It’s the one-year anniversary of Before the Q!
To celebrate, Rose is joined by coaches, mentors, and friends Megan Foster and Sarah Espinoza-Sokal for an in-depth, practical conversation about errorless learning—what it really means, how it shows up in real agility training, and why it can be such a powerful framework in a fast, high-arousal sport.

Megan Foster
Agility coach, trainer, and host of Fostering Excellence in Agility. Megan brings decades of experience and a deep focus on clarity, connection, and clean reinforcement.
Home - Fostering Excellence in Agility

Sarah Espinosa-Socal
Agility coach, trainer, and host of The Agility Odyssey Podcast. Sarah emphasizes communication, kindness, and mutual joy in training.
Agility Odyssey

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Here’s to another year of learning, questioning, and enjoying agility 

There is a pretty sweet giveaway going on on my Instagram and Facebook you should absolutely go check it out. 

Rose is joined by Grace Heck owner of Hounds of Heck—for a deep, honest conversation about mindset, process, and what success in agility really looks like.

Grace shares her philosophy of process over results and why focusing solely on Qs and ribbons can actually hold teams back. Together, Rose and Grace unpack what it means to play the long game in agility—from handling pressure at the start line, to building trust with your dog, to redefining success even when the run doesn’t go clean on paper.

Before the Q Landing Page — Hounds of Heck check out other mindset content from Grace!!!!

Enjoyed this episode? 

• Share it with a training friend
• Post about it on social media and tag Before the Q
• Leave a review — it’s one of the best ways to support the podcast

In this episode of Before the Q, Rose reflects on her journey in podcasting, the importance of community support, and setting goals for the new year. She shares her excitement about upcoming projects, including a vlog and fundraising efforts, while encouraging listeners to reflect on the gifts that agility has brought to their lives. The episode wraps up with a call for listener engagement and a preview of future content.

page_1_thumb_big.png (530×749) BINGO CARD

Before The Q / Swag for Organizations | Need Some Sun - support the pod order a T SHIRT

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone with Rose Cybulski - Podcast Episode with my coach 

https://youtu.be/gr_SZ8lS__s  - EPISODE 2 OF VLOG 

Who do you think I should chat with next/ what do you want to hear more about. IF you don't have Instagram or Facebook and still want to reach out shoot me an email : [email protected]

In this episode of Before the Q, host Rose speaks with agility trainer Dave Munnings about the importance of fun in dog training, understanding errors, and adapting training methods to the individual dog. Dave shares his journey into agility, discusses common errors in training, and emphasizes the significance of building a strong relationship with dogs. The conversation also touches on the transition to online training and future projects in the agility community.

Check out Q-me agility Welcome to Q-Me Agility

before the Q Vlog first installment - https://youtu.be/HWS6HMJ4Vjc?si=U4x6n5-fuNsnCuCs

If you’re wondering how to support the podcast, the best way is to rate, review, and subscribe. It really helps the show reach more listeners. You can also support us by sharing the podcast with your friends. And don’t forget to check out our awesome T-shirts—definitely grab one if you want to rep the show!  Before The Q / Swag for Organizations | Need Some Sun

Laura Waudby and I discuss the concept of preplaced rewards in dog training, particularly in agility. They explore the importance of curiosity in training, the role of reward placement, and common mistakes trainers make. Laura shares insights on how to effectively implement preplaced rewards, the significance of foundational training, and real-life applications of these techniques. The conversation emphasizes the need for clear communication with dogs and the benefits of using preplaced rewards to enhance training outcomes.

Laura's recent blog post Rethinking Sends in Agility
Bye Bye cookie class sign up here:  Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - FE420: Bye, Bye Cookie: Hello Delayed Reinforcement!
Follow Before the Q on social media to see some fun ideas on how to proof your Pre placed rewards!

In this solo episode, Rose sits down with her coffee to unpack a few thoughts. From a recent adventure with Levi and Norbert to the internet’s latest debates on training methods, Rose opens up about cue-chasing, values-based training, and why joy should lead the way — even when the online chatter gets loud.

She talks about reinforcement, aversives, and the four quadrants, and why it’s always okay to ask questions or advocate for your dog in class. Rose also dives into how to evaluate potential trainers, the importance of checking in on your own comfort, and recognizing progress even when the Qs aren’t there.

Plus — exciting news! Rose is launching a free YouTube vlog in December, including a run-analysis collaboration with Megan Foster. And yes… the new “I’ll Be Over Here Enjoying Agility” t-shirt will drop on Black Friday, with proceeds supporting the show!!

Tune in, settle in, and remember: agility should feel fun, kind, and aligned with your values

In this episode, I dive into one of my absolute favorite Agility Adjacent Skills — the Down Stay!

We often think of the Down Stay as a calm, quiet exercise… but it can actually be one of the most essential skills your agility dog learns. A strong Down Stay builds confidence, self-control, and focus — all the ingredients for brilliant performance in the ring!

In this episode of Before the Q, host Rose Cybulski speaks with canine fitness experts Tara Monahan and Dr. Deb Torraca about the critical role of fitness in agility training. They discuss the importance of building a strong foundation for dogs, the concepts of proprioception and body awareness, common mistakes handlers make in fitness training. The conversation also covers the significance of warm-ups and the use of equipment in canine fitness. 

Find a CPCFT - Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer

Wizard of Paws Physical Rehabilitation for Animals, Deborah Gross, Canine Physical Assessment, Get On The Ball – Wizard of Paws Animal Physical Rehabilitation including athletic injuries, injury prevention, litter evaluation, post-surgical physical rehabilition in Colchester, Connecticut.

Canine Fitness Innovations

In this episode I chat with the amazing Shade Whitesel,  we get a peek into her Journey as a dog trainer. Shade helps teams build better, stronger, clearer reinforcement systems especially around toys.  This episode focuses on the benifits of using toys as reinforcement, differences between food and toy rewards, and common challenges faced by handlers when introducing toys to their dogs. Shade shares insights and a number of awesome training tips. I hope you enjoy this episode I sure did!! 

How to connect with Shade:

Shade Whitesel Dog Training | Seattle WA   
Location Specific Marker Cues-chopping up the clicker into different reinforcement procedures | Shade Whitesel Dog Training -free resource!!

Eye on Ion-Shade Whitesel | All things Dog teaching wise-from puppy up! | Patreon 

REGISTRATION opens September 22!!

Toy class: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - FE130: Toys - Developing Cooperation and Play

Food marker class: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - FF145: Food Cues and Markers: Powerful Reinforcement for Clean Training

In this episode, we chat with Hélène Lawler about her journey into dog training and dive deep into the power of mindset. What is mindset, really—and how can it help or hinder us in agility? This episode covers common struggles handlers face, the connection between emotions and performance, and practical strategies for building mental resilience. Listeners are encouraged to recognize their own beliefs and emotions, and how these can shape their experiences in dog sports.

How to connect with Hélène:

Hélène Lawler Coaching - Home Page

Free Mindset Resource:  https://www.helenelawlercoaching.ca/oxygen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helene.lawler?igsh=MXV5em1maGF6bWxyZg==

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19m6E9YBBH/?mibextid=wwXIfr