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

Laura Waudby shares her journey into agility, discussing her experiences with different breeds and the challenges of training. She emphasizes the importance of building confidence in dogs, understanding their stress responses in competition settings, and practical tips for trial preparation.

SIGN UP for Laura's ring confidence course HERE Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - OB160: Ring Confidence for Obedience, Rally, and Agility - working spots fill up fast! 

Ring Confidence for Dog Sports with Laura Waudby | Facebook I highly suggest joining this group if you are on Facebook!!!! So many GEMS and solid training videos and ideas.

@laurawaudby | Liinks  - all the ways to connect with Laura 

In this episode I talk about the concept of loopy training, a method that emphasizes the importance of creating clean, predictable training loops for dogs. I discuss the significance of reinforcement, transport behaviors, and the role of engagement in shaping behaviors. Throughout the episode, I share personal experiences and insights, and the impact of clarity and planning in dog training.

Links and related podcast episode suggestions as promised (I stuck with one episode per podcast to not overwhelm!)

Alexandra kurland - 

https://www.equiosity.com

I suggest episode 12 loopy training of the podcast EQUIOSITY! 

Megan Foster

https://fxagility.com

I suggest Episode 3 Loopy Training of her podcast Fostering Excellence in Agility. 

Sarah Stremming  - 

https://sarahstremming.com 

I suggest Location Specific Markers episode of her podcast Cog Dog Radio.

Hannah Branigan https://hannahbranigan.dog

I suggest episode 26 The movement cycle and loopy training of her podcast Drinking from the Toilet. 

Thanks so much for listening! I hope you enjoyed the episode. 

In this episode, we're diving into one of the most critical—and often misunderstood—aspects of canine agility: engagement. Whether you're stepping to the line with a young pup or refining skills with a seasoned agility partner, the concept of "opting in" is key to success!

Joining Rose today is the incredible Megan Foster, renowned agility competitor, respected trainer, and the mind behind Fostering Excellence in Agility. Megan brings a wealth of experience to the conversation as she unpacks what engagement really means, why it matters so much, and how handlers can build it consistently and sustainably.

We also explore how engagement looks different in training vs. trials, how to handle those “in-between” moments like waiting your turn or walking to the start line, and where to begin if you’re just starting out.

If you’ve ever wondered how to build stronger focus, motivation, and connection with your agility dog—this episode is for you.

Connect with Megan - Home - Fostering Excellence in Agility

What does it really take to build a successful agility team with your dog? In this episode, Rose is joined by Sarah Espinoza-Sokal, an experienced agility trainer and coach, to break down the core foundation skills every agility team needs—to have a successful training journey.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to strengthen your current training, Sarah shares invaluable insights into the building blocks of agility success, from engagement and focus to communication and trust. We dive into the "why" behind foundational work and how investing in relationship-building can elevate your training—and your bond—with your dog.

How to connect with Sarah : https://www.facebook.com/share/1EvwEZ8QGF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Website : Agility Odyssey – Exploring the art and the heart of dog agility.

In this episode I have my first guest, good friend of the podcast Stefanie Theis. Stephanie is an experienced agility competitor, coach, and canine enthusiast. We talk all about visualization, overcoming challenges and she gives some great insights to help up your visualization game. 

I hope you enjoy it! 

How to connect with Stefanie :

K9 Nut, LLC | Nurturing Unique Training

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Aec1Ca5Hb/?mibextid=wwXIfr

this is a link to On form app I talked about! Onform | Sports Video Analysis App & Coaching Platform 

give me a follow on social media and let me know what you thought of the episode!

Thank you for listening.