They trained the patterns. They practiced the skills. But the moment they entered the ring… it was like the dog disappeared.

If you’ve ever experienced this — or watched it happen — you’re not alone. And there’s a reason behind it.

In this episode, I’m reflecting on my return to the sport of obedience with Eden and Bachelor, and what it’s revealed about the overlap between performance and behavior. Because the more I work with dogs across both worlds, the more I see it:

Obedience and behavior are not the same thing.

And if you try to use obedience to fix behavior, it almost always falls apart.

But when you bring behavior work into obedience? That’s where things start to shift.

We’ll talk about high-drive sport dogs who crumble under pressure, the myths around “ruining” drive, and how teaching dogs to regulate, recover, and stay in their bodies is the key to making performance sustainable — and real.

And I’ll share a bit about my own life off the training field, too… including the moment I realized I needed to return to therapy for the same reason I teach dogs to self-soothe: because without regulation, nothing sticks.

Tone: Grounded, personal, quietly powerful

For: Sport handlers, pet parents, and anyone trying to hold it together under pressure

CTA: If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review — it helps more than you know.

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