Welcome to this episode of the Sexier than a Squirrel podcast, the podcast that brings you real-life dog training results, and sometimes human training ones too!
This week, Lauren is joined by vet and Flyball competitor Nichol to chat about raising a sports dog.
Barking dogs, busy ringsides, food on the floor - whether it’s agility, flyball or obedience, it’s a complex environment for any dog to navigate. Our starting point is simple: focus first. Because if you don’t have your dog’s attention, you don’t have training
Lauren and Nichol share the games and reinforcement strategies that help your dog choose you, even when the environment is full of distractions. From there, they get into arousal and overstimulation; why shorter sessions build more success, how to introduce busy environments without overwhelming your dog, and why sometimes the best decision you can make is two minutes of great work… then leave.
They also talk about building strong foundations at home, where your puppy can win; developing play, building reliable tug, and creating skills you can take anywhere - especially when food isn’t enough in high-energy environments.
You’ll hear how to proof behaviours in new places, prevent rehearsal of unwanted habits, and help your dog feel safe and confident around the realities of competition spaces. And finally, they touch on early retrieves, body awareness, and the mindset that keeps your training moving forward with every puppy you raise.
If you’re building a future sports dog - or just want a dog who can stay with you when life gets busy - this episode is packed with practical ideas.
