Handling threadles and serpentines in agility — The way your dog naturally understands!
Threadles and serpentines are two common patterns in dog agility that test your ability to cue your dog with precision and clarity. While they can both involve tight lines and quick turns, the way we handle them, and the way our dogs understand them, is different. At OneMind Dogs, our method is based on how […]
Layering in dog agility: Why and how to add it to your handling toolbox
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what layering in dog agility means, why it matters, and how to start teaching it to your dog
Understanding and handling S-lines in dog agility
As agility handlers, one of the biggest challenges is deciding what kind of handling to use when walking a course. In particular, there’s one type of course section that can make us scratch our heads a little, the S-line. Let’s break down the S-line and explore how we can handle it, making it both clear […]
Handling fast dogs in agility: It’s all about the dog’s perspective
If you’ve ever tried handling a fast agility dog, you know how exhilarating and challenging it can be. Fast dogs bring excitement to the agility course, but they also require us to be on top of our game.
Choosing the Best Agility Handling Techniques for Your Team
Walking an agility course can feel like solving a puzzle – there are often multiple agility handling techniques that suit a given sequence. How do you know which technique (Front Cross, Rear Cross, Reverse Wrap, Flick, etc.) will work best for your dog? Every dog-handler team is unique, so the “right” handling choice depends on […]
Dog agility course running: Reality vs fantasy lines
Have you ever walked a course, come up with what felt like a perfect plan… and then watched your dog run something completely different? Maybe they took a wider line than expected. Maybe they missed a jump entirely. Maybe they added in an obstacle you didn’t intend. It’s not that your dog didn’t try—it’s that […]
Footwork and Handler Mechanics in Dog Agility
Ever feel like you and your dog are speaking different languages on the agility course? You’re not alone! Agility is often called a dance between dog and handler. If your footwork is off-beat, your canine partner will likely misread the steps. Footwork and handler mechanics might sound like advanced skills, but they’re incredibly important for […]
4 reasons your dog is knocking bars in agility (and how to fix it)
In this post, we’ll walk through four common causes of bar knocking in agility and offer clear, actionable solutions based on the OneMind Dogs method.
Myth-busting distance handling in dog agility
Some handlers think distance handling means you send your dog off like a package in the mail and hope they find the right route. Nope! Distance handling is still a team sport—just with a little more room between you.
The truth about dog agility (From the only one who really knows)
As an elite dog agility athlete, I’ve decided it’s time to share the real story. Buckle up, because the truth isn’t always pretty.