Women of Ring, ep003: Conversation with Katie Wan

In this episode, Mahogany and Katie Wan dive deep into PSA. We discuss Katie's journey into the sport and into decoying, as well as her experiences as a handler, decoy, and judge apprentice. Katie also breaks down PSA as a surprise scenario sport and talks about the increases in challenge from one level to the next. We also get into some of Katie's training techniques and Mahogany asks some questions about starting her retired Mondioring dog in PSA.AI Show Notes:Summary Katie Wan shares her journey into PSA and her love for decoying. She stumbled into PSA when her dog fell into her lap and joined a PSA club. She quickly became interested in decoying and worked her way into the suit. Katie is now a club director, trial decoy, and apprentice judge for PSA. She finds decoying to be the most fulfilling aspect of the sport and enjoys watching dogs progress through the challenges. She also discusses her favorite exercises, including the muzzle fight and level three obedience. The judges program in PSA requires a year to two years of apprenticeship and emphasizes fair and creative surprise scenarios. PSA trials and decoy camps are known for their incredible amount of support and camaraderie. The community is welcoming and supportive, with everyone cheering for each other and offering help when needed. PSA has experienced significant growth internationally, with clubs popping up in various countries. When it comes to training for decoy presence, incremental increases in variables are used to build neutrality. The levels in PSA are designed to prepare handlers and dogs for the presence of decoys, with the level three being the most challenging. It's important to have strong behaviors and to tailor the training approach to each individual dog. In this final part of the conversation, Katie emphasizes the importance of mentorship and finding a supportive group or club to train with. She advises people to observe and learn from experienced handlers and their relationships with their dogs. Katie also shares her experience of catching bangers and the physical and mental preparation required for it. She highlights the significance of practicing falling safely and developing muscle memory. The conversation concludes with a discussion about the importance of having an intro theme music for the podcast.Chapters 00:00 Katie Wan's Journey into PSA and Decoying10:25 The Fulfillment of Decoying in PSA16:52 Favorite Exercises: Muzzle Fight and Level Three Obedience26:01 The Judges Program in PSA: Fair and Creative Surprise Scenarios34:34 The Supportive Community of PSA Trials and Decoy Camps43:06 International Growth of PSA55:34 Training for Decoy Presence in PSA01:03:00 The Levels in PSA: Preparing for Decoys01:12:32 Tailoring the Training Approach to Each Dog01:15:39 Observing Experienced Handlers and Their Relationships with Dogs01:21:09 Preparing for Catching Bangers01:28:08 Developing Muscle Memory through Practice01:41:16 The Significance of Intro Theme Music