Mailbag
We love hearing from readers who know their stuff! After last week’s story on the University of Washington’s live mascots, a reader who knows her northern breeds wrote in: “The term ‘husky’ is actually a general term used to describe many of the northern breeds who pull sleds as part of their job. It’s kind of like saying ‘hounds.’ So technically, the dogs you listed all would be classified as husky type dogs. Siberian huskies, what you are probably thinking of, are generally referred to as Sibes or Siberians by people in the know because calling them huskies is just a general term that could refer to a lot of non-Siberians.”
Podcast: Fail Better
This week’s podcast is all about how we think about mistakes in agility. When your dog misses a contact, skips a jump, or runs straight to the leash, it’s not failure—it’s feedback. The course isn’t judging you. It’s just asking a question: Can you handle this? And your run provides the answer: yes, not yet, or almost.
If you can’t handle it yet, that’s your homework. Some courses are tougher or more important than others, but each one tells you something about what you and your dog can do right now.
It reminds me of school. In agility, training sessions are like practice, and trials can feel like final exams. But the best handlers treat every run as a chance to learn. Each mistake points straight to the next thing you need to work on. The real trouble starts when we treat results like grades. Once Qs and NQs start to feel like proof of your worth as a handler, you start feeling bad. Psychologists call that performance-based self-esteem, the belief that your value depends on how well you perform.
The antidote is curiosity instead of criticism. Instead of thinking, I failed, ask, What did that run tell me? or What does my dog’s behavior say about confidence or stress? Your dog didn’t fail you. They just showed you where the weak points are.
🎧 Listen to this week’s episode here: Episode 374: Fail Better
Subscribe on iTunes, Follow on Spotify.
Q3 Power 60/Breed Power 10 Released
The 3rd Quarter Power 60 and Breed Power 10 rankings are now live! These lists highlight the fastest agility dogs in the country based on yards per second across all jump heights and breeds. Who’s been on a roll through the summer and who’s making a late push as we head into the final stretch of the year? Whether you’re chasing points or just love seeing familiar names at the top (especially in your favorite breed), it’s always interesting to see how the numbers shake out.
Check out the full results:
👉 Power 60
👉 Preferred Power 60
👉 Breed Power 10
Sexiest Man Alive
Actor Jonathan Bailey, best known as the dashing Anthony Bridgerton in Netflix’s Bridgerton and soon to star alongside Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo in Wicked: Part Two, has been named PEOPLE Magazine’s 2025 Sexiest Man Alive. But the real scene-stealer in the feature isn’t Bailey himself; it’s his dog, Benson.
Bailey, 36, calls Benson his “knockout,” and the photos make a strong case for a Cutest Dog Alive category. The fluffy, curly-haired sidekick poses with the poise of a professional, and I have to say, he looks suspiciously like my own poodle. I nearly took off my shirt and grabbed my poodle to make my own cover photo just to show you, but it seemed like a lot of effort, so I took a nap instead.
Openly gay and one of Britain’s most recognizable actors, Bailey has become a standout not only for his roles but also for his openness about mental health and representation in Hollywood. Bridgerton’s global success made him a household name, and his upcoming leap to the big screen in Wicked: Part Two, the sequel to last year’s massive box-office hit, will only cement that status.
Read the full feature (and see the photos) here: PEOPLE Magazine – Jonathan Bailey and His Dog Benson
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! You can reach me at team@baddogagility.com.
Happy Training,
