Canine Culture

08/18/2026

𝟐𝟗 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

In this episode of the Agility Culture Podcast, I answer some hot topic questions such as NRM's, Unwanted Advice, Training Priorities in Young dogs, obstacle struggles, Ring Stress, private coaching advantages and more. Listen wherever you get your podcasts! https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AlY9xE9tFY1rh8dz9yhuq?si=q_GGiy7ZTVKiqJzQehhagg

Agility Culture · Episode

08/17/2026

The most important aspect of developing a dog as a future agility partner is not what you think it is.

It's not teaching them obstacle skills or fancy handling. Nope, it's something more nuanced. Confidence, Relationship and Engagement are critical to developing a partnership with your dog. A dog that wants to work with you instead of being engrossed with the environment. A dog that finds you to be incredibly exciting and fun to be around. Joy should be a part of criteria for everything your dog learns. Confidence should be your overall goal with every interaction your dog has in training and co-existing in the human world with other dogs, people, sounds and motion. These are your mission goals. They come first. The rest will follow.

07/29/2026

𝟐𝟖 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬

In this episode of the Agility Culture Podcast, I discuss the most commonly seen "wasted" training opportunities to enhance your dog's skills. In order to amplify understanding of a skill, we must strategically reward it in a manner that is significant to the dog. Have a listen and see what you can do to take your dog's skills to a high level of clarity.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NUcl6uwMvLeWvPWZxlj8u?si=bc2fe04658ac4e86

Agility Culture · Episode

07/20/2026

Does your dog get frustrated while you are training? Do they get frantic in between sequences while you are thinking about what you are doing next? Do they run off, go sniff and ignore you? Frustration leads quickly to the dog looking "frantic" or "bored/disconnected". Some are searching out obstacles, looking around and basically trying to predict what you want. You may not even know what you want. The frantic behavior is a dog feeling a bit helpless and causes immense stress. The dog may start barking, sniffing, circling, spinning or even biting you. The disconnected dog has left work to explore self-rewarding behaviors. So what can we do different that will stop these behaviors?

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 will help control this. It's about training in a "clean loop". The concept of Loopy Training was developed by horse trainer, Alexandra Kurland. A loop refers to the order of events in a training session. Cue – Behavior – Mark – Reinforcement. And then we loop back to cuing the behavior and the loop repeats. The loop needs to have a clear beginning and end. When a loop ends, it should be clear to the dog what comes next – to either immediately reorient to the handler or setup from a known starting point (often a platform when starting out). We can help restart a loop by:

1. Transporting the dog to the starting position (cookie magnet on their nose).

2. Strategically tossing a reset cookie away from you. https://youtu.be/-SilHPj8i7A

3. Stations! They are your friend in training sequences. Once you have run a sequence (cue - behavior) and have marked and reinforced it, immediately send the dog to the station. Remember a station can be a platform, cot, or mat. You can reinforce on it as well. (video in comments)

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

07/15/2026

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠

Some of my training involves short sequences with Discrimination options. What you see in the video is what I characterize as "hard stuff". It is not what I begin with, as I start and end with "easy stuff" to build confidence. I sandwich in the hard between the easy. Easy is usually a speed circle. The training in the video includes mistakes. I want you to see that training is not perfect rep after perfect rep. Please note that each skill is immediately rewarded in order to grow the skill and the dog to immediately know it made the correct choice.

07/13/2026

A good coach forces you to hear what you ignore, confront what you avoid, and become the handler you were always destined to be.

It doesn't matter if you are my online or in person student. I will not ignore the issues that are holding you back. I will especially translate your dog to you: what they know and what they don't understand. Training is about strengthening physical and mental skills of both dog and handler.

I care.

It is my passion to see you succeed as a team.

07/06/2026

Arena prep for this week's agility lessons at my place in Salida, CO. This is my Dirt Engineer, aka hubby, Tony 🚜. He loves mowing the dirt, as he calls it 🤣

07/05/2026

🌳What is your adventure with your dogs today? Did your dog have to endure crazy fireworks last night? If so, they are going to need a great deal of decompression over the next couple of days. A walk in nature where they can use their nose would be soothing for them.

07/04/2026

🇺🇸𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐚 - 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲

Great respect for the colonists that fought for freedom and independence. The American Idea and Experiment endures.
Great respect for the pioneers that endured tremendous hardship on their western journey of discovery.
Great respect for the Native Americans that didn't get a choice but shared their land with the immigrants. They certainly deserved better.
Great respect for public land, as it is OUR land. There's several million acres of it right behind me. The dogs are and I love running free on it :) Enjoy your day however you choose to celebrate!

06/30/2026

If the dog doesn't take the "right" obstacle, it's your fault. You are the Chief Navigator for your agility team and it is your responsibility to give the dog clear directions way before the dog's line makes a turn. Whether your handling is late or if it was timely, it is your fault. Don't get mad at the dog. Just stop that! In addition to being the Minister of Navigation, you are the Head Trainer. You are the one that trained your dog. If your dog doesn't understand the challenge, that's on you. Don't blame the dog, just take responsibility. Your dog just gave you valuable feedback. Use it.