Blazing Paws, LLC

03/27/2026

Good information

Start Line Tests: How Solid Is Your Dog’s Stay?

These tests help you determine whether your dog truly understands the release, can ignore handler motion, and can stay connected under real-life distractions. A strong start line is quiet, clear, and predictable for the dog.

Test 1: Verbal Release Test
This test answers one question: does your dog understand a verbal release independent of motion?
Lead out from your dog and become completely still. No leaning, no arm movement, no stepping. Release your dog using only your verbal release cue. If your dog gets up and drives forward, they understand that the verbal cue is what ends the stay. This is the foundation of a silent, reliable start line.
If your dog hesitates or does not move, the release cue may not be clear enough or may be overshadowed by motion in training.

Test 2: Motion Discrimination Test
This test checks whether your dog breaks the stay on handler movement instead of waiting for the release.
With your dog in a stay, lead out and begin adding small movements. Turn your head. Shift your shoulders. Move an arm. Take a step. Jog forward. The dog should remain in position through all of this until they hear the verbal release.
If your dog gets up on motion alone, motion has accidentally become the release cue. This often happens when dogs are released with verbal cues and movement at the same time. Over time, the dog learns that motion predicts go.

Test 3: Thrown Reinforcement Test
This test evaluates impulse control and clarity under high motivation.
With your dog in a stay, throw a toy or food ahead of them. The dog should remain in position until you verbally release them. If they break, the reinforcement is overpowering the release clarity. This test is especially important for trial environments where arousal is high.

Test 4: Environmental Distraction Test
This test simulates trial-level distraction.
Ask your dog to hold a stay while you interact with another dog or create mild environmental activity nearby. The dog should continue to wait calmly until you verbally release them by name and cue.
This confirms that the dog is waiting for information from you, not guessing based on environment or anticipation.

What These Tests Tell You
A strong start line is quiet and boring to watch. The dog stays through motion, distraction, and reinforcement because the release cue is clear and meaningful. When dogs fail these tests, it is rarely a “stay problem.” It is almost always a release clarity problem.

I will post a video of me doing these tests tomorrow !!!

03/26/2026

03/26/2026

03/17/2026

Weave poles can look impressive. But what most of us really want is this:

A dog who finds the entry confidently.
Stays in, even when we move.
And finishes without us babysitting every step.

Independent weaves are about understanding. When your dog truly understands the job, you can move into position for what’s next instead of hovering beside them.

In this blog post, our coaches walk you through how to build independent weave poles from the dog’s perspective.

If you’ve ever felt stuck with missed entries or popping out early, this might help you see it differently.

Read it here:
👉 https://hubs.li/Q0457bY00

What part of weave training has felt trickiest for your team so far?

03/14/2026

💯 this

At first, many handlers feel like they need to guide their dog through every step of the course. They run close, point a lot, and try to control every obstacle entry and exit. That works to a point, but it quickly becomes limiting. Courses get more complex, dogs move faster, and suddenly it feels like you are always one step behind.

Independent obstacle skills change that feeling to one of smooth, effortless running. If you have always wanted to feel more like you’re running as “one” with your dog, this is the key.

Read our new blog post to find out more: https://hubs.li/Q046kjrF0

03/07/2026

Have you heard of a handling technique called the Reverse Spin and thought… wait, what actually is that? 👀

It’s one of those moves people talk about at training, and you nod along… but you’re not quite sure when you’d use it or what your dog is really seeing.

A Reverse Spin isn’t just a turn for the handler. It’s information. Your rotation, your timing, and where you execute it all change your dog’s line and commitment.

In this blog, we explain what a Reverse Spin is, why it’s useful, and how to apply it in a way that makes sense from your dog’s perspective, not just yours.

If you like understanding the “why” behind techniques, this one’s worth a read.

👉 https://hubs.li/Q0457dQ20

Have you tried it before, or is this one still on your “need to figure that out” list?

03/06/2026

Agility Class Openings!
Tues 3:30pm & Wed 6pm with Maggie Ohol $125
Wed 8:45am Skills & Drills with Jill Carrick, $150
Thurs 9:15am-10:15am with Jill Carrick (novice level, NEW CLASS) $125
Thurs 11:45, 1pm, 2pm with Joyce & Jill $125
Friday 4:15pm with Maggie Ohol $125
Dogs must know agility equipment and do sequencing. Register here: https://premierdogsports.com/class-registration/

03/01/2026

Blast class Thursday, 2/26/26

03/01/2026

Blast Training Monday, February 23, 2026

02/07/2026

Awesome opportunity for new teams or teams who need some extra work on trial environments. I highly recommend entering this for a real trial-like experience.

Do you have a dog new to the agility world? Would you like to replicate a trial with a judge, ring crew, horns and walk throughs in a trial environment without entering a trial? Come to our Mock Agility Trial on March 1st where you and your dog will experience all the "Trial Things".https://premierdogsports.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mock-Trial.pdf

02/03/2026

Zesty’s Training Run

02/03/2026

After a few weeks off, the boys got back to training on this week’s UKI course. They didn’t miss a beat…I, on the other hand, was a bit rusty. I need the Tin Man’s oil can as I’m a bit sore tonight 😂