Unfortunately, the stock market (or any financial market for that matter) does not offer guarantees to day traders, swing traders or investors. While there are many technical patterns that traders use to build trade plans around, sometimes the pattern you’re actually dealing with is The Dirty Dog Pattern! Due to the nature of “no guarantees”, this technical patterns are unavoidable and all of us will stumble upon them from time to time. I should note, if you are continually stumbling across The Dirty Dog Pattern, then that would be a sign something is broken with your strategy (or you do not have an actual strategy at all). Even if you do have a valid trading strategy, the quicker you understand there is no avoiding this pattern, the quicker you will stay grounded in reality. Too often (especially with beginners) traders will get bit by a dirty dog leading them to question their strategy and rules. This is the exact opposite of where your mind should lead you. Again, if you are constantly getting bit, that’s a different story, but assuming you’re only being bit here and there, then stick with it! You nor your strategy will be perfect. A big reason perfection for us as traders and investors does not exist is due to the dirty dogs prowling around the streets of the market. Let me show you an example of The Dirty Dog Pattern and why it’s unavoidable and very frustrating. Learn to live with it and just keep on grinding in your trading journey!