The Wrong End of the Tunnel - European Open Championships Recap

Just a short one on my thoughts whilst driving home from Finland and the AWCs. We will be back to our normal schedule next week

We all have an opinion about judges. The courses we love, the courses we hate, the decision that cost us a run, the contact that apparently only one person in the world could see. But have you ever actually stopped to think about what goes into judging agility? In this episode, we get stuck into the good, the bad and the downright thankless job of being an agility judge. We talk about course design, safety, contacts, grades, the pressure judges are under, and whether we're sometimes expecting far too much from the people standing in the middle of the ring. We also ask whether judges should be held more accountable, where the line sits between fair criticism and simply giving someone abuse, and why judging an agility class might be one of the least appealing jobs in the sport. So whether you've judged yourself, would rather stick pins in your eyes, or have spent the last 20 years complaining about judges from outside the ring, this one's for you.

Would you know if something wasn't quite right with your dog before they became obviously lame? In this episode, we’re talking about the things we can actually look for as agility handlers. Not diagnosing injuries from a dodgy 10-second video, and not panicking every time our dog sits slightly wonky, but learning what normal looks like for our own dog and spotting when that normal starts to change. We’ll talk about movement, posture, jumping, weaves, contacts, turns, behaviour and all those little changes that are incredibly easy to dismiss when we’re desperate to get that next run. We’ll also look at competition day decisions. When should you carry on? When should you back off? And how much does the fact that you've driven three hours, paid your entry and really want that clear round influence the decision? We’ll get into conditioning, warm-ups, recovery and workload, as well as when it's time to stop guessing and get a vet, physio or other qualified professional involved. Because the question isn't just “Can my dog run?” It's “Should my dog run today?”

What happens when your agility coach is also your partner? In this episode, Kert and Aimee talk honestly about the unique challenges, benefits, and occasional awkward moments of coaching the person you live with. They explore how their coaching relationship began, how it has evolved, and why the same things that make a great coach-athlete partnership - trust, clear communication, structure, and constructive feedback—matter even more when you are bringing that relationship home with you. They discuss how to give feedback without it becoming personal, what to do when emotions run high or you disagree, and why creating boundaries between “coach mode” and everyday life is essential. You will also hear how video analysis, focused feedback, planning, and understanding the stages of learning can help handlers develop more confidence and autonomy in their training. Whether you coach your partner, are coached by them, train closely together, or simply want to become better at receiving and giving feedback, this episode offers practical ideas for protecting the relationship while improving performance in the agility ring.

In this episode, Kert and Dave take the agility world to Room 101. The place where the sport’s most irritating habits, phrases and show-day misdemeanours get judged, defended and potentially banished forever. From dreadful coffee at shows and people chatting in the middle of a course walk, to handlers blaming their dogs for their own mistakes, late-running classes and questionable ring set-ups, nothing is safe. They also tackle the debate around AI-generated show flyers, unsolicited advice after a run, filming for handling analysis, and why a few simple checks could make competitions safer and less stressful for everyone. Expect strong opinions, counter-arguments, plenty of humour, and listener nominations from the agility community. Which annoyances deserve a place in Room 101—and which ones are we all guilty of occasionally doing ourselves? Let us know what you would send to Room 101. What is the one agility-show habit, phrase or frustration that you would happily banish forever?