Karen Pryor Passes Away at 92
Sarah here. This week, the dog training world lost a true giant: Karen Pryor, who is widely credited with popularizing clicker training for dogs and other animals. I had the pleasure of meeting Karen at one of her annual ClickerExpo events, and my library proudly includes signed copies of several of her books.
I’ve gifted Don’t Shoot the Dog to many people, often outside the dog training world. I still consider it one of the most essential books for anyone who interacts with another living being (which I hope includes all of you!).
I even gave a TED Talk-style presentation to my software coworkers during lunch, focusing on applying the “8 Methods to Get Rid of Unwanted Behavior” (from Don’t Shoot the Dog) to the workplace! Those same 8 Methods were also the focus of BDA Podcast #26:
https://baddogagility.com/episode-26-eight-methods-to-get-rid-of-unwanted-behavior/
I have read:
- Don’t Shoot the Dog
- Clicker Training for Dogs
- On Behavior
- Lads Before the Wind
- Reaching the Animal Mind
…and I loved them all.
Did you know there’s an award called the Ig Nobel Prize? It’s a parody of the Nobel Prize, given for achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think.” In 2019, Karen Pryor and Theresa McKeon were awarded the Ig Nobel Prize in Education for their innovative work using clicker training to help medical students learn surgical skills. As dog trainers, we can all agree this is a brilliant application of marker training. However, it didn’t sit well with some of the older surgeons, who were outraged at the idea of medical students being taught with the same methods used to train dogs!
Are Changes Coming to the Dogwalk?
This week, Clip and Go Agility (an equipment manufacturer) released a video comparing dogs running on a traditional dogwalk (12” wide) to a prototype dogwalk that is 18” (45.7 cm) wide and 3 feet (91.4 cm) tall. The availability of a working prototype, along with video evidence showing how the changes affect foot placement, has reignited the ongoing conversation across social media about the safety of the sport, the design of the dogwalk, and course challenges. Watch the video below.
The conversation escalated quickly—within 24 hours, UK Agility International (UKI) issued a statement titled “UKI’s current position with the future of Dogwalk design”. Less than 24 hours later, UKI announced that all UKI judges would begin reporting falls at trials starting this weekend. from every UKI trial starting this weekend.
In next week’s podcast, we will be joined by Mark Bills, owner of Clip and Go and the creator of the above video, to discuss the pros and cons of changing the dogwalk’s specifications.
And now we want to hear from YOU! What are your thoughts on the dogwalk and the potential for a design change? If you reply before Friday (when we’ll be taping the podcast), your input might be included in the discussion.
How Will You Build Community in 2025?
In this week’s podcast, we look into how building connections in dog agility can enhance your journey. It’s all about finding ways to create a welcoming, supportive community as we head into the new year.
https://baddogagility.com/episode-354-building-community-in-dog-agility/
And speaking of community, I’ll share this story from my good friend, veterinarian, and agility competitor Brittany Schaezler. While ordering a cake to celebrate her dog Trek earning her MACH title, Brittany carefully wrote down “MACH Trek” on the order form. When she picked up the cake, this is what she saw:
Superdog Scheduled for Summer 2025 Debut
I am VERY EXCITED about the new Superman movie coming out this summer (July 2025). In the first teaser trailer (watch the video below), Superman needs Krypto’s help. I love the trailer’s old school font and music! Director James Gunn confirmed Krypto’s inclusion, sharing that the character was inspired by his own rescue dog, Ozu. This will mark Krypto’s first official live-action appearance in a Superman film.
VIDEO: Superman reboot comes to a theater near you this summer!
I hope your new year is off to a great start! I’m still catching up on emails, but please send your comments and questions about the dogwalk discussion or thoughts on community building to team@baddogagility.com, preferably in the next day or two so I’ll see it before our podcast about the dogwalk.
Happy Training,
