Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast

E457: Christina Young - "Teaching Your Dog to Move Away from Conflict"

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Living with multiple dogs means managing multiple personalities, and like any home with multiple personalities, there will be times when there are dis...

E456: Denise Fenzi - "From Training Philosophy to Training the Dog in Front of You"

18 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For our first ever dually published podcast episode (both as an audio podcast and on youtube as a video podcast!) we brought back our first ever guest...

E455: Jennifer Henion - "Teaching Impulse Override & Take Turns"

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Jennifer joins me to talk about the idea of impulse override and how it can help teach dogs to wait for their turn — an important skill in the field...

E454: Shade Whitesel - "What's that Smell?"

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how you approach teaching a dog to focus around distracting scents - things like bitch in season scent or trash on the side of the road?...

E453: Kim Palermo - "Resilience and Arousal"

28 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kim joins me this week to talk about the relationship between resilience and arousal. We talk about how control unleashed and freework can both help i...

E452: Kelly Daniel - "Adapting Fitness for Puppies and Seniors"

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Fitness training can benefit dogs of all ages — but it should be adapted to meet the specific needs of the dog in front of us based on their health ...

E451: Sue Yanoff, DVM - Getting an Accurate Sports Medicine Diagnosis

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dr. Sue Yanoff specializes in canine sports medicine. In this episode we discuss the importance of getting an accurate diagnosis for canine sports inj...

E450: Building the Bond - And the Factors that Impact it.

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Erin Lynes, Kim Palermo, Crystal Wing, and Denise Fenzi, all presenters from the upcoming one day conference on Building the Bond join me to talk abou...

E449: Julie Flanery - "Teaching an Emergency Stop"

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Teaching your dog a recall just makes sense — but what about those situations when running to you might be more dangerous than staying put? In this ...

E448: Erin Lynes - "Teaching Your Dog Thoughtful Movement"

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Erin and I dive deep into the benefits of thoughtful movement through puzzle games and movement puzzles. Whether you have a dog who mo...

E447: Ashley Escobar - "Another Look at Conformation"

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What's really going on when a dog competes in the breed ring? Ashley breaks down what judges look for, what we can do to help present our dogs in the ...

E446: Amy Cook, PhD and Josefin Linderström - "The Social Approach"

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Amy and Josefin have been working together on a new program designed to help us rethink every interaction we have with our dogs... and they're calling...

E445: Shade Whitesel - Reducing Reinforcement for Sport Performance

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

If your sport doesn't allow you to bring primary reinforcers onto the competition field with you, then at some point you need to work through removing...

E444: Sharon Carroll - "Talking About Differently Motivated Dogs"

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Have a differently motivated dog? This episode is for you! Sharon and I do a deep dive into what it means to train and compete with these dogs. 

E443: Kim Palermo - What is ACE Free Work, Anyway?

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Kim shares what free work is and how she's incorporated it into all aspects of her training — resulting in wide ranging benefits, from better arousa...

E422: Petra Ford - Talking Arousal & Using Jackpots

10 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered how arousal impacts performance? Debated whether jackpots are worth using? In this episode I ask Petra Ford about both topics — and we...

E441: Fitness and Injury Prevention for Active Dogs

03 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With the Active Dogs: Fitness and Injury Prevention one day conference happening on Jan 10th, we took the time to sit down with 2 of the presenters to...

E440: Denise Fenzi - "Pre-engagement to Acclimation and Engagement 2.0"

26 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join me for a fascinating conversation with Denise on the ins and outs of engagement — from pre-engagement strategies to help young dogs to prepping...

E439: Sara Brueske - "Arousal Regulation"

19 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Does your dog struggle to regulate their own arousal? Join me and Sara for a conversation on how to help them manage things, and then (ultimately) tea...

E438: Erin Lynes - "Building Canine Confidence"

14 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join me as I interview Erin Lynes about building confidence in our canine partners — we talk about clear communication, natural levels of confidence...

E437: Ashley Escobar - "Impulse Control, Body Awareness, and Precision... Through Conditioning"

05 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Ashley walks us through why she's turned to conditioning to help her young dogs develop impulse control, body awareness, and precision...

E436: Petra Ford - A Look at Open Obedience

28 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The sport of obedience adds new challenges at each level of competition — in this episode, National Obedience Champion Petra Ford joins me for a con...

E435: Laurie Huston - Foundations for Agility

21 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether working with your first agility dog or your fifth, the right foundation can play a huge role in your team's success. Join us for a conversatio...

E434: Julie Symons - Evaluating What Your Nosework Dog Really Knows

14 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to fall into the habit of only practicing skills you know that you and your dog are good at — in this episode, Julie and I talk about how ...

E433: Ashley Escobar, Erin Lynes, and Irith Bloom on Puppyhood & Adolescence

07 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The life stages our young sports dogs go through can come with dramatic changes and significant transitions - so what's normal? How do we decide what ...

E432: Crystal Wing - "Mindset and Mechanics: Thinking About Training"

31 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Crystal Wing joins me for a conversation on how to build your training around a great relationship with your dog by balancing mindset and mechanics. 

E431: Kathy Sdao - "What Happens When They Won't Go"

17 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever have a situation where your dog refuses to move forward? In this episode Kathy Sdao and I talk about what balking is, why we think dogs do it, an...

E430: Liz Joyce - "Starting A Handler Fitness Habit"

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join handler fitness trainer, Liz Joyce, and me for a podcast all about how you can start — or restart — your fitness journey, gently. 

E430: Liz Joyce - "Starting A Handler Fitness Habit"

10 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join handler fitness trainer, Liz Joyce, and me for a podcast all about how you can start — or restart — your fitness journey, gently. 

E429: Heather Lawson - "CGC & Therapy Dog Work"

05 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Heather and I discuss what skills you need to earn your CGC, the sticking points that can cause trouble for some teams, and how to decide if your dog ...

E428: Kim Palermo - Advancing CU into the Real World

26 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Control Unleashed games and patterns can be a powerful tool whether you're working to rehab reactivity or build bomb proof sports behaviors. But how w...

E427: Ashley Escobar - Fitness, Agility, and Jump Training

19 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Agility puts a lot of strain and stress on our dogs' bodies... but fitness training can go a long way to ensuring they still enjoy a long sports caree...

E426: Karen Deeds and Dr. Sophie Liu - A Real Look at Negative Reinforcement

12 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Talking about Negative Reinforcement can cause some big feelings in the positive training community - but in this episode Karen and Sophie take a look...

E425: Erin Lynes and Tracey McLennan - Meeting Your Dogs Needs

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dogs with a lot of interest in the environment, who come to the outside world with big feelings or who need an outlet but aren't safe off leash are ou...

E424: Michael Shikashio - Arousal and Aggression (Plus a Peek at CANIS 2026!)

29 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Michael Shikashio joins me for a conversation around the impact arousal has on aggression, and how we should think about the two when working on behav...

E423: Julie Flanery - "Building A Musical Freestyle Routine"

22 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Curious what musical freestyle is and whether it might be for you? Join Julie and I for a conversation that includes tips and tricks for laying out yo...

E422: Petra Ford - Competing in Obedience at the Top

15 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, we talk to Petra Ford, the 2025 National Obedience Champion, about her recent win and what it takes to compete at the top levels of o...

E421: Jane Ardern - Anticipation vs. Relaxation: Training Release Cues

08 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jane Ardern joins me for a conversation about how our release cues can influence our dog's state of mind and ability to learn. She shares what the fie...

E420: Sharon Carroll - "A Real Look at Reducing Reinforcement"

01 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you plan to compete, you need a plan for reducing reinforcement - but so often this is where trainers go wrong! Join us for a conversation about ho...

E419: Nancy Little - "Weave Pole Performance"

25 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Thinking about weave pole training? Whether you're troubleshooting a problem or beginning to teach weaves to a new dog, in this episode we dive into N...

E418: Irith Bloom - "Getting Geeky On Behavior Change"

18 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is Applied Behavior Science? Learning Theory? Why bother, if folks have been training dogs for more than 10,000 years? Irith and I get into all t...

E417: Focus and Engage with Denise Fenzi, Petra Ford, and Karen Deeds

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the upcoming Focus & Engage one-day online conference only a few days away, join us for a preview of what you can expect, and an in depth convers...

E416: Tracey McLennan - "A Framework for More Efficient Training"

04 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tracey McLennan joins me for a conversation on how her software background has informed her approach to dog training and led to her framework for smar...

E415: Denise Fenzi - Contact Heeling v. Precision Heeling: What's the Difference?

27 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Precision heeling and contact heeling may seem similar in some ways - but they're also very different. Join me for a conversation with Denise Fenzi on...

E414: Crystal Wing - The Role of Relationship in Dog Training

20 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to improve your relationship with your dog and improve your teamwork? In this episode, Crystal breaks down the factors that go into fostering ...

E413: Sara Brueske - What's UpDog: A Conversation on Frisbee Games

13 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have a dog who likes frisbees? Join us for a conversation about UpDog — including What's UpDog and how you can compete!

E412: Petra Ford - "Balancing Motivation & Precision"

07 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Do you find your dog tends to fall flat as you continue to raise criteria in training? Or maybe you have a dog that is SO enthusiastic that precision ...

E411: Kim Palermo & Erin Lynes - "Building a Sports Foundation"

30 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you've found yourself thinking, "I'm gonna do that differently with the next puppy," or "Next time I'll do this perfectly," you're not alone. Join ...

E410: Ashley Escobar - The Art & Science of Jump Training

23 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Jumps make up a significant percent of every agility course - yet so often they receive only a small percentage of our training time. If you've ever w...

E409: Sarah Rodriguez - Making Training More Accessible

16 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We always say train the dog in front of you -- but in this podcast, Sarah shares the importance of considering the handler as well. Adjusting training...

E408: Karen Deeds - Another Look at Box Feeding

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The more tools in your toolbox the more dogs you can help — in this episode Karen shares her experience using box feeding (aka the "dopamine box") t...

E407: Denise Fenzi, Crystal Wing, & Jane Ardern on Motivation

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With the upcoming one day conference on matters of motivation, Denise, Crystal, and Jane joined me to share their takes on what motivation really is a...

E406: Deb Jones, PhD - "An Honest Conversation about Hard Decisions"

25 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There are certain topics in the dog training world that feel almost taboo - among them is the topic of behavioral euthanasia. In this episode Deb and ...

E405: Jessica Wheatcraft - "A Closer Look at Circle Work"

18 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Give this episode a listen to learn a bit more about Jessica, her background, what Circle Work is and what led her to develop it!

E404: Amy Cook, PhD - The Evolution of The Play Way

04 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join me and Dr. Amy Cook for a conversation on where her ideas for The Play Way came from, the science that inspired it, and how it's evolved (and con...

E403: Denise Fenzi & Crystal Wing - Let's Talk Play

28 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a serious conversation on all things play! Denise and Crystal share how play impacts our relationships and our training with our dogs. 

E402: Julie Symons - "Building Environmental Resilience"

21 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Nosework competitions require the ability to focus and work independently in new and novel locations — so Julie joined me for a conversation on how ...

E401: Kim Palermo - "Patterns for Performance'

14 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a conversation on how pattern games can benefit dogs with big feelings — whether those feelings are positive or negative! Kim is a certi...

E400: Dante Camacho - "Building A Beautiful Heel"

08 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When done well, heelwork can be downright beautiful. But if you've ever tried to teach heelwork, you know it's much more complex than it might look at...

E399: Sara Brueske, Irith Bloom, Kim Palermo, and Sophie Liu, DVM - "A Look at Barky Lungey Dogs"

28 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do if you end up with a dog that barks and lunges at people or other dogs? Join us for a panel discussion on what to do first, whether it ...

E398: Janice Gunn - "Stand Your Dog: Teaching the Stand for Competition Obedience"

21 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

How solid is your dog's understanding of their stand cue? Join us for a conversation on how to teach the stand and why it's such an important skill fo...

E397: Canine Sports Medicine Vets with Drs. David Lane and Chris Zink

14 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Join me for a conversation with canine sports medicine vets David Lane and Chris Zink about what sports handlers should know! We talk about what is in...

E396: Petra Ford - "Engagement that Holds Up in the Competition Ring"

07 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Petra and I discuss the difference between attention and engagement. Join us for Petra's advice on preparing your dog for the competit...

E395: Julie Flanery - "Gamifying Training for Your Dog"

31 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Looking to add some joy back into your training? Join Julie and I for a conversation about ways to use games to build connection, engagement, attentio...

E394: Bronagh Daly - "Control Unleashed for Agility"

24 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have a dog that struggles to think clearly in or around the agility ring? Want to be proactive, so your dog can always keep his head? In this episode ...

E393: Jerri Scherff - "Becoming An Influencer: Sailor Jerri's Story"

17 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You may have seen her on TikTok or Instagram... this week the dog trainer known for sharing her videos on social media is making an appearance here on...

E392: Aleks Woodroffe, Julie Symons, Kayla Dever, and Stacy Barnett - Know the Nose 2

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today we brought together several of the presenters from our upcoming one day conference on nosework, Know the Nose! They share what they wish they'd ...

E391 - Karen Deeds: The Pieces to Creating Peace At Home

03 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Karen and I talk about how she uses a settle behavior in her behavior work and what it means to have a harmonious household. 

E390: Denise Fenzi - Setting Training Goals & The Evolution of Circle Walking

27 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Hear the story of what inspired Denise's popular circle method for loose leash walking, and join us for a discussion on goal setting as we head into t...

E389: The One Day Conference Spectacular

21 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In honor of our current sale, we're bringing back highlights from several previous conversations on choosing your sport puppies, dealing with adolesce...

E388: Julie Symons - The Benefits of Nosework & How to Get Started

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Trying to decide if Nosework is worth a try? In this episode Julie and I talk about the benefits of nosework and how to adapt your handling to improve...

E387: Bronagh Daly - "Breaking Down Agility Handling for Your Dog"

06 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

When running an agility course full speed there's a lot your dog has to process... so how do you make handling clear for your dog? Bronagh and I talk ...

E386: Sara Brueske - "Training A Stunt Dog"

29 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered what it takes to train the show stopping tricks you see frisbee dogs and stunt dogs perform? In this episode Sara and I talk about train...

E385: Nancy Gagliardi Little - What it Takes to Prepare to Compete

22 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Need a strategy for getting reinforcement off your body? Wondering what other skills you should have on board before that first competition? In this e...

E384: Julie Flanery - Shape Up Your Training

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Shaping: People either love it or hate it! Join Julie and I for a conversation on why it should be a tool in your training toolbox and how you can bui...

E383: Irith Bloom - Changing Feelings: When to Use Food to Change Emotions

08 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

As positive reinforcement trainers we often use food for everything! In this episode Irith and I talk about desensitization and counterconditioning......

E382: What Do We Mean By Big Feelings?

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Join us for a fantastic panel discussion with Dr. Amy Cook, Denise Fenzi, Kim Palermo, and Petra Ford on sports dogs, their big feelings, and how to h...

E381: Dr. Jennifer Summerfield & Dr. Jessica Perry Hekman - "Anxiety in Our Dogs"

25 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do we know about anxiety in our canine companions? Join us for a conversation about what causes anxiety and what we can do about it.

E380: Bobbie Bhambree - "Creating a Resilience Framework for More Resilient Dogs"

18 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What do we know about resilience and what it takes to build more of it in our dogs? Join Bobbie and I for a conversation on what factors we need to co...

E379: Angelica Steinker - "Handling Hearing and Vision Impairments in Dogs"

11 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered how unilateral deafness might impact learning? What a dog with vision impairments might face? Angelica shares her experiences w...

E378: Loretta Mueller - "Multi-Dog Households: Adding a New Dog"

04 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Having a peaceful household when you live with multiple dogs can be tough — join us for a conversation about what it takes, and tips on how to intro...

E377: Karen Deeds - Advanced Reactive Integration: Bringing The Pieces Together

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You've heard of Fight or Flight and maybe Freeze, but did you know there are actually 5 F's that dogs can exhibit under stress? Join us for an interes...

E376: Irith Bloom - Creating Confidence and Calm for Anxious Dogs

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Irith and I talk about what anxiety looks like in dogs and what we can do to help our dogs feel safe and build confidence. Plus, I ask...

E375: Liz Joyce & Kelly Daniel - Core Fitness for Both Ends of the Leash

13 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Core strength is important for both ends of the leash — so for this episode, Liz and Kelly both joined me to talk about their relative expertise... ...

E374: Deb Jones, Jennifer Summerfield, and Julie Symons on Living With and Loving Your Senior Dog

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

We hear so much about puppys and adolescents, but it's rare to focus on seniors — in this episode, that's exactly what we do. We take a deep dive in...

E373: Erin Lynes - "Surviving Canine Adolescence"

30 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Teenagers get a bad rap — join me and Erin for a conversation about what you can really expect and how to survive canine adolescence and then come o...

E372: Kamal Fernandez - Teaching the Concept of Duration

23 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 If you've ever struggled to convey to your dog that you want them to keep doing a thing... Whether it's a stationary behavior or a moving one, this ...

E371: Crystal Wing - Learning to Play

18 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

It's easy to assume we're all born knowing how to play - but sometimes reclaiming that childlike sense of fun is harder than it looks! Join us for a c...

E370: Jennifer Henion - Breaking Down the Blind Retrieve

09 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

One of the skills you'll need for retriever hunt tests is the blind retrieve — where the dog retrieves downed game that they didn't see land. In thi...

E369: Shade Whitesel - Choosing Location Specific Marker Cues

02 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wondering what the hype is about when it comes to Location Specific Marker cues? Shade and I talk about what they are, what they can offer your traini...

E368: Tracey McLennan - Overcoming Critter Distractions for the Real World

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have a dog that's easily distracted or driven to chase prey-like critters? In this episode Tracey and I talk about overcoming critter distractions and...

E367: Julie Symons - "One of a Kind Hides & Creating Clarity in Nosework"

19 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wondered if your dog can remember which hides they've already found? In this Episode Julie and I dive into problem solving multiple hides and usi...

E366: Deb Jones, PhD - Redefining Focus: What Training for Focus Looks Like

12 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What really goes into having a focused dog? Join us for a conversation what it means to train focus — and how we can split a complex behavior down i...

E365: Dr. Amy Cook, Crystal Wing, and Erin Lynes - "The Power of Play"

05 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

What's the big deal about play, anyway? Join us for a conversation on the benefits of play... and how to tap into your inner child, so both you and yo...

E364 - Sharon Carroll - Training & Competing with "Differently Motivated" Dogs

28 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Sharon and I talk about what engagement looks like for those "differently motivated" dogs and how to handle it when our dog appears to...

E363: Hélène Lawler - Reliable Distance Downs

21 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ever wonder how herding dog handlers get those fabulous downs at a distance? Hélène Lawler joins me to talk about building reliable behaviors at a d...

E362: Kelly Daniel - "Wellness and Your Canine Athlete"

14 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Wellness is about both the physical and the emotional being. Today Kelly and I take a deeper look at what that means and what we, as handlers, can do ...

E361: Irith Bloom - The Role of Choice and Habit in Dog Training

08 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Choice and habit both play a role in our dog training - and if we want to change behavior, it's important to determine which that behavior falls into ...

E360: Petra Ford - "Training For Engagement"

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Engagement and attention are not the same thing — In this episode Petra dives into what training engagement looks like and why it's crucial to compe...

E359: Ashley Escobar - Teaching Conformation Skills: What You Need to Know

24 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Competing in conformation is so much more than running in circles — join me and Ashley for a conversation on the skills it takes to become best in c...