This week on the podcast, we take a closer look at how dogs actually run a course and what handlers can do to help them run it faster and with more confidence. We explain why dogs run lines rather than individual obstacles and how understanding your dog's stride, structure, and turning ability helps you choose the best line for any sequence. We also talk about why the fastest path is not always the shortest and how video comparison reveals the true optimal line for your dog.

• Why you should handle lines, not individual obstacles
• How pulling, position, and continuous cues shape your dog's line
• Why tight turns slow dogs and when a wider arc is actually faster
• How to compare options on video to find the best line for your dog

• Episode 179: Which is Faster, a Front Cross or Rear Cross?
• Episode 108: Choices on Course

• Saint Rocco's Treats
• Canine Handler Fitness

In this episode, we break down why so many handlers walk to the start line with a clear plan and instantly forget everything the moment the run begins.

• Why your brain blanks on course and how stress shuts down the prefrontal cortex, reducing timing, sequencing, and decision-making.
• How adrenaline affects handling, including tunnel vision, and reversion to default movement patterns.
• What the Yerkes-Dodson curve tells us about optimal arousal for performance and why beginners fall off the curve sooner.
• How to use the physiological sigh as a rapid, science-based tool to reset your nervous system right before a run.

• Episode 159: Handler Muscle Memory for Dog Agility
• Episode 188: Handler Desensitization

Canine Handler Fitness with Liz Joyce

In this episode, Esteban and Sarah talk about what it really means when things go wrong in the ring. A knocked bar, a wrong course, a dog that runs straight to the leash—none of these moments predict your future in agility. Instead, they're feedback about where you and your dog are in your training journey.

• The key difference between formative and summative feedback—and how it applies to training and trials.
• Why tying your success or failure to self-worth actually slows progress (and how to stop doing it).
• How to read your dog's "mistakes" as information about confidence, arousal, and understanding.

Thanks so much for joining us this week.

To get Bad Dog Agility podcasts sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes, SoundCloud, or Spotify.

Happy training and thank you for helping us reach over 2 million podcast downloads!

Canine Handler Fitness with Liz Joyce