The Wrong End of the Tunnel

The Dog Agility World Championships (AWC), team gold, international competition and the evolution of competitive agility.
In this episode of The Wrong End of the Tunnel, Kert and Dave discuss Dave's recent trip to Finland for the Agility World Championships, where he and his teammates secured team gold.
From the pressure of competing on the world stage to the excitement of winning gold, Dave shares an insight into what it's really like competing at the highest level of international dog agility.
Having represented his country and competed internationally since 2005, Dave is in a great position to reflect on just how much the sport has changed. We discuss the evolution of agility courses, the increasing standard of competition, the rise of professional handlers and what it now takes to compete against the best in the world.
We also get into the unique pressures of team competition, running first, the differences between jumping and agility courses, and why speed alone isn't enough to succeed.
With plenty of shared memories, a bit of friendly rivalry (our silver medal together obviously still holds a special place!), and honest reflections on the sport, this is a conversation about far more than winning.
It's about experience, evolution, teamwork and the relentless pursuit of getting better.
Tune in for another episode of The Wrong End of the Tunnel!

What happens when you experience the Agility World Championship without stepping into the ring?
Kert and Jessica reflect on watching the AWC from the other side of the fence. With Jessica grooming and supporting Perry, and Kert supporting Aimee after injury ruled him out of competing, they explore the highs, lows and unexpected lessons of experiencing the biggest stage in agility from a different perspective.
From challenging course design and VAR judging controversies to the emotional demands of supporting someone else, they discuss what makes competition fair, what makes a great event, and why the relationships we build before competition matter just as much as what happens on the day.
Most importantly, watching the wider event gave them a fresh perspective on success, disappointment and teamwork. Because sometimes, stepping away from your own runs helps you see the bigger picture.
It's the whole experience of it.

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?”