E399: Sara Brueske, Irith Bloom, Kim Palermo, and Sophie Liu, DVM - "A Look at Barky Lungey Dogs"

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 matters what emotions are driving the behavior, and what you might want to consider if your goals are to compete. 

Continue reading
  261 Hits
261 Hits

E398: Janice Gunn - "Stand Your Dog: Teaching the Stand for Competition Obedience"

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 for competition obedience.

Continue reading
  1119 Hits
1119 Hits

E397: Canine Sports Medicine Vets with Drs. David Lane and Chris Zink

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 included within the canine sports medicine umbrella, how to find a specialist, and where you can learn more.

Continue reading
  658 Hits
658 Hits

E396: Petra Ford - "Engagement that Holds Up in the Competition Ring"

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 competition ring. 

Continue reading
  1187 Hits
1187 Hits

Got FOMO? Adding a Second Dog in Training

Adding a second dog to FOMO (fear of missing out) training is no easy task. It requires patience, consistency, and careful attention to your dog's emotional state. One key part of overcoming FOMO is ensuring your dog has solid stationing skills before introducing any distractions. Once your dog is comfortable staying in one spot and can handle being left alone without anxiety, you can begin incorporating a second dog into the training session.

Continue reading
  849 Hits
849 Hits

E395: Julie Flanery - "Gamifying Training for Your Dog"

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, attention and... joy!  

Continue reading
  737 Hits
737 Hits

Why Rally Training is the Ultimate Foundation for All Dog Sports—and Beyond

If you're involved in dog sports or looking to strengthen your bond with your dog, rally training might be the perfect fit. Whether you're dreaming of agility titles, excelling in obedience competitions, or simply wanting a well-behaved pet, rally training lays a solid foundation for achieving your goals. Let's explore why this versatile sport is beneficial for every dog and handler team—regardless of their goals and aspirations.

Continue reading
  1151 Hits
1151 Hits

E394: Bronagh Daly - "Control Unleashed for Agility"

 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 Bronagh and I talk about how to create that "thinking brain" even when exciting, overwhelming or intimidating things are happening around our dogs!  Transcript Melissa Breau: This is Meliss...
Continue reading
  1168 Hits
1168 Hits

Lessons Forged in the Palisades Fire of January 2025

On Tuesday, January 7, 2025, a brush fire – dubbed the Palisades Fire since it started along Palisades Drive – broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, just a few miles from my home. This wasn't a unique occurrence; brush fires happen around Los Angeles every year, and there have been small fires in Pacific Palisades before. But conditions conspired to grow the Palisades Fire in a way I've never seen in the nearly 25 years I have lived in the area.

Within a few hours, another fire, dubbed the Eaton Fire, had erupted in the Altadena area. Now two communities on opposite sides of the city were threatened. Worse yet, unusually strong Santa Ana winds that were gusting at up to 80 mph (roughly 130 kph) made fighting the fires basically impossible.
Continue reading
  2345 Hits
2345 Hits

E393: Jerri Scherff - "Becoming An Influencer: Sailor Jerri's Story"

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 the FDSA podcast! If you aren't already following her, you'll want to by the time you finish listening.  

Continue reading
  786 Hits
786 Hits

E392: Aleks Woodroffe, Julie Symons, Kayla Dever, & Stacy Barnett - Know the Nose 2

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 known sooner about nosework, as well as how they tailor their training and handling to the dog in front of them. 

Continue reading
  1756 Hits
1756 Hits

E391 - Karen Deeds: The Pieces to Creating Peace At Home

Karen and I talk about how she uses a settle behavior in her behavior work and what it means to have a harmonious household.  

Continue reading
  1996 Hits
1996 Hits

E390: Denise Fenzi - Setting Training Goals & The Evolution of Circle Walking

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 the near year! 

Continue reading
  2033 Hits
2033 Hits

E389: The One Day Conference Spectacular

In honor of our current sale, we're bringing back highlights from several previous conversations on choosing your sport puppies, dealing with adolescence, what it means to have a confident dog and what it means to have a high drive dog... and combining them for one final takeaway. 

Continue reading
  1000 Hits
1000 Hits

E388: Julie Symons - The Benefits of Nosework & How to Get Started

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 your nosework dog's performance. 

Continue reading
  1635 Hits
1635 Hits

Why Do Dogs Disconnect? Understanding and Addressing the Challenges

Maintaining a strong connection with your dog during training is essential for success, but even the best-behaved dogs can lose focus. Sometimes, the reasons are obvious—a loud noise or a tempting scent—but other times, disconnection feels like a mystery. No matter the cause, identifying why your dog is disengaging is the first step toward finding a solution.

Throughout this blog, we'll explore the most common reasons dogs disconnect and actionable strategies to address each issue. These topics will be explored in my upcoming class, Connect and Engage with Games: Build Focus for Sports Dogs. Through the class, we'll dive even deeper into these challenges, equipping you with games and tools to keep your dog engaged and focused. 

Continue reading
  1876 Hits
1876 Hits

E387: Bronagh Daly - "Breaking Down Agility Handling for Your Dog"

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 about handling clearly and training your dog to optimize that clarity. 

Continue reading
  1843 Hits
1843 Hits

Building Confidence for the AKC Rally Master Class

The AKC Rally Master Class brings exciting challenges, testing the handler and dog with intricate maneuvers, distractions, and complex behaviors. For many teams, the key to success is building the dog's confidence to handle the complexity and maintain focus in the ring. A confident dog is a focused and eager teammate, ready to tackle every sign enthusiastically. Let's explore how to build and sustain that confidence in your dog. 

Continue reading
  1732 Hits
1732 Hits

E386: Sara Brueske - "Training A Stunt Dog"

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 training big moves — what to think about, how to break them down, and what you need to consider to keep both you and your dog safe. 

Continue reading
  1308 Hits
1308 Hits

E385: Nancy Gagliardi Little - What it Takes to Prepare to Compete

Need a strategy for getting reinforcement off your body? Wondering what other skills you should have on board before that first competition? In this episode Nancy and I talk about all of the pieces that go into preparing our dogs to perform their best.

Continue reading
  1499 Hits
1499 Hits

By accepting you will be accessing a service provided by a third-party external to https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/