389: 320,000 Dogwalks
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (1:17:56) In this episode, Sarah and Esteban welcome Dr. Arielle Pechette Markley and Dr. Abigail Shoben to discuss their CARIS research update analyzing data from 1,385 trials and over 300,000 runs per obstacle. They break down the findings from the largest coordinated safety study in agility history on contact obstacle incidents and what the numbers actually mean for handlers and dogs. You Will Learn The actual incident rates by obstacle: dogwalk leads at 2.1 per 1,000 runs, followed by teeter (1.04) and A-frame (0.40) Why 91.5% of contact incidents result in no apparent...
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388: What ISC Entry Data Tells Us
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (28:03) The AKC International Sweepstakes Class launched mid-2023, bringing European-style FCI course design to AKC trials at three levels of difficulty. Now, with two full years of data in hand, Sarah takes a deep dive into the numbers to see where the program stands and what the trends might tell us about where it’s headed. You Will Learn How ISC entries compare to overall AKC participation, and what the 2024 vs. 2025 growth numbers actually look like Why big dogs dominate ISC entries, and how the 20″ and 24″ height classes compare to their share of the broader AKC...
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387: Video Assisted Review in AKC and UKI
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (37:31) Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban are joined by Chris Durkee of 4 Legged Flix to talk about Video Assisted Review (VAR), a technology now being used at the highest levels of agility competition in the United States. VAR was deployed at both the recent AKC National Agility Championship and the UKI Invitational, with video services provided by 4 Legged Flix. You Will Learn Why contact obstacle judging is so difficult How VAR works and what triggers a review How judges interacted with VAR and whether it affected their confidence or decision-making Whether VAR more often adds...
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386: Boy Dog or Girl Dog?
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (26:28) Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer share personal experiences and unpack the common stereotypes around male and female dogs in agility. With Esteban running girls, Sarah running boys, and Jennifer having trained both, the trio brings a range of perspectives and lands in the same place: the sex of a dog matters a lot less than people think. You Will Learn Why Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer each gravitate toward (or away from) a particular sex and what actually drove those choices The most common stereotypes about male vs. female dogs in agility, and how much truth the three...
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385: AKC National Agility Championship Wrap-Up with Guest Peter Wirth
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (57.15) In this episode, Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer sit down with Peter Wirth, the handler of that amazing Corgi, 8″ National Champion Welly. We also discuss the challenges of this year’s courses, including the low Q rates, multiple falls off the dogwalk, and the weave pole challenge that eliminated half the Finals field. You Will Learn What Peter and Jennifer thought about the high number of weave pole faults in the Finals What the Q rates were in both Prelims and Finals and what they tell us What this year’s NAC might signal about the future direction of course...
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384: 4 Feet or 5 – Does Bar Width Actually Matter?
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (27:08) Does the difference between 4-foot and 5-foot bars really matter in dog agility? In this episode, we dig into how bar width impacts everything from course design to your dog’s performance, and why this seemingly small difference can have bigger implications than you might think. You Will Learn How 4-foot vs 5-foot bars affect course design and handling decisions Whether bar width changes your dog’s jumping mechanics and consistency Why Jennifer and Esteban don’t like opening a course with a tire followed immediately by the dogwalk Mentioned Sponsored By
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383: Dog Agility on Netflix?
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (27:08) In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban explore what a dog agility series on Netflix or another streaming platform could look like. They discuss several possible formats and why agility has the ingredients for mainstream success. You Will Learn Different formats a dog agility series could take on a streaming platform The kinds of stories and personalities that would make the sport compelling for a wider audience Why dog agility has strong potential as a binge-worthy series What makes the sport visually exciting and emotionally engaging for viewers Mentioned : a...
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382: What Dog Agility Can Learn from Olympic Swimming
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (32:17) In this episode, Esteban and Sarah explore what dog agility can learn from Olympic swimming, two fast sports where performances last seconds but preparation takes months or years. They discuss how tiny technical details, mental preparation, and strategic training decisions can dramatically impact performance when the margin for error is so small. You Will Learn Why the swimming concept of tapering may apply to preparing dogs for major agility competitions How the first few seconds of a run, from the lead-out to the first obstacle, can set the tone for everything that...
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381: Puppies with Friends
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (30:21) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban talk about the realities of raising and training puppies alongside someone else. We explore how shared puppy journeys can strengthen relationships, strain them, and ultimately teach us a lot about expectations, pressure, and perspective. You Will Learn Jennifer’s experience raising littermates with her mom and later with her best friend and training partner Why getting puppies at the same time can create both the best and the hardest moments in an agility partnership How side-by-side progress can make you feel behind,...
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380: Mixed Breed Dogs in Agility
Bad Dog Agility Podcast
In this episode (41:20) In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban dive into the often-debated world of purpose-bred sport mixes, purpose-bred mixes in general, and how they compare to rescues, mutts, and “All American” dogs. We explore why these dogs exist, why they generate strong opinions, and how much of the controversy is rooted in history, philosophy, and expectations. Most importantly, we unpack how dogs from many backgrounds can thrive in sport while serving very different goals within the broader dog world. You Will Learn The difference between purpose-bred sport mixes,...
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In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban break down how the format of the AKC National Agility Championship impacts strategy, especially for handlers with medium-speed dogs. Most competitors at Nationals are not the fastest dogs in the country, and they’re not the slowest either. They’re somewhere in the middle. And that middle is where smart strategy matters most.
We talk about how the structure of the event affects qualification paths, what realistic advancement looks like, and how to approach Nationals in a way that gives your dog the best chance to succeed. Most importantly, we discuss how to set expectations so that no matter the outcome, you don’t feel like you wasted your time.
You Will Learn
- How the NAC format shapes strategy for medium-speed dog handlers trying to qualify for the Finals
- Why your dog may have a better chance of making the Finals than you think
- How to set realistic expectations so you walk away from Nationals feeling proud, not defeated
Mentioned
- How to Make the Finals at AKC Nationals
- How to Make the Finals at AKC Nationals
- Episode 292: What To Do When Things Start Off Poorly at a Big Event
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