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

Burnout isn't just something that happens at work—it happens in dog agility, too. In this episode, we dive into what burnout looks like for handlers, why it happens, and how to recover in a healthy way.

• The three major predictors of burnout identified across 30+ studies:
• Why agility is uniquely vulnerable to burnout (and what's missing compared to other sports).
• Practical ways to recover and prevent burnout for both you and your dog.

• Saint Rocco's Treats
• Clip & Go Agility

We've all said it. "My dog deserves better." Maybe after a missed contact, a wide turn, or one of those runs where nothing clicks. But what does that phrase really mean? In this episode, we look at where it comes from, how it shapes the way we see ourselves as handlers, and what our dogs actually need from us.

• Why "my dog deserves better" comes from love and care, but can slowly turn into guilt.
• How to tell the difference between healthy accountability and self-blame that holds you back.
• Why having a super talented dog can feel like pressure instead of joy, and how to flip that around.
• Esteban's advice to reframe your language so it builds confidence instead of doubt.

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

Clip and Go Agility

This week on the Bad Dog Agility Podcast, we sit down with Kris Seiter, the newly crowned FCI Agility World Champion in the Intermediate height division, and her Border Collie Naavdanya, the first American team to win an overall individual gold medal since 2011.

Fresh off their incredible performance in Kalmar, Sweden, Kris joins us to share what it felt like to stand atop the podium and take us behind the scenes of an unforgettable weekend on the world stage.

• Kris's thoughts and emotions after each run at AWC
• How she and her husband share handling duties with Naavdanya
• Insights into this year's course design
• What it's like competing as part of Team USA on the international stage
• The preparation and mindset behind a gold-medal performance

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1969545397230903

Canine Handler Fitness with Liz Joyce

Clip and Go Agility

In this episode, we unpack FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out, in the world of dog agility. From chasing every seminar and trend to feeling left behind when others seem to improve faster, we talk about how FOMO affects both handlers and dogs. Drawing on psychology, personal experience, and plenty of agility-specific examples, we explore how to recognize FOMO, how it can quietly derail progress, and how to shift toward a healthier mindset, the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).

Whether you're a newcomer overwhelmed by all the options or a seasoned competitor trying to keep up with every new technique, this episode will help you reset your focus and find confidence in your own path.

• What FOMO really is and why it's especially common in dog agility.
• How FOMO can affect training, competition, finances, and mental health.
• Why even experienced handlers and coaches fall into the trap of constant comparison.
• Practical ways to reframe FOMO into JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out.

• Episode 182: Choose Your Own Agility Adventure

Canine Handler Fitness with Liz Joyce

Clip and Go Agility

In this episode, we unpack FOMO, the Fear of Missing Out, in the world of dog agility. From chasing every seminar and trend to feeling left behind when others seem to improve faster, we talk about how FOMO affects both handlers and dogs. Drawing on psychology, personal experience, and plenty of agility-specific examples, we explore how to recognize FOMO, how it can quietly derail progress, and how to shift toward a healthier mindset, the Joy of Missing Out (JOMO).

Whether you're a newcomer overwhelmed by all the options or a seasoned competitor trying to keep up with every new technique, this episode will help you reset your focus and find confidence in your own path.

• What FOMO really is and why it's especially common in dog agility.
• How FOMO can affect training, competition, finances, and mental health.
• Why even experienced handlers and coaches fall into the trap of constant comparison.
• Practical ways to reframe FOMO into JOMO, the Joy of Missing Out.

• Episode 182: Choose Your Own Agility Adventure