimes even statistics - of what's really happening in our performances without the weight of emotion.

When you think about it, emotions are what ...

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...

I'm not sure who needs to hear this, but it's okay to forgive yourself. For mistakes made, for things not working out, or for the things you wish you could do over.

It's okay. You can let it go. You can forgive yourself.

You might be surprised to learn you're not alone in holding the past ag...

Oh, the power of the downward spiral! Something "bad" happens in the ring, and then we come out and can talk about nothing other than the mistake. The emotion of the error spins up a frenzy that seems to leave an emotional mark long after the run. It takes on a life of its own, and down into the spi...

I am still trying to figure out what I did (or didn't do) last week. What I do know is that I was wholly unproductive after losing my oldest Berner on Monday.

The world tells us we must push through our grief - or disappointments - and move on with our lives and obligations. If you still believe...

Every one of us could entertain a campfire crowd of people with tales of how our plans went awry. Memes are devoted to it: You make a plan, and God laughs. Plan is a four-letter word. Anything about the pandemic. My point is that it's a universal experience to have plans fall apart, so the focus ...

I'm going back and re-watching all three seasons of Ted Lasso. (We can discuss my denial that the show ended some other time - haha!) Any-who ... One of the (many) great concepts from the show is Ted's insistence that we should all "be a goldfish."

Ted (an American coaching football, aka soccer,...

Of course they do! And with good reason, right?

I mean, we cry because our hearts are broken, or we're disappointed, or we're so happy that only tears will do.

Just this past weekend, while walking my dog at an agility trial, I cried out of frustration. I wasn't mad at my dog or even at myself, I ...

Ever had a tough time getting over something that happened in the ring (or even at a trial)? Silly question, of course you have.

The thing is, we've all had issues letting go of mistakes, bad runs, or some other letdown. And one reason some mistakes feel stickier than others is that we really want ...