Bad Dog Agility Podcast

Latest Episodes:

387: Video Assisted Review in AKC and UKI Apr 09, 2026

Show notes

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 faults that were missed or overturns faults that were incorrectly called
What events may adopt VAR going forward

Mentioned

Episode 151: Judging with Video Review

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386: Boy Dog or Girl Dog? Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

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 coaches find in them
Why limiting your puppy search by sex may cause you to overlook the dog that could be your best partner yet
How other factors like temperament, drive, relationship, and timing outweigh sex when it comes to finding and developing a great agility dog

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385: AKC National Agility Championship Wrap-Up with Guest Peter Wirth Mar 26, 2026

Show notes

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 design

Mentioned

384: 4 Feet or 5 – Does Bar Width Actually Matter? Mar 19, 2026

Show notes

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

Episode 129: The Connection Paradigm

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383: Dog Agility on Netflix? Mar 12, 2026

Show notes

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 Different Breed: a docuseries on Amazon Prime
Race for the Crown

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Canine Handler Fitness

382: What Dog Agility Can Learn from Olympic Swimming Mar 05, 2026

Show notes

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 follows
Why both sports demand trust in training and muscle memory during short, high-stakes performances
How mental preparation and pre-run routines can help handlers manage nerves and perform at their best

Mentioned

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381: Puppies with Friends Feb 26, 2026

Show notes

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, increase stress, or quietly shift expectations
The upside of having a training partner going through the same puppy stage at the same time

Mentioned

Episode 157: The Comparison Trap

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Canine Handler Fitness

380: Mixed Breed Dogs in Agility Feb 19, 2026

Show notes

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, general mixes, mutts, and rescues
What the "All American Dog" designation really represents in competition
How breed recognition and performance success address different priorities

Mentioned/Related

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379: The Medium-Speed Dog's Guide to NAC Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode (18:10)

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

Sponsored By

Canine Handler Fitness

378: Westminster Masters Agility Champion Amber McCune Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode (45:48)

In this episode, Jennifer, Sarah, and Esteban are joined by Masters Agility Champion Amber McCune to break down the 2026 Westminster Masters Agility Championship. The conversation ranges from course design and footing to venue history and how the event experience has changed over the years.

You Will Learn

How course design, footing, and venue choices shape both performance and the competitor experience at Westminster.
How Jenn and Amber adjusted their handling to account for the unique format for making finals.
Why Amber didn't get to wear a sparkly dress.

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Canine Handler Fitness

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