In this episode, Mahogany and Katie Wan dive deep into PSA. We discuss Katie's journey into the sport and into decoying, as well as her experiences as a handler, decoy, and judge apprentice. Katie also breaks down PSA as a surprise scenario sport and talks about the increases in challenge from one level to the next. We also get into some of Katie's training techniques and Mahogany asks some questions about starting her retired Mondioring dog in PSA.

AI Show Notes:

Summary 

Katie Wan shares her journey into PSA and her love for decoying. She stumbled into PSA when her dog fell into her lap and joined a PSA club. She quickly became interested in decoying and worked her way into the suit. Katie is now a club director, trial decoy, and apprentice judge for PSA. She finds decoying to be the most fulfilling aspect of the sport and enjoys watching dogs progress through the challenges. She also discusses her favorite exercises, including the muzzle fight and level three obedience. The judges program in PSA requires a year to two years of apprenticeship and emphasizes fair and creative surprise scenarios. PSA trials and decoy camps are known for their incredible amount of support and camaraderie. The community is welcoming and supportive, with everyone cheering for each other and offering help when needed. PSA has experienced significant growth internationally, with clubs popping up in various countries. When it comes to training for decoy presence, incremental increases in variables are used to build neutrality. The levels in PSA are designed to prepare handlers and dogs for the presence of decoys, with the level three being the most challenging. It's important to have strong behaviors and to tailor the training approach to each individual dog. In this final part of the conversation, Katie emphasizes the importance of mentorship and finding a supportive group or club to train with. She advises people to observe and learn from experienced handlers and their relationships with their dogs. Katie also shares her experience of catching bangers and the physical and mental preparation required for it. She highlights the significance of practicing falling safely and developing muscle memory. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the importance of having an intro theme music for the podcast.

Chapters

00:00 Katie Wan's Journey into PSA and Decoying

10:25 The Fulfillment of Decoying in PSA

16:52 Favorite Exercises: Muzzle Fight and Level Three Obedience

26:01 The Judges Program in PSA: Fair and Creative Surprise Scenarios

34:34 The Supportive Community of PSA Trials and Decoy Camps

43:06 International Growth of PSA

55:34 Training for Decoy Presence in PSA

01:03:00 The Levels in PSA: Preparing for Decoys

01:12:32 Tailoring the Training Approach to Each Dog

01:15:39 Observing Experienced Handlers and Their Relationships with Dogs

01:21:09 Preparing for Catching Bangers

01:28:08 Developing Muscle Memory through Practice

01:41:16 The Significance of Intro Theme Music

In this episode, Mahogany and Jess dive into topics like:
• What it's like to train a high energy/high excitement dog
• The value of women decoying in sports
• The impact of maturity on dogs and behavior in sports
• Collaboration and ego-free training
• Self improvement in training
• How women can help build supportive communities

Mahogany and Jess explore these topics in depth and give concrete feedback on ways to improve our communities and to find or create the communities where we can thrive.

AI Summary: In this conversation, Mahogany Gamble and Jess Pombo discuss the challenges and joys of raising intense dogs for dog sports. They talk about the importance of consistency in training, the need to adapt training methods for different dogs, and the value of working on skills at home. They also emphasize the importance of matching the right dog with the right handler and the need for dedication and commitment in dog sports. In this part of the conversation, Mahogany and Jess discuss the importance of maturity in dogs and how it can impact their behavior and performance. They share personal experiences with their own dogs and how maturity has helped them overcome challenges. They also touch on the value of women in the decoy role and the unique perspectives and approaches they bring to the training process. Collaboration and open communication are highlighted as key factors in successful training. In this final part of the conversation, Jess and Mahogany discuss the importance of having a collaborative and ego-free relationship in dog training. They emphasize the value of being open to feedback and trying new things, as well as the intrinsic motivation they both have to help others. They also discuss the importance of self-improvement and the role of competition in their training journeys. They highlight the need for more women in the decoy role and the importance of creating supportive communities for women in the sport.

AI Takeaways: 
Consistency is key in training intense dogs for dog sports.
Adapting training methods to suit the individual dog is crucial.
Working on skills at home can help create a predictable routine and improve training.
Matching the right dog with the right handler is important for success in dog sports.
Dedication and commitment are necessary for progress in dog sports. Maturity plays a significant role in a dog's behavior and performance.
Experiences with different dogs have shown that maturity can lead to better handling of arousal and stress.
Women in the decoy role bring nurturing, empathy, and a different perspective to the training process.
Collaboration and open communication between handlers and decoys are essential for successful training.
Being open to different approaches and learning from each other can lead to new insights and better training outcomes. Having a collaborative and ego-free relationship in dog training is important for growth and exploration.
Being open to feedback and trying new things can lead to interesting discoveries and improvements.
Intrinsic motivation and the desire to help others are powerful driving forces in training.
Self-improvement and competition with oneself are key aspects of the training journey.
Creating supportive communities for women in the decoy role is important for their growth and success in the sport.

In this episode, host Mahogany Gamble discusses the intention of the podcast and shares a little about her past, highlighting her commitment to supporting women