Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (30:03)

In this episode, Director of Westminster Companion Events joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about the upcoming Masters Championship at Westminster, including important changes for both competitors and viewers.

You Will Learn

• What upgrades Westminster has made for competitors.
• How you can view the preliminary rounds on livestream.
• Which network the Finals will be broadcast on tape delay.
• Who the judges are for this year. How the prize pool will be distributed.
• Why Meet the Breeds will not take place in conjunction with agility this year.

Fix and Go at Westminster

After the podcast, we received confirmation from Paul Campanella, Director of Agility for the Westminster Kennel Club, that Fix and Go WILL be allowed during the Preliminary rounds at the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. However, FNG runs are scored as an E, and an E in a preliminary round disqualifies the team for the finals. Fix and Go will NOT be permitted during the Finals.

Mentioned/Related

• Watch the Finals on FS1 Sunday February 9th, 2020 8pm to 10pm EST
• Click here to find FS1 on your cable provider.
• Watch the preliminary rounds live with the Westminster Kennel Club app.

Previous Westminster Posts

If you're going to the event and want to immerse yourself in all things Westminster, here's a list of all of our previous Westminster coverage.

• Bad Dog Agility's 2019 Westminster Wrap-Up
• 2019 Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Archive
• Episode 213: Interview with Westminster Champion Perry DeWitt
• Bad Dog Agility's 2018 Westminster Wrap-Up
• Episode 185: Interview with Westminster Champion Jessica Ajoux
• 2018 Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Archive
• Westminster Special: Round Table with Jennifer Crank and Sarah Baker
• Westminster Special: Living the Dream; Novice to Westminster
• Westminster Special: Mutt Hysteria (Catching Up With Stacey and Roo!)
• Episode 177: Westminster Preview with Paul Campanella
• Episode 153: Interview with 2017 Westminster Champion John Nys
• Bad Dog Agility Goes to Westminster 2016
• Episode 123: The 2016 Masters Agility Championship at Westminster
• Is the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Valuable to Dog Agility?
• Episode 88: Cesar Millan Crashes Westminster Agility
• Episode 48: Westminster Masters Agility Championship on Live TV
• The Moneymaker Effect in Dog Agility

In this episode (53:32)

In this episode, AKC Executive Field Representative Kitty Bradley joins the podcast to explain the new rule changes for the American Kennel Club.

You Will Learn

• Why the AKC is allowing a third tunnel option.
• How the AKC is addressing the issue of spacing between jumps.
• Why you should remove the tape from your weave poles.
• What is "Fix And Go" and how is it different from "For Exhibition Only".

Mentioned/Related

• Judges Blog: For Exhibition Only (FEO) & Fix and Go On Approved (Part 1)
• Judges Blog: For Exhibition Only (FEO) & Fix and Go On (Part 2) – Judging Information
• AKC Judges Blog
• 2020 Rule Changes for AKC

In this episode (32:29)

In this episode, we discuss how to enjoy your training and use that enjoyment to create greater success in dog agility.

You Will Learn

• Why enjoyment is important for your mental state.
• How enjoyment can get you to success more quickly.
• Why you should focus on daily "little wins".
• What we've learned from playing Fortnite.

Mentioned/Related

• Episode 58: The Rocky Road to Success
• Episode 157: The Comparison Trap

In this episode (26:15)

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban share some things they've learned from raising two puppies at the same time.

You Will Learn

• how puppy personalities affect training
• if fear periods are real
• how puppies comunicate
• why puppies are not small dogs
• how dog people idealize previous dogs

In this episode (20:37)

In this episode, we discuss how to use non qualifying runs to improve your agility.

You Will Learn

• Why taping non qualifying runs is important.
• Why we set up problem sequences from trials as soon as possible.
• How to use non qualifying runs to boost your confidence for future trials.

In this episode (54:57)

In this episode, Denise Fenzi returns to the podcast to talk about the common strategies that we use to help our dogs cope with distractions and anxiety-provoking situations in agility.

You Will Learn

• the relationship between a dog's emotional state and agility performance
• how counterconditioning should work
• why distraction training often fails
• how to build your dog's confidence

Mentioned/Related

• Episode 56: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 1
• Episode 57: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 2
• Fenzi Blog Post: Counterconditioning, Distraction food or distraction training?
• Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

In this episode (56:52)

In this episode, Tamás Tráj joins the podcast to discuss course design, safety and international agility.

You Will Learn

• How Tamás approaches course design.
• Why Hungary added a 4th jump height.
• What factors are influencing the possible addition of jump heights to FCI agility.

Mentioned/Related

• Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI)
• OfCourse Online Coursedesign Education with Petr Pupik, Tamás Tráj and Jan Egil Eide

In this episode (38:52)

Dr. Amy Cook joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about noise sensitivity in agility dogs. Dr. Cook earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and has been training dogs and dog trainers for 25 years. Part 2 of 2.

You Will Learn

• Why agility dogs can be very sensitive to noises.
• Common noises that often cause problems for agility dogs.
• How to implement the solution to noise issues.
• What type of conditioning you need to fix the problem.
• How to "prehab" rather than "rehab" your agility dog.

Mentioned/Related

• Episode 230: Noise Sensitivity in the Agility Dog with Amy Cook – Part 1
• Amy Cook's website: Play Way Dogs
• Amy Cook's online courses on FDSA

In this episode (35:32)

Dr. Amy Cook joins Sarah and Esteban to talk about noise sensitivity in agility dogs. Dr. Cook earned her PhD in Psychology at the University of California at Berkeley and has been training dogs and dog trainers for 25 years. Part 1 of 2.

You Will Learn

• Why agility dogs can be very sensitive to noises.
• Common noises that often cause problems for agility dogs.
• How to implement the solution to noise issues.
• What type of conditioning you need to fix the problem.
• How to "prehab" rather than "rehab" your agility dog.

Mentioned/Related

• Amy Cook's website: Play Way Dogs
• Amy Cook's online courses on FDSA

In this episode (54:19)

In this episode, Sarah Stremming joins the podcast to discuss dogs that are too worked up/high drive/over-aroused to perform in the agility ring.

You Will Learn

• Signs of an overly worked up or over-aroused dog.
• "Tag-along" behaviors often seen with these dogs.
• How agility dogs today differ from previous generations with respect to arousal and prey/bite drive.
• Solutions for working with the over-aroused dog.

Mentioned/Related

• Episode 144: Interview with Sarah Stremming on Behavior Problems in Performance Dogs
• Cog-Dog Radio
• Train with Sarah on FDSA
• Episode 15: Kathy Sdao Interview – Part 1