What really sets the top agility teams apart? In this episode, Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer each choose one key factor they believe gives elite teams an edge—and it’s not what you might think. Talent, speed, age, or breed? Nope. We’re talking about habits and strategies that any team can develop, starting today.

Whether you’re aiming for national finals or just trying to feel more confident in your runs, this conversation will give you clarity on where to focus your time and energy.

• Why success in agility isn’t reserved for the naturally talented or the young and fast
• One thing each of your hosts believes separates the top 10% from everyone else
• How to build these success-driving habits into your own training
• What doesn’t matter nearly as much as you might think (hint: it’s not your dog’s breed)

• Episode 212: Do You Really Need Video Analysis?

Coaches and instructors play a crucial role in our growth as agility handlers. In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban reflect on the many different types of coaching available to competitors, both inside and outside the agility world, and how they can help shape your skills, mindset, and confidence.

You don’t have to be in a weekly class to benefit from a coach. And you don’t need a title to be one. Whether it’s a fellow competitor, a sports psychologist, a trial buddy, or an online instructor helping you prep for a big event, coaching is everywhere, and it’s evolving fast thanks to technology.

• How video, slow motion, and remote platforms have changed the coaching game.
• The surprising places coaching can come from, even outside of agility.
• The specialized types of coaches we’ve each worked with (contacts, mental management, event prep, and more).
• Why you might be acting as someone’s coach already and how to embrace that role.
• How a community built on shared learning makes agility better for everyone.

• Episode 289: The End of Coach’s Eye
• You can find Running Contacts classes with Euan Paterson here: https://www.camddwrcanine.co.uk/camddwr-courses
• You can find Running Contacts classes with Silvia Trkman here: https://www.lolabuland.com/online-classes/

photo credit: Great Dane Photos

In this episode, we dive into a question every agility handler wrestles with:
Should you train in class the way the course should be run to build skills—or adapt your handling as if you’re at a trial, doing whatever it takes to get through clean?

Jennifer kicks off the conversation with a story from her in-person class, where a handler faced this very dilemma. Esteban shares how he uses small-space sequences to help handlers try out multiple options—rear cross, front cross, blind cross—and then analyze which is actually faster using video review. The results are often surprising, leading to smarter handling strategies or exposing weaknesses that can be addressed in training.

Whether you’re a handler who trains for mastery or trials for survival, this episode will give you fresh insight into how to approach your next class—and your next run.

• The pros and cons of the “ideal execution” mindset versus the “trial-day strategy” mindset
• Why it’s not an either-or question, and how context—your dog, your goals, your stage of training—matters
• How to blend both approaches into your training plan for better long-term results

• The Finals Map

photo credit: Great Dane Photos

In this episode, Esteban and Sarah are joined by Dr. Arielle Pechette Markley, a Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation veterinarian and researcher, to discuss a groundbreaking initiative in dog agility safety: the Coalition for Agility Reporting on Incidents and Safety (CARIS).

We’re excited to share that major agility organizations around the world—including AKC, ASCA, CPE, FCI, NADAC, RKC, UKI, and USDAA—have come together in an unprecedented show of cooperation to support independent, evidence-based research into agility safety. These organizations are contributing data to the Canine Sports Science Consortium (CSSC), led by Drs. Arielle Pechette Markley, Abigail Shoben, Melody Moore Jackson, and Rachel Olson.

The first study of its kind, this project focuses on contact obstacles—specifically the A-Frame, Dog Walk, and Teeter—and aims to identify the relationship between obstacle performance, number of runs, and reported incidents. The initiative was inspired in part by ongoing discussions around Dog Walk safety, including proposals to lower its height or widen the plank.

Join us as Dr. Markley shares how this study came together, what it means for the future of agility, and how judges, trial secretaries, and show organizers can contribute to this collaborative effort. It’s a major step toward making agility safer for all dogs, and we’re thrilled to help spread the word.

• Why leading agility organizations are uniting to support data-driven safety research
• What CARIS is and how it will collect and analyze obstacle-related incident data
• How current debates around Dog Walk height and width inspired this research initiative
• What role judges, trial secretaries, and handlers can play in shaping the future of agility safety

• The project announcement on the Canine Sports Science Consortium website
• Donate to help support dog agility research.
• Our previous podcast: Episode 355: Is It Time to Change the Dogwalk?

photo credit: Great Dane Photos

In this episode, we discuss the 2025 AKC National Agility Championship, including a historic win by our own Jennifer Crank in the 16″ class. We’re also joined by 12″ winner Abbey Beasley to talk about the toughest course challenges, trends in course design, and what this year’s results signal for the agility landscape. Note: In the podcast we said we thought that none of the top seed dogs won, which was incorrect; Amelia Geninger and Eclipse (24″) were the top seed and won the title. They were the only top seed to win.

• What made Jennifer Crank’s 16″ win historic.
• A look at the recent dominance of Border Collies in the 16″ class and how this year broke the trend.
• How Jennifer and Abbey approached not being the top seed in the Finals.
• Key course challenges from NAC 2025 and how the prelim course designs differed from the Finals course design.
• Why the livestream camera work left many viewers frustrated.

• The Finals Map

The AKC National Agility Championship is finally here! Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or attending your first NAC, this episode is packed with last-minute insights to help you stay focused, execute with confidence, and get the most out of your experience. We’ll discuss mindset, strategy for making the Finals or Challenger Round, and key mental and physical preparation tips. No matter where you finish, the trip is always worth it—let’s get you in the right frame of mind to succeed!

• How to set realistic expectations and avoid the trap of thinking “If I can’t make Finals, it’s not worth it.”
• The two ways forward: making the Finals or the Challenger Round—and why you should stick around until you’re absolutely sure you’re out.
• Why clean runs matter more than ever and how to adjust your handling strategy to prioritize them.
• How to approach the Challenger Round and Finals strategically, including the importance of seeding, judge tendencies, and staying composed.
• The mental and physical preparation needed to perform your best—including rest, nutrition, visualization, and handling ring conflicts.

• What Does It Take to Make Finals at AKC Nationals?
• How to Make the Finals at AKC Nationals
• Visualization and Mental Preparation
• Join us for the 2025 Before and After Online Course!

As handlers, we’ve all been there—our dogs make a mistake, and suddenly, we feel this overwhelming pressure to “fix it” right away. But in our rush to correct the issue, we often sacrifice good training for mediocre training, just to feel like we’ve accomplished something in the moment.

In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban each tackle a common mistake handlers make when addressing common training mistakes (yes, that’s a mouthful!). We break down why handlers struggle with these moments and how shifting your mindset can help you prioritize long-term success over short-term fixes.

• Why handlers feel pressure to “fix” mistakes and how that impacts training
• The most common handler mistakes when addressing:
  • -Mid-sequence errors (Sarah)
  • -Missed contacts & weave poles (Jennifer)
  • -Start-line issues (Esteban)
• A mindset shift that will help you prioritize quality training over quick fixes

• • Episode 139: The Test/Train/Adjust Cycle

In this episode, we sit down with Nancy Gyes as she reflects on two decades of coaching the AKC USA World Team at the FCI Agility World Championship. From her experiences as a competitor on the first-ever team in 1996 to leading the U.S. to international success, Nancy shares insights on how the sport has evolved, what it takes to stay competitive globally, and her thoughts on the future of U.S. agility. Plus, find out what’s next for Nancy as she steps down from her role.

• What it was like competing on the first AKC/USA World Team in 1996.
• The biggest changes in international agility competition over the past 30 years.
• Key trends in European agility influencing U.S. performance.
• The issues facing agility organizations in the team selection process.
• Nancy’s perspective on the toughest challenges and most memorable moments from her coaching career.

• We last spoke with Nancy on Episode 5 in 2012!!! Listen to this blast from the past: Episode 5: Nancy Gyes and Carrie DeYoung Interview
• Sarah’s Favorite Podcast: Episode 182: Choose Your Own Agility Adventure