For Markham, structured training improves a dog’ s quality of life, regardless of titles.
“ Dogs are bred for jobs,” she says,“ and they like to think.”
She also emphasizes how closely dogs observe their handlers.
“ The dogs want to please us,” Markham says.“ They want to do the right thing.”
Duffy, Parker and Markham all agree on one central truth— canine sport is often misunderstood as dog-training, when it is primarily about human learning. Handlers must develop patience, timing, body awareness and emotional regulation. Moving too quickly is one of the most common mistakes Duffy sees.
“ Slow down,” he says.“ Take your time.”
Winning, in this context, is not measured by ribbons or rankings, but by reliability. Skills are built carefully and reinforced until they hold under pressure. Over time, communication becomes efficient and unobtrusive.
At its best, competition is not performance for an audience. It is a reflection of the working relationship behind it.
“ The bottom line, this should be fun,” Duffy says.“ Structured fun.”
For Duffy, mastery is not a finish line. It is an ongoing commitment to attention and learning.
“ A master at whatever you do is endless curiosity,” Duffy adds,““ Endless enthusiasm for that specific topic.”
What appears in the ring reflects that mindset. Calm handling. Clear signals. A dog that responds without hesitation. The result is not spectacle, but consistency.
MAR / APR 2026 NEWS AND TRIBUNE SPORTS MAGAZINE PAGE NO. 27