Field Trips for Competition
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An Introduction to Managing the Mental Side of Performance Webinar
Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 11:00 am PT
Cost: Your choice!
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Handler Coaching
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Are you getting frustrated with competition? Not sure what to do? Does your dog bark when you cue a sit? Just can’t get that weave entry? Or, do you get so nervous when you enter the ring things just fall apart?
I get it! I have had, probably still do, performance anxiety for as long as I can remember. Whether its showing dogs, speaking in public, teaching a class, or performing in an orchestra I am nervous. But, the good news is you can learn to manage it and not let it ruin a performance.
You can succeed! It is my mission to help.
Join me for An Introduction to Managing the Mental Side of Performance webinar on March 26, 2026 at 11:00 am PT. Join the email list to be among the first to get the full details.
Handler Private Coaching
Where: in-person or virtual
Cost:
20 Minute Initial Consult – FREE!
60 minutes of In-person coaching – $175
60 minutes of virtual coaching – $125
Private coaching can include the mental side and/or the performance side. Do things go wrong on the course? Not sure why or what to do? Private coaching points out specific oddities and helps you be clear in all of your cues.
Why This Is Important to Me
When I was competing in obedience (1979-2007), I would get so nervous that the last time I entered the competition obedience ring in Open I blacked out. I could only see a small space in front of me. Luckily all you have to do is walk straight and turn and stop when the judge tells you. When it came to throwing the dumbell both on the flat and over the high jump I had to rely on muscle memory for the throw. As I left the ring I knew I couldn’t do it again.
When I started trialing my first agility dog that had the ability to make it to nationals and get an agility championship, I was so nervous that my dog would just leave the ring. If I made a mistake and chastised myself, she would stop and leave. I just couldn’t push through. I remember the crowd yelling for me to keep going and run! But each time I would just give up. It took years to gain enough confidence in my abilities to just keep going.
Today I am telling people to keep going!
In order to move forward I hired a mental coach (see Mental Management). My first goal was to get the Masters titles and the PACH. But to do it I had a lot of work ahead of me.
What stands out in my mind was when I was having problems getting my dog into the weaves. No matter how hard I worked it just didn’t happen in competition. I called my coach from a competition. She told me something simple and memorable “before the jump before the weaves tell yourself: yay the weaves are next!” I was kinda skeptical, but I respected my coach.
As I approached that jump before the weaves I said to myself “yay the weaves are next!” My dog nailed the weaves!
Hiring a coach was the best thing I ever did for my performance anxiety. I learned skills and tools that have helped in more than just dog shows. In orchestra performances I no longer get nervous! Even when I make a mistake!
To varying degrees I have seen these same problems with many junior and adult handlers. I especially enjoy helping junior handlers. I’ve seen so many kids just like me, having performance anxiety.
In music it is said that you need to practice enough so you can get @100% accuracy. It is also said that we perform at only about 80% of what we practiced.
We need to prepare ourselves and our dogs as much as we can so we are both ready to perform. Just like our dogs we need to have a clear understanding of what we need to do, and it needs to be under stimulus control.
I can help you. Just submit an inquiry for an initial consultation today! Take your game to a whole new level!
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