Advertise on podcast: Agility Culture

Is your pre-run routine carefully preparing your dog? Is it winding them up or stressing them out? Laura explores how warm-ups, waiting ringside, reward games, and handler nerves shape your team’s readiness. Discover what the Yerkes–Dodson Law and canine arousal research can teach us about finding the balance between enthusiasm and focus, with practical ideas for more thoughtful, connected performance. My website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ My Online Classroom: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

When agility progress stalls, adding more training can be tempting, but is it what your team needs? In this episode, Laura explores when clearer communication, better reinforcement, emotional readiness, physical recovery, or a stronger handler mental game can make the difference. Learn how to train with intention, recognize what’s missing and choose a more productive next step for you and your dog. My website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ My Online Classroom: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

Are you training beautiful contact criteria in class—only to let it slide when you step into the competition ring? You may be unintentionally teaching your dog that the rules change when it matters most. Contact criteria isn't a mechanical issue. It's a communication issue. In this episode, I'm joined by special guest, Janey Bell, a top notch instructor and facility owner. We’ll talk about contact criteria, competition mistakes, stopped vs. running contacts, frustration and confusion in your dog, and when it may be time to retrain the behavior. We’ll also look at how instructors can help handlers build contact skills that are clear, consistent, and sustainable. Website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ Online Classroom: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

In this episode, I answer some hot topic questions on NRM's, Training Priorities in Young dogs, obstacle struggles, Ring Stress, private coaching advantages and unwanted advice. Ring Stress Online Class https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/ring-stressed Private Coaching Program https://www.canineculturecompany.com/Private-Online-Coaching

In this episode, 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.

Analysis of the responses to my viral post that asked the question "If you could change one thing in agility, what would that be?" 656 comments were studied for the most common to give us the Top 10, the most unusual and what wasn't mentioned. The recurring themes are quite interesting! Link to original post https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1526155965964464&set=a.549499100296827 My Website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I host special guest, Kaitlyn Kaminski of WAO & European Open Team USA. We discuss her compelling agility story of rising fast to the top shelf of USA agility. Kaitlyn recently competed at the World Agility Open running clean in 5/6 runs. Take a listen! My website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I discuss the importance of ring readiness for competition and keeping dogs under control. I dive into how to devlelop it and maintain it, along with why everyone should do their part to keep the agility community safe. The cornerstone of teamwork is Engagement. Website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

I discuss some of the common training problems and setbacks in agility training. I provide strategies on how to work out of a training session failure and how to set-up training sessions to prevent potential setbacks from occurring. Learn about factors that can cause training issues and how to avoid them. My website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this "ask me anything" episode, I answer questions from listeners that are all over the agility spectrum. Questions spanned from arousal issues, mental games for dogs, making practice engaging, managing multiple dogs in training, canine fitness schedules, startline routines and more! Puppy Cognition Study Overview: https://today.duke.edu/2025/12/inside-minds-puppies-how-do-they-develop-their-thinking-skills Arousal Control Online Class: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/ring-impulse-control Yerkes-Dodson Law of Performance/Arousal https://www.canineculturecompany.com/EndUserFiles/79262.pdf Fitness For Agility Online Class: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/FitnessForAgility My Website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I share smart strategies for all of the pre-planning to maximize your course walk. Find out how to optimally prime your brain for the most bandwidth to get the most out of your 8 minutes. Clever insights and tricks that will likely lead to better outcomes in your runs. Mastering Course Memorization Online Class: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/course-memorization My website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I discuss the characteristics of sensitive dogs and the training considerations for them. Learning to train a sensitive dog in a manner that keeps their confidence high and their sensitivites low. More dogs are "sensitive" then we realize. Website: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ Online Classroom: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

In this episode, I discuss the intricacies of Ring Stress in Dog Agility. It's complicated. Every dog that competes has some amount of stress. Does yours have too much? I break down the underlying causes, the physical signs and give you strategies to help your dog. Whether your dog has ring stress or not, this eye-opening episode will be thought provoking into your agility partnership. Online Ring Stress Class information: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/courses/ring-stressed Learn more about Laura: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/

In this episode, I discuss the real struggles and setbacks that every team will encounter in dog agility at some point. I reveal my own setbacks and how I've worked through frustration tolerance. Learn how to make honest self-evaluations of your overall teamwork in order to realize your goals. More information on my Private Online Coaching Program: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/Private-Online-Coaching My website for Canine Culture: https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ Online Classroom with Open Enrollments: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/

In this Episode, I put on my Judge's hat and share my Top 10 Common Handling Mistakes and Top 10 Wonderful Things I witness as a UKI Judge. You may be surprised at what all a Judge observes when you are in our ring. My Business: Canine Culture https://www.canineculturecompany.com/ My Online Classroom: https://canine-culture.thinkific.com/