364: Mastery or Survival - The Class vs. Trial Mindset

photo credit: Great Dane Photos

In this episode (27:23)

In this episode, we dive into a question every agility handler wrestles with:
Should you train in class the way the course should be run to build skills—or adapt your handling as if you’re at a trial, doing whatever it takes to get through clean?

Jennifer kicks off the conversation with a story from her in-person class, where a handler faced this very dilemma. Esteban shares how he uses small-space sequences to help handlers try out multiple options—rear cross, front cross, blind cross—and then analyze which is actually faster using video review. The results are often surprising, leading to smarter handling strategies or exposing weaknesses that can be addressed in training.

Whether you’re a handler who trains for mastery or trials for survival, this episode will give you fresh insight into how to approach your next class—and your next run.

You Will Learn

• The pros and cons of the “ideal execution” mindset versus the “trial-day strategy” mindset
• Why it’s not an either-or question, and how context—your dog, your goals, your stage of training—matters
• How to blend both approaches into your training plan for better long-term results

Mentioned/Related

• The Finals Map