I first took the course 'The Winners Circle' by Kathy Keats in 2016. I've taken it every time she has released it. It's been 7 years since she last released the course, and during this period I've had a lot happen in my life along with a lot of personal growth.

Reflecting on the course this time through, the idea of redefining my identity as both a competitor and trainer/coach and finding new mindset anchors has really resonated with me. As we approach the holiday season and the New Year, it's a natural time of reflection as we look to the year ahead and think about what we want 2026 to look and feel like with our canine parter. 

Dog agility isn’t just about speed and precision—it’s a partnership sport that evolves as both you and your dog progress. Reviewing your mindset regularly is crucial because:

 Growth Brings New Challenges

• As you and your dog advance, courses become more complex, and handling demands increase.
• A mindset focused only on “getting through the course” at beg
...

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” This poetic quote, attributed to Theodore Roosevelt, contains an intuitive truth we all know. It hurts to compare ourselves to others. Yet, we almost all do it. Why?

When we compare ourselves to others, we are allowing them to drive our behavior.

Comparison can be motivating, pushing us to match a peer’s success in the agility ring or following someone’s example in overcoming a challenge with their dog’s weave or start line.

But it can also be ugly. Instead, you might be overcome with envy, guilt, self-doubt or even despair. For example, a friend might have the seemingly perfect puppy and you’re struggling with off-lead recalls, aggressive behavior, and no retrieve at all! Or perhaps another friend is getting lots of attention on her social media posts and you’re not, leaving you feeling left-out and fill of self-doubt about why your posts are being ignored. Maybe you didn’t get the working spot you really wanted in an upcoming seminar. You start to...