Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (24:39) In this podcast, Sarah and Jennifer discuss natural versus trained cues and how it affects training time, your mental state, and your dog's response. You Will Learn Why it's important to recognize whether a cue or skill is natural or trained. Why it's important to set proper expectations when teaching new skills. Why you should balance natural skills with trained skills whe...

In this episode (39:52) In this podcast, Sarah, Esteban and Jennifer talk about the 2018 World Agility Open Championship. You Will Learn What events make up the World Agility Open. The unique strategy elements that are part of team roster construction. How the wild card application and selection process works. Mentioned/Related Episode 193: Who is the World Champion in Agility? Watch Jennifer's 1s...

In this episode (46:44) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk about the table, how to train for it, and whether or not it still belongs in the sport of dog agility. You Will Learn The most common mistakes people make in training the table. How to make your table training more like your table trialing. Why Esteban thinks the table should be discontinued. The official BDA position on "Laurel" vs "...

In this episode (1:04:40) In this podcast, Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker join Sarah and Esteban for the 2018 AKC/FCI World Team Tryouts wrap up. You Will Learn Which dogs earned automatics spots on Team USA. How the new scoring system affected results. What the competitors thought of the course designs. Why Gitchi did not run in Round 5. Mentioned/Related Q Rates at the 2018 AKC World Team Tryout...

In this episode (16:36) In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss how to deal with forced breaks in your agility training. You Will Learn Why taking a break from agility can be emotionally difficult for many handlers. How you can continue your agility training even if you or your dog are unable to physically practice. How to stay connected to the agility community while you are unable to compete...

In this episode (22:14) In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer outline four international championship events and explain how they differ in format, jump height, and governing organizations. You Will Learn Which international organizations are associated with which championship event. Which USA organization controls the team selection for which championship event. The differences in jump heights betw...

In this episode (32:04) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban apply the software development concept of technical debt to dog agility. You Will Learn What technical debt is. What problems in agility can be thought of as technical debt. How to determine the true cost of technical debt to your agility training and trialing. Why you might not need to fix every problem in your agility training and handli...

In this episode (46:50) In this episode, 2018 Crufts Champion Dave Munnings joins Sarah and Esteban to talk Crufts, the UK agility scene, running contacts, and more. You Will Learn Who won Crufts. How Dave's handling has changed over the years. Who Esteban thinks benefits the most from running contacts. Mentioned/Related Crufts Championship Finals – 2018 Q-Me Agility

In this episode (39:45) In this episode, 2018 American Kennel Club National Agility Champion (16″) Jennifer Crank joins Sarah and Esteban for the AKC Nationals Wrap Up. You Will Learn The qualifying rates for both the Challenger and Finals rounds over the past 3 years. What competitors thought of the courses and surface. What happened when the timer malfunctioned during Jennifer's winning run in t...

In this episode (49:13) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk with Leslie Eide, DVM about structuring your agility training in a way that gives you peak performance at a specific event. You Will Learn How to plan your time off from agility. How to taper for an event. How to design a training plan for the entire year. Mentioned/Related Jumping Gymnastics Online Course (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy) V...

In this episode (26:13) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban about how we can train ourselves to take risks on course. You Will Learn What desensitization is. How desensitization can help us deal with the stress of trials (big and small). Why experienced handlers may lose empathy for newcomers. How we can use desensitization to train ourselves to take risks on course. Mentioned/Related Before and Af...

In this episode (17:52) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about the differences between physical and mental commitment and how this can affect your dog on course. You Will Learn How we define a dog's commitment to an obstacle. Why commitment is important. How to change your dog's commitment point. Mentioned/Related Episode 171: Obstacle Focus vs Handler Focus in Dog Agility

In this episode (19:14) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about everything your dog sees on course that you don't. You Will Learn That dogs and people see the agility world differently. Which invisible obstacles are the most common. How to deal with blank spaces. About shoemaking. Mentioned/Related Episode 122: Debugging Your Dog Agility Training

In this episode (52:41) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban chat with Jessica Ajoux. Jessica and her border collie Fame(US) won the overall Masters Champion at this past weekend's Masters Agility Championship at Westminster held in New York City. You Will Learn Why you should consider competing at Westminster at least once. How Jessica manages her dog's energy. How Jessica deals with mistakes in pr...

In this episode (30:59) Jennifer Crank and Lucky Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker join Esteban to share their thoughts on the upcoming Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. They also give some advice to dog agility newcomers and discuss being "results oriented" versus "process oriented" in your approach to the sport.   Mentioned/Related Buy Tickets for the Event! →  Before and After Video Ser...

In this episode (42:18) In February 2015, Raphael was watching the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on TV with his rescue dog Ringo and decided, in that moment, that he wanted to be there. In June of 2015, he began training in agility. And now, in February of 2018, he will compete at Westminster. Listen to their remarkable story! Mentioned/Related Buy Tickets for the Event! Westminster...

In this episode (19:05) In this episode, Sarah catches up with Stacey Campbell whose rescue dog Roo! became the first "Highest Scoring Mixed Breed in Trial" at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. Mentioned/Related Buy Tickets for the Event! Episode 177: Westminster Preview with Paul Campanella Episode 153: Interview with 2017 Westminster Champion John Nys Bad Dog Agility Goes to Westm...

In this episode (33:36) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban expose some of the common excuses people make in dog agility. You Will Learn How excuses can have a detrimental effect on your agility experience. How to identify imagined limits. How to overcome the most common real limits in the sport. How to accept real limitations that cannot currently be overcome. Mentioned/Related Episode 182: Choose...

In this episode (40.25) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about three different phases with respect to the start line behavior, and common mistakes made by trainers in each phase. You Will Learn The most common start line mistakes that handlers make in trials, in practices, and during retraining. The concept of ring sustainable training. Why Esteban never rewards a dog in position at the sta...

In this episode (27:55) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about how you can reject conventional notions of success and create your own agility adventure. You Will Learn Who and what influence your idea of dog agility success. How you can be creative in determining your own agility path. Why letting go of certain goals can be freeing. Why you might be uncomfortable the next time you go to a b...

In this episode (24:18) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban wonder if agility trainers should use a clicker during sequencing. You Will Learn The difference between clicker training and using a clicker. The benefits of clicker training. How to start using a clicker with an experienced dog. Why dogs don't dance well. Mentioned/Related Episode 10: Training with Food; Training with a Clicker

In this episode (24:18) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk about the nuance of speed in dog agility, and how to manipulate handler speed to get great runs on course. You Will Learn The difference between relative and absolute speed. How to vary your speed for maximum benefit on course. How teenage boys feel about facial hair. Mentioned Episode 172: Watching Your Dog on Course Episode 179: Whi...

In this episode (44:08) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban tackle the question of which is faster: the front cross or the rear cross? You Will Learn The psychology behind the idea that the front cross is faster than the rear cross. When you should choose a rear cross instead of a front cross. Which type of dog does better with front crosses than rear crosses. The importance of timing yourself in t...

In this episode (24:12) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about pushing the edge of commitment to create distance and increase confidence. You Will Learn How to define commitment point. How to change your dog's commitment point. Why handlers are afraid to push the edge of commitment. Mentioned Speed Statistics Over 19 Years

In this episode (38:01) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about the upcoming Masters Agility Championship at Westminster with Paul Campanella, the Director of Companion Events for the Westminster Kennel Club. They will cover new changes to the event, including the $10,000 grand prize, as well as plans for future events. You Will Learn Which club is older, the Westminster Kennel Club or the A...