Canine Handler Fitness Podcast

Sometimes the smartest move in fitness isn’t pushing harder—it’s pulling back. In this episode of Canine Handler Fitness, I’m talking about Get Going Gently—how to start smart when life, injury, or health conditions demand a slower pace. You’ll learn:When it’s essential to go gently: post-op, post-injury, illness, or stressful life changesHow to approach training safely with [...]

Most agility handlers want to be faster — but the truth is, speed doesn’t just happen. It comes from how you move. In this episode, Liz reveals how focusing on just one or two key running cues can completely transform your sprinting form, helping you cover ground faster, move more efficiently, and stay ahead of [...]

In this episode, I’m joined by Laura Bussing—an agility athlete, competitor, coach, judge, canine fitness advocate, and expert in agility behavior. Laura has been a lifelong athlete, and in recent years she’s poured that same drive and intensity into dog sports. We first connected back in 2022, and since then I’ve had a front-row seat to [...]

Everyone thinks January is the “fresh start” month for fitness—but here’s the reality: by March, nearly 80% of people have already quit. The resolution rush doesn’t stick. Stop waiting for January to fix your fitness. By then, the gyms are packed, the apps are overflowing, and most people have already quit by March. Here’s the smarter play: [...]

I see a lot of hypermobile people in dog sports, and while flexibility can be a huge advantage, it often comes with hidden challenges that impact health, performance, and day-to-day life. In this episode, we dive into the mystery of hypermobility — a niche but increasingly researched area of connective tissue disorders — and why [...]

You’ve been sprinting, queuing, moving equipment, maybe driving, and who knows — you might’ve been wrangling some big feelings too. That first window right after your run, when your heart is still thumping, is one of the most powerful moments of your entire agility day. In this episode, we talk about how to cool down your [...]

Warm-ups aren’t optional — they’re your performance insurance policy. In this episode, I break down how a simple, strategic warm-up can transform your first run from stiff and sluggish to powerful and precise. You’ll learn:How long you should be warming upHow often you need to warm up, and how long a warm up lastsWhat if you're running [...]

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Novak — an accomplished agility competitor and long-time Canine Handler Fitness client. We explore what it’s like to stay fit for agility in your 40sThe strategies she uses to keep up with her fast dogsHow her improved sport-specific fitness has expanded her handling options in the ringSarah shares [...]

In Part 2 of Liz’s origin story, we go behind the scenes of how Canine Handler Fitness went from one-on-one coaching to an online movement supporting hundreds of handlers across the globe. You’ll hear what it really took to launch online programs that actually work — the missteps, the breakthroughs, and the major lessons learned along [...]

In this deeply personal first episode of the Canine Handler Fitness Podcast, Liz Joyce opens up about the life experiences that shaped her — as a woman, a coach, and a movement professional. From wrestling in high school and working industrial jobs, to living with Crohn’s and finding healing through strength, Liz shares how movement [...]