Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode, Sarah is joined by Jennifer Crank and Sasha Zitter to talk about the Junior Handler program.

• How agility can teach children (and adults!) perseverance and sportsmanship.
• How the Junior Handler program can help grow the sport of dog agility.
• How clubs can help encourage Junior Handlers.
• How competitors can help encourage Junior Handlers.
• How the idea of the Boundless Junior Agility Camp became reality.

• Boundless Junior Agility Camp Facebook Page
• Boundless Junior Agility Camp Website
• American Kennel Club's Junior Handler Program
• USDAA's Junior Handler Program

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban share some thoughts on the exact steps they take when the dog makes a mistake in agility training.

• Exactly how Esteban and Sarah react to mistakes when training.
• How to keep your dog's drive and enthusiasm up in the face of repeated mistakes.
• Why Sarah uses "microbreaks" with her border collie.
• Esteban's thoughts on No Reward Marks (NRMs) in agility training.

• Analyzing Your Mistakes in Dog Agility
• Episode 30: Analyzing Mistakes and a Look at Systems
• On the Job Training using Placement of Reward
• Episode 131: Free Your Agility Dog
• Episode 49: Using Differential Rewards
• Episode 57: Interview with Denise Fenzi – Part 2
• Psychology Today: Should Trainers Tell Dogs When Their Behavior Is Wrong?

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban apply the concept of "muscle memory" to dog agility. They talk about how it works, why it's important, and how you can use it to your advantage.

• The definition of muscle memory.
• How muscle memory works.
• Why muscle memory can help your dog agility.
• The most common way agility handlers undermine their own training.
• The big problem muscle memory can create for the agility veteran.

• our new Facebook Live sessions (called the "Bad Dog Agility Show")

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban are joined by Livestream Finals announcer Brittany Schaezler to wrap up the 2017 AKC National Agility Championship. They talk about the dirt, the judges, the courses, the winners, and their favorite runs from the weekend!

• If this year's courses were tougher than last year's courses.
• Which course was the toughest this year.
• How good the footing was for the dogs.
• Who the winners were for each class.
• The favorite runs for each livestream announcer.
• Who ran the "clutch run" of the weekend.

• Results from the 2017 AKC National Agility Championship

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban explore the good and bad behind comparing your dog and yourself to others in dog agility.

• How making comparisons can motivate you to improve your agility training.
• How making comparisons can make you feel bad about your progress in the sport.
• How realistic it is to never compare yourself to anyone.
• How focusing on creating the best version of yourself can free you from the comparison trap.
• What is Mozart's least favorite fowl?

• New Online Class: The Before and After

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban help you practice dog agility more effectively, producing maximal results with minimal time.

• What exactly constitutes "practice" when you're training dog agility.
• How being on the edge of your comfort zone is critical to a successful practice.
• Why you should avoid Facebook when you train.
• How elite athletes use relatively short but frequent sessions with breaks to maximize performance.
• Why you should incorporate visualization into your practice routine.
• Who's better at grammar; Isaac or Sarah?

• The TED-Ed course that inspired this podcast.
• Episode 32: Improving Your Mental Game for Big Events
• Episode 44: Dog Agility Dreams & Goals

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk about some negative feelings that might be keeping you from setting goals for 2017.

• How fear, shame and uncertainty can negatively impact your goal setting.
• Why to be wary of tunnel vision.
• Why tunnel vision can hold you back from reaching your goals.
• How to push beyond your comfort zone without suffering from delusions of grandeur.
• How to power a soccer stadium.

• Episode 44: Dog Agility Dreams & Goals

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban talk with USA AKC/FCI World Team member Jennifer Crank about being a mom and competitor while managing a human child in the dog agility world.

• How far along in their pregnancies both Jennifer and Sarah ran agility.
• How Jennifer started in the sport as a very young child.
• Why it's helpful to establish a relationship with children and their parents at trials if your dog is not good with children.
• How children can help prepare your dog for big events like Westminster.
• How and why unsanctioned "Cup" events are starting to appear here in the United States.
• A clever thing to say to a vending machine.

• Announcement: Sponsored Athlete Jennifer Crank
• http://jennifercrank.com/
• IncrediPAWS Dog Training

In this podcast, Sarah and Esteban talk with John Nys, the overall winner of this year's Masters Agility Championship at Westminster about the show, the courses, the crowds, and Madison Square Garden!

• How border collie Trick overcame injury to win Westminster.
• How the audience impacts the atmosphere of the trial.
• How John managed running two dogs in the televised final.
• What kind of impact Westminster is having on the sport of dog agility.

• Bad Dog Agility Goes to Westminster 2016
• Is the Masters Agility Championship at Westminster Valuable to Dog Agility?

In this episode, Sarah and Esteban explore social networks in dog agility and share 3 tips for creating your very own powerful support system to get you through the tough times.

• Why developing your own social network in agility is important.
• How to develop your personal network by casting a wide net, being proactive, and using technology.
• How to approach strangers at dog shows (with a video example).
• A safe, constructive way to complain/vent without offending others or being attacked.

• Episode 58: The Rocky Road to Success
• Episode 146: Record Keeping Trick for Dog Agility
• Kathy Keats article "How Sheep Deal With Bullies (and What You Can Learn From It)"
• American Psychological Association's article "Manage stress: Strengthen Your Support Network"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I96EZ3203-Q