Bad Dog Agility Podcast

In this episode (47:35)
In the third live podcast of the Run Happy series, Esteban, Sarah, and Jennifer walk through the eight things happy handlers do differently, then take on real problems submitted by listeners, from weaves that fall apart in the ring to start line stays that disappear at trials. It is the practical follow-up to the Valley of Despair: how to think about the work, and what to actually do about the problems in front of you.
You Will Learn
The eight mindset shifts that separate handlers enjoying the sport from those stuck in the Valley of Despair
How your own emotional state travels down the leash, and what to do when you feel yourself slipping into the valley
How to approach problems with: weave poles, broken start line stays, treat-dependent dogs, and stopped contacts that turn into fly offs at trials
Mentioned
This podcast is relevant for both the start line stay (dogs that break) and the release (dogs that freeze at the startline): Episode 134: Priming Your Dog Before an Agility Trial
Episode 111: The Myth of the Ring-Wise Dog
Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay!
Missed the second podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: The Valley Every Handler Hits
Missed the first podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: Are You Having Fun?

In this episode (35:10)
In this episode, Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer go deep into the lowest point of the Emotional Cycle of Change. They cover what it looks like in agility, why it happens, and the two ways out, only one of which actually works.
You Will Learn
How to recognize the valley of despair in your own training, and why landing there doesn't
mean something is wrong with you or your dog
The two ways out of the valley, and why the one that feels best may not be helpful
Why context is key for both the dog and the handler when you're working your way out of the valley
Mentioned
Click Here for the PDF Worksheet
Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay!
Missed the first podcast in the series? Listen to it here: Special LIVE Podcast Episode: Are You Having Fun?
Episode 282: Should You Switch From Stopped to Running Contacts?
Sponsored By
Canine Handler Fitness

In this episode (27:55)
In this episode, Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer kick off the Run Happy series, a special three-part run of podcasts taped live on video. They walk through the emotional cycle of change, from the honeymoon phase of a new dog all the way through the hard middle and out the other side, and explain why losing the fun in agility hurts both your enjoyment and your training.
You Will Learn
The five stages of the emotional cycle of change and how each one shows up in agility
Why agility that stops being fun is a double whammy
Why hitting the valley of despair is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong with you or your dog
Mentioned
Click Here for the PDF Worksheet
Click Here for the Live Unedited Podcast Replay!
Episode 373: Burnout in Dog Agility
Serpentine, Threadle, Backside Drill
Sponsored By
Canine Handler Fitness

In this episode (29:04)
In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban tackle a question from a VIP member about life in an agility desert and what it means to live hours from the nearest instruction or trial site.
You Will Learn
What actually defines an agility desert, and why distance from trials and distance from instruction are different problems
How community keeps remote handlers connected and motivated
Why online training has become the mainstay of survival in the desert
Mentioned
Interactive Map Showing AKC Agility Trial Locations in 2025
The VIP will Open Soon! Join the Waitlist: https://baddogagility.com/train-with-us/
Sponsored By
Canine Handler Fitness

In this episode (24:06)
Course maps are one of those tools every handler uses but few of us really think about. On this week's episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban dig into how they each use course maps, when course maps actually help, and when staring at one might be holding you back.
You Will Learn
How to use a course map
Jennifer's "changes in concavity" theory
Sarah's "no 2 plan A's" theory
Mentioned
Episode 324: Resource for AKC Agility Course Maps
VIP members: We mentioned the excellent webinar with Zach Davis, you can find it under the "Webinars" tab in the VIP members area. Non-VIP: Your chance to join is coming soon!
Sponsored By
Canine Handler Fitness