Episode #13: Where to start when you’re starting, and what makes an expert an expert

Recast: The Controversy of Agility: Training Methods, Politics, and High-Level Performance (From Daisy’s guest appearance on The Doggie Stoic Podcast)

In this episode, I join Andrew on The Doggy Stoic podcast to talk about high-level agility competition, the Kynology Agency-Accountability Framework, and why I’m open about using complete training methods. We discuss the Kynology workshop I hosted in Ohio, the politics around training approaches in agility, and what it means to prioritize dog welfare through clarity and realistic expectations rather than ideology. If you’ve ever wondered why some of us talk openly about using all four quadrants while others stay quiet, this conversation gets into the real reasons behind that divide.

The Doggie Stoic on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@doggiestoic

Heart Health and Christmas Wishes

What does Christmas Eve have to do with Heart Health? What does dog agility have to do with heart health? Some thoughts from Daisy Peel during this holiday season.

Agility Challenge Tip #20 – Practice Alone

Holding ourselves accountable to stay sharp, to stay focused, and to stay in the sweet spot at the edge of our abilities when we’re alone is important – it’s not what happens in class each week, during that one or two hour period of time! It’s what happens when you’re at home, in your back yard, or your basement, by yourself, with your dog, working on the things you’ve set out to work on, with purpose!

Agility Challenge Tip #19 – Don’t do ‘drills’ – instead, play small, addicting games

As a dog trainer and handler, you’re not only a student (of the game, of your instructor, etc.), but you’re also a coach for your dog. And, good coaches, whether it’s to your dog or to your own agility students, share a knack for transforming the most mundane activities – especially the mundane activities – into games.