webinars & WOrkshops - scroll down for dates and topics

USD $19.95 each

Registration link: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - Buy Webinar 

Part 1 - Concepts and Overview

Part 2 - Case Studies / Specific Examples 

 When we train our dogs, we are constantly asking them to solve puzzles. We are asking them to connect the dots between the cue (context cue or human initiated verbal / visual cue), their subsequent behavior (action), and the reinforcement. As our dog becomes more confident about the connection between these elements, they can respond more rapidly and with improved accuracy.  During the learning process there will be moments of frustration and confusion. Typical dogs deal with small amounts of frustration and confusion in a way that helps them find a solution to the puzzle. This leads to the dog attaining reinforcement, which results in them putting in the same or greater effort on future learning-oriented tasks.  Atypical dogs however do not respond in the same way. For a range of underlying reasons, the training puzzle itself may cause an excessive spike in arousal in these dogs. This is commonly referred to as the dog “stressing down” or “stressing up” depending on the observable behaviors. “Stressing down” behaviors may include shutting-down, stalling, looking away, appearing disinterested, freezing, moving slowly, or performing avoidance, escape, appeasement, or displacement behaviors. “Stressing up” behaviors may include barking at the human or at the task, whining, performing rapid sequences of random un-cued behaviors, anticipating cues, spinning, doing zoomies, lacking focus, and attempting to guess at the solution with little thought.  Beyond training pressures, these dogs may also struggle more than usual with environmental pressures. All dogs need a certain amount of desensitization and distraction training in order to successfully function in bigger environments, but the atypical dog may be extremely aware of stimuli in the environment. This requires additional training steps and more detailed monitoring.  

In “Part One” webinar we discuss: 

• The underlying factors that contribute to the development of an atypical dog, including genetic traits and the impact of prior learning. 

• Ways to identify the difference between a simple training gap, and a more complex problem. 

• When to use classical conditioning versus operant conditioning. 

• Methods for measuring the proportional impact the environment is having on our dog’s behavior. 

We also look at a range of solutions that can create a more focused, happier, and more consistently successful training partner. 

 In “Part Two” webinar we look at a wide range of specific examples from a variety of different sports. Including: 

• Object retrieve (moving slowly, displacement sniffing at the object before picking up or instead of picking up, dropping the object or stalling on the return) 

• Retrieving incorrect articles in scent article exercises or in directed retrieves. 

• False alerts and missed hides in nose work. 

• Arcing in straight line exercises such as recalls or retrieves. 

• Breaking start line stays in agility. 

• Missing position change cues at a distance. 

• Inconsistency, slowing, stalling, or avoidance in weave poles. 

• Needing repeated cues or wandering off during rally, obedience, agility. 

• Performing zoomies or “visiting” ring crew, judges, stewards, spectators, other dogs during training / competing. 

• Hesitating on the approach to contacts or blowing through contacts in agility. 

• And more! 

For each example we discuss the varied reasons these behaviors may occur, along with solutions for resolving these issues. 

USD $19.95

Registration link: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - Buy Webinar 

Whether you’re traveling with your pet dog, or traveling to classes and competitions with your sport dog, the trip is more pleasant if your dog is relaxed.

Some dogs, however, really struggle to remain calm during travel. They may whine, pant, bark, pace, spin, lunge at the windows, scratch / bite at the crate door, or just appear restless or uncomfortable.

In this webinar we look at all the underlying reasons that can affect your dog’s behavior when traveling. We also discuss behavior modification and management strategies aimed at improving the journey for you and your dog.

For many dogs, these same behaviors don’t stop when the journey ends. They may exit the vehicle with so much emotion and arousal that they are unable to focus on their human. So, in this webinar we also look at strategies for producing calm behaviors when arriving and setting up at a new venue.

Key areas covered include:

• Getting in and out of the vehicle in a relaxed way.
• Traveling calmly.
• Producing calm behaviors when arriving and acclimating in new locations.
• Calm crating / stationing at new venues.

Working spots: SOLD OUT

Auditing spots available until 15 August - USD$65

More information and registration available at:  Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - BH240: Working with Reactive and Hyper-aroused Dogs 

USD$19.95 

Registration link:  Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - Buy Webinar 

Some dogs just don’t appear to be enthusiastic about training. This may present as a lack of enthusiasm for all training related activities, or it may be specific to a certain sport or individual task (e.g. dumbbell retrieve). In some cases, the dog may even appear to lose interest in training after a period of what appeared to be enthusiastic, engaged work.

The observable behaviors may include:

• Responding slowly to cues, needing repeated cues, or stopping responding altogether.
• Leaving you or the training area during a session.
• Avoiding eye contact with you or the task.
• Engaging in displacement behaviors such as sniffing the ground during an active training session.
• Developing a reluctance to join you at the start of a training session.

In this webinar we discuss common reasons why these behaviors may occur, including:

• Feeling fearful, anxious, frustrated, or conflicted.
• Physical limitations.
• Low levels of mental stamina.
• Sensitivity to making mistakes.
• Sensitivity to changes in the environment.
• Impact of prior learning history.

Most importantly, we also discuss simple strategies to put the enthusiasm back into the training process, for both the dog and the human!

Panelists:

Kamal Fernandez

Denise Fenzi

Sharon Carroll

Hosted by: Amy Cook

Link to bio of each panelist: https://thelemonadeconference.com/presentation/lunch-panel-day-3/

FREE EVENT - This lunchtime discussion will be streamed via Facebook Live on the event’s Facebook page, free and publicly available, even to those not paying to attend the conference. Discussing the differences between drive and arousal, and what is normal, vs what is… NOT. 

This presentation will be delivered Friday 7 May at 6pm (Pacific Time - USA) at The Lemonade Conference. The Lemonade Conference is a organized by the IAABC and FDSA. The full schedule of speakers and topics is available here  https://thelemonadeconference.com/schedule/

Registration is USD$229.

When we refer to a dog going “over threshold,” we are referring to the point at which the dog transitions from high arousal, into a state where the thinking part of the brain is dulled, and the dog’s behavior becomes driven almost exclusively by instinct and emotion.

One of the features of going “over threshold” is that the dog will lose the ability to follow the owner’s cues. It is important to recognize that the dog is not choosing to ignore you when this happens, it is simply impossible for the dog to respond to your cues in this state.

Hyper-arousal itself is not a bad thing, it is a necessary and normal response to a life-threatening situation. In our domestic dogs however, we often see ineffective habituation, as well as anxiety and perception issues, leading to exaggerated responses to non-life-threatening stimuli. We also see non-fear-based emotions, such as frustration and excitement leading to this same state.

Repeatedly reaching a hyper-aroused state in response to non-life-threatening stimuli is unhealthy. It also poses a potential safety risk to other dogs and/or people. This is because one of the primary issues with a dog entering a hyper-aroused state is the risk for tipping into aggression or provoking aggressive behaviors in another dog.

In this presentation we discuss stressors, arousal, and what it really means to go “over threshold.” We also discuss training and management strategies for dogs with arousal issues.

Working Spots - SOLD OUT. Auditing spots USD$29.95 

Registration link:  Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - WW231: April 18- Behavior Modification for Reactivity 

Many dogs react to stimuli in a way that we perceive as inappropriate or extreme. This often occurs when on leashed walks. The stimulus may be a jogger, a cyclist, a skateboarder, another dog, or a novel object. Frequently the response is intensified with increased movement or noise, decreased distance, or the sudden appearance of the stimulus. There may even appear to be an element of unpredictability in the dog’s response.  For some dogs “leash reactivity” can look like intense focus, followed by strong pulling, growling, and barking; sometimes it is more of an active version with leaping, lunging, and darting at the end of the leash; sometimes there is ambivalence; and sometimes the dog appears fine and then suddenly lunges at the last moment.  Although we often use the umbrella term “leash reactivity”, the underlying emotions and motivations driving the behaviors frequently differ. These can include such driving forces as genetic traits associated with owner guarding, intolerance to unknown dogs, strong desire to chase, or a generalized hypervigilance. Fear and anxiety are also common causes. Even simple over-arousal due to excitement or frustration can result in this type of response.  In this workshop we will learn how to methodically replace the dog’s existing behavior with a more relaxed and thinking alternative. We will also discuss when and how to use management protocols and distraction techniques.  This protocol is effective not only for leash reactivity, but also for any situation where an identifiable stimulus (visual or auditory) causes over-arousal due to fear, anxiety, excitement, or frustration.   

 USD$19.95 

Registration link:  Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - Buy Webinar 

You train regularly but competing still seems like a distant dream, or maybe you’ve already ventured out to compete, but it didn’t go as well as you had hoped. Don’t get disheartened………. you CAN turn your training efforts into competition success!

In this webinar we discuss all the pieces needed to successfully bridge the gap between training and competing:

• Building duration.
• Developing your dog’s confidence.
• Working with distractions.
• Working without treats / toys.
• Conducting an objective assessment to determine when your dog is ready to compete.

Your dog’s skills are only one part of the equation, so we also discuss what the human needs to bring to the competition partnership, including:

• Effective goal setting.
• Strategies for controlling emotions when training and competing.
• Planning a successful competition day.
• Constructive analysis of competition performance.

If you would like to transition from trainer to successful competitor, then this webinar is for you.

The information in this presentation is applicable to all dog sports.