Agility handlers: How do you keep focus in the ring?

I had a similar problem with my first dog I trialed. He was an intact male, and at trials would get easily distracted, and was great in cl. What finally worked for him, after trying many things. I would run the course as if he was with me, and we were having a ball. Of course he was sniffing, or doing his own thing. It was pretty embarring, but it did work. After a while, he would stop and watch me running, then run to catch up to me. I would just pretend he was with me all along. He then started running with me, but wouldn't take anything. Again, I just acted as if he was perfect. We did a jumpers course with him taking every other jump. But he was staying with me, so I did not correct anything. He eventually started taking everything in trials, and was a very easy dog to run. It was a long road, but it did pay off. Jim Mills (DOCNA) was one of the people that told me to try this. I used to do a lot of DOCNA and NADAC, but not any longer. I do CPE (very nice to newbies) and AKC mainly. Good luck, and don't give up. Clean Run has a special issue magazine on focus, some very helpful articles in there!