Explore every episode of the podcast Bitches in Season

This week we sit down with Sarah Rutland to talk about performance Papillons, building a breeding program, and the completely normal amount of emotional attachment one can have to a tiny French dog named Primo.

Sarah shares how she got started in agility, why she fell in love with Papillons, and what eventually pushed her to start breeding dogs specifically for performance sports. We get into breeding ethics, structure, drive, puppy raising, reactive dogs, and the terrifying responsibility of trying to produce dogs that are talented, stable, and physically sound enough for sport.

It’s equal parts educational and unhinged which honestly feels very on brand for us.

This week, we’re sitting down with our dear friend and honorary "Bitch in Season," Sydney Bates.

 

If you’ve been around the Philadelphia dog scene, you might have seen Sydney at one of about a dozen types of dog sport events! With 15 years in the game, she’s truly a dog sport Renaissance woman. In this episode, we’re going totally off-script to talk about Sydney’s wild journey through the dog world.

 

We’re diving into:

• The "Bucket Bitch" Chronicles: Sydney shares her origin story, from scooping poop for high school credit at a professional kennel to being the ultimate "bucket bitch" at national Schutzhund (IGP) championships.

• Schutzhund Tea: What’s the vibe of the protection sport world? Sydney gives us the diplomatic (and not-so-diplomatic) lowdown on the precision, the egos, and the literal parking lot brawls.

• The Pivot to Pet Training: Why Sydney started a training business during the 2020 puppy boom and the emotional toll of dealing with the people side of pet training and rehoming cases.

• Terrier Energy: How Sydney went from Golden Retrievers to finding her true calling with her Jack Russell, Tripp (and why everyone thought she was crazy for doing it) and back to her perfect Golden.

• Mushrooms & Aliens: Yes, we take a detour into whether fungi are from outer space. Don't ask, just listen.

 

Whether you’re a precision-obsessed handler or just someone who’s been bitten by a Jack Russell, this episode is packed with the kind of gatekeeping, gossip, and girl-talk you love.

This week we’re joined by Kelly Peterson of Dognerd Animal Talent, and this episode is packed with behind-the-scenes chaos. If you’ve ever wondered how dogs end up in commercials, TV shows, or modeling tiny outfits for major brands, this one’s for you.

Kelly shares how she went from working in entertainment to building a business casting and training animal talent, plus what really happens on set when producers expect dogs to act like human actors. Spoiler: it’s never that simple.

We get into wild client requests, the truth about what makes a dog castable, why sport dogs shine on set, and some of the funniest stories from her career involving puppies, pigs, horses, and a search for the perfect “ugly dog.”

Lights, camera… bitches. 

After an accidental hiatus (oops… one week turned into many), we’re back and more unhinged than ever. This episode is a full-on catch-up: no structure, no plan, just your favorite bitches yapping.

 

Rachael recaps the absolute chaos that was NAC in California, think 109° heat, RV meltdowns, overheated computers, and Chessy still showing up like the queen she is. Lynsey dives into EO tryouts, mindset shifts, and learning how to take the pressure off while still chasing big goals. And Lizzie?? She’s BACK back, post-injury, fresh out of PT, and entering her first trial again (with a side of “agility twisties”).

 

We’re talking:

• heat grumpies (a real medical condition, obviously)
• rebuilding confidence after setbacks
• angel goggles & chaotic dogs
• big life updates (stay tuned)
• and… a surprise announcement!!!

 

It’s messy, it’s funny, but mostly it’s just us being us. If you missed our voices… this one’s for you.

 

The bitches are back. For real this time.

The agility world is fighting on the internet again, so naturally, we had to talk about it. 

 

On this week's episode of Bitches in Season, we are unpacking the hot debate regarding balanced training in dog sports. But before we judge, we confess. All three of us share our personal stories of using e-collars and prongs in the past, the mistakes we made, and the specific moments that changed our minds.

 

Tune in for the laughs and the cringe, stay for the honest conversation about why fear has no place on an agility course.

We love a cross-generational bestie! This week, Charly Teller joins the chat to prove that agility friendships have no age limit, whether you’re 20 or 80.

 

We talk about her journey from Junior World Team competitor to pre-vet school student, and why her dad is secretly the ultimate Agility Gossip Girl (seriously, he knows more tea than we do)

 

We also dive into our own cringey childhood stories because what are friends for? Grab a drink, get comfy, and join us for an episode full of friendship, nostalgia, and just the right amount of chaos.

This week we’re sitting down with Tori of Wild at Heart Pet Company - creative chaos, business brains, and one of the kindest humans in dog sporting gear. We get into the real story behind building a brand from nothing, terrifying first investments, and why “overnight success” is a lie.

 

From soggy first setups and mental breakdowns in parking lots to becoming a must-stop booth at major events, Tori shares what it takes to survive (and thrive) as a small business owner in dog sports. If you’ve ever wanted to bet on yourself but were scared to jump, this one’s for you.

This week, we got to chat with an actual renaissance woman and total badass: McKenzie Minto: Team USA veteran, UKI Judge, and Co-Director of the amazing Boundless Junior Agility Company (BJAC). Oh, and she has a 9-5 too! Seriously, what can't she do? McKenzie is a pro at setting audacious goals, making no apologies for being an ambitious young woman, and always enjoying the journey.

 

McKenzie started agility at just 8 years old and was literally raised by the sport. Tune in to learn what it’s really like competing on the World Stage as a teenager and how she managed to stay out of the drama. You'll be impressed by how she's way more mature and grounded than us when it comes to keeping perspective about a sport that easily takes over your identity.

 

Plus, we get the scoop on her mission with BJAC: building community among young agility handlers, removing barriers, and creating massive new opportunities each year to inspire the next generation. Tune in for this insightful (and maybe a little gossipy) look at the youths who are shaping our sport!

Bitch, say cheese! This week’s episode features the one and only Nadia Hall, the owner of Barking Dog Images and the talent behind some of agility’s most iconic shots!

 

From freezing those blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments in the ring to understanding what makes each dog shine, Nadia gives us a behind-the-lens look at the artistry, chaos, and emotion of capturing our sport.

 

We chat about what it’s really like photographing our dogs (and us!) in the heat of competition, her favorite moments, and the creative process that brings every image to life. Nadia shares her secrets to capturing the pure joy (and sometimes chaos!) of the handler/dog relationship and built a career doing what she loves most, celebrating the bond between handler and dog.

 

Whether you’re an agility competitor, a dog lover, or just someone who appreciates a killer photo, this episode will make you see the sport in a whole new light.

You already knew we were opinionated bitches and this week, we’re proving it! You asked, and we answered with our most unfiltered thoughts yet. From the latest internet agility drama to the ongoing debate about the too-high, too-skinny dog walk, we’re tackling the topics everyone’s buzzing about with zero filter.

 

Tune in for a full dose of honesty, laughter, and the occasional gasp as we share what’s really on our minds. Then tell us your own spicy opinions, because we know our fellow bitches in season always have something to say 😈

This week on Bitches in Season, we’re serving up a hot take you need to hear: Bitch, Don’t Skip the Basics! Yeah, we know, start lines and flatwork don’t sound as fun as international courses and tricky threadles, but here’s the truth: if you don’t nail the fundamentals, that fancy stuff is gonna fall apart real quick.

 

We’re dragging ourselves a little this week, spilling the tea on the cringe-worthy moments and training gaps we had to go back and patch up with our own dogs. Spoiler alert: skipping the boring stuff will come back to bite you in the ass.

 

So grab a drink, hit play, and let us remind you (with love and a little tough bitch energy): your future self and your dog will thank you for going back to school.

Ever wondered what's really going through a judge's mind when you step to the line? This week, the bitches are getting the ultimate inside scoop from the other side of the score table. We're sitting down with UKI judge and competitor Gracie Huffman for a tell-all conversation about the world of agility judging.

 

We're getting a judge's-eye view on everything from course design and handler mistakes to the drama that happens when the dogs aren't the only bitches in the house.

 

Gracie fills us in on her journey and what it really takes to wear the judge's hat. What is the key ingredient to being an agility judge? Spoiler alert: you have to love the game. 

That feeling when it turns out that your "perfect" prospect isn’t the perfect fit? Yeah, let's talk about it. In this episode, "Rehoming Dogs," we're having the conversation nobody wants to have but some of us have experienced, making the call to find the right place for the dog that didn’t work out. We’re getting into the nitty-gritty of what to do when your dream dog doesn't fit into your life, the emotional rollercoaster that follows, and how to find them their perfect forever home without losing your mind. Join us as we share our own stories, hot takes, and a few tips for navigating this tough situation.

Welcome to the first-ever "Listener Tails" episode! You sent in your juiciest, most dramatic agility trial stories, and we are here to dissect it all. In this episode, we're reading your anonymous submissions about the chaos of dogs sports.  Get ready for stories about: - Drama in and out of the ring! - Shocking moments of unkindness to dogs and people :( - And an infamous facility known for fights, screaming, and even rumors of (watergun emoji) Grab your popcorn and buckle up, because agility people are messy, and we're diving into all of it.

This week, the bitches are getting physical! We're joined by special guest Dr. Tim Corker DPT, CCAT, ART to talk all things canine rehab and bodywork. We'll be discussing our own experiences with rehab, including those mysterious post-run behaviors and soreness that left us scratching our heads.  

Tim will break down what canine rehab actually is and why it's so critical for performance dogs. Get ready for some spicy takes as we ask him what handlers get wrong most often, the habits that make him cringe, and his thoughts on overtraining and skipping warm ups in agility culture. We'll also get his expert opinion on how to find a reputable practitioner and the two supplements he recommends for every sport dog.

 

Tune in to find out which of us is the most dramatic about injuries and hear why we all tend to spill our guts to our rehab pros. 

It's the reeeemiiiixxx! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the hotly requested topic of sport mixes in the agility world. We're breaking down what separates a purposefully bred performance dog from a "designer" pet mix. We also couldn't hold back on our thoughts about popular pet mixes, and why we think there's a big difference between breeding for function versus breeding for "fluff." 

This episode wouldn't be complete without tackling the controversy around altering sport mixes to compete in certain venues and the impact this has on continuing phenomenal lines.  Tune in as we spill the tea on the great sport mix debate!

Ever wondered about the unsung heroes of agility trials? This week, we're giving a loving shoutout to our very own "bucket bitches"! We're defining the term (it's a term of endearment, we swear!) and dishing on how our partners really feel about our chaotic hobby.

We're getting into how this sport has impacted our relationships, from the amazing moments to the "not-so-great" ones when our weekends are completely booked with dog shows. Plus, we're talking about how involved we actually want them to be at trials.

And for a special treat, one bucket bitch is joining us to spill all the tea from a husband's perspective! He’ll share his first impressions of an agility trial, the most dramatic thing he's seen ringside, and what advice he has for other partners dragged into this wild world.

Tune in to hear the realities of being married to the sport!

This week on "Bitches in Controversy," we're diving into the drama that follows us around the agility world! 

First up, Rachael gets real about people underestimating her Corgi just because of her breed and size. Then, Lynsey addresses the infamous "pink shorts" incident and the ringside commentary about more than just her handling.

Lastly, Lizzie spills all the details about how her Aussie Cassian's "big head" became the talk of the dogbook tea group after an anonymous Instagram story post went viral.  

We're also introducing a new segment called "Broken shit & how we’re fixing it," where we get real about our training struggles.  You don't want to miss this one!

This week, we’re decoding the chaos, jeopardy style. From dog sport phrases to conformation confusion, we’re breaking down the terms that make it feel like everyone’s speaking a different language. We play a game, drop some new sticker-worthy catchphrases, and keep things fun and slightly unhinged. Whether you’re deep in the sport or watching from the side lines, this one’s for you.

Our first hot take! The bitches are tackling a controversial topic that has the dog sport world divided: Should bitches in season be allowed to compete? We're diving headfirst into the drama, discussing which sports and venues allow it and which ones don't. We'll get into the arguments on both sides, from concerns about distracting male dogs to the unfairness of female dogs having to pull out of big events they've worked hard to qualify for. We'll also touch on the recent rule changes, the "Let the Bitches Run" petition, and the differing opinions we've seen on social media.

Okay, buckle up for episode 2: "What do these bitches do?"

Ever wonder what these agility-obsessed besties get up to when we’re not just gossiping? This week we are diving deep into the wild world of agility venues! Talking about our journeys through CPE, AKC, UKI, USDAA, and all the rest. Find out which ones we live for, which ones we ensure, and all our hot takes on navigating the alphabet soup of dog sports. The discussion will cover our experiences, what we love, what we don’t, and our goals within all the different organizations.

Welcome to the very first episode of Bitches in Season where we answer the question "Who Are These Bitches?" Join your hosts, Rachael, Lynsey, and Lizzie, three best friends who live and breathe dog agility. In this introductory episode, get to know who we are, where we live, and more than you ever wanted to know about our beloved dogs. We'll share how each of us got started in the exhilarating world of dog sports and what inspired us to create this podcast. Plus, we’ll give you a sneak peek into what you can expect in future episodes, from hot takes to our favorite agility tips. We're so excited to share our world of dogs, agility, and all the spicy tea with you. Tune in to hear our stories and get ready to yap!