Maximum FUN Dog Agility

Show Notes 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Next Dog Agility Seminar Quick Answer How can you get the most out of a dog agility seminar? To get the most value from an agility seminar, keep an open mind, be willing to experiment with new techniques, watch other teams closely, treat mistakes as learning opportunities, and stay open to training ideas outside your usual style. Seminars provide valua...

Show Notes 5 Ways to Reward Your Agility Dog at a Distance Quick Answer How do you reward an agility dog when they are working at a distance? To build confidence and independence, agility dogs should be rewarded while they are away from the handler. This can be done by throwing toys ahead of the dog, tossing treats, using pre-placed rewards, having a training partner deliver the reward, or sending...

Show Notes 5 Reasons You Should Teach Your Dog Tricks (Including Basic Behaviors) Quick Answer Why should you teach your dog tricks? Teaching your dog tricks provides mental exercise, strengthens your relationship, improves everyday behavior, increases safety, and helps your dog learn how to learn. Even basic behaviors like sit, come, or walking nicely on a leash are considered tricks in dog...

Show Notes The “Leash Up” Trick: A Dog Training Game That Could Save Your Dog’s Life Quick Answer What is the leash up game in dog training? The leash up game teaches a dog to voluntarily approach and put their heads through the loop in the leash or their collar. By turning leashing into a rewarding game instead of a struggle, dogs learn to move toward the leash when asked. This skill can pre...

Show Notes Are Sit and Down Really Dog Tricks? Understanding How Dogs Learn Behaviors Quick Answer Are basic behaviors like sit and down considered dog tricks? Yes. In dog training, any behavior a dog learns can be considered a trick. Whether it’s sit, down, walking nicely on a leash, agility obstacles, or fetching an item, the learning process is the same. Dogs learn behaviors through clear cues,...

Show Notes Should You Always End a Dog Training Session With Success? Quick Answer Do dog training sessions always need to end with a successful repetition? Dog training sessions should end on a positive note, but that doesn’t mean you must keep working on the same exercise until it succeeds. If a training session isn’t going well, it’s often better to stop the exercise and ask your dog for a simp...

Show Notes Quick Answer How do you cope with the loss of a beloved pet? Grieving the loss of a pet takes time, and everyone experiences that grief differently. Healthy ways to cope include allowing yourself to feel your emotions, talking with other pet lovers who understand the bond, writing about your memories together, and creating small memorials that celebrate your pet’s life. Remember that th...

Show Notes 3 Ways to Regain Distance from the Gamble Line in Agility In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains what to do when you accidentally drift too close to the gamble or distance line during a distance challenge. Handlers often plan their path carefully during a course walk, but once the run starts it’s easy to end up closer to the line than intended. Whe...

Show Notes “Stay Off the Line!” Planning Your Path for Agility Distance Games In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains one of the most important strategies for handling distance challenges in agility games like Chances and Gamblers . Many handlers instinctively move as close to the distance line as possible when planning their handling path. While this may seem...

Show Notes The Benefits of Dog Sports for You and Your Dog In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explores why dog sports can be one of the most rewarding activities you can do with your dog. Many people assume dog sports are only for highly competitive handlers or high-energy performance dogs. In reality, dog sports offer benefits for dogs and owners of all experienc...

Show Notes Your Dog’s Bucket List In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds shares a deeply personal story and an important reminder about the limited time we have with our dogs. After a sudden medical diagnosis changed the expected future for one of her dogs, Lorrie was reminded of something many dog owners don’t think about until it’s too late: the importance of creati...

Show Notes Do You Need to Practice Full Agility Courses to Compete Successfully? In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explores a common belief in dog agility training: that you must practice full courses in order to succeed at competitions. While many agility classes focus on running full courses repeatedly, that approach isn’t always the most effective way to build...

Show Notes Shave 2 Seconds Off Your Agility Course Time with This Simple Change In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds shares a simple adjustment that can significantly improve your agility course times. Many handlers unknowingly set their dogs up too close to the first obstacle at the start line. While it may seem helpful for control or positioning, this small setup...

Show Notes Dog Training: The Thomas Edison Approach to Solving Training Problems In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds shares how the mindset of inventor Thomas Edison can help you become a more effective and confident dog trainer. Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That philosophy applies surprisingly well...

Show Notes Should You Teach Your Agility Dog to Work Around Kids? In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds talks about an important but often overlooked part of training agility dogs: helping them feel comfortable working around children. Agility trials often take place in public spaces such as parks or community venues where kids are naturally part of the environment....

Show Notes Why You Should Keep a List of Your Dog Training Cues In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains why keeping a written list of your dog’s cues can make training clearer, more organized, and more effective. Many handlers create new verbal cues as they teach behaviors, tricks, and agility skills, but over time it becomes easy to accidentally duplicate cue...

Show Notes Why Reward Placement Matters to Your Agility Dog In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains why reward placement can dramatically influence your dog’s understanding during training. Handlers often focus on timing and reward type, but where the reward is delivered can be just as important. The location of the reward can reinforce position, encourage for...

Show Notes Your Dog Determines the Reward In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains an important concept in dog training: the dog decides what is rewarding . Handlers often assume certain treats or toys should motivate their dogs, but motivation doesn’t work that way. A reward only works if the dog actually values it. Through a story from one of her agility semi...

Is Your Dog Actually Stubborn? In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds tackles a question many dog owners and agility handlers ask: Is my dog being stubborn? When a dog refuses a cue, ignores a behavior they “know,” or suddenly stops performing a skill, it’s easy to assume stubbornness is the problem. But in most cases, something else is actually going on. This episode...

Show Notes Why I Feed My Dogs From the Table (And How It Actually Improves Their Training) In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds shares a surprising confession about her dog training routine: she feeds her dogs from the table. Before you assume that means dogs begging at the table, drooling on plates, or hovering during meals, this episode explains the training...

Show Notes Lower Your Training Criteria When Teaching New Skills for Dog Agility In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains why lowering training criteria can dramatically improve how quickly your dog learns new agility skills. Many agility handlers try to train new skills under full competition conditions. While this approach might seem logical, it can actu...

Show Notes Time to Stop Telling Dog Agility Handlers to “Just Run Faster” In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds discusses a frustrating message many agility handlers hear from instructors: “Just run faster.” For many agility competitors, especially those with injuries, chronic health conditions, or mobility limitations, that advice simply isn’t realistic. This episod...

Dog Agility Distance Handling: What is CLAWS? In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains one of the most important concepts in dog agility training: independent obstacle performance . You’ll learn what true obstacle independence means, why it matters for both distance handling and overall course success, and how the CLAWS system helps handlers break independence...

Show Notes How to Overcome Nerves in Your First Dog Agility Competition Feeling nervous before your first dog agility trial is completely normal. In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds shares practical advice for beginning competitors who feel anxious about stepping into the agility ring. Through personal stories and real experiences from agility competitions, Lorrie...

Show Notes What Are “Screw-Up Cookies” in Dog Training? (And Why They Matter) In this episode of the Maximum Fun Agility podcast , Lorrie Reynolds explains a concept she often teaches in seminars called “screw-up cookies.” These rewards help keep your dog motivated and confident when training sessions don’t go exactly as planned. Sometimes handlers get so focused on fixing mistakes that they forge...