Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (26:00) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban share their thoughts on how external circumstances often require changes in your agility plans. You Will Learn How to stack your training days to maintain flexibility for bad weather and other intrusions in your routine. How to shift gears in a trial environment. The importance of changing your expectations without sacrificing your criteria at trials. The value of a thesaurus. Mentioned On the Job Training using Placement of Reward Episode 162: Why Does My Dog Run Slower at the Trial?

In this episode (33:24) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk with Silvia Trkman about her recent European Open win and how she continues to be competitive in an ever-changing sport. You Will Learn How your attitude toward challenges can affect your enjoyment of the sport and set you up for a career of success. Silvia’s thoughts on course design in Europe. What to watch for when reviewing your runs to increase your dog’s speed and reduce their confusion. How beginners can achieve success with their very first dog. Mentioned Episode 24: Interview with Silvia Trkman Xtreme Foundations DVD Silvia’s Online Classes

In this episode (20:45) In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban discuss what it means to keep an eye on your dog during agility. You Will Learn Why and when you should keep your eyes on your dog. Why and when you should look away from your dog. The importance of using your peripheral vision. Mentioned Episode 171: Obstacle Focus vs Handler Focus in Dog Agility Episode 129: The Connection Paradigm

In this episode (17:43) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about the concept of handler focus versus obstacle focus, and how to apply it to your own agility training. You Will Learn What it means for your dog to be handler-focused or obstacle-focused. Which focus you need in order to excel in agility. How a dog’s focus can be obstacle-dependent.

In this episode (24:40) Why is it sometimes so difficult to make changes in your handling? In this episode, Sarah and Esteban apply the concept of homeostasis to dog agility, and explain how you can “reset” your agility equilibrium. You Will Learn The definition of homeostasis. How to leave jumps sooner. A helpful tip for handlers who “body block” their dogs on down contacts. How to get ahead while your dog is weaving. The real secret behind Romeo and Juliet’s love affair. Mentioned Episode 46: Expanding Your Comfort Zone How Your Mindset Affects Your Agility Performance Episode 65: Recognizing Artificial Limitations

In this episode (34:35) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk with Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker about how they manage their time and their dog from the moment they take them out of a crate for a run to the moment they put them back in the crate after the run. You Will Learn When and how to get your dog ready to run. How to structure your dog’s reinforcement schedule around each run at a trial. Common mistakes people make before and after runs. The big mistake people make when using food before their run. How to use toys or your dog’s leash effectively. Why bicycles are so unstable. Mentioned Our Facebook LIVE Show Interview with Jennifer Crank on Using the Practice Jump

In this episode (24:19) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban discuss how to recognize and combat tilt in your dog training. You Will Learn How a moment of tilt can set your dog back in their training. How to recognize and avoid tilting in your agility training. Which dogs are most affected by a handler on tilt. Mentioned Episode 160: How to Work Through Mistakes in Your Agility Training Our LIVE Facebook Show

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