E419: Nancy Little - "Weave Pole Performance"

Thinking about weave pole training? Whether you're troubleshooting a problem or beginning to teach weaves to a new dog, in this episode we dive into Nancy's thoughts on how to approach things... and where so many teams seem to go wrong.

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  295 Hits
295 Hits

E418: Irith Bloom - "Getting Geeky On Behavior Change"

What is Applied Behavior Science? Learning Theory? Why bother, if folks have been training dogs for more than 10,000 years? Irith and I get into all that and more in this episode on the science of behavior change!

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  623 Hits
623 Hits

E417: Focus and Engage with Denise Fenzi, Petra Ford, and Karen Deeds

With the upcoming Focus & Engage one-day online conference only a few days away, join us for a preview of what you can expect, and an in depth conversation on acclimation, arousal, focus, and engagement.  

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  1557 Hits
1557 Hits

E416: Tracey McLennan - "A Framework for More Efficient Training"

Tracey McLennan joins me for a conversation on how her software background has informed her approach to dog training and led to her framework for smarter, faster, training progress. 

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  735 Hits
735 Hits

E415: Denise Fenzi - Contact Heeling v. Precision Heeling: What's the Difference?

Precision heeling and contact heeling may seem similar in some ways - but they're also very different. Join me for a conversation with Denise Fenzi on when she uses which one and how (and why) she approaches training both!  

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  1502 Hits
1502 Hits

E414: Crystal Wing - The Role of Relationship in Dog Training

Looking to improve your relationship with your dog and improve your teamwork? In this episode, Crystal breaks down the factors that go into fostering that relationship in a healthy way. 

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  1179 Hits
1179 Hits

E413: Sara Brueske - What's UpDog: A Conversation on Frisbee Games

 Have a dog who likes frisbees? Join us for a conversation about UpDog — including What's UpDog and how you can compete!

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  1173 Hits
1173 Hits

Being PROACTIVE In Stress Management: Reactionary vs PROACTIVE Approaches to Managing Stress

Life can be really hard, and today's political climate (and fallout from) is a lot. And let's be real—it's not getting better anytime soon.

This means we have two choices: let stress run the show or take control of how we manage ourselves.

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  1561 Hits
1561 Hits

E412: Petra Ford - "Balancing Motivation & Precision"

Do you find your dog tends to fall flat as you continue to raise criteria in training? Or maybe you have a dog that is SO enthusiastic that precision feels like an impossible dream? Join us for a conversation on balancing motivation and precision in your sports training. 

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  2046 Hits
2046 Hits

Smart Rewards: How Placement and Reinforcement Cues Shape Better Heeling

 Why Reward Placement Matters: When a dog receives reinforcement, they're likely to repeat not only the behavior they were doing, but also the position they were in and where they were looking when the reward arrived. In heeling, this means that if you feed your dog out in front or with their head turned, you're unintentionally reinforcing forging or crookedness. On the other hand, if you carefully place rewards right at your left pant seam, you help reinforce a dog that is in heel position, focused upward and back, engaged and aligned. Reward placement is shaping—without even asking for more effort.

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  1648 Hits
1648 Hits

E411: Kim Palermo & Erin Lynes - "Building a Sports Foundation"

If you've found yourself thinking, "I'm gonna do that differently with the next puppy," or "Next time I'll do this perfectly," you're not alone. Join me, Kim, and Erin for a discussion on what they prioritize with future sports dogs, why there's always something they'd do differently "next time," and how they're tackling things right now.  

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  1253 Hits
1253 Hits

Why Your Handling Feels Off: The Piece You’re Missing

Agility handling is a game of precision, speed, and split-second decision-making. Yet, many handlers find themselves struggling with late cues, unstable turns, or inconsistent movement—issues they often blame on technique alone. While skill and timing are crucial, there's another often-overlooked factor that could be holding you back: core strength.

A weak core can lead to inefficient movement, slower reaction times, and even increased injury risk. By improving your core strength—specifically in rotational, anti-rotational, and anti-flexion movements—you can dramatically enhance your handling ability.

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  1303 Hits
1303 Hits

E410: Ashley Escobar - The Art & Science of Jump Training

Jumps make up a significant percent of every agility course - yet so often they receive only a small percentage of our training time. If you've ever wondered what jump grids are, how to teach your dog collection, or whether cavalettis might improve your dogs performance... give this episode a listen!  

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  1189 Hits
1189 Hits

Staying Connected in Rally: How to Build Better Teamwork in the Ring

 If you've ever walked into a Rally ring and felt like your dog wasn't quite with you, you're not alone. Connection is one of the most important—and often overlooked—skills in Rally. Without it, everything feels harder. With it, everything flows.

In Rally, connection isn't just nice to have—it's essential. It affects the quality of your heeling, the accuracy of your signs, and your overall performance as a team. So how do we build and maintain that connection throughout an entire course?

Let's take a closer look.

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  2646 Hits
2646 Hits

E409: Sarah Rodriguez - Making Training More Accessible

We always say train the dog in front of you -- but in this podcast, Sarah shares the importance of considering the handler as well. Adjusting training so it's effective and easy for both members of the team may require some additional creativity... but it's more than worth it. Join us for a conversation on making training more accessible in this ep...
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  1403 Hits
1403 Hits

E408: Karen Deeds - Another Look at Box Feeding

The more tools in your toolbox the more dogs you can help — in this episode Karen shares her experience using box feeding (aka the "dopamine box") to build confidence, desensitize to sounds, develop duration as a concept, for scent work, tracking, and to develop working under pressure. 

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  1842 Hits
1842 Hits

E407: Denise Fenzi, Crystal Wing, & Jane Ardern on Motivation

With the upcoming one day conference on matters of motivation, Denise, Crystal, and Jane joined me to share their takes on what motivation really is and why it matters.  

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  2054 Hits
2054 Hits

What Really Happens in the AKC Obedience Ring?

You've taught your dog the exercises—but do you know how to show them in the ring?

Join Petra Ford for a deep dive into what actually happens during an AKC obedience trial, from Novice through Utility. She goes beyond the rulebook and training videos to explore the flow of a performance—what the judge says, how you respond, when you can talk to your dog, what you can do during transitions, knowing where to go, how to use subtle cues and handling strategies to help your dog succeed, and more. Originally aired as a facebook Live in the FDSA Student Alumni Group, we've downloaded the recording and are re-sharing here for free.

If your dog knows the exercises but you're unsure what to do when you walk into the ring—this recording is for you!

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  1521 Hits
1521 Hits

E406: Deb Jones, PhD - "An Honest Conversation about Hard Decisions"

There are certain topics in the dog training world that feel almost taboo - among them is the topic of behavioral euthanasia. In this episode Deb and I have a frank but thoughtful conversation on evaluating the severity of a behavior issue and what factors go into that sort of decision. 

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  2667 Hits
2667 Hits

E405: Jessica Wheatcraft - "A Closer Look at Circle Work"

Give this episode a listen to learn a bit more about Jessica, her background, what Circle Work is and what led her to develop it! 

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  2174 Hits
2174 Hits

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