Bad Dog Agility Podcast

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  Run Happy Series: What Happy Handlers Do Differently 09.06.2026 47dk

  In this episode (47:35) In the third live podcast of the Run Happy series, Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer walk through the eight things happy handlers do differently, then take on real problems submitted by listeners, from weaves that fall apart in the ring to start line stays that disappear at trials. It is the practical follow-up to the Valley of Despair: how to think about the work, and what to actually do about the problems in front of you. You Will Learn The eight mindset shifts that separate handlers enjoying the sport from those stuck in the Valley of Despair How your own emotional state travels down the leash, and what to do when you feel yourself slipping into the valley How to approach problems with: weave poles, broken start line stays, treat-dependent dogs, and stopped contacts that turn into fly offs at trials Mentioned This podcast is relevant for both the start line stay (dogs that break) and the release (dogs that freeze at the startline): Episode 134: Priming Your Dog Before an Agility Trial Episode 111: The Myth of the Ring-Wise Dog Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay! Missed the second podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: The Valley Every Handler Hits Missed the first podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: Are You Having Fun?
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  Run Happy Series: The Valley Every Handler Hits 08.06.2026 35dk

  In this episode (35:10) In this episode, Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer go deep into the lowest point of the Emotional Cycle of Change. They cover what it looks like in agility, why it happens, and the two ways out, only one of which actually works. You Will Learn How to recognize the valley of despair in your own training, and why landing there doesn't mean something is wrong with you or your dog The two ways out of the valley, and why the one that feels best may not be helpful Why context is key for both the dog and the handler when you're working your way out of the valley Mentioned Click Here for the PDF Worksheet Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay! Missed the first podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: Are You Having Fun? Episode 282: Should You Switch From Stopped to Running Contacts? Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  Run Happy Series: Are You Having Fun? 03.06.2026 27dk

  In this episode (27:55) In this episode, Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer kick off the Run Happy series, a special three-part run of podcasts taped live on video. They walk through the emotional cycle of change, from the honeymoon phase of a new dog all the way through the hard middle and out the other side, and explain why losing the fun in agility hurts both your enjoyment and your training. You Will Learn The five stages of the emotional cycle of change and how each one shows up in agility Why agility that stops being fun is a double whammy Why hitting the valley of despair is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with you or your dog Mentioned Click Here for the PDF Worksheet Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay! Episode 373: Burnout in Dog Agility Serpentine, Threadle, Backside Drill Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  394: Surviving the Agility Desert 27.05.2026 29dk

  In this episode (29:04) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban tackle a question from a VIP member about life in an agility desert and what it means to live hours from the nearest instruction or trial site. You Will Learn What actually defines an agility desert, and why distance from trials and distance from instruction are different problems How community keeps remote handlers connected and motivated Why online training has become the mainstay of survival in the desert Mentioned Interactive Map Showing AKC Agility Trial Locations in 2025 The VIP will Open Soon! Join the Waitlist: https://baddogagility.com/train-with-us/ Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  393: Using the Course Map 21.05.2026 24dk

  In this episode (24:06) Course maps are one of those tools every handler uses but few of us really think about. On this week's episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban dig into how they each use course maps, when course maps actually help, and when staring at one might be holding you back. You Will Learn How to use a course map Jennifer's "changes in concavity" theory Sarah's "no 2 plan A's" theory Mentioned Episode 324: Resource for AKC Agility Course Maps VIP members: We mentioned the excellent webinar with Zach Davis, you can find it under the "Webinars" tab in the VIP members area. Non-VIP: Your chance to join is coming soon! Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  392: Hitting the Road 13.05.2026 29dk

  In this episode (29:33) A listener wrote in asking for advice on planning their first long-distance trip to a major event, and the three of us had a lot to say. We talk through how dogs and humans experience the same travel day differently, whether you're better off with fewer long driving days or more shorter ones, and whether it's worth stopping to practice along the way. If you've got a big trip on the horizon, this one's for you. You Will Learn How dogs and humans experience the same travel day differently, and why that matters for planning The case for fewer, longer driving days versus more days with shorter drives Whether stopping to practice agility en route is worth the added planning Practical considerations that often get overlooked by first-time travelers Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  391: Performing Under the Lights 07.05.2026 45dk

  In this episode (45:24) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban address a question from a listener who felt overwhelmed at a big event under the bright lights of the cameras and the importance of the moment. The team shares their own experiences competing on live televised finals and dig into what the research says about choking under pressure and the techniques that actually help. You Will Learn Why pre-performance routines matter and how to use them strategically How post-performance processing routines can also impact high stakes performance How to handle it when your routine gets disrupted before a run Four research backed techniques for overcoming choking under pressure Mentioned/Related Why we choke under pressure — and how to avoid it | Sian Leah Beilock Episode 357: Preparation Checklist for Big Events Episode 188: Handler Desensitization Watch Rebecca "feel her own power" Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness  
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  390: When to Add to Your Pack 30.04.2026 17dk

  In this episode (17:25) Sarah and Jennifer tackle a listener question about timing: when is the right moment to add a puppy to your pack, and how will it affect your relationship with your current competition dog? They share their own histories with bringing in new dogs and talk through what they'd recommend. You Will Learn The age range for your current competition dog that Sarah and Jennifer think makes for the smoothest puppy transition What to expect (and what not to worry about) when it comes to your older dog's relationship with you after a puppy arrives Whether having an older dog around really helps a puppy learn, and the downside most people don't consider Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  389: 320,000 Dogwalks 23.04.2026 1sa 17dk

  In this episode (1:17:56) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban welcome Dr. Arielle Pechette Markley and Dr. Abigail Shoben to discuss their CARIS research update analyzing data from 1,385 trials and over 300,000 runs per obstacle. They break down the findings from the largest coordinated safety study in agility history on contact obstacle incidents and what the numbers actually mean for handlers and dogs. You Will Learn The actual incident rates by obstacle: dogwalk leads at 2.1 per 1,000 runs, followed by teeter (1.04) and A-frame (0.40) Why 91.5% of contact incidents result in no apparent injury, with actual injury rates as low as 1 in 33,000 runs for dogwalks How these prospective findings compare to previous retrospective studies and why the methodology matters for interpreting risk Which agility obstacle has a much higher incident rate than any of the contact obstacles Mentioned The CARIS Research Update everyone is talking about: https://www.caninesportsscience.org/post/caris-research-update-what-we-re-learning-about-contact-obstacle-incidents. The "speed study": Increasing course speeds in canine agility: a decade of trends from American Kennel Club competition data Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  388: What ISC Entry Data Tells Us 16.04.2026 28dk

  In this episode (28:03) The AKC International Sweepstakes Class launched mid-2023, bringing European-style FCI course design to AKC trials at three levels of difficulty. Now, with two full years of data in hand, Sarah takes a deep dive into the numbers to see where the program stands and what the trends might tell us about where it's headed. You Will Learn How ISC entries compare to overall AKC participation, and what the 2024 vs. 2025 growth numbers actually look like Why big dogs dominate ISC entries, and how the 20″ and 24″ height classes compare to their share of the broader AKC entry pool What the shift away from Level 1 toward Levels 2 and 3 suggests about who is running ISC and how the competitor base is maturing Mentioned Episode 323: The Past, Present, and Future of AKC ISC Episode 351: The Inaugural AKC ISC Championship Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  387: Video Assisted Review in AKC and UKI 09.04.2026 37dk

  In this episode (37:31) Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban are joined by Chris Durkee of 4 Legged Flix to talk about Video Assisted Review (VAR), a technology now being used at the highest levels of agility competition in the United States. VAR was deployed at both the recent AKC National Agility Championship and the UKI Invitational, with video services provided by 4 Legged Flix. You Will Learn Why contact obstacle judging is so difficult How VAR works and what triggers a review How judges interacted with VAR and whether it affected their confidence or decision-making Whether VAR more often adds faults that were missed or overturns faults that were incorrectly called What events may adopt VAR going forward Mentioned Episode 151: Judging with Video Review Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness  
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  386: Boy Dog or Girl Dog? 02.04.2026 26dk

  In this episode (26:28) Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer share personal experiences and unpack the common stereotypes around male and female dogs in agility. With Esteban running girls, Sarah running boys, and Jennifer having trained both, the trio brings a range of perspectives and lands in the same place: the sex of a dog matters a lot less than people think. You Will Learn Why Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer each gravitate toward (or away from) a particular sex and what actually drove those choices The most common stereotypes about male vs. female dogs in agility, and how much truth the three coaches find in them Why limiting your puppy search by sex may cause you to overlook the dog that could be your best partner yet How other factors like temperament, drive, relationship, and timing outweigh sex when it comes to finding and developing a great agility dog Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness Saint Rocco's Treats  
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  385: AKC National Agility Championship Wrap-Up with Guest Peter Wirth 26.03.2026 57dk

  In this episode (57.15) In this episode, Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer sit down with Peter Wirth, the handler of that amazing Corgi, 8″ National Champion Welly. We also discuss the challenges of this year's courses, including the low Q rates, multiple falls off the dogwalk, and the weave pole challenge that eliminated half the Finals field. You Will Learn What Peter and Jennifer thought about the high number of weave pole faults in the Finals What the Q rates were in both Prelims and Finals and what they tell us What this year's NAC might signal about the future direction of course design Mentioned Hammy the Corgi as a Potato Episode 379: The Medium-Speed Dog's Guide to NAC
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  384: 4 Feet or 5 – Does Bar Width Actually Matter? 19.03.2026 27dk

  In this episode (27:08) Does the difference between 4-foot and 5-foot bars really matter in dog agility? In this episode, we dig into how bar width impacts everything from course design to your dog's performance, and why this seemingly small difference can have bigger implications than you might think. You Will Learn How 4-foot vs 5-foot bars affect course design and handling decisions Whether bar width changes your dog's jumping mechanics and consistency Why Jennifer and Esteban don't like opening a course with a tire followed immediately by the dogwalk Mentioned Episode 129: The Connection Paradigm Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  383: Dog Agility on Netflix? 12.03.2026 27dk

  In this episode (27:08) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban explore what a dog agility series on Netflix or another streaming platform could look like. They discuss several possible formats and why agility has the ingredients for mainstream success. You Will Learn Different formats a dog agility series could take on a streaming platform The kinds of stories and personalities that would make the sport compelling for a wider audience Why dog agility has strong potential as a binge-worthy series What makes the sport visually exciting and emotionally engaging for viewers Mentioned A Different Breed: a docuseries on Amazon Prime Race for the Crown Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  382: What Dog Agility Can Learn from Olympic Swimming 05.03.2026 32dk

  In this episode (32:17) In this episode, Esteban and Sarah explore what dog agility can learn from Olympic swimming, two fast sports where performances last seconds but preparation takes months or years. They discuss how tiny technical details, mental preparation, and strategic training decisions can dramatically impact performance when the margin for error is so small. You Will Learn Why the swimming concept of tapering may apply to preparing dogs for major agility competitions How the first few seconds of a run, from the lead-out to the first obstacle, can set the tone for everything that follows Why both sports demand trust in training and muscle memory during short, high-stakes performances How mental preparation and pre-run routines can help handlers manage nerves and perform at their best Mentioned Visualization and Mental Preparation Episode 189: How to Structure Your Dog Agility Season Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness Saint Rocco's Treats  
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  381: Puppies with Friends 26.02.2026 30dk

  In this episode (30:21) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban talk about the realities of raising and training puppies alongside someone else. We explore how shared puppy journeys can strengthen relationships, strain them, and ultimately teach us a lot about expectations, pressure, and perspective. You Will Learn Jennifer's experience raising littermates with her mom and later with her best friend and training partner Why getting puppies at the same time can create both the best and the hardest moments in an agility partnership How side-by-side progress can make you feel behind, increase stress, or quietly shift expectations The upside of having a training partner going through the same puppy stage at the same time Mentioned Episode 157: The Comparison Trap Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness
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  380: Mixed Breed Dogs in Agility 19.02.2026 41dk

  In this episode (41:20) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban dive into the often-debated world of purpose-bred sport mixes, purpose-bred mixes in general, and how they compare to rescues, mutts, and "All American" dogs. We explore why these dogs exist, why they generate strong opinions, and how much of the controversy is rooted in history, philosophy, and expectations. Most importantly, we unpack how dogs from many backgrounds can thrive in sport while serving very different goals within the broader dog world. You Will Learn The difference between purpose-bred sport mixes, general mixes, mutts, and rescues What the "All American Dog" designation really represents in competition How breed recognition and performance success address different priorities Mentioned/Related Episode 288: Interview with 2-Time Highest Scoring All-American Westminster Winner Lisa Topol All American Dog Ranking by PowerScore for 2025 Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness Saint Rocco's Treats
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  379: The Medium-Speed Dog's Guide to NAC 12.02.2026 18dk

  In this episode (18:10) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban break down how the format of the AKC National Agility Championship impacts strategy, especially for handlers with medium-speed dogs. Most competitors at Nationals are not the fastest dogs in the country, and they're not the slowest either. They're somewhere in the middle. And that middle is where smart strategy matters most. We talk about how the structure of the event affects qualification paths, what realistic advancement looks like, and how to approach Nationals in a way that gives your dog the best chance to succeed. Most importantly, we discuss how to set expectations so that no matter the outcome, you don't feel like you wasted your time. You Will Learn How the NAC format shapes strategy for medium-speed dog handlers trying to qualify for the Finals Why your dog may have a better chance of making the Finals than you think How to set realistic expectations so you walk away from Nationals feeling proud, not defeated Mentioned How to Make the Finals at AKC Nationals How to Make the Finals at AKC Nationals Episode 292: What To Do When Things Start Off Poorly at a Big Event Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness  
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  378: Westminster Masters Agility Champion Amber McCune 05.02.2026 45dk

  In this episode (45:48) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban are joined by Masters Agility Champion Amber McCune to break down the 2026 Westminster Masters Agility Championship. The conversation ranges from course design and footing to venue history and how the event experience has changed over the years. You Will Learn How course design, footing, and venue choices shape both performance and the competitor experience at Westminster. How Jenn and Amber adjusted their handling to account for the unique format for making finals. Why Amber didn't get to wear a sparkly dress. Sponsored By Canine Handler Fitness