Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (14:29) In this episode, Jennifer and Esteban share their not-so-secret agility trial eating habits with Sarah. You Will Learn What Jennifer and Esteban eat at big agility events. How they time their meals around agility runs. What snacks they prefer for quick energy. The #1 thing agility competitors forgot to consume, especially in the winter.

In this episode (1:08:22) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban welcome special guest Tim Verrelli, judge of the AKC National Agility Championship Finals. Podcast co-host Jennifer Crank doubles as a special guest as she won the 16″ Finals at this event. You Will Learn Who won the NAC and PNAC titles this year. Which podcast participant has been doing agility the longest. What breeds Tim has run in agility. When Tim designed the Finals course. Why Esteban loved the Finals course. What obstacle replaces the chute in AKC. How Jennifer won her 2nd NAC in 3 years with P!nk with the fastest time in all heights. How the ESPN broadcast affected the Finals. Why ESPN cut 10 dogs out of the Finals broadcast on ESPN2. How livestream comments about preferred dogs created a controversy. When and where the Premier Cup will take place. Mentioned/Related Esteban’s AKC NAC Finals Map Analysis Watch Jennifer and P!nk's Winning Run

In this episode (17:57) In this episode, the BDA team discusses one of the most classic jump sequences in all of agility: the pinwheel. You Will Learn What a pinwheel is. How most people handle pinwheels. Problems people encounter on pinwheels. Why dogs sometimes mistakenly turn away from the handler on pinwheels. How to handle pinwheels better. How to vary your reinforcement schedule to help your dog stay motivated on pinwheels.

In this episode (18:56) In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss how to help our dog be successful and improve their learning at the same time. You Will Learn Why helping your dog be correct doesn’t always teach your dog the right lesson. How you can help your dog without changing your handling. Why it’s helpful to work through problems when they occur. Mentioned/Related How to Help Your Agility Dog Get It Right On the Job Training using Placement of Reward

In this episode (34:35) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban share their own experiences with nerves before an agility run. You Will Learn What you can learn from your nerves. How you can alleviate your nerves by taking a closer look. How nerves change depending on the dog on and context. How great athletes handle nerves at big events. Mentioned/Related Are you 98% excited and 2% scared? Or 98% scared and 2% excited?

In this episode (34:35) In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss the process of constructing a building for agility. You Will Learn What goes into building a space for agility. What factors were most important to Jennifer. The pros and cons of renting out your space. The maintenance requirements of different surfaces. The timeline of Jennifer’s building from the first stake in the ground to when she was given the keys!. Mentioned/Related The turf Jennifer used is True Turf from GrassTex.

In this episode (43:18) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban are joined by Chris Kerton aka Kert, Handler Fitness Coach for Team Great Britain and owner of Karma Fitness. You Will Learn How fitness training can be specialized for dog agility handlers. Why anaerobic fitness is important for agility. How strength training can help prevent injury. Why mistakes may be more common toward the end of courses. Mentioned/Related Contact Kert on Facebook Train with Kert at Karma Fitness Episode 69: Dog Agility – The Great Motivator

In this episode (34:35) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban share their tricks for developing new habits that will help your dog agility in 2021. You Will Learn Why you need to move past will power to create new habits. How his family locked Esteban out of eating candy. Why people like to socialize after an agility trial. How to use Netflix to condition your dogs. When you might benefit from an accountability partner. Mentioned/Related Episode 210: How to Goal Set for Big Events in 2019 Episode 155: Three Emotions Keeping You From Setting Agility Goals Episode 44: Dog Agility Dreams & Goals Achieve Your Dog Agility Goals Want your own timed lock box? Try this.

In this episode (25:09) In this podcast, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban define strategy and execution while exploring the difference between them. You Will Learn The difference between strategy and execution. How to use course maps to develop your strategies. How to develop strategies without course maps. Why visualization can help your strategic planning. How instructors can tailor classes for strategy or execution. Why execution applies to dog training as well as handling. Mentioned/Related Analyzing Your Mistakes in Dog Agility

In this episode (19:32) In this podcast, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban show why the tunnel may be a far more complex obstacle than most competitors realize. (Click here for Part 1) You Will Learn The handling impact of curving or straightening a tunnel. How tunnels interact with different dog heights. Whether you should train on light or dark-colored tunnels. How to properly bag and anchor your tunnel. What length tunnel you should train on. If “tunnel suckers” actually exist. Why handlers shouldn’t get too close to the tunnel. How to cue tight turns after the tunnel. When to time your verbal cues for the next obstacle after a tunnel. How to handle common tunnel traps. Mentioned/Related Episode 129: The Connection Paradigm Tunnel Discrimination and Bypass Test Can Your Dog Find a BLIND Tunnel Entry? Sarah’s Tunnel Bag Recommendation: https://www.tunelypropsy.cz/en/articles/stabilization-bags/fixation-bag-sara/. Customers in the USA can contact Mary Ellen Barry at mebarry@kineticdog.com to place an order. Wa

In this episode (31:41) In this podcast, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban show why the tunnel may be a far more complex obstacle than most competitors realize. You Will Learn The handling impact of curving or straightening a tunnel. How tunnels interact with different dog heights. Whether you should train on light or dark-colored tunnels. How to properly bag and anchor your tunnel. What length tunnel you should train on. If “tunnel suckers” actually exist. Why handlers shouldn’t get too close to the tunnel. How to cue tight turns after the tunnel. When to time your verbal cues for the next obstacle after a tunnel. How to handle common tunnel traps. Mentioned/Related Sarah’s Tunnel Bag Recommendation: https://www.tunelypropsy.cz/en/articles/stabilization-bags/fixation-bag-sara/. Customers in the USA can contact Mary Ellen Barry at mebarry@kineticdog.com to place an order. Water bags are becoming a popular way to weight your bags rather than dirt. You can pour out the water before transporting bags and refill an

In this episode (26:00) In this podcast episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban help you prepare for winter training! You Will Learn How to create a plan for your winter season. Why you should tailor your training to the individual dog. Which agility behaviors can be taught without equipment. Why top competitors focus on conditioning. How to develop drive, focus, and motivation away from equipment. When you should take a complete break from agility.

In this episode (20:04) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban explain what “call-offs” are and how they impact our handling and our dogs on course. You Will Learn The definition of a “call-off”. The pros and cons of call-offs. The difference between proactive and reactive handling. How various dogs respond differently to call-offs. Mentioned/Related Episode 246: Should You React or Anticipate in Dog Agility?

In this episode (19:05) In this episode, Jennifer and Sarah help Esteban overcome his lack of motivation to train. You Will Learn How to motivate yourself to train when you don’t feel like. How to schedule your training. Why you should set the bar low. Mentioned/Related Episode 146: Record Keeping Trick for Dog Agility Episode 82: What To Do When You Feel Overwhelmed And YES, Esteban DID train his dog!

In this episode (37:41) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer and Esteban have a detailed discussion on why some dogs have better contacts in training than in trials, and how you can fix that. You Will Learn Common mistakes made when trainers try to fix contact issues. How to reward your dog for good contacts at a trial without taking food into the ring. Why and how to leave the ring with your dog for a contact error. Why you should leave the training field with your dog for a contact error. How to properly reward your dog in training during contact work. Mentioned Episode 111: The Myth of the Ring-Wise Dog Episode 247: Interview with Greg Derrett on UKI At Home Agility Program Episode 257: Consistent Contact Criteria

In this episode (50:28) In this episode, the team discusses the impact of Covid-19 on major dog agility events in the United States, highlighting various adjustments and postponements including the recently announced changes for Westminster 2021. You Will Learn How Covid-19 has impacted major agility events. How the US Open went 100% virtual. What Covid-19 precautions are in effect at the AKC Invitational. When European Tryouts for Team USA have been postponed to. Westminster’s new date and location for 2021. Why dog agility is being featured on a South Korean variety show. The important of mask wearing to the future of dog agility. Esteban’s thoughts on vaccine development. Mentioned Westminster Date/Location Change Announcement Episode 247: Interview with Greg Derrett on UKI At Home Agility Program AKC Agility Invitational COVID Guidelines AKC Agility Mask Policy 2020 Idol Star Dog-agility Championships on Viki.com BDA Preview: 2020 Idol Star Dog Agility Championships

In this episode (39:25) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban highlight the challenges of dog agility’s “extending” obstacles: the tire, the double/ascending, the triple, the panel, the wall/viaduct, and the broad/long jump. You Will Learn Why these obstacles tend to cause dogs to extend their jumping/striding. How dogs measure their take off point: which bar do they consider the “main” one? How to overcome problems with specialty jumps. Mentioned New Online Course: The Invitational Prep Course

In this episode (19:40) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban talk about cheerleading in dog agility. You Will Learn Why people use cheerleading in dog agility. Why cheerleading may not be the fix you think it is. When cheerleading is okay. Which BDA instructor was a cheerleader in the movie Bring It On.

In this episode (19:43) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban discuss the three elements of “wise feedback” in dog agility. Learn how you can give yourself (or your students) more valuable feedback that leads to immediate improvement. You Will Learn What the three elements of wise feedback are. Common feedback mistakes that handlers make. Why high standards are important for feedback. Why instruction is more helpful than evaluation.