Agility Culture

How can two handlers leave the same agility trial with completely different experiences? Drawing on feedback from the agility community, we explore how mindset, expectations, and our need to belong shape the way we interpret competition culture. Discover practical ways to curate your experience, protect your joy, and pursue your goals while staying connected to your dog.

Canine Culture Website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

Is your pre-run routine carefully preparing your dog? Is it winding them up or stressing them out? Laura explores how warm-ups, waiting ringside, reward games, and handler nerves shape your team’s readiness. Discover what the Yerkes–Dodson Law and canine arousal research can teach us about finding the balance between enthusiasm and focus, with practical ideas for more thoughtful, connected performance.

My website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

My Online Classroom:

https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

When agility progress stalls, adding more training can be tempting, but is it what your team needs? In this episode, Laura explores when clearer communication, better reinforcement, emotional readiness, physical recovery, or a stronger handler mental game can make the difference. Learn how to train with intention, recognize what’s missing and choose a more productive next step for you and your dog.

My website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

My Online Classroom:

https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

Are you training beautiful contact criteria in class—only to let it slide when you step into the competition ring? You may be unintentionally teaching your dog that the rules change when it matters most. Contact criteria isn't a mechanical issue. It's a communication issue.

In this episode, I'm joined by special guest, Janey Bell, a top notch instructor and facility owner. We’ll talk about contact criteria, competition mistakes, stopped vs. running contacts, frustration and confusion in your dog, and when it may be time to retrain the behavior. We’ll also look at how instructors can help handlers build contact skills that are clear, consistent, and sustainable.

Website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

Online Classroom:

https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

In this episode, I answer some hot topic questions on NRM's, Training Priorities in Young dogs, obstacle struggles, Ring Stress, private coaching advantages and unwanted advice.

Ring Stress Online Class

https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/ring-stressed

Private Coaching Program

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/Private-Online-Coaching

In this episode, I discuss the most commonly seen wasted training opportunities to enhance your dog's skills. In order to amplify understanding of a skill, we must strategically reward it in a manner that is significant to the dog. Have a listen and see what you can do to take your dog's skills to a high level of clarity.

Analysis of the responses to my viral post that asked the question "If you could change one thing in agility, what would that be?" 656 comments were studied for the most common to give us the Top 10, the most unusual and what wasn't mentioned. The recurring themes are quite interesting!

Link to original post

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1526155965964464&set=a.549499100296827

My Website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I host special guest, Kaitlyn Kaminski of WAO & European Open Team USA. We discuss her compelling agility story of rising fast to the top shelf of USA agility. Kaitlyn recently competed at the World Agility Open running clean in 5/6 runs. Take a listen!

My website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I discuss the importance of ring readiness for competition and keeping dogs under control. I dive into how to devlelop it and maintain it, along with why everyone should do their part to keep the agility community safe. The cornerstone of teamwork is Engagement.

Website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

I discuss some of the common training problems and setbacks in agility training. I provide strategies on how to work out of a training session failure and how to set-up training sessions to prevent potential setbacks from occurring. Learn about factors that can cause training issues and how to avoid them.

My website:

https://www.canineculturecompany.com/