The classes, the seminars, the endless reps — you’ve done all of it. And when you and your dog are in sync, it’s magic. But when the pressure’s on? All bets are off. And trying harder only makes it worse.
You’ve put in the work. And still, something keeps getting in the way.
The barking, zooming, disconnecting, or shutting down… it doesn’t happen at home. But at a trial? Over-arousal takes over.
Trial nerves, self-doubt, frustration — and the more you try to control it, the worse it gets. Your dog feels it too.
You used to love this. Now it feels like pressure. You want that feeling back — and you don't know how to get there.
I’ve been coaching dog sport competitors since 2017. The people who find me are talented, dedicated, and…stuck. Not because they aren’t training hard enough, but because their mindset and nervous system are working against them. This is the work I do. And what becomes possible when this missing skill set is mastered:
I’ve been competing in dog sports since 2008, and working with high-drive dogs since 1989. I train and compete in herding from my small farm in Eastern Ontario with a team of Border Collies, a Kelpie, a Rat Terrier, and two livestock guardian dogs.
And I was a hot mess when I started competing.
My first dog, Hannah, was a unicorn. She carried us to a novice championship in our first season, and to masters and open in two sports (agility and herding) within 3 years.
What I didn’t realize? Her talent was hiding our holes. When we moved up, everything fell apart. I didn’t even know trial skills were a thing. I just thought I sucked.
One day, I got my cues mixed up mid-run at a local trial. I heard laughter, assumed it was about me, and bolted after my run. I drove to a park and cried. When the sobs let up, I looked up to see Hannah playing on the beach completely unbothered.
That moment changed everything. Why did I fall apart under pressure when she didn’t? I became obsessed with figuring this out.
I wanted to compete with confidence, calm, and joy — not dread.
So I made a decision: I’d figure this out, or I’d quit. (And I had no intention of quitting)
That led me to mental performance work, and the realization that you can change how you think, how you respond, and how you show up under pressure.
And when you can? Anything becomes possible.
What most dog sport competitors are never taught is this: Your performance isn’t just about training. It’s driven by your nervous system.
Within three years of that fateful trial, armed with my new skills and understanding, I left my corporate career and built a life around solving the performance under pressure problem.
Today, I’m a high performance coach for dog sport handlers specializing in eliminating over-arousal at both ends of the leash.
I’ve trained extensively in both, and I’m currently completing certification in Neurosomatic Intelligence.
But credentials only matter if they translate in practice.
I live this work. I apply it to my training, my goals, and how I show up every day.
It’s what turns potential into performance. The difference between having goals and being able to achieve them.
We identify where over-arousal is showing up, and what’s driving it beneath the surface.
Learn to shift both your nervous system and your dog’s so focus, connection, and performance become available again.
Stay present and connected. Recover quickly. Compete at your best.
You and your dog deserve to feel confident, connected, and capable when you walk to the line.
This isn’t about becoming someone else.
It’s about removing what’s getting in your way so you can finally show up as the team you’re capable of being.
If you’re ready to solve over-arousal at the root, start here.