359: Team USA Coach Nancy Gyes Retires

·1 hr 16 min·5 clips

Nancy Gyes got a call to join the first AKC World Team before she had even entered an AKC trial.

The episode features an interview with Nancy Gyes, the retiring coach of the American Kennel Club's FCI Agility World Championship team. Hosts Jennifer, Esteban, and Sarah welcome Gyes back, noting she was a guest on episode three in 2012. Gyes explains she was on the first U.S. world team in 1996 with her dog Scud, despite not yet competing in AKC agility at the time. She describes the early days of the championship in Moors, Switzerland, with only two jump heights and 22 countries. Gyes discusses her transition from team member to coach, starting around 2006, and highlights her pride in organizing team information and practices. She analyzes how European agility has influenced the U.S., citing trends like lowered jump heights, removal of equipment like the table, and the adoption of handling systems. The hosts and Gyes explore challenges in U.S. agility, including limited access to FCI-style courses and the need for more competitors at tryouts. Gyes details the hybrid team selection process, combining automatic spots and coach picks, and shares anecdotes like picking Ashley Deacon after poor tryouts performance. She reveals the toughest part of coaching is assigning team versus individual runs, a stressful decision due to FCI rules. Gyes explains the 'short list' system used to ease communication and heartbreak during selection. The conversation touches on the new ISC championship and its potential to grow interest. Gyes shares lighthearted stories from her tenure, such as handlers doing push-ups for knocked bars and uniform unveilings. She confirms John Nize is her successor and plans to focus on gardening and photography in retirement. The episode concludes with thanks and sponsor messages.

As heard by us

A retirement conversation opens into a clear-eyed look at what international ambition asks of agility handlers.

Episode 359 uses a retirement conversation to press on a larger question: what actually keeps U.S. dog agility competitive. The discussion moves from the UK's strength at major international events into ISC and FCI training, world team trials, and the hope that interest in…

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Curious why growing U.S. interest in international-style agility does not automatically fill world team trials?

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Bad Dog Agility Podcast