Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast
Episodes
E341: Janice Gunn - "Maintaining Connection in the Obedience Ring"
19 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week Janice Gunn joins me to talk about how she evolved her finger follow method to encourage connection while competing in obedience — from ri...
E340: Kayla Dever - Balancing Trialing and Training
12 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me for a conversion with Kayla Dever as she shares her story - starting in the service dog world, evolving in flyball, and now hosting and compet...
E339: What is a Confident Dog, Anyway? with Dr. Amy Cook, Julie Daniels, Petra Ford, and Sara Brueske
05 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In preparation for the upcoming confident dog conference at FDSA, I invited 4 of the presenters for the conference on the podcast to talk about what c...
E338: Preparing Young Sports Dogs for Competition (Part 2)
03 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Megan Foster, Stacy Barnett, Barbara Lloyd, and Hélène Lawler for a continuation of our conversation about preparing young sports dogs to c...
E338: Preparing Young Sports Dogs for Competition (Part 1)
31 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Megan Foster, Stacy Barnett, Barbara Lloyd, and Hélène Lawler for a conversation about preparing young sports dogs to compete - including t...
E337: Lucy Newton - Follow That Track!
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Looking for another way you can teach your dog to use his nose? In this episode Lucy and I talk about teaching your dog to track! Join us to learn a l...
E336: Jennifer Summerfield, DVM - Gut Health and Your Dog
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Microbiome and gut health has become a hot topic in recent years — join Dr. Jen and I to talk about what you need to know about your dog's digestive...
E335: Petra Ford - Getting Started on Competition Heelwork
02 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Petra and I talk about what it takes to get really pretty heelwork — namely, position, a good focal point, and strong engagement skills.
E334: Irith Bloom - What is Arousal?
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Irith and I dive deep into what arousal is, what it means, and what we can do about it. Irith breaks down both the science and the pra...
E333: Julie Symons - Lost Item Recovery
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Come learn all about this new nosework game! Julie and I chat about what's involved, how to get started, and answer some of the most frequently asked ...
E332: Laurie Huston - Teaching Commitment in Agility
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What can commitment do for your agility team? Laurie and I chat about what it means and the difference it can make when playing the game!
E331: Megan Foster, Julie Daniels, Amy Cook, and Erin Lynes on Adolescent Dogs
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In prepping for the Adolescent Dogs One Day Conference, we brought on a number of the presenters and panelists to chat about what changes we see durin...
E330: Shade Whitesel - "From Toy Skills to a Formal Retrieve"
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Shade Whitesel joins me to talk about how fluent toy play skills allow for more two-way communication during training, and how toy skills can be used...
E329: Amy Cook, PhD - "Thresholds and Decision Making with a Reactive Dog"
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is a threshold? Does it matter? Join Amy and I for a fascinating discussion on how what we know can impact or enable our choices when we're out w...
E328: Megan Foster - "Building & Maintaining Your Agility Startline Stay"
10 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do position changes have to do with maintaining a startline stay? Join Megan and I as we chat about teaching and maintaining your startline... ev...
E327: Jennifer Henion - "R+ Training for Retriever Hunt Tests"
03 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jennifer Henion joins me on the podcast today for a conversation about hunt tests — what they are, how she wound up focused on them, and managing th...
E326: Hélène Lawler - Start Buttons, Stop Buttons, and Arousal, Oh My!
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Hélène joins me to talk about the power of start buttons, stop buttons, and arousal checks when training our dog sport behaviors... and our life ski...
E325: Deb Jones, PhD - "Canine Cooperative Care"
12 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Have a problem when you want to do your dog's nails? Or maybe for you it's some other aspect of grooming or vet care! In this episode Deb and I talk a...
E324: Other Dog Sports with Melissa Breau, Hélène Lawler, and Sara Brueske
05 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join Teri Martin, Melissa Breau, Hélène Lawler and Sara Brueske for a conversation about the "other" dog sports offered at FDSA — treibball, herdi...
E323: Nancy Gagliardi Little - "Startlines Under Stress"
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when your agility startline breaks down? Whether your dog is the type to anticipate their release, stress sniff, freeze, or leave the l...
E322: Liz Joyce - Fitness for Your End of the Leash
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've thought about leveling up your personal fitness level so you can be a better dog sports competitor, but have been consumed by "yeah buts" (y...
E321: Tracey McLennan - "Studying Prey Drive"
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is prey drive anyway? Tracey McLennan has spent years studying prey drive in our canine companions and this week she joined me to talk about what...
E320: Julie Flanery - "Learning to Love Heelwork"
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Julie joins me to talk about the importance of building enthusiasm into your heelwork right from the start, and how to avoid (or overcome!) training p...
E319: The Truth About High Drive Dogs
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Join me, Crystal Wing, Denise Fenzi, Hélène Lawler and Jane Ardern — all presenters in the upcoming High Drive Dog Conference — for a honest con...
E318: Aleks Woodroffe - "Canine Massage for the Sports Dog"
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I interview Canine Bodyworker and Scent Work Trainer Aleks Woodroffe on the benefits and application of canine massage for our sports dogs.
E317: Petra Ford - "Fit for Obedience"
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The level of fitness a dog needs to do well in obedience is often overlooked - but the level of core work and conditioning required for obedience exer...
E316: Michael Shikashio - "When Housemates Fight"
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's rarely talked about — but intra-household dog-dog aggression is more common than many realize. Join me and Michael Shikashio for a deep dive in...
Sara Brueske - Making the Most of the Summer
03 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Traveling with your pup this summer? Looking for other fun activities to capitalize on the awesome summer weather? Sara and I talk about preparing to...
Amy Cook, PhD - Sound Sensitivity & Managing Reactivity
28 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amy joins me for a conversation on managing life with a reactive dog, recognizing the early signs of sound sensitivity... and more!
E313: Julie Daniels and Sharon Carroll - "The Science & Strategy Behind Raising Adolescent Dogs"
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What should you expect when that perfect puppy reaches adolescence? What's "normal" and what deserves another look and more consideration? Sharon and ...
E312: Karen Deeds - "An Integrated Approach to Reactivity"
13 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of different approaches to dealing with reactivity — but how do you choose between them? How can you combine them? Can you combine th...
E311: Erin Lynes, Megan Foster & Shade Whitesel on Puppies!
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Thinking about your next sports dog puppy? Join us for a conversation on choosing your next puppy, what skills to start out with (depending on your sp...
Kelly Daniel - Fitness for Performance
30 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Years of competition led Kelly to a focus on fitness — join us as we talk about her journey in this new podcast episode!
E309: Crystal Wing - "FUNctional Obedience"
22 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Crystal shares the story of how she ended up doing bitey sports and Search and Rescue, and then gives us a sneak-peek at what she plans to cover in he...
E308: Chrissi Schranz - From Free Roaming Dogs to Recalls
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chrissi joins me for this episode to talk about their recent adventures and observations — and to talk about training a recall that will stand up ev...
E307: Stacy Barnett - Understanding Airflow in Nosework
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Most people know heat can impact air flow — but what else can impact where odor pools and how it moves? Join me and Stacy for a discussion on everyt...
E306: Erin Lynes - "Shed Antler Hunting with Your Canine"
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Searching for and retrieving antlers — either as a pursuit in the wild or for competition — is one of the fastest growing activities that appeals ...
E305: Shade Whitesel - Raising A Pushy Puppy
24 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's raising a puppy... and then there is raising a pushy, drivey sports dog puppy. In this episode Shade and I talk about her experience raising b...
E304: Petra Ford - Confidence for the Obedience Dog
18 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Being able to successfully compete in obedience requires a dog who has a confident understanding of each skill and exercise. In this episode Petra an...
E303: Deb Jones, PhD - Grief, Focus, and Negative Reinforcement
10 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Deb and I chat about her latest book, currently running workshop, and upcoming webinar... and yes, it really is possible to build better focus in just...
E302: Diamond in the Ruff: Loving and Living with Sensitive Dogs
04 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Living with and loving a sensitive dog comes with pros and cons, lessons and blessings. This week Hélène Lawler, Barbara Lloyd, Amy Cook, PhD, and D...
E301: Chris Zink, DVM - "What Your Dog's Gait Can Tell You"
24 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why is trotting the most important gait to teach your dog? Dr. Chris Zink and I talk about why understanding gaiting is critical for the dog sports ha...
E300: Mari Valgma - Teaching Your Dog to Move"
17 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes dogs totally grasp our criteria - they just can't do the thing we're asking at speed. Mari and I talk about how she works with dogs to teach...
E299: Julie Daniels - Every Baby's a Genius
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Can you create an optimistic dog? How DO you get to know a new puppy? What are the first steps to teaching quiet crating? Julie Daniels and I discuss ...
E298: Nicole Wiebusch and Petra Ford - "Proofing for Performance"
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole Wiebsuch and Petra Ford joined me to talk about what goes into training fluency that will hold up under the pressures of competition.
E297: Julie Flanery - "Shape Up Your Shaping"
28 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Julie and I talk about what shaping is, and how to use it effectively and efficiently... including putting behaviors under stimulus control!
E296: Working with a Dog Sports Coach
13 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Denise Fenzi, Nancy Gagliardi Little and Megan Foster join me to talk about working with a dog sports coach — the differences between a coach and a ...
E295: Laura Donaldson - "Stop and Smell the Pee Mail"
06 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Laura and I talk about how sniffing can help dogs help from trauma and how it's critical for all of our dogs — because it's one of their key senses!
E294: Dealing with Cabin Fever
31 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Heather Lawson, Julie Symons, and Ashley Escobar join me to talk about how they handle it when their dogs are stuck indoors for an extended time... an...
E293: Hélène Lawler - Big Feelings at Both Ends of the Leash
23 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When your dog has big feelings it can often inspire big feelings in you, too. In this episode, Hélène Lawler and I talk about how handlers can brin...
E292: Denise Fenzi - "Integrating Online and In Person Classes"
16 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many students take classes both online and in person — so how do you make the most of both options and integrate both into your training?
E291: Lucy Newton - "Foundations of Tracking"
11 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy and I chat about the skills your dog needs to hone to learn to track, and she answers that frequently asked question: Can you dog do both nosewor...
E290: Erin Lynes - "Keeping Senior Dogs Fit"
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As our dogs age their needs and preferences change; Erin and I talk about what it takes to keep senior dogs fit in mind and body, and how to decide wh...
E289: Kellie Snider - "Constructional Aggression Treatment"
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kellie Snider helped develop the Constructional Aggression Treatment as part of her thesis in grad school — today, she joins me on the podcast to ta...
E288: Sara Brueske - "Teaching Toy Play with Food"
18 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can you, should you, teach toy play with food? Sara's answer is a resounding yes — in this episode we talk about why and how.
E287 - Jennifer Summerfield, DVM - "Canine Pancreatitis & Behavior Disorders"
11 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Jen joins me this week to talk about the growing awareness of chronic canine pancreatitis and for a discussion on behavior disorders in our dogs.
E286: Nicole Levesque - "When Handler Health Impacts Dog Training"
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole joins me to share her inspiring story and how she's handled health setbacks in her multi-dog, competitive agility household... including how sh...
E285: Petra Ford - "For Better or Worse: Sticking with Training"
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Training and trialing with our dogs isn't always easy — Petra and I talk about how to handle it when errors happen, and what it's like to stick with...
E284: Megan Foster and Liz Joyce - "Increasing Your Handling Options for Agility"
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today Megan and Liz join me to talk about the role of handler fitness, handler skill building, and contact behaviors in agility!
E283: Deb Jones - "The Art of Impulse Control"
19 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's the difference between impulse control and stimulus control? What about when we throw "zen" behaviors into the mix? Deb and I talk about all th...
E282: Loretta Mueller - Creating a More Responsive Dog
12 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Loretta and I talk about what it takes to create the balance needed for a responsive agility dog — including how to rehab things!
E281: Andrea Harrison - "The Human End of the Leash"
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Andrea and I as we talk about how to recover when things go wrong — whether that means a bad training session or a bad trial!
E280: Sarah Stremming - "Helping Our Dogs to be Their Best Selves"
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Sarah and I talk about the common thread that seems to run through everything she teaches — the idea of loving the dog you have, whi...
E279: Dr. Kristina Spaulding & Irith Bloom - "Stress and Agency: Building a More Resilient Dog"
22 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding the role stress plays in training and living with our canine partners is essential to optimizing our lives with them! Agency provides on...
E278: Julie Daniels: Learning More About Control Unleashed
15 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Have a dog with big feelings? Julie and I talk about the upcoming conference, and her journey to becoming a certified control unleashed instructor!
E277: Dr. Jennifer Summerfield - Vet Medicine Today
08 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode I chat with Jennifer Summerfield, DVM, about what it's like to be a general practice vet right now and how you can do your best for yo...
E276: Watersports with Erin Lynes & Sara Brueske
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Erin, Sara, and me for a conversation about all the ways we can play with our dogs in the water, including Paddleboarding, SUP-ing, and Dock Divi...
E275: Stacy Bols - Competing in Agility with a Little Dog
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Stacy and I talk about what it's like to compete in agility with little dogs who are not a "traditional" sports breed.
E274: Dogs with Big Feelings
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Julie Daniels, Sophie Lui, Karen Deeds, and Sharon Carroll for a chat about living with and loving dogs with big feelings — and for a sneak pee...
E273: Fundamentals for Training a Sports Dog
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Join Chrissi Schranz, Deb Jones, PhD, Julie Flanery and I for a discussion on the fundamentals of positive training — including the things most trai...
E272: Laura Waudby - "Creating a Positive CER for the Ring"
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It's never too early to begin building a positive conditioned emotional response to the ring. Laura and I discuss exactly how to go about that in th...
E271: Sara Brueske - What Does it Take to do Mondio OB?
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Sara and I talk about training for Mondio Obedience - including who can compete and how varied the trials can be!
E270: Dresden Graff - Training for the Sensitive Soul
20 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
National Agility Competitor Dresden Graff joins me to talk about his training journey and share some tips for training the see-saw when you have a mor...
E269: Amy Cook, PhD - "A Deeper Look at The Play Way"
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered how The Play Way differs from other methods for treating reactivity? Amy and I talk about how she developed the ideas from her work on ...
E268: Sharon Carroll - "When Competition Performance Falls Apart"
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Common advice is that a green dog just needs more ring experience but... is that really true? What's going on when a dog gets gradually worse the more...
E267: Ashley Escobar - Talking Canine Fitness & Cavalettis
30 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ashley and I talk about what led her to become interested in fitness and she shares why cavalettis are such a powerful tool for canine fitness.
E266: Stacy Barnett - Advancing in Nosework
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What skills do you need as you build from the basis to more advanced levels in nosework? Stacy and I talk about breaking that down and more — PLUS w...
E265: Dr. Chris Zink - Evaluating Puppy Structure
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Your dog's structure factors largely into how long they can compete in dog sports — this week Dr. Chris Zink and I talk about how to judge structure...
E264 - Petra Ford - "Thriving Under Pressure"
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Walking into the competition ring comes with pressure! Petra and I talk about how to create a positively conditioned emotional response to pressure......
E263: Denise Fenzi, Heather Lawson, Alycia Rogal, and Nicole Wiebusch - "Year 6 of TEAM + A New Program..."
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This year is the 6th anniversary of the founding of the Fenzi TEAM titles program — and we take a look at how it's grown and reveal a new, up-and-co...
E262: Simone Mueller - "Predation in Dogs"
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Often referred to as dogs that "chase," predation in dogs can be frustrating — Simone and I talk about what's really going on and what you can do ab...
E261: Julie Symons - "The Multi-Sport Dog"
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Symons joins me to talk about nosework, obedience, and the pros and cons of training for multiple sports!
E260: Karen Deeds - "Reactive Integration: Talking about our options for reactive dogs"
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There are a ton of different methods out there for working with reactive dogs — how do you decide what to use when and with which dog? Karen and I t...
E259: Jake Schneider - "Adding Precision in Play and Balance in Bitework"
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jake Schneider joins me to talk — we discuss how to stop your dog from biting your hand instead of the toy and add value to yourself even when ther...
E258: Sara Brueske - "Teaching Toy Play with Food"
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Sara Brueske joins me to tell me why she teaches toy play with food — and all the benefits that come with it.
E257: Shade Whitesel - "Training Toy Behaviors + Shaping Heelwork"
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Shade comes on the podcast to talk about training toy behavior to create cooperative play, and the process of shaping heelwork.
E256: Marjie Alonso and Denise Fenzi on the last Lemonade Conference
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today Marjie and Denise join me to talk about what's new at this year's Lemonade Conference and why it'll be the last annual online conference.
E255: Megan Foster and Barbara Currier - "Training Agility Obstacles"
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many dogs find teeter and weaves are some of the harder agility obstacles to learn — join me, Megan, and Barbara for a conversion on how they appr...
E254: Jennifer Rogers - PAALS and Assistance Dogs
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Description: PAALS founder Jennifer Rogers joined me to talk about how she got involved in assistance dog training and what PAALS seeks to do today.
E253: Leslie McDevitt - "Have Some Latte..."
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Description: You may have heard of Look At That (LAT) but have you heard of LATTE? Leslie joins me to talk about her latest game for working with dogs...
E252: Erin Lynes - "Aged to Perfection: Living with Aging Dogs"
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Erin and I chat about what it takes to keep our aging dogs living their best lives — and how even small adjustments can make a big diff...
E251: Denise Fenzi - "FDSA in 2022"
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: In this episode I catch up with FDSA founder Denise Fenzi and share a bit about what's happening behind the scenes at the school and what...
E250: Dr. Daniel Promislow - "The Science of Aging Dogs"
19 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Dr. Daniel Promislow joins me today to share a sneak peek of his Lemonade Conference talk and share his research on aging and his work wi...
E249: Amy Cook, PhD - "3 Ways to Change"
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Amy teaches three different classes, each with a very different approach — in this episode we talk about the what and why of each.
E248: Jane Ardern - "Training the High Drive Dog"
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Jane Ardern joins me to talk about training high drive dogs, share a bit about her own gun dogs, and give us a sneak peek at her upc...
E247: Jake Schneider - "Grip Development for Bitey Sports"
27 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Today Jake and I talk about all things Bitey Sports and how being told it wasn't possible to train a dog for Mondio without the 'traditi...
E246: Heather Lawson - "Canine Good Citizens"
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Heather joins me to talk about the AKC Canine Good Citizen program — including what it takes to go from the original CGC test to the...
E245: Barb Buchmayer - "Positive Herding"
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Interested in learning more about herding - but want to approach it from a positive training perspective? Barb and I talk all about wh...
E244: Kim Brophey - "Working Toward Harmonious Cohabitation"
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Description: Kim joins me to talk about ethological contributions to behavior problems in our pet dogs, and how her L.E.G.S. system can help us look ...
E243: Laura VanArendonk Baugh - Behavior Chains
30 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
DESCRIPTION: In this episode Laura and I talk about how to build and then maintain behavior chains, and how to change those that may have been taugh...