In this episode (35:33)

In this podcast, the BDA crew share how the sport shapes their fashion choices on course!

You Will Learn

• Why Jennifer never wears sunglasses.
• How people with long hair might benefit from a ponytail.
• How your clothing choices may affect your dog’s performance.

In this episode (34:06)

In this podcast Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban answer your question “When do most people move their dog to preferred/performance/select for the lower jump height?”

You Will Learn

• The most common reasons people move their dogs to a lower height class.
• How your dog may benefit from jumping a lower height.
• Factors to consider as your dog ages.

Mentioned

• Jennifer Crank and Bee Place in all Four Rounds at the AKC European Open Team Tryouts
• Sarah Baker’s Online Course: Agility Foundation for Puppies and Young Dogs (featuring 2022 EO Team Member Skeptic)
• ETO –> Early Take Off

In this episode (30:26)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban discuss the timing of verbal cues.

You Will Learn

• Whether or not you need verbal cues.
• Why it’s important to know how verbal your dog really is.
• When to give verbal cues.
• Common mistakes people make when using verbal cues.

Mentioned

• Episode 76: Verbal Cues in Dog Agility
• The 20 Foot Trap
• How Committed Are You?
• Episode 187: Physical and Mental Commitment

In this episode (54:21)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah and Esteban talk with Kathy Keats about dogs, sport, and life.

You Will Learn

• Why mindset is important for beginners.
• How handlers can improve their mindset.
• What it means to be “in the zone”.
• Why handlers underperform at big events.
• How to separate your agility results from your self-worth.

Mentioned/Related

• The Kathy Keats Show (Podcast)
• Kathy Keats’ Website
• Episode 159: Handler Muscle Memory for Dog Agility

In this episode (17:30)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban explain how they use back-chaining and forward-chaining to help dogs learn more quickly.

You Will Learn

• What back-chaining is and when to use it.
• What forward-chaining is and when to use it.
• Which technique is more favored by Bad Dog Agility instructors.

Mentioned

• A Quick Training Tip for Improving 2 On 2 Off Contact Performance

In this episode (19:40)

In this episode, the BDA coaches give handlers advice on what to do when things start off poorly at a trial that’s very important to them.

You Will Learn

• How the format of the event impacts handler psychology.
• Jennifer’s 3 step plan for dealing with early disappointment.
• Esteban’s key tip for moving on after a bad run.

In this episode (32:14)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban highlight recent and upcoming events in the agility world.

You Will Learn

• When and where USDAA Cynosport, UKI’s US Open, the AKC Invitational, Westminster, and the European Open team tryouts will be held.
• Where Jennifer was last weekend.
• How COVID affects these events.

Mentioned

• Previous discussion on the Incredible Dog Challenge: Episode 199: How to Speed Up Your Agility Dog

In this episode (29:17)

In this episode, the BDA team talks about the relationship between speed and accuracy in dog agility.

You Will Learn

• Why many people believe speeding up a dog will decrease accuracy.
• How techniques for improving your course time depends on your situation.
• The #1 easy thing to fix to improve your dog’s course time.
• Why it’s easier to speed up your dog if you’re a really bad handler.

Mentioned

• Swift winning all fours rounds at tryouts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riu4GoeiCyA
• Episode 179: Which is Faster, a Front Cross or Rear Cross?
• Episode 199: How to Speed Up Your Agility Dog

In this episode (25:48)

Instructors at Bad Dog Agility have been using the Coach’s Eye app to analyze maps and videos of runs for years, but no longer! Coach’s Eye is being retired and users have one year of support from the company. Not to worry, Sarah has already found a replacement app, OnForm.

You Will Learn

• What is happening with Coach’s Eye.
• Sarah’s recommended app to replace Coach’s Eye.
• What Jennifer and Esteban think of the new app.
• Upgrades and differences between Coach’s Eye and the new app.

Mentioned

• Our Recommendation: OnForm
• An example video analysis from our archives: AKC NAC Finals Map Analysis
• An example of side by side analysis (at time 8:45): Did 75% of dogs go the wrong way at AKC Nationals?

In this episode (42:46)

In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban are joined by Lisa Topol, the 2021 AND 2019 Highest Scoring All-American dog at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster.

You Will Learn

• How Lisa is like Lebron James.
• What you should expect from your rescue dog.
• How Plop got his name.
• Why shelters and rescues are full of great agility prospects.
• Why it is important to know your goal for every agility run.

Mentioned/Related

• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/training-agility-apartment/

Lisa will soon be offering training at her new facility. Check out the website https://www.weavegottheruns.com/ for details (currently under construction!)

In this episode (14:35)

What would you do if you were without an agility partner for two years? In this podcast, Sarah and Jennifer talk with Collene Gaolach, an agility competitor without a partner who has continued to learn and improve as a handler WITHOUT a dog.

You Will Learn

• Why Collene does agility with “her invisible dog”.
• How walking and running a course without a dog can improve your handling skills.
• How you can quickly set up full courses with placeholders.
• Why the “why’s” of agility are so important.

In this episode (37:09)

This podcast is taken from a live video presentation. In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban explore WHY people love agility and how trainers can use their WHY to map out the next 12 months of their agility lives.

You Will Learn

• The 9 categories of why people do agility.
• How your “why” affects your planning.
• What happens when your goal setting doesn’t match up with your “why”.

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban talk about private lessons in dog agility and how you can use them more effectively.

You Will Learn

• Differences in private lessons between novice and advanced handlers.
• Why setting expectations is important.
• How to maximize your learning during a private lesson.
• How private lessons can be used in a variety of ways.

In this episode (38:37)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban apply concepts from “How to Get a Perfect 1600 SAT Score” to dog agility. Implement these study habits to your training for maximum results!

You Will Learn

• How to distinguish between high-quality and low-quality practice.
• How to emphasize quality over quantity.
• How to be ruthless about understanding your mistakes.
• How to find patterns in your weaknesses.
• How to eliminate careless errors.
• How to develop amazing study habits.
• How to deal with pressure.

Mentioned/Related

• The “Inspiration” Article
• Episode 14: Agility Instructors, They’re G-r-r-reat!
• Episode 30: Analyzing Mistakes and a Look at Systems
• Episode 212: Do You Really Need Video Analysis?

In this episode (43:30)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban talk about running other people’s dogs, including why and how they do it.

You Will Learn

• Why people ask other people to run their dog.
• Why you need the “keys to the car” to make it work.
• How your training and handling strategies depend on exactly why you’re running someone else’s dog.
• Why you should consider pet insurance for someone else’s dog.
• Why people co-own dogs in agility.
• Tips for a successful team approach to dog agility.

In this episode (34:24)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban reveal the many factors handlers have to take into consideration when they answer the question, “Should I convert my stopped contact to a running contact?”

You Will Learn

• Why there’s sometimes a penalty for teaching old dogs new tricks.
• What makes you and your a stronger or weaker candidate for retraining.
• The difference between converting a dogwalk or a-frame.
• How much time you will likely gain after making the switch.
• Whether your dog’s breed or size really matters.

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? 🙂
• Episode 169: Creating a Crate to Crate Routine

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