Struggling to make progress in agility—even though you’re putting in the work? In this episode, Esteban and Sarah break down the Success Cycle, a powerful 5-stage framework that shows you exactly where you are and what to do next. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned competitor, this blueprint will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

• The 5 stages of the Success Cycle and how to identify where you are right now
• Why most agility handlers plateau—and how to avoid staying stuck
• The biggest mistake people make when they skip the Review and Adjust phases
• How small adjustments lead to big breakthroughs in your performance
• What separates handlers who level up quickly from those who spin their wheels

• Episode 212: Do You Really Need Video Analysis?
• Episode 139: The Test/Train/Adjust Cycle
• Episode 30: Analyzing Mistakes and a Look at Systems

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/