Shows / Canine Handler Fitness Podcast
Canine Handler Fitness Podcast
Welcome to the Canine Handler Fitness Podcast, the show that meets dog sport handlers exactly where they are—whether you're just getting started or chasing world-level performance.
Hosted by Liz Joyce, leading expert in dog handler fitness. Each bite-sized episode dives into the real physical demands of dog handling, offering practical, compassionate, and performance-driven tips to help you move better, feel stronger, and fuel your performance.
We break down the nuances of handler fitness…
Episodes
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYour All or Nothing Mindset Is Sabotaging Your Fitness
You missed Monday's workout. Now it's Wednesday, your schedule is off, and you're thinking about starting fresh next week and you feel like shit about it…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhat If You Never Feel Motivated to Work Out Again?
You had a plan. You were going to get stronger, improve your cardio, and be a better handler for your dog. You were excited about it, too! But now a few weeks…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYou Know What To Do. So, Why Is It So Hard To Be Consistent?
You have goals. You have a plan. You might even have a great workout program. So why is it so hard to stick with it? You start strong. Life gets busy. Workouts…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWant Better Cardio? Stop Trying to Exhaust Yourself
Working hard on your cardio but still getting winded when you run your dog? What if getting fitter didn't actually require you to feel exhausted every time you…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastFive Reasons Your Workouts Aren't Getting Results
Are you working out but not getting stronger, faster or fitter? Maybe you're consistent but your progress has stalled. Maybe you're struggling to fit your…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastAre You Building the Handler Your Dog Needs This Winter?
What do you want your body to be able to do next spring that it can't quite do right now? Summer is a great time to use your fitness. Run your dogs. Trial…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWorking Out But Not Getting Better?
If you're working out consistently but still not getting faster, stronger or more athletic, you may not need to work harder. You may need your workouts to have…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhat If You Were Faster Than Your Agility Course Required?
If you’re already running as fast as you possibly can to make a handling position, what happens when you suddenly need another gear? In this episode, we’re…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHow to Peak for Your Big Event
Your big event is getting closer and you're realizing you probably should have started preparing your body sooner. Did you leave it too late? If you've still…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhat’s Your Weak Link on Course?
You know where you need to be on course. So why does your body sometimes make it so damn hard to get there? “Getting fitter” isn't a very useful goal if you…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastAre You Actually Warming Up Your Team? with Laurren Bastian
You warm up your dog before you run, but are you actually preparing BOTH athletes on your team for what's about to happen? And does a quick walk around really…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhy You Can't Make Yourself Work Out
You WANT to work out. You know you'll probably feel better afterward. So why can it still feel almost impossible to make yourself do it? You might be calling…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYour Gut Might Be Training Your Cravings
What if eating healthier wasn't about giving things up, but about discovering foods you'll love for the rest of your life? Most nutrition advice tells us what…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe New Rules of Aging
What if getting older didn't mean becoming slower, weaker, or less capable? In this episode, I'm sharing why I believe we've accepted far too many stories…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Strength Your Dog Actually Needs
Most leg workouts build stronger muscles. The best ones teach your body how to use that strength. Today I'm letting you inside my coaching brain to show you…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastIs It Perimenopause or Is It Conditioning?
What if it isn't your age... or even perimenopause... but simply that your body has never been asked to do what you're asking of it now? This is a real…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYou're Trying To Solve The Wrong Problem
This is a real coaching story about a real client. She came to me convinced she needed more discipline. She was exhausted. Agility felt hard. She was…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Summer Fitness Reality Nobody Talks About
Every spring we make ambitious plans. We're going to work out more. Train the dog. Travel. Garden. Go to trials. Tackle projects around the house. Spend more…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Biggest Lie About Getting Faster
Most people think getting faster means doing more. More running. More intervals. More workouts. More effort. But what if the problem isn't that you're not…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYou're Probably Working Too Hard To Run This Slow
Do you ever feel like you're working incredibly hard when you run, but not getting much speed in return? In this episode, we're diving into a concept I call…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastToo Hot to Train? Let's Talk About It
Summer arrives and suddenly the workouts that felt easy in the spring feel harder. Your heart rate is higher, your energy is lower, and between trials, travel…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Fitness Double Standard Dog Handlers Have
Your dog has a conditioning plan. They have warm-ups, recovery days, fitness exercises, and maybe even a few supplements. You know what they weigh, how they're…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastToy Skills That Make Everything Else Easier with Shade Whitesel
Your dog loves toys. So why is toy training still a struggle? A lot of dogs love chasing, grabbing, and carrying toys. But loving toys and knowing how to play…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe ‘I Don’t Have Time’ Fix That Actually Works
Ever said “I can’t do it all.” ... And when you can’t do it all, it’s really easy to do nothing. That space between wanting to keep going and not having the…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastYour System Is Doing What You Built It to Do (But Is It What You Really Want)
Most people have a system issue, both in scheduling and in their headspace around fitness. Because if you’ve ever planned to work out and then didn’t know what…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe “I’ll Start Monday” Trap
There are two types of people when it comes to working out. People who stop… and stay stopped. And people who stop… and then keep going. The difference isn’t…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastStop Relying on Motivation. Start Training Your Brain.
You can’t fix your habits until you understand what’s actually driving your behavior. Because if you’ve ever: started a routine and couldn’t stick with it felt…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastBuild a Teammate That Lasts: Puppy Foundations for Lifelong Performance with Kelly Daniel
What if the way you raise your puppy is quietly deciding your entire agility future? If you want to go deeper into this, join Bree and I for Kelly's class this…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHow to Actually Get Faster (Without Just Running More)
Spring is coming. Which means more running… more sprinting… more time moving with your dog outdoors. And every year, I see the same thing happen: Handlers go…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastTreadmill vs Outside: Why the Transition Feels So Awful
Ever feel completely fine on the treadmill… and then five minutes into your first outdoor run you’re thinking, Why does this feel so hard? Why do my legs feel…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastOlympic Season & Agility Excellence: Inspired or Spiralling?
Watching the Olympics can do one of two things: Make you feel small… Or sharpen your plan. And if you’re a dog sport handler watching world-class movement —…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWorking Hard But Still Slow? Let’s Talk Tabata
You’ve been told to just “do Tabata burpees.” Work harder. Sweat more. Push your anaerobic system. So why are you still exhausted at trials? Why do your knees…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHarness Dog Sports 101 with Tanya Dobrzanski
Winter hits. You want to stay fit. Your dog is bouncing off the walls. And somehow “I’ll just go to the gym” never quite works. In this episode, I sit down…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastIf You Keep Restarting Your Fitness, Listen to This
Have you ever thought, “I should be further along by now”? You start again. You ease in. And it feels harder than you expected. In this episode, I talk about…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHow to Stop Getting Hurt During Tug Sessions, with Shade Whitesel
You’re playing tug. Your dog hits the toy hard. And suddenly your wrist, shoulder, or back lights up. Tugging isn’t just a reward skill for your dog — it’s a…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastMotivation Isn’t Your Problem — This Is, with Heather Sumlin
You set the goal. You feel motivated. Two weeks later… it’s stalled. It’s not because you don’t care. In this episode, I sit down with mental performance coach…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastA Smarter Handler Fitness Playbook for 2026
As we head into a new year, a lot of handlers start thinking about how to improve — speed, endurance, confidence, clarity on course. In this episode, Liz…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastBetter Human, Better Handler: Setting Yourself Up for a Strong Year
This episode isn’t about “new year, new you” hype. It’s about honest reflection, meaningful change, and creating momentum in a way that actually lasts. We walk…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHandler-Specific Core: What Most Programs Miss
Most runners — even experienced ones — are doing core work that doesn’t actually translate to better running. In this episode, Liz breaks down what your core…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastI Do Leg Day… So Why Am I Still Slow?
Most handlers think “strong legs” just means squats and lunges, but agility demands strength that works in every direction. The goal is power, control, and…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe “New Year New You” Head Start
Your Friends Are Your Biggest Fitness Hack This episode kicks off our second All Access Pass monthly challenge! December’s All-Access Challenge: Do Something…
Canine Handler Fitness Podcast“I Don’t Need Upper Body for Agility” — Yes, You Really Do
Do you think you can skip upper-body training because agility is “all legs and core”? That’s a trap. Your upper body is just as critical for speed, posture…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastBeyond Kegels: Training Your Pelvic Floor Right
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most misunderstood areas of women’s health — the pelvic floor. Most people think Kegels are the answer. They’re…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Power of Heavier Lifts (and Why It’s Your Antidote to Winter Blahs)
This episode kicks off the All Access Glow-Up — a brand-new phase for Canine Handler Fitness. We’re diving into our first monthly challenge: LIFT HEAVIER! What…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastZone 2 Cardio for Dog Sports
Ever wonder why some handlers seem to sprint through the course effortlessly while others run out of steam halfway? In this episode, we’re diving into Zone 2…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWe're Over Stomach Drama: How to Reduce Gas & Bloating
Feeling bloated during runs or just frustrated by digestive discomfort? You’re not alone! In this episode, we tackle gas and bloating for active handlers…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastMake Soft Surface Running Feel Easier
Ever notice how running on grass feels completely different from running on asphalt? Or how sprinting on sand leaves you feeling like you just ran twice as…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Mistake High Achievers Keep Making
Sometimes the smartest move in fitness isn’t pushing harder—it’s pulling back. In this episode of Canine Handler Fitness, I’m talking about Get Going…
Canine Handler Fitness Podcast3 Simple Sprint Fixes That Change Everything
Most agility handlers want to be faster — but the truth is, speed doesn’t just happen. It comes from how you move. In this episode, Liz reveals how focusing on…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastThe Agility Athlete Mindset with Laura Bussing
In this episode, I’m joined by Laura Bussing—an agility athlete, competitor, coach, judge, canine fitness advocate, and expert in agility behavior. Laura has…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhy More Progress Happens In September Than January
Everyone thinks January is the “fresh start” month for fitness—but here’s the reality: by March, nearly 80% of people have already quit. The resolution rush…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastCould Hypermobility Explain Your Injuries? with Dr. Ashton Wilson
I see a lot of hypermobile people in dog sports, and while flexibility can be a huge advantage, it often comes with hidden challenges that impact health…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhy Recovery Starts The Moment You Stop Running
You’ve been sprinting, queuing, moving equipment, maybe driving, and who knows — you might’ve been wrangling some big feelings too. That first window right…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastFrom Stiff To Swift: A Handler's Guide To Warm-Ups
Warm-ups aren’t optional — they’re your performance insurance policy.In this episode, I break down how a simple, strategic warm-up can transform your first run…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastCan You Still Get Faster In Your 40s? with Sarah Novak
In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Novak — an accomplished agility competitor and long-time Canine Handler Fitness client. We explore what it’s like to…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHow I Built Canine Handler Fitness (Part 2)
In Part 2 of Liz’s origin story, we go behind the scenes of how Canine Handler Fitness went from one-on-one coaching to an online movement supporting hundreds…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastHow I Ended Up Coaching Dog Handlers (Part 1)
In this deeply personal first episode of the Canine Handler Fitness Podcast, Liz Joyce opens up about the life experiences that shaped her — as a woman, a…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastPush Forward Or Back Off? Here's How To Tell
Are you spinning your wheels with workouts that just don’t seem to work? Choosing the wrong fitness level could be sabotaging your progress without you even…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhy You Keep Starting Over with Heather Sumlin
We’re diving into one of the biggest struggles I hear from so many handlers and competitors: “I know I should work out — so why is it so hard to actually stick…
Canine Handler Fitness PodcastWhy Some Handlers Move Better Than Others
If you’ve ever skipped a workout because you felt awkward, uncoordinated, or just plain embarrassed, this episode is for you. We’re diving into why so many…