Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (15:27) What can you do when something works for everyone else’s dog but not your own? In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about understanding your dog’s issues in the context of the agility spectrum. You Will Learn How many dogs earned a qualifying score in the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2016. Why you shouldn’t feel like you’re the only one dealing with a specific problem in agility. How to find help for your specific problem. Why you should leave your poker chips at home before going to the jungle. Mentioned Our Facebook Live Show

In this episode (19:50) In this episode, Dr. Brittany Schaezler joins the podcast to get you and your dog ready for summer. You Will Learn When you should stop your training sessions due to heat and fatigue. How you can cool your dog during and after training. Where dogs have sweat glands. Mentioned Episode 8: Using a Camcorder in Training; Heat Stroke & Water Intoxication

In this episode (21:41) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban explore how a minimalist approach to dog agility training can protect people from feeling overwhelmed–especially if they have a dog new to agility. You Will Learn Why Esteban thinks he’s an agility minimalist. How minimalism can protect you from feeling overwhelmed with your new dog. How to identify the essential skills and behaviors needed for the minimalist approach. Proper traffic etiquette.

In this episode (24:32) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban discuss the impact that external influences can have on your agility, and how you can use them to advance your own training. You Will Learn Who/what your biggest outside influences are. How they affect your training. Why you should embrace outside influences. Mentioned Episode 148: The Paradox of Choice in Dog Agility Episode 42: The Internet, Dog Agility, and You

In this episode (18:46) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban help you memorize your courses by figuring out the dog’s line and the handler’s path and combining them with visualization. You Will Learn Why you should focus on your own path as well as your dog’s. How knowing your dog’s line can reduce your memorization burden. The 3 different views you can have during visualization. Mentioned Episode 87: Improving Your Course Memorization

In this episode (16:29) Sarah and Esteban talk about dogs that perform better at home than at shows. Some dogs slow down at trials while other dogs run fast but consistently make mistakes on the same thing like start lines or weave poles. We share some tips for both training and trialing to help handlers work through these issues. You Will Learn Why some dogs run slower at shows than at home or practice. Why you need to make your practices harder than the trial. How to “practice” with your dog at a trial. Proper attire for weddings! Mentioned Episode 104: Building Confidence Through Challenges (not mentioned, but should have been!) Facebook Live on Weave Poles (where this question came up frequently)

In this episode (38:53) In this episode, Sarah is joined by Jennifer Crank and Sasha Zitter to talk about the Junior Handler program. You Will Learn How agility can teach children (and adults!) perseverance and sportsmanship. How the Junior Handler program can help grow the sport of dog agility. How clubs can help encourage Junior Handlers. How competitors can help encourage Junior Handlers. How the idea of the Boundless Junior Agility Camp became reality. Mentioned Boundless Junior Agility Camp Facebook Page Boundless Junior Agility Camp Website American Kennel Club’s Junior Handler Program USDAA’s Junior Handler Program

In this episode (39:11) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban share some thoughts on the exact steps they take when the dog makes a mistake in agility training. You Will Learn Exactly how Esteban and Sarah react to mistakes when training. How to keep your dog’s drive and enthusiasm up in the face of repeated mistakes. Why Sarah uses “microbreaks” with her border collie. Esteban’s thoughts on No Reward Marks (NRMs) in agility training. Mentioned Analyzing Your Mistakes in Dog Agility Episode 30: Analyzing Mistakes and a Look at Systems On the Job Training using Placement of Reward Episode 131: Free Your Agility Dog Episode 49: Using Differential Rewards Episode 57: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 2 Psychology Today: Should Trainers Tell Dogs When Their Behavior Is Wrong?

In this episode (23:42) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban apply the concept of “muscle memory” to dog agility. They talk about how it works, why it’s important, and how you can use it to your advantage. You Will Learn The definition of muscle memory. How muscle memory works. Why muscle memory can help your dog agility. The most common way agility handlers undermine their own training. The big problem muscle memory can create for the agility veteran. Mentioned our new Facebook Live sessions (called the “Bad Dog Agility Show”)

In this episode (37:15) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban are joined by Livestream Finals announcer Brittany Schaezler to wrap up the 2017 AKC National Agility Championship. They talk about the dirt, the judges, the courses, the winners, and their favorite runs from the weekend! You Will Learn If this year’s courses were tougher than last year’s courses. Which course was the toughest this year. How good the footing was for the dogs. Who the winners were for each class. The favorite runs for each livestream announcer. Who ran the “clutch run” of the weekend. Mentioned Results from the 2017 AKC National Agility Championship

In this episode (25:00) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban explore the good and bad behind comparing your dog and yourself to others in dog agility. You Will Learn How making comparisons can motivate you to improve your agility training. How making comparisons can make you feel bad about your progress in the sport. How realistic it is to never compare yourself to anyone. How focusing on creating the best version of yourself can free you from the comparison trap. What is Mozart’s least favorite fowl? Mentioned New Online Class: The Before and After

In this episode (22:14) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban help you practice dog agility more effectively, producing maximal results with minimal time. You Will Learn What exactly constitutes “practice” when you’re training dog agility. How being on the edge of your comfort zone is critical to a successful practice. Why you should avoid Facebook when you train. How elite athletes use relatively short but frequent sessions with breaks to maximize performance. Why you should incorporate visualization into your practice routine. Who’s better at grammar; Isaac or Sarah? Mentioned The TED-Ed course that inspired this podcast. Episode 32: Improving Your Mental Game for Big Events Episode 44: Dog Agility Dreams & Goals

In this episode (18:34) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about some negative feelings that might be keeping you from setting goals for 2017. You Will Learn How fear, shame and uncertainty can negatively impact your goal setting. Why to be wary of tunnel vision. Why tunnel vision can hold you back from reaching your goals. How to push beyond your comfort zone without suffering from delusions of grandeur. How to power a soccer stadium. Mentioned Episode 44: Dog Agility Dreams & Goals

In this episode (38:58) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk with USA AKC/FCI World Team member Jennifer Crank about being a mom and competitor while managing a human child in the dog agility world. You Will Learn How far along in their pregnancies both Jennifer and Sarah ran agility. How Jennifer started in the sport as a very young child. Why it’s helpful to establish a relationship with children and their parents at trials if your dog is not good with children. How children can help prepare your dog for big events like Westminster. How and why unsanctioned “Cup” events are starting to appear here in the United States. A clever thing to say to a vending machine. Mentioned Announcement: Sponsored Athlete Jennifer Crank http://jennifercrank.com/ IncrediPAWS Dog Training

In this episode (26:17) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk with John Nys, the overall winner of this year’s Masters Agility Championship at Westminster about the show, the courses, the crowds, and Madison Square Garden! You Will Learn How border collie Trick overcame injury to win Westminster. How the audience impacts the atmosphere of the trial. How John managed running two dogs in the televised final. What kind of impact Westminster is having on the sport of dog agility. Mentioned Bad Dog Agility Goes to Westminster 2016 Is the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Valuable to Dog Agility?

In this episode (17:52) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban explore social networks in dog agility and share 3 tips for creating your very own powerful support system to get you through the tough times. You Will Learn Why developing your own social network in agility is important. How to develop your personal network by casting a wide net, being proactive, and using technology. How to approach strangers at dog shows (with a video example). A safe, constructive way to complain/vent without offending others or being attacked. Mentioned Episode 58: The Rocky Road to Success Episode 146: Record Keeping Trick for Dog Agility Kathy Keats article “How Sheep Deal With Bullies (and What You Can Learn From It)“ American Psychological Association’s article “Manage stress: Strengthen Your Support Network“ Flow is Flow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I96EZ3203-Q

In this episode (39:45) In this podcast, judge Janet Gauntt joins Sarah and Esteban to discuss the video review process that was highlighted at the 2016 USDAA Cynosport. You Will Learn How the video review process works. Which aspects of the run are reviewed. Who is involved in the review process. Mentioned The USDAA article describing the process. You can find over 500 Janet Gauntt courses on Agility Course Maps.

In this episode (40:32) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban are joined by Lee Gibson to discuss the Global Judging Program. You Will Learn Why Lee Gibson and Greg Derrett joined forces to create the Global Judging Program. The common elements of judging across organizations and around the world. The positive and negative effects competitors can have on judges. The positive and negative effects judges can have on competitors. Fiscal advise for snowmen (and snowomen). Mentioned The Global Judging Program Facebook Group The “trailer” video for the Global Judging Program.

In this episode (27:22) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban discuss perceptions in agility that are widely held, but not always true. You Will Learn How to determine whether a wrap or slice is faster. (spoiler: trick question) How to determine whether a rear cross or front cross is faster. (spoiler: trick question) How to determine which is faster, a quick dog with shorter strides or a larger dog with long strides. (spoiler: trick question) How to identify perceptions that may be holding you back in your dog agility training. The price of corn. Mentioned Episode 108: Choices on Course Episode 63: A Newcomer’s Guide to Handling Systems

In this episode (19:51) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban discuss “the paradox of choice” and how it might apply to dog agility. You Will Learn What “the paradox of choice” is. How the paradox of choice might affect your feelings and perceptions in agility. Who may be susceptible to influence by the paradox of choice. The scariest single digit number. Mentioned Episode 3: Start Line Stays; Online Agility Classes Episode 42: The Internet, Dog Agility, and You The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less by Barry Schwartz