The Dark Side of Dog Agility

Navigating Neurodivergence in a Sport Rooted in Success

A new book by Katrina Bayliss

Available NOW in Paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

Grab Your Copy Here!

The Story Behind the Book

This book may be set in the world of dog agility, but it isn’t really about agility.

It’s about partnership.

It’s about the relationship between humans and dogs. It’s about pressure, perfectionism and the pursuit of success. It’s about feeling different without understanding why, and discovering how understanding ourselves can transform the way we understand the dogs beside us.

Dog agility provides the setting, but the experiences, emotions and questions explored throughout these pages reach far beyond the sport itself.

For years, I believed those experiences were simply part of life. I pushed harder, expected more from myself and assumed that if I just tried hard enough, I’d eventually feel like I belonged.

Then I discovered I was autistic and ADHD.

Suddenly, experiences I’d carried for decades began to make sense. I realised that many of the struggles I’d faced weren’t personal failings at all. They were the result of trying to navigate environments that weren’t designed with neurodivergent minds in mind.

This book was born from that realisation.

Whether you’ve competed in agility for years, work with dogs professionally, share your life with a dog or have simply found yourself questioning where you fit in, I hope you’ll recognise something of yourself within these pages.

Because ultimately, this isn’t just a book about dog agility.

It’s a book about understanding ourselves, strengthening our partnerships and creating environments where both people and dogs can thrive.

What This Book Is Really About

At first glance, the title might suggest this is a book about dog agility.

In reality, it’s about so much more.

It’s about the invisible experiences that shape how we move through the world. The pressure to succeed. The fear of getting things wrong. The weight of expectations. The relief that comes when we finally begin to understand ourselves.

It’s about recognising that our relationship with our dogs is influenced by our own experiences, our own nervous systems and the environments we find ourselves in.

When we better understand ourselves, we become better partners for our dogs.

This book isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about asking better questions.

It’s an invitation to look beyond performance, beyond labels and beyond assumptions, and to discover what becomes possible when understanding comes first.

Grab Your Copy Here!

Build Your Jigsaw

Every partnership is unique, which means there isn’t a single blueprint for success.

Throughout the book you’ll find dedicated Building Your Jigsaw reflection pages. These gentle prompts encourage you to pause, think and explore how the ideas in each chapter relate to your own experiences and your own partnership.

Rather than simply turning the page, you’ll have the opportunity to connect the pieces of your own story. You’ll reflect on what already supports your partnership, where you may be experiencing challenges and which pieces deserve more attention as you move forward.

By the end of the book, you’ll have created your own picture of your partnership. Not one based on someone else’s expectations, but one built around understanding, curiosity and connection.

Because no two partnerships are the same.

And every partnership deserves to be understood.

Is This Book For You?

This book is for you if…

You compete in dog agility or another dog sport.
You work in the dog world as a trainer, behaviourist, walker, groomer or veterinary professional.
You share your life with a dog and want to deepen your partnership.
You’re autistic, ADHD or identify as neurodivergent.
You support or love someone who is neurodivergent.
You’ve ever felt different, overwhelmed or unsure where you fit in.
You’re curious about the connection between dogs, people and the environments they share.

You don’t need to know anything about dog agility to connect with this book.

Agility is the setting.

The conversation is about partnership.

What You’ll Take Away

Rather than offering quick fixes or simple solutions, this book encourages reflection.

You’ll come away with a deeper understanding of:

The hidden pressures that influence both people and dogs.
Why success doesn’t always feel the way we expect it to.
The impact neurodivergence can have on confidence, communication and performance.
How compassion and understanding can transform partnerships.
Why creating environments where everyone can thrive benefits us all.

Most of all, I hope you’ll leave with a reminder that you are not alone.

Join the Conversation

The Dark Side of Dog Agility is an invitation to think differently.

To look beyond results.

To question long-held assumptions.

To celebrate different ways of thinking.

And to remember that our greatest achievements are rarely measured by rosettes, titles or success alone, but by the relationships we build along the way.

Because better understanding creates better connection, and when your partnership is truly connected, the results become a natural byproduct of the partnership you have built together.

The Conversation Continues

Some stories don’t end when you reach the final page.

Throughout the book you’ll discover opportunities to pause, reflect and build your own jigsaw. And when you’ve finished reading, the journey doesn’t have to stop there!

You’ll also be invited to explore Beyond the Words – a companion experience inspired by the music that accompanied the writing of this book. Each song has its own story, offering another layer to the journey and an opportunity to reflect even more deeply on the themes explored throughout these pages.

Because sometimes the words on the page are only part of the story.