Say the Word, Send the Dog: Building Brilliant Obstacle Commitment Young dog agility teaches the dog that each obstacle means something. At our Young Dog Workshop with Jody Lolich, Layla and I zoomed in on one powerful idea: when I say a word, she should go out and find the job. No babysitting. No guesswork. Just clarity, commitment, and confidence. Words That Work: Tunnel Means Tunnel Homework starts with a deceptively simple game.

What if “tunnel” actually means go find the tunnel? Layla is learning bold obstacle commitment, sharper weave entries, and forward drive that pays. Fewer guesses, more clarity, and a whole lot of fun. Read the full training breakdown on the blog! 🐾 #BlueBlur #Agility #Appetitive #SportDog

Smooth Lines, Strong Starts: Pre-Novice With Layla This week’s semi-private was all about commitment, clarity, and keeping the line honest. Some things clicked. Some things needed a little more storytelling. All of it moved us forward. Startline Truths: Commitment Is a Skill We worked commitment to the first obstacle, and Layla told me exactly where the gaps were. The tire and tunnel needed more clarity, so we broke it down and reinforced the tunnel commitment until it felt easy again.

Grateful for every run with this joyful girl. 💙 Layla makes agility so much fun, whether we’re solving puzzles or running together. She tries her heart out, and I get the best seat in the house. #BlueBlur #LaylaLearns #Appetitive #Agility #SportDog

Boxes, Corners, and Clever Noses: Let the Dog Solve the Puzzle Beginner Nosework with Layla & Jackie—smooth handling, quick thinking, better results. Tonight’s class with Susan Ramsbottom was a perfect reminder:Great nosework isn’t busy—it’s precise. Three searches. Three different challenges. Two dogs who got to be brilliantly, independently right. 📦 UKI-Style Containers: Simple, Clean, Honest We opened with a UKI-style container search: boxes, two hides, zero distractions. No clutter. No tricks.

Boxes, tight spaces, and tricky dividers—oh my 👃
This week’s nosework class was all about letting the dog solve the puzzle. Less handling, more thinking, and both girls delivered. Turns out the best thing you can do? Let the dog lead the search. 🐾 #BlueBlur #Jackalope #Appetitive #NoseWork

Joy and Verve If joy and verve are to be judged, Layla is winning. Here she is lure coursing at the North Texas Saluki Club and Afghan Hound Club of Dallas AKC Coursing Ability Test this easter Sunday April 5, 2026.

If joy and verve are to be judged, Layla is winning.

Here she is lure coursing at the North Texas Saluki Club and Afghan Hound Club of Dallas AKC Coursing Ability Test this easter Sunday April 5, 2026. #BlueBlur #Appetitive #SportDog

Target Found, Game On: Pre-Novice With Layla This week in pre-novice agility, Layla and I enhanced our A-frame experience, solved a tricky weave puzzle, and had a very important reminder about staying connected in the game. Running A-Frame: Give Them a Forward Focus We started building a running A-frame using a target mat. First on the flat at home with a clear “target” cue. Then we brought it into class.

A power word unlocked our A-frame. 💥 Layla hit a 100% success rate with her target, worked through a tough weave puzzle, and reminded me to reconnect before release. Clarity builds the behavior. Connection keeps the joy. Pre-novice fun. #BlueBlur #Agility #Appetitive #SportDog #LaylaLearns

Twenty Inches, Tight Turns, and Turning Up the Clarity Pre-novice agility with Layla this week felt good. Same dog, same game… clearer picture. Twenty Inches, No Big Deal We continued jumping 20 inches, which is Layla’s competition height, and she handled it like it belongs to her. No stress, no hesitation. Just confident, thoughtful jumping built on strong foundations and smart reinforcement. Wrap It Like You Mean It We worked tight turns using a cone set inside the jump wing.

20 inches, tight wraps, and a dog who’s figuring it OUT. 💥 Layla is jumping full height, learning to turn tighter, and building confident contacts and weave entries. When the picture is clear, the game gets fast, fun, and really, really good. #BlueBlur #LaylaLearns #Appetitive #Agility

Twenty Inches and Feeling Bold: Pre-Novice With Layla Pre-novice agility with Layla this week came with a big moment: 20-inch jumps. And she handled it like it was just another Monday. Confident, capable, and ready to play. Up Goes the Bar We raised the jumps, and Layla rose right with them. No hesitation, no drama. Just thoughtful, committed jumping. That kind of confidence does not come from pushing.

20 inches and feeling bold. 💥 Layla tackled higher jumps, smooth post turns, and flowing blind crosses. When the picture is clear, the game gets fast and FUN. Pre-novice agility is clicking! #BlueBlur #Appetitive #Agility #LaylaLearns

Run One Way, Dog Goes the Other: The Joy of Lateral Sends I'm learning you don't have to be able to run fast to play agility. Instead, teach clarity so your dog understands the job, and your handling line becomes efficient. At our latest Young Dog Workshop with Jody Lolich, Layla and I worked on a skill that feels a little like magic when it clicks. Lateral sends. Send your dog to an obstacle while you move in the opposite direction.

Today’s agility challenge: Layla goes one way... I run the other. Lateral sends, soft turn cues, and independence drills from our young dog workshop with Jody Lolich. The goal is bold obstacle commitment and confident teamwork. #BlueBlur #Agility #Appetitive #LaylaLearns

When the Nose Really Starts Doing the Discriminating Beginner Nosework, scent physics, and why Layla ignored a box full of toys like a professional. Beginner Nosework is where the training wheels start coming off. Well, sometimes. Food pairing helped build the hunt early on. But now the real test begins: does the dog value the odor itself? This week’s searches gave Layla plenty of opportunities to answer that question—and she answered with her nose.

This week in Beginner Nosework: Layla searched rooms, containers, and an exterior area—mostly odor only, less food pairing. She even ignored boxes full of tempting toys to focus on birch, anise, and clove. Turns out the nose really does know. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #TeamLayla #LaylaLearns #Appetitive

Small Jumps, Big Milestones: Pre-Novice With Layla Agility with Layla is feeling like real teamwork. Each session brings small wins, clearer communication, and a dog who is understanding the game. Weaves: Entry First, Then Drive Layla is doing a fantastic job finding her weave entries and driving independently through the poles. Once she commits to the entry, it helps when I run just slightly ahead of her. My motion encourages her forward focus while she finishes the job on her own.

Layla met a new milestone today. 💙Confident weave entries, improving contacts, A-frame practice, and her first time jumping 18 inches! We're building clarity, confidence, and a dog who loves the game. She’s figuring it out, and it’s so fun to see. #BlueBlur #Appetitive #TeamLayla #Agility

The Paycheck Lives in the Smell Why nosework dogs get paid exactly where the odor is. Beginner Nosework has a rule that matters: Always reward at source. Not after your dog walks away.Not when they look up at you.Right where the odor lives while their nose is consistent and still at source. If we want the odor to matter, the reward must happen exactly where the odor is.

A rule of nosework? Pay at source. 🐽
This week: Red Light/Green Light nose holds, fading food pairing (without killing the hunt), vehicle + room searches, and a surprisingly sticky hide recipe. Layla’s learning that the paycheck lives in the nose hold at source. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #TeamLayla

Say It Like You Mean It: Alert, Finish, and the Art of the Still Nose Hold Beginner Nosework is where searching meets sport. It’s communicating clearly, finding odor, reinforcing precisely, and preparing for the trial environment while maintaining the joy of the hunt. This week’s focus?Two small words with big responsibility: Alert.Finish. 🎯 “Alert” Isn’t Drama. It’s Data. In a trial setting, when your dog commits to source with a clear nose hold, you call…

When do you call “Alert” in Nosework? 🦮
This week we focused on trial-ready skills: a clear still nose hold, Red Light/Green Light precision, rewarding at source, and the path to confidence and excellent trial strategy. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #TeamLayla

Clarity Is Kind: Pre-Novice With Layla This week we touched all the pieces that matter: weaves, jumps, tunnels, A-frame work, and those ever-important 2o2o contacts. And through it all, the theme was clarity. Weaves: Commitment First The weaves are starting to feel owned. Layla is driving in with more confidence and staying in because the criteria are clear. Entry matters. Rhythm matters. My job is to support the line and then lead the way.

Pre-novice with Layla = clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of heart. 💙 We’re building brave weaves, thoughtful lines, powerful A-frame practice, and rock-solid 2o2o contacts. When I’m clear, she shines. Come see our laboratory at work! #BlueBlur #Appetitive #TeamLayla #AgilityDog

Pre-Novice Confidence Building Layla is growing up in pre-novice agility, and it shows. This week we played sequences packed with rear crosses, front crosses, and blind crosses. One highlight is her growing understanding of her rear cross verbal, “Switch!” Rear Crosses A rear cross means I change sides behind Layla as she takes off for a jump. The magic only works if the verbal comes first.

“Switch!” actually means something now. Confident weaves, coherent crosses, and stride-building grid homework. Pre-novice agility is about clarity, power, and smart lines. Layla is growing up and it shows. #BlueBlur #Agility #Appetitive #TeamLayla #SportDog

Agility Fun Match She Walked Into the Ring Like She Belonged There I am that proud of Layla. This weekend we stepped into a trial environment for the very first time at the Bluebonnet English Setter Club Agility Fun Match in McKinney, Texas. New sights. New sounds. Barking dogs. Ring gates. Rats. Chaos. Layla handled it like a seasoned pro. Crating went smoothly. She drank her water.

I am that proud of Layla. 💙
At our first trial environment, the Bluebonnet English Setter Club Agility Fun Match, she handled the chaos like a seasoned pro and ran with joy and focus. Huge gratitude to our coaches Beth and Jody, and our friends Kristi and Kate for the encouragement. Well done Layla

Building Bold Sends and Big Confidence Playing agility with a young dog means building brilliant understanding. At our recent Young Dog Workshop with Jody Lolich, Layla and I focused on clarity, confidence, and forward drive. The goal is to teach her what the words mean and make the obstacles irresistibly fun. Hunt the Jump Our homework is to play a version of Vito’s game to sharpen Layla’s understanding that “hup” means go out and seek the jump.

Bold sends. A frames in progress. Elementary K Turns. Layla is learning that “hup” means hunt the jump and forward is fabulous. We are building clarity, confidence, and a whole lot of joy. Thank you Jody Lolich! Doing it til we GET IT RIGHT. #BlueBlur #FromShelterDogToSportDog #Appetitive #TeamLayla

From Snack to Scent: When Odor Gets the Promotion Beginner Nosework and the art of fading the food without fading the hunt. Intro class built the hunt. Food and odor were paired so clearly, so consistently, that Layla learned one essential truth: searching pays. Now? The training wheels start to come off. And this is where good nosework handling really matters. 🍗 First, We Build the Hunter Pairing essential oil odor with food builds drive, clarity, and commitment.

Odor becomes the paycheck! ✨
This week in beginner nosework, we’re fading food pairing and testing true scent understanding. Plus: happy exits, clear reinforcement mechanics, and building a rock-solid nose hold. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #TeamLayla #Appetitive

S Is for Serpentine and Slightly Smarter Handling Pre-novice agility this week is brought to you by the letter S. It was all about the Serpentine, also known as the S-Line. Three jumps in a row. Two lead changes. One flowing S-shaped path. Simple on paper. Sneaky in real life. The Shape of the Line In a classic serpentine, the dog changes leads over each jump as they curve through the line.

Serpentines, smooth weaves, and one surprise spin on the teeter. The S-lines sailed, the poles were satisfactory, and my rear cross briefly turned into interpretive dance. Pre-novice agility with Layla is equal parts skill-building and shenanigans. #BlueBlur #Agility #Appetitive #TeamLayla

Sniff Happens Outdoors: Potty. Wind. Plan. Repeat. How Layla graduated Intro Nosework and learned that odor pays. Exterior nosework is where the science begins. Wind, vehicles, variables; and your dog’s nose. This week in Intro to Nosework, Layla played exterior vehicle searches for the first time. And like all good exterior searches, it came down to three non-negotiables: Potty. Wind. Plan. 🚽 Potty First (Yes. Every Time.)

Exterior nosework 101: ☔️ Potty. 🌬 Wind. 🗺 Plan.
Plus first vehicle searches, fading food pairing, and Layla graduating from Intro! This week’s class was all about building real odor commitment and clean search mechanics. #BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Appetitive #NoseWork

Jumps and Side Changes: Pre-Novice Agility Brain Day Pre-novice agility class this week was brought to you by JUMPS. So many jumps. Add in tunnels, the tire, weaves, and contacts, and suddenly my brain and body were both getting a workout. Walk the Course, Find the Side Changes One of the best pearls from class came before we ever ran. When you walk a course, remember it by where your side changes happen.

So many jumps, so many side changes, and a big pearl: motion talks louder than words. Layla and I are learning to read each other better so she can adjust her line when the course asks. Sometimes messy, others thoughtful, and always fun. #BlueBlur #Agility #TeamLayla #Appetitive

New Odor, No Micromanagement: Layla Learning to Trust Her Nose Intro to Nosework class, night four, and things got deliciously real. This was laying serious foundations: odor, commitment, independence, and handler mechanics that support the dog driven search. Odor Happens First (Food Just Makes the Point) Tonight Layla met her first four target odors: birch, anise, cypress, and clove. Each scent was carefully paired with inaccessible food inside a container or vessel.

Teaching a clear nose hold in nosework: Four scents, container + room searches, Red Light/Green Light game, and handler mechanics that support independent searching. This week’s class was all about pairing odor and trusting the nose. #BlueBlur #NoseWork #Rplus #Appetitive #TeamLayla

Walking on Sunshine in Pre Novice Agility Fast, Focused, and Fully Committed Pre-novice agility class felt extra good this week, partly because the weather finally cooperated and partly because Layla showed up ready to play play play. She did a stellar job getting into and staying in the weaves, even blasting out of a tunnel at full speed. I threw in a front cross before one weave entry and barely got out of her way in time.

Sunshine, speed, and twelve happy weaves. Layla blasted out of tunnels, forgave my awkward handling moment, and nailed her contacts. It was great being back in agility class after two weekends of freezing weather! #BlueBlur #Agility #Sunshine #Appetitive #Rplus #TeamLayla

Nose Down, Brain On: Intro To Nosework Intro nosework, fundamental principles, and the joy of letting the dog drive the search Introductory nosework class was all about building belief in Layla's nose. The first lesson:👉 Stop marking. Start paying. Pay at Source, Not at the Handler When teaching a nose hold for scent discrimination, we skip the clicker or verbal marker. No “yes,” no “good,” no marker at all.

Skip the mark. Pay at source. While the dog’s nose is on odor, deliver multiple fast treats right there. End intentionally with “all done” and lure away. Paying at source builds a clean nose hold and prevents head-whipping back to the handler. #BlueBlur #Rplus #Nosework #Appetitive #DogDrivenSearch

Rip, Roll & Sniff: The Felt-Strip Foraging Ball This turns the Holee Roller into a durable, reusable snuffle puzzle that satisfies dogs who love: ripping and extracting nose-down searching pawing, chasing, and problem solving It’s especially appealing for dogs who want to do something with their food. How to Make It What you need Holee Roller ball Felt strips, about 10 inches long Kibble, treats, or smelly snacks…

With the upcoming winter-pocalypse upon us, I'm adding enrichment to my to-do list. Here is one idea to turn a holee roller ball into a reusable snuffle puzzle for foragaing, nosework, pawing, chasing, and problem solving. #BlueBlur #Enrichment #Rplus #Appetitive

Right Side, Wrong Answers, and Twelve Determined Weaves Proofing the Hard Stuff This week’s pre-novice agility homework is all about weave entries, especially proofing around-the-clock entries when Layla is on my right. Layla struggled to find her entry a few times, which tells me exactly what needs more reps and better setup. Once In, She Meant Business The good news is that once Layla committed to the weaves, she drove through all twelve poles like she had someplace important to be.

Pre-novice agility with Layla this week meant wrong answers on the right side weave entries, but twelve determined weaves once she was in. Mistakes showed us what to proof, strong finishes showed us what’s working. We keep playing, learning, and showing up together. #BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Agility #R+

Chasing the Bunny: Layla’s First Coursing Ability Test This weekend, Layla and I packed up our curiosity, our optimism, and a very wiggly dog to play Coursing Ability Test at the North Texas Saluki Club and Afghan Hound Club of Dallas lure coursing trial. The goal was simple. Show up. Learn. Have fun. Anything else would be a bonus. Saturday was all about acclimation. New sights, new sounds, new dogs, a wide-open field that practically hummed with excitement.

Weekend recap: Layla earned her first Coursing Ability Test Qs at the North Texas Saluki Club and Afghan Hound Club of Dallas lure coursing trial CAbT. Saturday was about acclimation (and deciding the bunny was optional). Sunday brought a lightbulb moment, a full chase, and Layla’s very first Qs.

Sniff Happens: Layla’s Learning to Trust Her Nose Sometimes in the introductory teaching phase of nosework, your dog will look at you for direction, like, “So… are you going to help or what?” Don't direct them. You want your dog to learn on their own to drive the search. It may be hard to do, but just wait for your dog to make the decision to search. You wait.

Less directing. More following. Happier sniffing.
Layla’s intro to nosework class reminded me how powerful it is to trust the nose and let curiosity lead. Sweet moments, stinky food, and growing confidence. #BlueBlur #Nosework #Rplus #RescueDog #AppetitiveForTheWin #DogDriven

Sniff First, Ask Questions Later: Layla’s Nosework Adventure Begins This week, Layla and I started an intro to nosework class, and it was a perfect reminder of how fun simple scent games can be. One Box, One Hole, One Job Our first lesson was straightforward: one cardboard box with a small hole in the top, filled with very smelly lamb and tripe. Layla’s job was to drive to that box and put her nose right to the source.

Simple boxes. Stinky food. Big brain moments. 🐕
Layla’s first nosework lessons show how a simple sniffing game builds resilience, focus, and joy. No cues, no chaos, just dogs doing dog things. Read the full tale on Animal Accolades. #BlueBlue #NoseWork #RescueDog #Rplus #AppetitiveForTheWin

Pre-Novice Agility Notes: Lines, Motion, and Confidence Warming Up With Flow and Commitment Pre-novice agility class with Layla continues to be a mix of learning, laughing, and small victories that are so fun in the moment. This week we started with a flowing series that included the tire, tunnel, A-frame, s-lines, and weaves. It was one of those sequences that asks the dog to think, commit, and keep moving forward with confidence.

Pre-novice agility with Layla is all about flow and confidence. Perfection isn’t the goal. Success comes from understanding Layla's line and remembering that motion matters to her more than words. #BlueBlur #Agility #TeamLayla #Rplus #RescueDog #Appetitive #AnimalAccolades

Serpentines, Sass, and a Whole Lot of Weaves A Weekly Variety Show in Agility Form Pre-novice agility class with Layla is never just a training session. It's a weekly variety show starring one very enthusiastic dog, a bunch of tunnels and jumps, and me trying to learn. This week’s episode with our coach Beth Martin featured serpentines, tight turn cues, rear crosses, contacts, and the crowd favorite: twelve whole weave poles.

Layla’s pre-novice agility class was part training session, part comedy special. She crushed the weaves, styled the jumps, and basically made agility her weekly talk show. New blog's up, come laugh and learn with us! #BlueBlur #TeamLayla #Rplus #Agility