Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast
Episodes
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...
E358: A Look at FDSA Training Camp!
17 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what to expect at our annual in-person event? This week we'll hear from several people who have attended multiple events about what they...
E357: Aleks Woodroffe - "Using Handler Pressure As a Tool in Nosework"
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you realize it or not, every time you and your dog step to the line handler pressure will play a role in the search. So, how can you use it to...
E356 - Dr. Sue Yanoff: What To Do When Something Goes Wrong with Our Sports Dogs
03 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
When your dog comes up lame, when is it time to worry that it may be something serious? What do you do if your general practice vet doesn't seem conce...
E355: Heather Lawson - The Concept of Duration
26 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Duration is about so much more than just a sit or down stay! Join us for a conversation on how teaching duration as a concept makes it easier to gener...
E354: Junior Handlers in Agility with Sasha Zitter, Benah Stiewing, McKenzie Minto
19 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Boundless Junior Agility Company or BJAC exists to support junior agility handlers — join us for a conversation about the future of the sport, how y...
E353: Loretta Mueller - Getting Started in Agility
12 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered what key foundation information is essential to getting a good start in agility? In this episode Loretta and I talk about exactly that —...
E352: Laurie Huston - "Commitment in Agility"
05 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is commitment? How do we teach our dogs to understand when to go and when to pay more attention to our cues? Laurie and I talk about that and mor...
E351: Sara Brueske - "Building Controlled Behaviors in Sports Dogs"
29 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how leading trainers can take a dog that is all about the "GO" and balance it out with beautiful focus and control? In this episode Sara...
E350: Erin Lynes - Teaching Polite Greetings
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have a dog who is a bit TOO enthusiastic about saying hello? In this episode Erin and I talk about what you can do.
E349: Irith Bloom - Dealing with Feelings
15 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fear of the vacuum. Barking out the window. A dog that struggles with grooming. Handling the seemingly unfounded feelings our dogs sometimes have abou...
E348: Kelly Daniel - Beyond the Basics: Getting Geeky About Fitness
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Canine Fitness is one of those topics that can become as sophisticated as you want to make it! Today Kelly and I talk about what it's like to get geek...
E347: Deb Jones, PhD, Crystal Wing & Nicole Wiebusch - How Do You Get a Focused Dog?
01 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for a panel discussion all about focus! What IS it? How do you train it? And what do we do if our dog doesn't seem to have it?
E346: Pat Stuart - The Benefits of Box Feeding
24 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Pat Stuart joins me to talk about box feeding - a method he's helped popularize! We talk about what it is and how it can be used in tr...
E345: Bronagh Daly - The Power of Agility + Control Unleashed
16 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Worried about the wheels coming off while playing the game of agility? Join Bronagh and I as we talk about the ways that Control Unleashed can help yo...
E344 - Nicole Wiebusch: Dogs Get FOMO Too
09 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have a pup that struggles to wait their turn? Nicole and I talk about the forms that FOMO (fear of missing out) can take when it comes to our dogs, ho...
E343: Ashley Escobar - Conditioning for Sports Dogs
03 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why canine conditioning matters, or why it's become so popular? In this episode Ashley and I dive into its importance for sport dogs of ...
E342: Karen Deeds - When Behavior Goes Wrong
27 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Behavior problems can wreak havoc on our lives with our dogs. So when issues occur what options are there? How do we decide which to pursue? Karen and...