Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - EL800: Unlock Your Handling Potential: Handler Fitness 101

Course Details

Are you done with struggling to keep up with your active dog during competitions or in life? Do you want to improve your scores and have more fun? Are you looking for a way to give back to yourself AND multitask to elevate your dog sport(s)?

During the next six weeks, you will need to dedicate 30-40 minutes of your time two to three times a week. You will also need to perform daily mobility exercises lasting 3-6 minutes. Our goal is to improve your strength in areas where it is most needed, so that you can confidently step to the line, so to say.

This is a "couch to 5 km" equivalent course that is geared towards beginner and intermediate levels, including beginners with no prior experience. As a working student, you can submit videos for feedback, which will be kind, supportive, effective, and encouraging. The community values compassion and support, and Liz ensures that everyone is taken care of.

Unlock Your Handling Potential is a program aimed at enhancing your handling skills in dog sports by integrating strength and mobility training into your daily routine. Through this course, you will develop greater stamina and resilience to keep up with your dog, leading to improved scores and overall success in your performance.

By incorporating mobility work into your routine, you can not only become a more skilled handler, but also prevent injuries and recover more quickly. Improved mobility is often the key component that many handlers overlook, but trust me, it can greatly enhance your daily well-being.

But it's not just about physical strength - mental toughness and focus are essential for success in dog sports. Working through the achievable challenges in the course will teach you to maintain focus during competitions and overcome obstacles.

This course will take your handling to the next level. Join me and start your journey to becoming a stronger handler!

Teaching Approach

The class is mostly taught through videos with minimal written lectures. Lectures are released at the start of each week. Your new workout will enhance the skills and strength acquired from the previous week. These workouts will be accessible through the app or in lecture format.

The instructional videos that demonstrate correct form in detail are 20-60 seconds long and include clear visual demonstrations and voice-over narration for easy viewing.

Liz's app is available for the course that students can use. The program is easy to follow and has an 8-week app access period for complete course completion. All necessary material, including videos and workouts, will be available in lecture format and can be accessed in your library.

There are adaptations for common physical handler issues. Gold students will have the opportunity to work with Liz to refine the exercise selection should anything be an issue. Feedback will be given in both voice over video and written format.

Liz Joyce with dog Guest Instructor: Liz Joyce

Syllabus

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WEEK 1

This first week there is a big focus on glutes in multiple movement patterns. You will begin to introduce stabilizing while lifting weights in some fun ways. You will also find relevant core work.

You will begin your mobility plan. This first week we are working on 30-60 holds of stretches so we can build as much range as quickly as possible.

You’re going to go learn, and possibly review, how to engage your muscles and begin to pattern good movement. We will bring this increased awareness into your workouts.

WEEK 2

We are going to be increasing the challenge with heavier band tensions. This is going to build balance for you in a way that will make your body responsive and agile. Think of quick recovery from stepping into holes or having to get out of the way of your dog. I don't know anything about that ;)

Your mobility plan will become more customized as we figure out which stretches are applicable to you. We are still working on those 30-60 sec holds to build the mobility you need to get the most out of this course.

WEEK 3

Your leg strengthening work has more split stance movements like step ups. Whenever you run you've got only one foot on the ground at a time so step ups and the like are very important.

We will introduce a couple of complex movements, more than one muscle group at a time, which bring coordination into the picture in a fun and achievable way. You will feel so proud of yourself when you get this balance!

WEEK 4

The core work is focused on stabilizing both the pelvis and back to give you a strong and balanced body. It gets worked in in transferrable ways to dog handling, like tugging, bracing against leash pulling, carrying a heavier item in one hand and running with your dog.

We will discuss the difference between stretching styles this week. Your split stance strengthening, like step ups, will have additional movement added so your balance is going to improve quickly with these achievable challenges.

WEEK 5

We are bringing the lessons and work from weeks 1-4 together. Your experience will be fun movements you're already familiar with! This week the work is highly transferable and will continue to be more so, for dog handling.

We will continue to build on the lessons above. Bracing and stabilizing the trunk. Building strong glutes, they are the foundation of so much. Developing balance so you've always got your feet under you and are agile.

WEEK 6

We are adding some plyometric movement into the mix this week. That just means the body leaves the surface it's on momentarily. This is the beginning steps of plyometric work, it will be inserted thoughtfully with options for people that find that landing too hard on their bodies.

Prerequisites & Supplies

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Essential equipment:

Band set (Similar to this one)
Dumbbell sets of 5, 10, 15. You may choose lighter or heavier depending on current strength level.
Yoga mat or similar.
Sturdy item to step on like a dining chair or Klimb.

Space requirements are the size of a yoga mat. The workouts are designed to be 30-40 mins two or three times per week, mobility training daily is 3-6 mins.

Sample Lecture

During the first week, I suggest dedicating 5 minutes each day to exploring the Foundations section of this course. Completing each task will ensure that you perform the exercises correctly and with maximum effectiveness.

Whether you're encountering all of the foundation exercises for the first time or some of them are already familiar to you, it's not necessary to do each task daily. However, it's highly recommended to practice daily to enhance your neural pathways for the best possible muscle recruitment.

To achieve the best results during your workouts, it is recommended that you apply the techniques learned in Foundations. Take time to focus on the specific muscles you want to target and make a conscious effort to engage them, rather than just going through the motions.

During the initial two weeks, your primary focus should be on developing and honing your movement control. You will make faster progress by focusing on proper form and maximizing your muscle recruitment.

Below are a sample of the Foundations covered.

Testimonials & Reviews

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

I loved this class! Liz is so positive and supportive and the use of her app helped give a good structure to workouts. I have never been a person to do formal workouts, especially at a gym, so this format worked so well for me. I have noticed a big change in my strength and mobility already! This is now a habit that I will be continuing with. Please offer a part two or more classes!

Liz is AMAZING!!! I loved everything about this course, even though I only took it at bronze. Usually I have a bad habit of being less committed throughout the 6 weeks (especially at bronze) but with the use of the app, I was just as determined (maybe more!) on the last day as the first. I was looking for something to jump start my fitness routine and this was EXACTLY what I needed. THANK YOU!!!!!

Liz was a fabulous coach with such positive feedback and a way to make the material work for everyone. I really enjoyed getting stronger over 6 weeks and look forward to doing more!

I am a couch potato that you brought to enjoy working out. I accomplished over 30 workouts (I skipped some stretches, because they were the same every day and I was afraid to start workout 5 - 6, but I actually liked it). Thank you so much, I don't know yet in what form I will keep it up, but I have really come to enjoy what the workouts did for my body and I want more! The videos were extremely helpful, thank you for the most important class I took at FDSA.

Very good class! Liz was a wonderful instructor. Her video feedback was detailed and also highly encouraging at the same time. The app that we used for the class was user friendly and helpful to help you keep track of your progress and served as a "checklist" to give you clarity on what to do. Liz's answers to questions were also clear and easily understood. Her encouragement helped me stay with the class for the entire 6 weeks.

Liz is a fabulous instructor. She gave very detailed feedback on the student videos. She was patient, kind, and very helpful. I am very experienced at lifting weights and working out. I learned a lot from this class. But it is also a great course for a beginner.

Liz's feedback to the Gold students was SO good - using the Loom video format really helped the feedback make sense. Her positivity and encouragement to each and every student I'm sure gave them a boost. Really liked the app for working through the workouts.

This course was great! Liz was a phenomenal instructor. The video instruction for each exercise was thorough and concise. Liz's written feedback and feedback via Loom was detailed, encouraging and will be a great ongoing resource in addition to the coursework itself. I would highly recommend this course no matter your level of fitness, physical issues, etc. Thank you Liz for a great fitness journey.

Being a relatively new mom when this course started, I was amazed that I could combine physical fitness with postpartum physio. The videos were comprehensive enough that I could self-adjust my posture and remind myself to pull up my pelvic floor prior to engaging other muscles. My body feels healthy and strong for my dog and kids. I think I’m in better shape now than I was before pregnancy, even though I had a fitness regime then, too. It’s amazing what your body can accomplish when you train it properly. Work smart, not hard :) Thank you so much for this awesome course!

The most bang for the buck of any course I’ve taken! Incredible value, sustainable practice, and noticeable results. Couldn’t be more pleased. And at bronze level!

Registration

Next session starts: February 1, 2025
Registration starts: January 22, 2025
Registration ends: February 15, 2025

Registration opens at 10:30am Pacific Time.

EL800 Subscriptions

	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tuition	$ 260.00	$ 130.00	$ 65.00
Enrollment Limits	15	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.

EL800: Unlock Your Handling Potential: Handler Fitness 101

Course Details

Teaching Approach

Gold

Silver

Bronze