Fostering Excellence in Agility

074 Preparing for competition-like situations is possible, even without recreating the entire trial environment. Listen in for what Ring Prep training is and how we can do it! Additional resources on this topic: Ring Prep without the Ring Live Session Ring Prep Bundle Ready to Compete podcast

073 When should you start competing and what does that look like for each team? How to plan to maximize success all comes down to the splits in behavior that we need our dogs to understand. While this is a repeat episode, the conversation happening in the Fans of FxAgility Community is not! Join us: www.fxagilityschool.com/signup 

Episode 072: Training and Using Stashed Reinforcement Humans understand that in order to compete, rewards have to be left outside of the ring, but does your dog understand that? In this episode, I break down how I train this concept from when my dogs are young puppies, and how I use the concept throughout their education and eventually competition. Interested in learning more? Join the conversation in my free Fans of FxAgility Community: https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup

071 Most training focuses on how fast and accurate the dog performs a specific behavior. What if the small details surrounding that performance were also a priority? There are three places in our training that are commonly overlooked can be what's keeping you from making progress in your training. Join the conversation in the FxAgility Community: https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup 

070 Agility is full of highs and lows. Injuries. Low Q Rates. Not qualifying for events. It all happens and it’s all a bummer. How we move through it though, impacts how we “get back on the horse”, as the saying goes. In this episode, I share my 3-step process and questions I ask myself for how to move forward.

069 We’ve all heard of using jackpots, right? But what if it really is about making every reward mean more? In this episode, Megan talks about a recent article from neurosciencenews.com and shares how she’s already been applying this information and what she observes in her learners. Here’s the article: Large Reward Events Accelerate Learning Speed by Extending Brain Signals  Episode mentioned in this podcast: Maintaining the Value of Your Reinforcers or View on Youtube Join the conversation in the free community and comment directly on this post to share your thoughts. 

Agility is hard and it takes time to get good at it, let alone master it. Megan shares her experience in focusing on the process and using data to improve the overall performance while letting go of outcome results. Join the discussion in the (FREE) Fans of FxAgility Community -> https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup 

067 Feeling low on time? Have a listen to this episode where Megan breaks down how she focuses her training when life gets busy and agility takes the back burner.

066 In this episode, Megan talks about common behaviors associated with ring stress, what could be causing the stress, and how to develop the appropriate training plan to address it.

In this episode, I share my thoughts and feelings about mine and Sprint's performance from the event, my training plans since then, and how I'm moving forward with our goals. I invite you to follow along post-run analyses and training sessions in the (free) Fans of FxAgility Community: https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup

064 How do we continue to push our dog's understanding of the different obstacle cues and behaviors? By focusing on making training sessions intentionally different, we can expose our dogs to a wider variety of contexts and grow their capacity to perform the behavior under pressure in competition.

Enjoy this Coaching Call Replay! Join the Fans of FxAgility Community to discuss agility, watch (and ask questions about) my training, and join in on the regular coaching calls! All available for free!  Click here to join. 

062 What holds more power for your dog, food, toys, or the agility obstacles? While we want the obstacles to be valuable to the dog, we need to maintain value and power for the reinforcers that we can more easily control: food and toys. Megan dives into habits around reinforcement that we can apply immediately in order to maintain and build value for our food and toys that we give our dogs during training.

061 In this episode, Megan explains the 3-point system for determining which path on course will be fastest, and how your individual dog fits into that guiding system. Checkout all the ways you can learn from Megan at www.fxagility.com and be sure to join the free community, Fans of FxAgility, where Megan shares her training, answers questions, and offers coaching calls for all members: www.fxagilityschool.com/signup

060 In this episode, Megan expands on how to set dogs up for success when entering their first group classes in order to avoid problems. She gives ideas for group class instructors and individuals for focusing on the essential skills first and the agility skills second.

059 This episode is from a Coaching Call inside Fans of FxAgility, a free community. Make sure you sign up to join the next coaching call! https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup

058 In this special crossover episode with Cog-Dog Radio, Megan is joined by friend and colleague, Sarah Stremming to talk about every agility person's favorite buzzword: Arousal.

057 In this episode, Megan is joined by the host of Before the Q, Rose Cybulski, to talk about stepping out of one's comfort zone and what the road to the 2026 Canadian Open might look like—interested in learning more? Check it out: Before the Q Podcast Watch Episode 2 of the Vlog! Support Rose & her projects

056 What is pressure, and how can we train for it? Find out in this episode!

055 In this mini-sode, I break down my different types of offers: free, self study, coaching program, and guided programs. Free Content: This Podcast! Make sure you've subscribed! Social Media: Facebook and InstagramFans of FxAgility Community: Signup or Login Plan with Excellence Mini-Course If you aren't currently on my email list and want to be, scroll to the bottom of this page.    Self-Study Programs: Verbal Cue WebinarStartlines that Stick WebinarRing Routines BundleLoopy Agility TrainingTeeter TrainingRunning AframeWeave Pole TrainingHandler Skills BundleHandler Mechanics Microskills Train with Excellence Coaching Program: Learn about the program here. Claim the 2025 Black Friday promo here. Check out current members' favorite lessons here.  Guided Programs: January 2026 Handler Mechanics Microskills Send this episode to your friends! Reach out via email if you have any questions about my offers: [email protected] 

054 Let's unpack some definitions of positive and negative reinforcement, a real-life training example, and why focusing on the use of positive reinforcement will benefit your team overall. Video examples of skills trained with positive reinforcement, but may also be benefiting from negative reinforcement, are available inside my free community, Fans of FxAgility. Login here or Join here. 

053 There are seven ways to observe behavior and look for signs of learning. In this episode, Megan shares those seven ways for a quick definition and then unpacks how she uses those forms of measurement in her own training. When I set out to record this episode, I referenced my well-loved copy of Learning and Behavior by Paul Chance. Join the Fans of FxAgility free community here: https://www.fxagilityschool.com/signup 

052 Preparing for competition-like situations is possible, even without recreating the entire trial environment. Listen in for what Ring Prep training is and how we can do it! Additional resources on this topic:  Ring Prep without the Ring Live Session Ring Prep Bundle  Ready to Compete podcast

051 When I first started competing, we had limited options on how to maintain our habits from training to trialing, but now with FEO and FNG available is most (all?) organizations, it's easier to be consistent in our habits. In this episode, I talk about how I use each opportunity to bridge the gap between training and trialing for teams of all levels. Episode 031 Using FEO & FNG Effectively Join the Fans of FxAgility Community 

050 How we respond to mistakes and use mistakes in our training is based on our values and how we choose to train. We have so many tools available to us that allow us to build confident and resilient learners that don't involve confusion or frustration. Learning to control our own emotions plays a huge role in how our dogs navigate playing this game with us. Take a listen, and join the Fans of Fx Agility Community to keep the conversation going. Log-in at fxagilityschool.com or sign up: fxagilityschool.com/signup

049 What is engagement, how do we get it, and what do we do when we don't have it?

048 There's a lot that goes into training startlines, but it can be broken into four main categories: skills, motivation, chains, and ring sustainability. check out the online program that starts on June 2nd! fxagilityschool.com/startlinesthatstick  

Megan talks with student, friend, and colleague, Sarah Espinoza-Sokal all about raising a puppy responsibly. The two coaches talk about their values and priorities when choosing what each puppy needs, and how that benefits them both in life and in dog sports. Sarah is starting a new puppy program: Limitless Agility Foundations where she plans to support puppy owners through this process and cultivate passion for living, training, and competing with these special creatures. To find out more, visit Sarah's FB Page: Agility Odyssey and look for the pinned post.

046 Should you keep trialing when a problem behavior crops up or take a break? I unpack my process in this episode!

045 I am often asked about preparing for big events, but is it really any different than preparing for a local event? Listen in to find out how I prepare for the competition weekend.

044 Tips on planning and prioritizing your training when your access to agility equipment is limited.

043 Megan explains the five phases of walking the course and planning her strategy. This blog: https://fxagility.com/blog/the-five-phases-of-course-analysis/ outlines the same information and points you toward additional resources inside Megan's school.

042 Megan shares her general thoughts on using and fading props in our agility training. Check out her website: fxagility.com

041 You need clear rounds to progress in dog agility, but focusing on clear rounds isn't the answer. Dive into this episode to shift your perspective on the sport and how you train for and compete for clear rounds. Dive into my webinar on more effective coursework training and view my coursework training in the Event Prep Program   

040 Don't wait for problems to be big ones, get curious about your dog's behavior and uncover small gaps in their understanding before they become impossible chasms to overcome.

039 Megan shares 5 mindset skills she focuses on during every competition to ensure she's having a good time for herself, her dog, and her team.

038 In this episode, Megan shares her two ways for reducing reinforcement and the training strategies she implements for each.

037 When does Megan think about leaving the ring early and what does that look like? Listen to episode 37 to find out!

036 Megan explains how she proofs different behaviors to aim for her ultimate goal: ring sustainability.

035 Megan unpacks her thoughts about bar-knocking in this requested episode. Megan's favorite jumping experts: Linda Mecklenburg https://awesomepawsagilityacademy.com/current-classes/ Dr. Leslie Eide https://www.thetotalcanine.com/online-learning.html  Join the coaching program https://fxagility.mykajabi.com/fx-agility-waitlist  Sarah Stremming's Webinar, Bravery School https://sarahstremming.com/products/webinar/bravery-school/  Teeter training program  https://fxagility.mykajabi.com/offers/sUU48VFG/checkout 

034 Should you make something easier in training or try to pivot in another way? Find out what Megan thinks in this episode! 

033 Megan shares her experience debuting Sprint, her two-year-old Border Collie, in agility competitions. Find out insights into what Megan saw change in Sprint's behavior over time and how well the debut strategy worked.  Resources: Episode 32: Are You Ready to Compete? Youtube: Sprint's First Trial Highlights Youtube: Sprint's Second Trial, Novice Jumping Youtube: Second Trial, Novice Agility Episode 28: How Outside the Ring Behaviors Impact Inside the Ring Behaviors Episode 31: Using FEO and Fix & Go Effectively 

032 When should you start competing and what does that look like for each team? How to plan to maximize success all comes down to the splits in behavior that we need our dogs to understand. 

031 For Exhibition Only and Fix and Go On are two tools we have in the competition ring that can help us narrow the gap between how our dogs perform in training versus how they perform in trials. In this episode, Megan breaks down the pros and cons of each and talks about how she would use either of these options. Mentioned in this episode: Using FEO/NFC with a toy in the ring: https://youtu.be/C6z7UqyPzDoProactively helping a dog before they make a mistake: https://youtu.be/xq4oobNp2wo  The Pitfalls of Cue Escalation --> https://fxagility.com/blog/the-pitfalls-of-cue-escalation/ Different Types of Training --> https://fxagility.com/blog/reducing-delaying-reinforcement/ Beginning of Run Routines --> https://fxagility.com/blog/beginning-of-run-routines-evaluating-your-dogs-readiness/ End of Run Routines --> https://fxagility.com/blog/end-of-run-routines-do-you-have-it-do-you-need-it/ Episode 29, Startlines with Sarah Espinoza-Sokal --> https://fxagility.mykajabi.com/podcasts/fostering-excellence-in-agility/episodes/2147886802

030 Megan talks about learning the course from the dog's perspective, the importance of sticking to the plan, the five phases of course analysis, and course memorization tips.  Join Megan on June 1st at 6pm PT for her FDSA Webinar, Agility Course Analysis

029 Megan interviews Sarah Espinoza-Sokal about her experience repairing her Kelpie, Zi's startline performance. Megan and Sarah unpack the unique pieces of the training puzzle and discuss why each piece was important and how Sarah was able to implement it in training and in competition.  You can follow Sarah on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/agilityodyssey  Sarah invested most of her first 30 years into a passion for horses. In 2016, she decided to rehome her last horse and devote herself to agility instead. She quickly fell in love with international-style agility, and set her sights on one day competing in Europe. Sarah’s first agility dog suffered a career-ending injury in 2017, retiring before he earned Novice titles. She started over with agility dog 1.5 — a Working Kelpie puppy named Zi — in September 2017. Sarah and Zi competed in their first national competition at Cynosport in 2021. In 2022, they were fortunate enough to run at World Team Tryouts, the West Coast Open, the US Open, and European Open Team Tryouts, vastly expanding their skills as a team. A lifelong writer and obsessive nerd, Sarah shares her story of pursuing excellence in agility on her Agility Odyssey Facebook page, where she loves to discuss both the smallest of training details and the largest of life lessons.

028 Optimal level of arousal is necessary for optimal performance. Does your dog's arousal increase in the parking lot of the agility trial or is it later in the run, like at obstacle 15? Let's take a look at how your beginning of the run AND end of the run routines are impacting your dog's performance. In this episode, Megan mentions several other resources, including: Episode 27 How Trialing Informs Your Training Cog Dog Radio, Reinforcement Misunderstandings Training on Their Timeline with Sarah Stremming Check back next week for an interview with Sarah Espinoza-Sokal to talk about the training that we did together in order to address Zi's startline in competition. Spoiler: the outside-the-ring behaviors were impacting the inside-the-ring behaviors!  That's all for this week! Follow on FB, IG, TikTok, and Youtube: @fxagility 

027 Data from our training sessions inform future training sessions, right? What about trial data? Are you practicing during the week the issues that come up on the weekend? Is your current way of analyzing that data producing results for you? If not, it may be how you're analyzing the data is missing a few key questions that I'm always asking myself when watching my trial videos. Let's dive in to what "competition-only issues" may really mean and how to set up training to start improving those sticking points.  Mentioned in this episode: Different Types of Training and Training vs Working Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, & Youtube: @fxagility   

Sarah Stremming, Cog Dog Coach, joins Megan to discuss how their two youngest dogs, Rayya (Sarah's Icelandic Sheepdog) and Sprint (Megan's Border Collie) have completely different training plans and are on really different paths, but how those paths ultimately lead to the same place. These two coaches dive in to why these differences are so important and the reality of the extra time and care it takes to adjust each detail depending on the day.  To learn more about Sarah and her online offerings, visit her website: thecognitivecanine.com, and follow her on social media: Facebook: The Cognitive Canine, LLC Instagram: Cognitive_Canine Tiktok: @sarahstremming  Listen to her podcast: Cog-Dog Radio and subscribe to her Patreon Platform Megan has a new website domain: www.fxagility.com and her social media channels all use the same handle: @fxagility to easily find her on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, and Youtube.  Thanks for listening! 

025 When I hear, "Oh, they should know better", I cringe a bit. In this episode, I unpack how I understand the reality of needing to let criteria go sometimes, and what that means for the big picture of competing with our dogs. I talk about cue escalation during this episode. To learn more about that I mean, read this blog post.  Follow me on Facebook and Instagram!