In this episode (42:42) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban share their thoughts on two buzzwords for contact performance: “consistency” and “criteria”. You Will Learn  Why instructors emphasize consistency. How altering your criteria at a trial creates a range of behaviors from your dog. How to fix broken contacts. Why dogs creep down contacts.  Mentioned/Related  Sarah Stremming and CogDog Radio Episode 111: The Myth of the Ring-Wise Dog 

257: Consistent Contact Criteria

Dog agility training tips and discussions.  We often interview agility instructors and competitors as well.

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In this episode (50:25) Join us for an exciting episode where Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer interview Cynthia Hornor about the big win with her remarkable dog, Nimble, the first 12″ overall champion at the prestigious Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. You Will Learn  Insights into how competitors felt about the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show venue. Detailed discussion on the design of the agility courses at Westminster. Cynthia’s strategy and approach to navigating the event with Nimble and Truant (last year’s overall champion). Why this was one of the best broadcasts ever for an agility event. Reasons why Nimble, as the overall winner, has garnered extra attention from the national media, from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal.  Mentioned/Related  Westminster Special: Mutt Hysteria (Catching Up With Stacey and Roo!) 

342: Interview with the First 12" Westminster Overall Winner Cynthia Hornor

In this episode (21:48) This week, we’re thrilled to have Anthony Clarke, founder of British Agility, on our podcast. Co-host Jennifer Crank recently competed in the Longines Agility Grand Prix 2024 in Miami, a new agility event held in partnership with the Longines Global Champions Tour. We’ll share insights from both the organizer’s and competitor’s perspectives, giving you an inside look into this new event. You Will Learn  Jennifer’s firsthand insights and highlights from competing in the Longines Agility Grand Prix 2024. How the event promotes dog agility to a wider audience. Behind-the-scenes look at the planning and execution that goes into organizing the event. Insights into the criteria and process for selecting competitors for future events.  Mentioned/Related  The British Agility Website: https://britishagility.co.uk/ British Agility on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishagility.co.uk/ Meet the athletes: https://www.facebook.com/reel/767676161746514 Watch the Promo Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1779892522531298 

341: British Agility and the Longines Global Champions Tour

In this episode (21:15) This week, we’re joined by Dr. Brittany Schaezler to dive into the topic of health clearances for agility dogs. Whether you’re a newcomer to the sport or a seasoned handler, understanding the standard health clearances is essential for your agility dog’s well-being and performance. We discuss everything from hip and elbow dysplasia to eye conditions and how these health factors can impact your agility journey. You Will Learn  The significance of health clearances in agility training and breeding. Why hips, elbows, and eyes are crucial health checks for agility dogs. How breed-specific clearances can inform your training and breeding decisions. The role of breeders and owners in ensuring the health and fitness of agility dogs. Practical advice on when and how to get these health clearances for your dog.  Mentioned/Related  Episode 329: Early Take Off (ETO) – Part 1 Episode 330: Early Take Off (ETO) – Part 2 

340: Health Clearances in Dog Agility

In this episode (21:39) This week, we delve into a topic suggested by one of our listeners: the fine line between babysitting and supporting your agility dog. In this podcast, we explore how the right balance of guidance and independence can significantly impact your dog’s confidence and performance on the course. You Will Learn  How the handling support your dog needs changes over their experience level. How you use trial and error to discover how much support your dog needs. Why Sarah thinks it’s a good thing to occasionally pull your dog off the correct obstacle. How to use placement of reward to increase the dog’s commitment to the obstacle.  Mentioned/Related  Episode 187: Physical and Mental Commitment How Committed Are You? Episode 104: Building Confidence Through Challenges 

339: Support vs Babysitting in Dog Agility Handling

In this episode (39:51) Jennifer and Sarah talk about their experiences at the 2024 National Agility Championship with Esteban providing the livestream spectator perspective. You Will Learn  Jenn’s thoughts on the facility, the surface, and the organization of the event. Why the Hybrid round was a surprise. Esteban’s view on the target q-rate for big events. Who was crowned National Agility Champion!  Mentioned/Related  You can find course maps and results here: https://akccompanionevents.com/index.php?eventSelected=National%20Agility%20Championship. Note that at some point, the results will be moved to this page: https://www.akc.org/sports/agility/events/akc-national-agility-championship/akc-national-agility-championship-past-events/ What to learn more about the event? Check out our Preview Podcast: Episode 337: 2024 AKC National Agility Championship Preview 

257: Consistent Contact Criteria

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