Red Dog Agility

02/10/2025

I’ve started Meg’s puppy diary!! Meg has been with us for 3 weeks now and training starts with every day things.
At this age, my priority is building a relationship with her that she thinks all the fun things come from me. 🥰
Recalls are rewarded constantly, even when we move through the house or out in the yard. Playing and cuddling to build our bond. 💞
Body awareness exercises are started, but only age appropriate ones and on stable surfaces. Building good posture from the start, in the basic positions. Knowing where her feet are being placed. Also that fitness is done with calmness and some stillness so that’s not impossible later on.
You can buy this diary stand alone, but you could also choose to join my red dog squad, which gives you access to every online course as well as constant training tips via a FB group and video feedback if you need help. No minimum subscription

Here is the red dog squad info - https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad

Here is the puppy diary link - https://courses.rdagility.com/courses/meg-puppy-diary

26/09/2025

Little Meg learning the ropes of waiting in the van while I teach 🥰

03/08/2025

🤭 Years ago, not long after I started agility, the blind cross went out of favour in many circles. There was some pretty crazy terminology attached to it, including that it was evil! 🤣And the main reason given, was because dog's were randomly choosing to cut behind the handler. 😎 For any newbies, the blind x is a handling move where the handlers change sides ahead of the dog and need to take their eyes off their dog for a moment. 🏃‍♀️As blind x's have become a regularly used handling move, I have noticed that many dog's are cutting behind their handlers when they haven't been cued to do so. Looking deeper into why this might be happening, there are a few factors. 🔎So here's some tips, if this is an issue you find popping up. 1. Be clear in your handling which arm your dog should be on. 2. Practice flatwork, recalling the dog into the side that your arm is back.3. This last one is I think one of the key reasons that create the random change of sides on behalf of the dog. Blind x's should always be completed while the dog is coming into a jump or at the latest while they are in the air. ❓When I was thinking about why my dog's don't tend to cut behind me and some students dog's do, it mostly comes down to that last point. My dog's do not expect me to do a last moment blind x, while they are on the flat! If that's when you consistently do them, it means your dog is looking for those moments while you are near them to just pop behind you. For more details on handling, including detailed videos where I walk you through the right and wrong ways to handle different moves, join up to my Red Dog Squad! https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad For only $20 per month you get access to all my online courses as well as tips I constantly post on the FB group.

01/08/2025

🤭 Years ago, not long after I started agility, the blind cross went out of favour in many circles. There was some pretty crazy terminology attached to it, including that it was evil! 🤣
And the main reason given, was because dog's were randomly choosing to cut behind the handler.

😎 For any newbies, the blind x is a handling move where the handlers change sides ahead of the dog and need to take their eyes off their dog for a moment.

🏃‍♀️As blind x's have become a regularly used handling move, I have noticed that many dog's are cutting behind their handlers when they haven't been cued to do so.

Looking deeper into why this might be happening, there are a few factors.

🔎So here's some tips, if this is an issue you find popping up.

1. Be clear in your handling which arm your dog should be on.
2. Practice flatwork, recalling the dog into the side that your arm is back.
3. This last one is I think one of the key reasons that create the random change of sides on behalf of the dog. Blind x's should always be completed while the dog is coming into a jump or at the latest while they are in the air.

❓When I was thinking about why my dog's don't tend to cut behind me and some students dog's do, it mostly comes down to that last point. My dog's do not expect me to do a last moment blind x, while they are on the flat! If that's when you consistently do them, it means your dog is looking for those moments while you are near them to just pop behind you.

For more details on handling, including detailed videos where I walk you through the right and wrong ways to handle different moves, join up to my Red Dog Squad!

https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad

For only $20 per month you get access to all my online courses as well as tips I constantly post on the FB group.

22/06/2025

🥰I've created a new course for my online subscription members! Handling Mechanics in Agility was specifically created to breakdown all my handling moves and explain when and how to use them.
🤗 As an ex dancer, one of the things I find is missing, is people practising their handling without the dog!
🤓Follow along as I break down the handling, the correct positions and timing as well show some common mistakes with the handling and what that can cause within an agility course.
If you would like to sign up for Red Dog Squad then join here -
https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad
It's only $20 per month with no minimum sign up! This will automatically get you access to this new course as well as all of my others! Just make sure you have created a profile within my course platform ☺️
For more details on the course itself go here - https://courses.rdagility.com/courses/handler-mechanics

Enhance your agility handling skills by mastering essential turns and avoiding common mistakes. Elevate your performance on the course with expert techniques and insights.

03/05/2025

Did you know I now have a subscription online training group? Only $20 a month and you get access to all my courses as well as weekly content I’m constantly adding! Let me help you more personally to work out training holes and how to progress quicker and easier through any issues you might have. To see what you get in Red Dog Squad or to sign up click here - https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad

Here’s a short blog of something I posted about to help a student with focus issues!

I have been wanting to show a little preview of some of the benefits of using perch games within your training and comps. 🤓

I have found over the last 5 years, that a perch is so beneficial for all sorts of scenarios and dog behaviour issues. ☺️

Benefits

• Dog's have a job to do. The reason it works so nicely for all types of training issues is that the dog's have to concentrate on the task and it takes some level of co-ordination. Their brain's are occupied and it's much harder for them to get distracted by things around them.

• Keeps the dogs head up higher. When they are on a perch their head's are up. This is very beneficial if you have a dog that reverts to sniffing easily.

• Variety. You can do so many different things with a perch. Pivot, hop on hop off, reward marker games, wait on the perch then release to you and spin around and back on. It's only limited by your imagination.

• Something to drive to, for focus forward skills. You can use a perch at the end of obstacles in place of a toy or treat and train machine. What this means is the dog can be more thoughtful than they might be with a toy placed out. But it also means if they didn't meet criteria, you can just not reward them and just spin around and go again. With a toy, they can still reward themselves when they've not met criteria.

• Clean training loops. A perch means you can have a very obvious start and finish which can really help a distracted dog to stay on task.

• Over arousal management. If your dog easily gets over aroused, a perch is a great grounding tool to bring them back down. As in my first point, it takes co-ordination skills that seems to help an over the top dog come down especially when combined with some very thoughtful reward markers that help to regulate emotional states.

Help dogs to wait for their turn better. Waiting in line at a comp or at training can be a time which is hard for your dog for various reasons. It can be that they get too excited waiting or get worried about things around them. Giving them a task that keeps them busy can help so much in hard environments.

I did up this little video to show some of these scenarios in action. 🥰

Let me know if you think this would help you in something that's an issue with your dog training/competing!

I have been wanting to show a little preview of some of the benefits of using perch games within your training and comps. 🤓

I have found over the last 5 years, that a perch is so beneficial for all sorts of scenarios and dog behaviour issues. ☺️

Benefits

• Dog's have a job to do. The reason it works so nicely for all types of training issues is that the dog's have to concentrate on the task and it takes some level of co-ordination. Their brain's are occupied and it's much harder for them to get distracted by things around them.

• Keeps the dogs head up higher. When they are on a perch their head's are up. This is very beneficial if you have a dog that reverts to sniffing easily.

• Variety. You can do so many different things with a perch. Pivot, hop on hop off, reward marker games, wait on the perch then release to you and spin around and back on. It's only limited by your imagination.

• Something to drive to, for focus forward skills. You can use a perch at the end of obstacles in place of a toy or treat and train machine. What this means is the dog can be more thoughtful than they might be with a toy placed out. But it also means if they didn't meet criteria, you can just not reward them and just spin around and go again. With a toy, they can still reward themselves when they've not met criteria.

• Clean training loops. A perch means you can have a very obvious start and finish which can really help a distracted dog to stay on task.

• Over arousal management. If your dog easily gets over aroused, a perch is a great grounding tool to bring them back down. As in my first point, it takes co-ordination skills that seems to help an over the top dog come down especially when combined with some very thoughtful reward markers that help to regulate emotional states.

• Help dogs to wait for their turn better. Waiting in line at a comp or at training can be a time which is hard for your dog for various reasons. It can be that they get too excited waiting or get worried about things around them. Giving them a task that keeps them busy can help so much in hard environments.

I did up this little video to show some of these scenarios in action. 🥰

Let me know if you think this would help you in something that's an issue with your dog training/competing!

30/03/2025

New monthly subscription starting April 1st! Red Dog Squad! 🤗

Enhance Your Dog’s Agility Training for Just $20/Month!

Join the Red Dog Agility Subscription Group and take your training to the next level with expert guidance, exclusive content, and a supportive community. 🤓

Your Membership Includes:

✅ Unlimited access to all Red Dog Agility online courses
✅ Exclusive private Facebook support group
✅ New skill-building exercises every week
✅ In-depth training session analysis of my sessions for problem-solving
✅ Targeted fitness training to improve both agility and strength
✅ Personalized video feedback through a secure coaching app for handler privacy
✅ Weekly Q&A sessions for expert advice and discussion

Invest in your dog’s agility journey today! No minimum sign up. 😃

Sign up now and training smarter!

Click here for payment link 😎

https://www.rdagility.com/red-dog-squad

01/01/2025

New Years flash sale! 50% off all my courses with discount code - ny2025
Happy New Year to everyone in the agility world!! Here's to a brand new year of making progress and achieving goals. Above all here's to a new year of being better trainers and partners for our dogs!
I have many courses that will help you and your canine partner in your agility journey. Some are agility based and some are how to help with some behavioural issues like lack of focus or over arousal. There's also a seniors fitness course that is suitable for beginners in fitness as well :)
To browse available courses go to my course website - https://courses.rdagility.com/
If you have a puppy or young dog I also have Brilliant's puppy diaries available and they are so cheap at 50% off. These are FB groups where I have added tons of videos as Brill was growing up and learning all sorts of things. They cover not only foundation skills for agility but also fitness! With some added how to manage every day stuff too 😊 Discount is already applied to the paypal section so no need for a discount code . To purchase this just go here - https://www.rdagility.com/puppyandteenagediary
If you need help choosing a course please get in touch!
Happy New Year everyone and hope it's a fab one for you all 🥰🥰

18/12/2024

Canine Fitness Consults Summer Sale! From now until the end of January I am offering 10% off my fitness consults. I can do these in person or online! To book please go here - https://booksteam.com/Customer/BookNowServices.aspx?k=d8d87b32591& and use the code SUMMERFITNESS24 to apply the discount.

During the Summer months, I really encourage my regular students to give their dogs a break from agility and focus on their fitness sessions more.

Agility is such a high impact sport, that's really tough on the dogs physically. As such, it's important to give their bodies a break from all the stresses and strains of it. Not to mention it's good for them to mentally take a break too!

On top of that, it's an inside activity which is so helpful during this super hot and humid weather.

Below shows what a difference you can make with your dog doing the exercises correctly and guided by a professional.

Even if you already have programs you use from online sources, it's worth checking that you are doing everything correctly or whether it's even beneficial for your dogs needs.

I also have a ton of experience on the how to tweak things with your reward placement and how you are positioned, that can really help get the dogs to do the exercises the way we want.

20/11/2024

I wanted to give a shout out to Red Dog Treats for their new range of fitness equipment! Despite the name they are not connected to me but they have great taste 🤣

For anyone wanting to get a set of canine fitness gear, they have plenty of options to choose from. It's all so well made and was stable and non slip with my dogs. You can choose from a few different colour options too.

Click here for all the options available and you can use RDA10 for 10% off! - https://reddogtreats.shop/collections/training