photo credit: Great Dane Photos
Remembering Sharon Nelson
This week, we honor the life and legacy of Sharon Nelson, the founder of the North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC), who passed away on February 18th after a long battle with cancer. Sharon was a trailblazer in the dog agility world, and her contributions have had a lasting impact on the sport we all love.
When Sarah and I first fell in love with dog agility over 20 years ago, the landscape looked very different. We ran our dogs in every organization available, including NADAC, where we sometimes found ourselves at trials that allowed teams to title in both NADAC and the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA). It was a time of discovery and growth, and NADAC provided a welcoming environment for both dogs and handlers.
One of the notable aspects of agility in the United States is the incredible diversity of organizations that exist today. From AKC to UKI, CPE, USDAA, and, of course, NADAC, each organization offers its own distinct approach to the sport. This variety allows for a wide range of breeds, speeds, ages, and styles of both dogs and handlers to find their place in agility. NADAC, in particular, has always stood out for its emphasis on safety, flow, and distance handling.
Along with UKI and CPE, NADAC was one of the agility organizations that met with the AGILE research team to discuss collaboration on safety initiatives across North America. This spirit of cooperation and dedication to improving safety for all agility dogs is a testament to Sharon’s vision and leadership.
We are grateful for Sharon’s contributions to our sport. Her legacy lives on through the work of her children, Chris and Amanda, who continue to run NADAC, and through the many handlers and dogs who found joy and success in her organization.
Podcast: How Handlers Compromise Good Training
In this week’s podcast, Sarah, Jennifer, and I dive into the common mistakes handlers make when faced with errors in training. We each highlight a specific scenario we’ve been seeing a lot lately—Sarah discusses what handlers do after a mistake while running a sequence, Jennifer covers how handlers react when the dog performs contacts incorrectly, and I share insights on broken startlines. We explore how handlers often prioritize completing the sequence over addressing the root issue, and we break down how this mindset can undermine long-term training goals. If you’ve ever found yourself more focused on finishing a course than teaching your dog (or yourself) how to handle mistakes, this episode is for you!
LISTEN HERE: Episode 360: How Handlers Compromise Good Training
EOTT results
This past weekend, the AKC European Open Team USA Tryouts took place in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Each country may field a maximum of 32 dogs, with no more than 8 dogs per jump height. 12 dogs earned automatic spots on the team at EOTT and the remaining 20 dogs will be chosen by EO Team Management.
Interestingly, there were some new elements at this year’s event in terms of team selection, including a Senior Open AWC Team spot (for handlers age 55+) awarded for each FCI jump height. Congratulations to all the teams who competed and to those selected to represent the United States at the European Open this summer!
Small
- Vibrant & Melissa Tiedemann (Small Round 4 Win On Spot)
- Sundae & Angie Benacquisto (Small Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Coos & Laura Dolan (Small Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Coos & Laura Dolan (Small Senior Open AWC Win On Spot)
Medium
- Fidget & Casey Keller (Medium Round 4 Win On Spot)
- Iron Man & Carol Boggess (Medium Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Ernie & Dudley Shumate (Medium Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Maui & Tammie Gigstad (Medium Senior Open AWC Win On Spot)
Intermediate
- Beauvais & Paulina Wrzeszcz (Intermediate Round 4 Win On Spot)
- Fusion & JuliAnna Munden (Intermediate Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Vanish & Emily Klarman (Intermediate Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- No Spot Awarded for Intermediate Senior Open AWC
Large
- Genuine & Perry DeWitt (Large Round 4 Win On Spot)
- Seismic & Rachel Carlson (Large Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Klick & Maria Badamo (Large Team Cumulative Win On Spot)
- Deseo & Gwyn Friedl (Large Senior Open AWC Win On Spot)
Colonoscopies
Today is my first colonoscopy! Don’t worry—I’m not writing this from the procedure room. I pre-wrote this late Tuesday with a clear mind and a very clear colon.
Did you know that the current recommendation is for both women and men to start regular colorectal cancer screening at age 45? According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States for both women and men. Among women, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, while lung cancer is the leading cause among men. The good news? Regular screening can significantly reduce the risk of colon cancer, and if your results are normal, you might not need another one for 10 years. I won’t go into the details of the prep (those who know, know) but I will say this: If I can do it, you can too. Your future self will thank you—and so will your doctor. Screening recommendations vary, so make sure you check with your doctor to see what’s right for you based on your own medical and family history.
As usual, send any comments or questions to team@baddogagility.com.
Happy Training,
