Name: How to communicate with your dog, from a Westminster champion
Uploaded: 2025-11-21T15:16:56Z
Duration: 14 min 58 s
Description: Who let the dogs out? Jennifer Crank, a world champion in dog agility competitions like Westminster, brings her border collie onto the TED stage to demonstrate the secrets of interspecies communication. Watch as her four-legged friend bounds through an obstacle course at lightning speed — as Crank gives a lesson on how to effectively communicate with any kind of audience.

Jennifer Crank: How to communicate with your dog, from a Westminster champion

How to communicate with your dog, from a Westminster champion

Who let the dogs out? Jennifer Crank, a world champion in dog agility competitions like Westminster, brings her border collie onto the TED stage to demonstrate the secrets of interspecies communication. Watch as her four-legged friend bounds through an obstacle course at lightning speed — as Crank gives a lesson on how to effectively communicate with any kind of audience.

Success in dog agility relies less on barking orders and more on understanding how dogs naturally communicate. On a course with 6.4 quadrillion possible layouts, handlers get just eight minutes to prepare before racing at full speed. The tiniest cue—like a change in motion or eye contact—means more to a dog than words. The lesson is clear: real teamwork and trust begin when each partner learns the other's language.

True Connection Outpaces Commands In Dog Agility And Life

The secret to dazzling dog agility lies in clear, instinctive communication, not louder commands or tighter control. On courses with up to 22 obstacles and 6.4 quadrillion possible layouts, elite teams rely on refined signals like motion and eye contact, which dogs naturally understand. When handlers learn to communicate in their teammate’s language, dogs run with passion and trust. This lesson in connection applies far beyond the agility ring, transforming how people lead, teach, and build relationships.