In this episode, we share our personal experiences and tips for helping dogs who get anxious during Fourth of July fireworks, discussing both successful and unsuccessful strategies.

• Strategies to create a comfortable and secure environment for your dog during fireworks.
• How to prepare in advance for fireworks with physical activity.
• Tips on using background noise or music to drown out firework sounds.
• Using anti-anxiety medications and natural supplements.

• Thunder Shirt
• ElleVet Calm & Comfort Chews

In this episode, Sarah, Jennifer, and Esteban share and discuss the qualifying rates for all jump heights in AKC agility, covering both Jumpers with Weaves and Standard, from Novice A to Masters level.

• The qualifying rates for each height class in AKC agility for 2023.
• How to calculate your predicted QQ rate.
• What Q rate is considered “good.”
• The pros and cons of using Q rate to evaluate performance.

• AKC Q Rates for 2023
• A Look at Qualification Rate by Height
• A Look at Speed by Height

Join us for an exciting episode where Sarah, Esteban, and Jennifer interview Cynthia Hornor about the big win with her remarkable dog, Nimble, the first 12″ overall champion at the prestigious Masters Agility Championship at Westminster.

• Insights into how competitors felt about the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show venue.
• Detailed discussion on the design of the agility courses at Westminster.
• Cynthia’s strategy and approach to navigating the event with Nimble and Truant (last year’s overall champion).
• Why this was one of the best broadcasts ever for an agility event.
• Reasons why Nimble, as the overall winner, has garnered extra attention from the national media, from the New York Times to the Wall Street Journal.

• Westminster Special: Mutt Hysteria (Catching Up With Stacey and Roo!)

This week, we’re thrilled to have Anthony Clarke, founder of British Agility, on our podcast. Co-host Jennifer Crank recently competed in the Longines Agility Grand Prix 2024 in Miami, a new agility event held in partnership with the Longines Global Champions Tour. We’ll share insights from both the organizer’s and competitor’s perspectives, giving you an inside look into this new event.

• Jennifer’s firsthand insights and highlights from competing in the Longines Agility Grand Prix 2024.
• How the event promotes dog agility to a wider audience.
• Behind-the-scenes look at the planning and execution that goes into organizing the event.
• Insights into the criteria and process for selecting competitors for future events.

• The British Agility Website: https://britishagility.co.uk/
• British Agility on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/britishagility.co.uk/
• Meet the athletes: https://www.facebook.com/reel/767676161746514
• Watch the Promo Reel: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1779892522531298

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Brittany Schaezler to dive into the topic of health clearances for agility dogs. Whether you’re a newcomer to the sport or a seasoned handler, understanding the standard health clearances is essential for your agility dog’s well-being and performance. We discuss everything from hip and elbow dysplasia to eye conditions and how these health factors can impact your agility journey.

• The significance of health clearances in agility training and breeding.
• Why hips, elbows, and eyes are crucial health checks for agility dogs.
• How breed-specific clearances can inform your training and breeding decisions.
• The role of breeders and owners in ensuring the health and fitness of agility dogs.
• Practical advice on when and how to get these health clearances for your dog.

• Episode 329: Early Take Off (ETO) – Part 1
• Episode 330: Early Take Off (ETO) – Part 2

This week, we delve into a topic suggested by one of our listeners: the fine line between babysitting and supporting your agility dog. In this podcast, we explore how the right balance of guidance and independence can significantly impact your dog’s confidence and performance on the course.

• How the handling support your dog needs changes over their experience level.
• How you use trial and error to discover how much support your dog needs.
• Why Sarah thinks it’s a good thing to occasionally pull your dog off the correct obstacle.
• How to use placement of reward to increase the dog’s commitment to the obstacle.

• Episode 187: Physical and Mental Commitment
• How Committed Are You?
• Episode 104: Building Confidence Through Challenges

Jennifer and Sarah talk about their experiences at the 2024 National Agility Championship with Esteban providing the livestream spectator perspective.

• Jenn’s thoughts on the facility, the surface, and the organization of the event.
• Why the Hybrid round was a surprise.
• Esteban’s view on the target q-rate for big events.
• Who was crowned National Agility Champion!

• You can find course maps and results here: https://akccompanionevents.com/index.php?eventSelected=National%20Agility%20Championship. Note that at some point, the results will be moved to this page: https://www.akc.org/sports/agility/events/akc-national-agility-championship/akc-national-agility-championship-past-events/
• What to learn more about the event? Check out our Preview Podcast: Episode 337: 2024 AKC National Agility Championship Preview

The 2024 AKC National Agility Championship takes place March 14-17 in Perry, Georgia. In this podcast, Sarah and Jennifer explore the event’s structure, key contenders and share how you can follow along with the event in near real-time.

• The structure of the 2024 AKC National Agility Championship.
• How to watch the event for free.
• How dogs qualify for the Challengers Round.
• Who is judging the event.

• You can find course maps, running orders, and results here: https://akc.jotform.com/app/233567920055862
• Watch here for FREE: https://akc.tv/event?id=10836
• BEWARE OF SCAMS! Many Facebook scams happen around these big events. Review this webinar: How to Spot a Fake Dog Agility Facebook Page or Group
• From last year’s event: The Evolution of the AKC National Agility Championship Finals Course
• Follow Jenn Crank with the Bad Dog Agility Before and After Video Series!