Bad Dog Agility Podcast

364: Mastery or Survival - The Class vs. Trial Mindset


Listen Later

photo credit: Great Dane Photos

In this episode (27:23)

In this episode, we dive into a question every agility handler wrestles with: Should you train in class the way the course should be run to build skills—or adapt your handling as if you’re at a trial, doing whatever it takes to get through clean?

Jennifer kicks off the conversation with a story from her in-person class, where a handler faced this very dilemma. Esteban shares how he uses small-space sequences to help handlers try out multiple options—rear cross, front cross, blind cross—and then analyze which is actually faster using video review. The results are often surprising, leading to smarter handling strategies or exposing weaknesses that can be addressed in training.

Whether you’re a handler who trains for mastery or trials for survival, this episode will give you fresh insight into how to approach your next class—and your next run.

You Will Learn
  • The pros and cons of the “ideal execution” mindset versus the “trial-day strategy” mindset
  • Why it’s not an either-or question, and how context—your dog, your goals, your stage of training—matters
  • How to blend both approaches into your training plan for better long-term results
Mentioned/Related
  • The Finals Map
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Bad Dog Agility PodcastBy Esteban & Sarah

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

139 ratings


More shows like Bad Dog Agility Podcast

View all
Cog-Dog Radio by Sarah Stremming, The Cognitive Canine

Cog-Dog Radio

314 Listeners

Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast by Melissa Breau

Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast

233 Listeners

The Canine Paradigm by Glenn Cooke & Pat Stuart

The Canine Paradigm

371 Listeners

Startline by Cara Armour

Startline

29 Listeners

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett by Susan Garrett

Shaped by Dog with Susan Garrett

651 Listeners

The Q Coach Pod | Mindset Coaching for Handlers with Julie Bacon by Julie Bacon - The Q Coach

The Q Coach Pod | Mindset Coaching for Handlers with Julie Bacon

32 Listeners

The Kathy Keats Show by Kathy Keats

The Kathy Keats Show

45 Listeners

Fenzi Food For Thought by Denise Fenzi

Fenzi Food For Thought

44 Listeners

Go-Get-’Em Agility Podcast by Go-Get-’Em Agility Podcast

Go-Get-’Em Agility Podcast

15 Listeners

Fostering Excellence in Agility by Megan Foster

Fostering Excellence in Agility

35 Listeners

The Agility Rose - Talk n’ Train Podcast by Elise Finney

The Agility Rose - Talk n’ Train Podcast

1 Listeners

The Paws In Pursuit Podcast by Summer Clark

The Paws In Pursuit Podcast

2 Listeners

The Agility Challenge Podcast With Daisy Peel by Daisy Peel

The Agility Challenge Podcast With Daisy Peel

40 Listeners

The Wrong End of the Tunnel by The Wrong End of the Tunnel

The Wrong End of the Tunnel

12 Listeners

OneMind Dogs - From the Dog's Perspective by OneMind Dogs

OneMind Dogs - From the Dog's Perspective

7 Listeners