Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - OB480: Train to Trial

Course Details

How do I get the same performance in training and in the ring? That is one of the most common challenges in competitive sports. It is something everyone struggles with. “My dog ONLY does that in the ring”.... How often have we said and heard that? The truth is, you CAN get the same dog in training and in the ring! Does your dog work well at home and in your training building, but seem to struggle at trials? Do you have a "different" dog when trialing than when training? Are you getting ready to compete and want to be sure you get the most out of your dog at the trial? This course provides you with critical skills that will improve confidence and consistency in the ring for both you and your dog. The information in this course is relevant to all competitors, from beginners to seasoned veterans.

Note: This class is suitable for multiple sports but generally most examples will be obedience-based.

Teaching Approach

This class will have written and verbal video lectures each week. There will be video examples demonstrating all exercises. Because everyone has their own learning style, I encourage students to move at their own pace. For the first few weeks, students can work in a smaller space. Later in the class, students will need access to a space large enough where they can perform a full obedience exercise, or a space that can mimic a trial setting (for example, an obedience ring which can be in your yard or a training building).

Students will need to move around with their dogs as is required for typical obedience exercises. Modifications can be made (such as sitting in a chair instead of standing and bending). I will work with you to modify the exercises to your abilities. A few of the exercises will require quick physical movement from the trainer for short periods and distances.

Instructor: Petra Ford

Petra (she/her) graduated from Rutgers School of Health Related Professions 17 years ago with a degree in physical therapy and has experience working with an extremely varied caseload including pediatric through geriatric clients with a vast range of diagnoses. Her areas of expertise included in-patient rehabilitation, orthopedics and neurology. (Click here for full bio and to view Petra's upcoming courses)

Syllabus

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Week 1: Preparation:

Performing an objective analysis
Are YOU really ready for the ring?
Handler Preparation
Mental Management
Planning
Honest assessment of your dog’s readiness
Pretrial and trial routine
Fluency
Moving reinforcer off our body

Week 2: Winning Warmups

Connection
Acclimation
Develop a tailored warmup
Same in training and trial
Different environments
Successfully handling unique environmental distractions
Managing pressure: handler
Recognizing and handling environmental pressure and distractions

Week 3: Entering the Ring

Getting to the ring
Ring entrances
Transitions
Reading and Adjusting Drive State
Handling for success

Week 4: Transitions!

Precues
Determining best transition for your dog
Using the transition to help your dog
Read and adjust on the fly
Recognizing what your dog needs to stay in optimal arousal
Managing ring nerves: dog and handler
Positive Association with judge

Week 5: Chaining

Chaining for mental endurance
Teaching dogs that no information means you are correct!

Week 6: Putting it all together

Realistic goals and expectations
Full run-through
Handling the unexpected
Fix n go

Prerequisites & Supplies

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Later in the class, students will need access to a space large enough where they can perform a full obedience exercise or a space that can mimic a trial setting (for example, an obedience ring which can be in your yard or a training building).

Sample Lecture

Objective Assessment:

Some people go in the ring too soon and have a bad experience. Either they weren’t fully prepared or their dog wasn’t. When things go awry in the ring it’s always challenging. We are limited with what we can do to help our dogs. We are often already nervous and stressed before we even enter the ring. And, of course, being human it brings a host of emotions that we would rather not deal with  Other people are so afraid of what might happen they avoid going in the ring. In both cases, a good place to start is making an objective analysis of your dog’s skills and your own skills. I’m doing that all the time. When I’m training I’m observing my dog’s skill level. Is my dog really solid on every piece of the exercise? Can my dog perform it well every time? Without “extra” help from me? Does my dog understand how to handle distractions? And can my dog work at a level that meets my criteria around distractions? Have I taught my dog how to handle pressure? Does my dog have a positive CER when exposed to pressure? How are my dog’s ring entrances and transitions. Can I string multiple exercises together without losing my dog’s attitude or focus? You also need to perform a self-analysis. Are you familiar with all the rules? Do you practice the exact same handing every time you train so it’s a habit? The large majority of handlers aide their dog when training without even realizing it. A verbal cue added to a signal, cuing the dog to reconnect, redoing a front, etc.

Do you know how to read your dog? Do you have an established warmup routine? Do you work consistently on mental management strategies? Are you familiar with the trial site? Does the site have unique characteristics that you need to be sure you expose your dog to first. For example, I trial mostly indoors. If I were to enter an outdoor trial, I would make sure to train outdoors until my dog is comfortable working outside.

Many times I’ve overheard people talking at trials “hoping” their dog would qualify. Which means the dog wasn’t rock solid in training. And if that’s the case, odds are very, very poor that the dog will “pull it off” in a trial environment. I know for a fact that if anything I’m training is not rock solid, it won’t be rock solid in the ring. That’s just the way it is. And if it happens in the ring, often I can’t do what my dog needs. We do have more options with the “Fix N Go” and I think that’s an awesome addition to obedience trials. But at the end of the day, I’d rather have it worked out before I enter the ring. Of course, often things happen in spite of great preparation. And that’s ok. That’s part of training and competition.

Take some time to reflect and make an honest assessment. If you come up with areas of weakness, that’s great. We now know what we need to focus on!

Testimonials & Reviews

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A sampling of what prior students have said about this course ...

Outstanding class. Lots of really important and effective information laid out in manner that is easy to read, listen to and understand. Detailed feedback that is dog and handler specific. Very supportive. Look forward to taking more classes from Petra.

Petra is a thoughtful and caring teacher, to both dogs and humans. I love how she kept reminding us, over and over, that we need to think of how overwhelming this must be to the dogs if this stuff feels overwhelming to US! I also love how thorough she is; she leaves nothing to chance in training, and her picture is so clear with her dogs that she can then make that picture clear to her students. I LOVED this class. I'll take anything Petra teaches, anytime.

One of my favorite classes! I will be incorporating the many helpful ideas into my training, and I feel that my dog and I will be much better prepared when we're ready to trial than we would have been otherwise.

This course was excellent! The instructor actually TRIALS in what she teaches, which is HUGE!!! Working knowledge of how trials run and what's expected; what judges look for, what the dog needs and looks for as well as what the handler needs to prepare for the trial - all of this is of greater value than anything that can be learned by lecture alone. Perfect! Everything was perfect as well as perfectly timed, since the trial world is opening up. It would be GREAT if there was a follow up course offered as well. I'd sign up for it at Gold in a New York minute!

This course was thorough and detailed. The instructions were clear and easy to follow. Since I am a visual learner, the videos were perfect! You covered everything to set us up for success!!! You are a gifted teacher & coach! Thank you for offering such important courses at Fenzi Dog Sports Academy.

Petra's course material and videos are very clear and well presented making complex topics easy to understand. This course has been very valuable to me and my dog and we are enjoying already going into trials better prepared and feeling more confident. Thank you Petra!

I have a very exuberant dog who loves to bolt into the ring and leave me as I transition to the next exercise. Petra taught me how to manage his exuberance with controlled ring entrances and focused transitions, and by the end of the class, with Petra's guidance, he was glued to my leg as we moved from exercise to exercise. We are still a work in progress but I feel that I know what to do as we continue our training.

For me this course was an eye opener in both reading my dog and fine tuning my handling, being a supportive member of the team. The course brought back the joy in obedience for me and my dog. Petra's answers to posted videos were timely, detailed and written with empathy and sometimes with a bit of humour 😊.

Confession-I am a Petra fangirl! And I know I am not the only one. I have taken every single 6 wk class at GOLD or SILVER and every single workshop(working) and webinar. If I need to say more…Petra is a great instructor! She has lots of demo videos. If that does not make sense, she will explain it and even make another video to help clarify. Her feedback is spot on – Petra has helped me clean up MY handling and methods which has helped clarify for my dog immeasurably. And finally, she gets us to work on the Human end of the leash. Mechanics, routine and mental game. How can we expect our dogs to be perfect if we don’t fix up our end?

Registration

Next session starts: April 1, 2025
Registration starts: March 22, 2025
Registration ends: April 15, 2025

Registration opens at 11:30am Pacific Time.

OB480 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	12	25	Unlimited
Access all course lectures and materials	✔	✔	✔
Access to discussion and homework forums	✔	✔	✔
Read all posted questions and answers	✔	✔	✔
Watch all posted videos	✔	✔	✔
Post general questions to Discussion forum	✔	✔	✖
Submit written assignments	✔	✖	✖
Post dog specific questions	✔	With video only	✖
Post videos	✔	Up to 2	✖
Receive instructor feedback on	Questions All videos	Questions All videos	✖

Find more details, refund policies and answers to common questions in the Help center.

OB480: Train to Trial

Course Details

Teaching Approach

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