Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (24:32) In this podcast, Esteban, Sarah and Jennifer discuss why having a dog that trusts you is so important in dog agility training. You Will Learn How the trust relates to speed. How consistency relates to trust. How personality can affect your dog’s reaction to incomplete information.

In this episode (1:14:33) In this podcast, Jennifer Crank goes from podcast co-host to interviewee. Jennifer and border collie P!nk won the overall Masters Champion at this past weekend’s Masters Agility Championship at Westminster held in New York City and made history as the first non-20″ dog to earn the title. You Will Learn How the Westminster Masters Agility Champion is selected. The results of the 2020 Westminster Masters Agility Championship. Our thoughts on the broadcast and answers to the most common questions from our listeners. Mentioned/Related Video: Jumpers With Weave Preliminary Round Video: Standard Preliminary Round Video: The Winning Run in Each Height Class Previous Podcast: Episode 238: Westminster 2020 Preview

In this episode (48:55) This week we introduced a new speed-based ranking, the All-Decade Power 70. In this podcast, we discuss this ranking and the trends we see in agility over the past 10 years. You Will Learn How the All-Decade Ranking was created. Why there are 70 ranked dogs instead of 60. Why we think so many of the ranked dogs are from the last few years. What breed dominates the ranking. Mentioned/Related 2010s All-Decade Power 70 Episode 86: A Look at Rankings in Dog Agility

In this episode (42:11) In this episode, we discuss the use of markers in your dog agility training. You Will Learn What a marker is in dog training. Why you might want multiple markers. The benefit of location based markers. Identifying inadvertent markers. Mentioned/Related Previous Podcast: Episode 181: Should You Use a Clicker During Agility Training? Sarah Stremming Previous Podcast: Episode 144: Interview with Sarah Stremming on Behavior Problems in Performance Dogs Previous Podcast: Episode 229: Is Your Dog Too Worked Up for Agility

In this episode (25:42) In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss how to pick the right agility organization for your debut and your agility career. You Will Learn The biggest factors that will affect your choice of agility organization. Why you don’t REALLY have to choose. Which organizations have rules that are favorable to new agility teams. Mentioned/Related Episode 237: AKC 2020 Rule Changes Including Fix and Go and For Exhibition Only Thinking About Using FNG or FEO at Your Next AKC Agility Trial? Episode 182: Choose Your Own Agility Adventure

In this episode (30:03) In this episode, Director of Westminster Companion Events joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about the upcoming Masters Championship at Westminster, including important changes for both competitors and viewers. You Will Learn What upgrades Westminster has made for competitors. How you can view the preliminary rounds on livestream. Which network the Finals will be broadcast on tape delay. Who the judges are for this year. How the prize pool will be distributed. Why Meet the Breeds will not take place in conjunction with agility this year. Fix and Go at Westminster After the podcast, we received confirmation from Paul Campanella, Director of Agility for the Westminster Kennel Club, that Fix and Go WILL be allowed during the Preliminary rounds at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. However, FNG runs are scored as an E, and an E in a preliminary round disqualifies the team for the finals. Fix and Go will NOT be permitted during the Finals. Mentioned/Related Watch the Finals on

In this episode (53:32) In this episode, AKC Executive Field Representative Kitty Bradley joins the podcast to explain the new rule changes for the American Kennel Club. You Will Learn Why the AKC is allowing a third tunnel option. How the AKC is addressing the issue of spacing between jumps. Why you should remove the tape from your weave poles. What is “Fix And Go” and how is it different from “For Exhibition Only”. Mentioned/Related Judges Blog: For Exhibition Only (FEO) & Fix and Go On Approved (Part 1) Judges Blog: For Exhibition Only (FEO) & Fix and Go On (Part 2) – Judging Information AKC Judges Blog 2020 Rule Changes for AKC

In this episode (32:29) In this episode, we discuss how to enjoy your training and use that enjoyment to create greater success in dog agility. You Will Learn Why enjoyment is important for your mental state. How enjoyment can get you to success more quickly. Why you should focus on daily “little wins”. What we’ve learned from playing Fortnite. Mentioned/Related Episode 58: The Rocky Road to Success Episode 157: The Comparison Trap

In this episode (26:15) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban share some things they’ve learned from raising two puppies at the same time. You Will Learn how puppy personalities affect training if fear periods are real how puppies comunicate why puppies are not small dogs how dog people idealize previous dogs

In this episode (20:37) In this episode, we discuss how to use non qualifying runs to improve your agility. You Will Learn Why taping non qualifying runs is important. Why we set up problem sequences from trials as soon as possible. How to use non qualifying runs to boost your confidence for future trials.

In this episode (54:57) In this episode, Denise Fenzi returns to the podcast to talk about the common strategies that we use to help our dogs cope with distractions and anxiety-provoking situations in agility. You Will Learn the relationship between a dog’s emotional state and agility performance how counterconditioning should work why distraction training often fails how to build your dog’s confidence Mentioned/Related Episode 56: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 1 Episode 57: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 2 Fenzi Blog Post: Counterconditioning, Distraction food or distraction training? Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

In this episode (56:52) In this episode, Tamás Tráj joins the podcast to discuss course design, safety and international agility. You Will Learn How Tamás approaches course design. Why Hungary added a 4th jump height. What factors are influencing the possible addition of jump heights to FCI agility. Mentioned/Related Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) OfCourse Online Coursedesign Education with Petr Pupik, Tamás Tráj and Jan Egil Eide

In this episode (38:52) Dr. Amy Cook joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about noise sensitivity in agility dogs. Dr. Cook earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and has been training dogs and dog trainers for 25 years. Part 2 of 2. You Will Learn Why agility dogs can be very sensitive to noises. Common noises that often cause problems for agility dogs. How to implement the solution to noise issues. What type of conditioning you need to fix the problem. How to “prehab” rather than “rehab” your agility dog. Mentioned/Related Episode 230: Noise Sensitivity in the Agility Dog with Amy Cook – Part 1 Amy Cook’s website: Play Way Dogs Amy Cook’s online courses on FDSA

In this episode (35:32) Dr. Amy Cook joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about noise sensitivity in agility dogs. Dr. Cook earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and has been training dogs and dog trainers for 25 years. Part 1 of 2. You Will Learn Why agility dogs can be very sensitive to noises. Common noises that often cause problems for agility dogs. How to implement the solution to noise issues. What type of conditioning you need to fix the problem. How to “prehab” rather than “rehab” your agility dog. Mentioned/Related Amy Cook’s website: Play Way Dogs Amy Cook’s online courses on FDSA

In this episode (54:19) In this episode, Sarah Stremming joins the podcast to discuss dogs that are too worked up/high drive/over-aroused to perform in the agility ring. You Will Learn Signs of an overly worked up or over-aroused dog. “Tag-along” behaviors often seen with these dogs. How agility dogs today differ from previous generations with respect to arousal and prey/bite drive. Solutions for working with the over-aroused dog. Mentioned/Related Episode 144: Interview with Sarah Stremming on Behavior Problems in Performance Dogs Cog-Dog Radio Train with Sarah on FDSA Episode 15: Kathy Sdao Interview – Part 1

In this episode (19:19) In this episode, we interview four handlers who will be competing at the FCI Agility World Championship in Turku, Finland on September 19-22, 2019. You Will Learn Each handler’s history at the AWC. What specific skills each handler has been working on to prepare for this event. What trends have been identified from this year’s judges. Mentioned/Related Episode 227: Why You Should Watch the FCI Agility World Championship The 2019 AWC Experience Online Course

In this episode (23:53) In this episode, we talk about the upcoming FCI Agility World Championship, and why you should watch it. You Will Learn Why people watch the AWC. How to shop for you next dog at the AWC. How course maps are distributed differently around the world. The difference between the livestream and our “AWC Experience” online event. Mentioned/Related Our 2019 AWC Experience Online Course The Official AWC Livestream The 2019 Agility World Championship Website

In this episode (20:07) In this episode, Jennifer and Sarah talk about whether it is better to teach one skill until mastered, or to rotate skills. You Will Learn What skills we prefer to teach as quickly as possible once training begins. How we use contrast training to test our dogs and train multiple skills at one time. How to structure your training sessions to reduce mental and physical fatigue. Mentioned/Related Susan Garrett’s 12 Poles in 12 Days Contrasting Maneuvers to Make Your Agility Amazing Episode 78: The Power of Latent Learning

In this episode (20:45) Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban discuss how agility handlers can maximize their Return On Investment (ROI) in dog training. You Will Learn How you can use ROI to decide what skills to train in practice. How to avoid a negative ROI. How eliminating unnecessary training can help you get better, faster.

In this episode (27:29) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah and Esteban talk about success in the sport of dog agility: how do we define it and how do our perceptions of success influence our training and trialing? You Will Learn The difference between traditional and non-traditional definitions of success in agility. How to define your own success in agility. Why success should not equate to self-esteem. Mentioned/Related Episode 182: Choose Your Own Agility Adventure Episode 124: Dealing with Disappointment in Dog Agility