Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (38:39)

In this episode, Greg Fontaine shares how he has worked with the AKC to experiment with course design strategies aimed at providing better spacing for large dogs.

You Will Learn

  • What Greg was trying to achieve with his designs.
  • Two different course design strategies Greg used to provide additional yardage between jumps for large dogs.
  • How these changes were approved organizationally.
  • How these changes were handled logistically.

Mentioned/Related

Nested Course Strategy

Large Spacing, Closer Traps Strategy

Direct download: BDAPodcast208.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:02pm CDT

In this episode (29:42)

In this podcast, FCI silver medalist Jennifer Crank interviews FCI gold medalist Martina Magnoli Klimešová.

You Will Learn

  • What skills and foundation Martina thinks are most important when working with puppies.
  • When Martina starts formal agility training.
  • How Martina approaches mental management.
  • How Martina keeps her dog competitive enough to win gold at 10.5 years old.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast207.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:57pm CDT

In this episode (24:49)

In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss three key lessons from the Agility World Championship.

You Will Learn

  • How Jennifer’s preparation led to her individual silver medal.
  • How your preparation affects your mental management.
  • Why courses today require elite dog training AND handling.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast206.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:03pm CDT

In this episode (23:05)

In this podcast, Jennifer, Sarah and Esteban give you practical tips for strengthening your dog’s contact obstacle performance.

You Will Learn

  • 5 tips for improving contact performance
  • When the color of your contact zone doesn’t matter
  • Common mistakes handlers make when practicing contacts
Direct download: BDAPodcast205.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:31pm CDT

In this episode (33:45)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban discuss the concept of proofing, pointing out common misconceptions and explaining exactly how you should use proofing in your agility training.

You Will Learn

  • How to define proofing.
  • How to use proofing to your maximum advantage.
  • The most common misconception about proofing.
  • Why Americans don’t like the metric system.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast204.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:41am CDT

In this episode (50:06)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban discuss how training a dolphin to swim upside down can help your dog run faster on course.

You Will Learn

  • How SeaWorld trainers use various rewards during training.
  • Which reward surprised Esteban the most.
  • How SeaWorld trainers deal with mistakes.
  • Whether Isaac is better at Math or Dating.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast203.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:57am CDT

In this episode (50:09)

In this podcast, Director of Agility for the American Kennel Club Carrie DeYoung joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about the upcoming AKC Invitational, which will be held December 14-16, 2018 in Orlando, Florida.

You Will Learn

  • Why many agility organizers outside of the United States are interested in the Invitational.
  • How many dogs attend the Invitational.
  • How many dogs compete in AKC Agility.
  • How the junior championship event works.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast202.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:24am CDT

In this episode (37:33)

Esteban and Sarah Fernandezlopez welcome Sarah Baker to the podcast to discuss the European Open and the Border Collie Classic.

You Will Learn

  • Who won the European Open Team and Individual events at each height.
  • How the European Open is different than the Agility World Championship.
  • How the Border Collie Classic event is structured.
  • Why clustered times may indicate the course should be harder.
  • Why Isaac has been losing friends.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast201.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:31am CDT

In this episode (43:16)

Jennifer and Sarah welcome 2018 Large Dog European Open Champion Max Sprinz to the podcast.

You Will Learn

  • How Max trained Baxx’s running contacts.
  • How Max uses distance skills in his handling.
  • Why Max emphasizes foundation work in his training.
  • German rules on training in the ring.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast200.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:17am CDT

In this episode (37:20)

In this podcast, we discuss how you can improve your dog’s time by focusing on efficiency on course and increasing your dog’s natural speed and drive.

You Will Learn

  • How the format of the Incredible Dog Challenge differs from all other agility trials.
  • Why your dog doesn’t always need to run faster to get faster times.
  • Three quick tips to improve your dog’s speed.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast199.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:44am CDT

In this episode (24:39)

In this podcast, Sarah and Jennifer discuss natural versus trained cues and how it affects training time, your mental state, and your dog’s response.

You Will Learn

  • Why it’s important to recognize whether a cue or skill is natural or trained.
  • Why it’s important to set proper expectations when teaching new skills.
  • Why you should balance natural skills with trained skills when planning your training.
  • How a natural skill can progress into a trained skill.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast198.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:30pm CDT

In this episode (39:52)

In this podcast, Sarah, Esteban and Jennifer talk about the 2018 World Agility Open Championship.

You Will Learn

  • What events make up the World Agility Open.
  • The unique strategy elements that are part of team roster construction.
  • How the wild card application and selection process works.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast197.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:21am CDT

In this episode (46:44)

In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk about the table, how to train for it, and whether or not it still belongs in the sport of dog agility.

You Will Learn

  • The most common mistakes people make in training the table.
  • How to make your table training more like your table trialing.
  • Why Esteban thinks the table should be discontinued.
  • The official BDA position on “Laurel” vs “Yanny”.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast196.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:25pm CDT

In this episode (1:04:40)

In this podcast, Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker join Sarah and Esteban for the 2018 AKC/FCI World Team Tryouts wrap up.

You Will Learn

  • Which dogs earned automatics spots on Team USA.
  • How the new scoring system affected results.
  • What the competitors thought of the course designs.
  • Why Gitchi did not run in Round 5.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast195.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:14pm CDT

In this episode (16:36)

In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss how to deal with forced breaks in your agility training.

You Will Learn

  • Why taking a break from agility can be emotionally difficult for many handlers.
  • How you can continue your agility training even if you or your dog are unable to physically practice.
  • How to stay connected to the agility community while you are unable to compete.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast194.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:04am CDT

In this episode (22:14)

In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer outline four international championship events and explain how they differ in format, jump height, and governing organizations.

You Will Learn

  • Which international organizations are associated with which championship event.
  • Which USA organization controls the team selection for which championship event.
  • The differences in jump heights between the various events.
  • Which championship event does not allow mixed breed dogs.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast193.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:51am CDT

In this episode (32:04)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban apply the software development concept of technical debt to dog agility.

You Will Learn

  • What technical debt is.
  • What problems in agility can be thought of as technical debt.
  • How to determine the true cost of technical debt to your agility training and trialing.
  • Why you might not need to fix every problem in your agility training and handling.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast192.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:47pm CDT

In this episode (46:50)

In this episode, 2018 Crufts Champion Dave Munnings joins Sarah and Esteban to talk Crufts, the UK agility scene, running contacts, and more.

You Will Learn

  • Who won Crufts.
  • How Dave’s handling has changed over the years.
  • Who Esteban thinks benefits the most from running contacts.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast191.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:57pm CDT

In this episode (39:45)

In this episode, 2018 American Kennel Club National Agility Champion (16″) Jennifer Crank joins Sarah and Esteban for the AKC Nationals Wrap Up.

You Will Learn

  • The qualifying rates for both the Challenger and Finals rounds over the past 3 years.
  • What competitors thought of the courses and surface.
  • What happened when the timer malfunctioned during Jennifer’s winning run in the Finals.
  • About birds that stick together.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast190.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:17pm CDT

In this episode (49:13)

In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk with Leslie Eide, DVM about structuring your agility training in a way that gives you peak performance at a specific event.

You Will Learn

  • How to plan your time off from agility.
  • How to taper for an event.
  • How to design a training plan for the entire year.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast189.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:45pm CDT

In this episode (26:13)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban about how we can train ourselves to take risks on course.

You Will Learn

  • What desensitization is.
  • How desensitization can help us deal with the stress of trials (big and small).
  • Why experienced handlers may lose empathy for newcomers.
  • How we can use desensitization to train ourselves to take risks on course.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast188.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:55pm CDT

In this episode (17:52)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about the differences between physical and mental commitment and how this can affect your dog on course.

You Will Learn

  • How we define a dog’s commitment to an obstacle.
  • Why commitment is important.
  • How to change your dog’s commitment point.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast187.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:06pm CDT

In this episode (19:14)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about everything your dog sees on course that you don’t.

You Will Learn

  • That dogs and people see the agility world differently.
  • Which invisible obstacles are the most common.
  • How to deal with blank spaces.
  • About shoemaking.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast186.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:26am CDT

In this episode (52:41)

In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban chat with Jessica Ajoux. Jessica and her border collie Fame(US) won the overall Masters Champion at this past weekend’s Masters Agility Championship at Westminster held in New York City.

You Will Learn

  • Why you should consider competing at Westminster at least once.
  • How Jessica manages her dog’s energy.
  • How Jessica deals with mistakes in practice.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast185.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:53pm CDT

In this episode (30:59)

Jennifer Crank and Lucky

Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker join Esteban to share their thoughts on the upcoming Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. They also give some advice to dog agility newcomers and discuss being “results oriented” versus “process oriented” in your approach to the sport.

 

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast2018WestminsterSpecial3.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:57am CDT

In this episode (42:18)

In February 2015, Raphael was watching the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster on TV with his rescue dog Ringo and decided, in that moment, that he wanted to be there. In June of 2015, he began training in agility. And now, in February of 2018, he will compete at Westminster. Listen to their remarkable story!

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast2018WestminsterSpecial2.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 11:34am CDT

In this episode (19:05)

In this episode, Sarah catches up with Stacey Campbell whose rescue dog Roo! became the first “Highest Scoring Mixed Breed in Trial” at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast2018WestminsterSpecial1.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:32pm CDT

In this episode (33:36)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban expose some of the common excuses people make in dog agility.

You Will Learn

  • How excuses can have a detrimental effect on your agility experience.
  • How to identify imagined limits.
  • How to overcome the most common real limits in the sport.
  • How to accept real limitations that cannot currently be overcome.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast184.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:43pm CDT

In this episode (40.25)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about three different phases with respect to the start line behavior, and common mistakes made by trainers in each phase.

You Will Learn

  • The most common start line mistakes that handlers make in trials, in practices, and during retraining.
  • The concept of ring sustainable training.
  • Why Esteban never rewards a dog in position at the start line.
  • A sneaky way to train and proof start lines in the trial environment.
  • How elephants avoid predators.

Mentioned/Related

Direct download: BDAPodcast183.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:20pm CDT

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