Fenzi Dog Sports Academy - Course Schedule

May 1, 2026

Agility

A3002: Dynamic Running Dog Walks: From Mat to Plank

3 WEEK CLASS - Are you looking to train an independent running dog walk performance? From confident and fast straight exits to clear and proofed turns? We will be laying the groundwork for just that in this three...

Bronagh Daly(Faculty)

Behavior

B3002: Fighting at Home? Teach Dogs to Move Away From Conflict

3 WEEK CLASS - When dogs fight at home, it can be stressful—and even dangerous. We often choose dogs with big feelings because they shine in sports, but those same emotions can spill over at home. Even dogs ...

Christina Young(Guest Presentations )

B3003: Training with Opt-Out Stations

3 WEEK CLASS - It’s your time to put Opt-Out Stations to the test! This 3-week class will go over the science behind the value of having multiple ways for your dog to access reinforcement through degrees of ...

Kim Palermo(Faculty)

Body, Health & Fitness

C3002: Start Your Cooperative Care Journey Here!

3 WEEK CLASS - Are you struggling with your dog’s physical care? Grooming and veterinary procedures can be challenging, but we can make things much better for you, your dog, your groomer, and your vete...

Deborah Jones(Faculty)

Foundations

F3007: Thing in a Thing and Beyond!

3 WEEK CLASS - In this fun 3-week class, you’ll learn how to teach your dog the skill known as “Thing in a Thing”: put one object into another object. This versatile behavior is the foundation for ...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

F3008: Power of Motion for Engagement

3 WEEK CLASS - Dogs are naturally drawn to motion. It’s instinctive—they orient to it, follow it, and engage with it. Yet in training we often ask them to do the exact opposite: sit still and stare at us. T...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

F3009: Radius Training: The Invisible Long Line

3 WEEK CLASS - You love being out and about with your dog, decompressing and exploring off leash ... but they just can't seem to stay within a distance you are comforle with. The more you anxiously call them...

Caden Cristopher(Faculty)

F3010: Calm in the Crate: Skills for Success

3 WEEK CLASS - Practical skills for calm, reliable crate behavior Are you ready to feel confident about your dog’s crate training, whether you’re starting fresh or trying to improve what you already have? ...

Nicole Wiebusch (Faculty)

Scent Sports

N3001: Noses Just get Finer With Age: Supporting the Senior Sniffer

3 WEEK CLASS - Nose work is such a unique sport, they get to keep playing, even past physical prime. It keeps them mentally working, which can improve quality and longevity of life. As handlers, we often won...

Aleks Woodroffe(Guest Instructors)

N3002: Beyond Reward at Source: Nosework Clarity and Commitment Through Marker Cues

3 WEEK CLASS – In Nosework, we’re often taught to reward at source. While this is important in the early stages, it’s only one option. Expanding how we deliver reinforcement can improve clarity, build duration, a...

Julie Symons(Faculty)

June 1, 2026

Agility

AG220: Building and Maintaining Stopped Contacts

Many dogs start their agility career with good stopped contact performance. But over time, the behavior or the criteria changes and morphs into something undesirable. What causes that to happen? This cla...

Nancy Gagliardi Little(Faculty)

AG305: Velcro No More! Distance and Layering Skills

Do you have a dog that you have to run to each and every obstacle with? How about a dog that doesn't commit to obstacles as soon as they are cued? Do you want to run courses that utilize distance and layering? Th...

Loretta Mueller(Faculty)

AG315: Precision Charged Weave Poles - Where Energy Meets Accuracy

Over the years, I have seen a need for a different approach to teaching and handling dogs during weave pole training. The typical approach is to keep things simple and gradually build the dog's performance into 12...

Nancy Gagliardi Little(Faculty)

AG330: Agility Drills for Better Timing

This class will focus on that ever illusive TIMING that everyone talks about. What does your instructor mean when they say "You are LATE...AGAIN"? When exactly does YOUR dog need the info to turn, to go straight...

Loretta Mueller(Faculty)

Behavior

BH150: Management for Reactive Dogs

Are you fed up with "just managing" your lungy barky dog in the moment? You can AMP up your management with an Active Management Plan! Don't improvise, don't "make it up as you go along." Give yoursel...

Amy Cook, PhD(Faculty)

BH160: Sound Advice: Conquering Noise Sensitivity

Is your dog worried about the noises around her? This class is for you! Whether the issue is in your house with your dog barking at the sounds outside, or you have a dog that can't go out because buildi...

Amy Cook, PhD(Faculty)

BH245: Getting Geeky about Behavior Change

Are you ready to become a behavior geek? Do your ears perk up when someone says "science"? Do you find yourself wondering why one training approach works better than another? Do you secretly want to be a per...

Irith Bloom(Faculty)

BH365: Thinking Patterns for Arousal, Reactivity and Acclimation

Does your dog struggle in new settings or situations? Do they get worried and shut down, or become hypervigilant and reactive? Whether you are going into competition, to the vet, to a training class, ...

Karen Deeds, CDBC (Faculty)

Body, Health & Fitness

CC150: FUNctional Foundation Fitness

This class will focus on a solid foundation of the essential fitness skills. This means your dog will be able to perform the most important skills in excellent form. It’s the perfect class for those new to fitnes...

Kelly Daniel(Faculty)

Electives

EL150: Contact Heeling: A Functional Transport Skill

Contact heeling is a movement skill built around clear physical reference, rather than visual focus or formal precision. In this style of heeling, the dog learns to maintain intentional body contact between their...

Sarah Rida(Guest Instructors)

FE565: Finding Five - Training for a Busy World

Too much work, and too little time? Too exhausted to train your dog at the end of a busy day? Feeling guilty for not having exercised them enough? Come join us in Finding Five! We’ll be looking at 5 comm...

Caden Cristopher(Faculty)

RA590: Tricked into Freestyle: From Foundation to Fantastic!

Are you ready to add some paw-zazz to your trick training? Ti of the same old tricks of spins and weaves? Let’s kick it up a notch! We’ll take the basics and transform them into an array of awesome tricks and beh...

Julie Flanery(Faculty)

Foundations

FE130: Toys - Developing Cooperation and Play

Do you have a dog that chases the ball, yet won’t bring it back? Plays keep away with toys? Tugs but won’t let go? Bites you instead of the tug? Obsesses over toys, yet won’t listen to a single thing you say? Is ...

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

FE405: Thriving Under Pressure

There is no escaping it. Our dogs will be under pressure in the ring. So let’s prepare them for it! Many people are not aware that the majority of errors in the ring are the result of some sort ...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

FE420: Bye, Bye Cookie: Hello Delayed Reinforcement!

Does your dog only work when the cookies (or toy!) is in your pocket or even your hand? At trials, you're desperately gripping a few pieces of food just to keep them with you until you hit the ring ...

Laura Waudby(Faculty)

FF115: Control Games for All the Sports

This course utilizes games to help teach your dog focus and self control with a focus on sport behaviors. Start line stays, working around distractions and choosing to focus on the handler are some of the g...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

FF150: Greet Expectations: The Art of the Polite Hello!

Is your dog TOO friendly? Over-excited, jumpy, and perhaps even a little unwittingly rude with how eagerly they greet you, other family members, or strangers? If you’ve found yourself wishing that you...

Erin Lynes(Faculty)

FF165: A Star Puppy: Using Control Unleashed and Free Work to Raise a Confident Puppy

Maximize your puppy’s confidence and resilience with Control Unleashed and ACE (Animal Cent Care) Free Work. I’ve raised many puppies of my own, but it is my most recent puppy who I raised with a CU and Free...

Kim Palermo(Faculty)

FF175: Building Bravery: Concepts and Games for Growing Confident, Optimistic Dogs

Building Bravery is a six-week, game-based class designed to help dogs grow confident, curious, and optimistic in the face of new challenges. Using play, communication, and trust-building exercises, you’ll discov...

Erin Lynes(Faculty)

FF270: Training in Harmony: Developing Clarity, Connection, and Confidence

This class dives into the Six C’s framework: Compassion, Connection, Clarity, Confidence, Curiosity, and Creativity. Together, these elements strengthen behavior by improving focus, engagement, and recovery when ...

Crystal Wing(Faculty)

FF275: Coming Together: Reliable Recalls for Real Life

There’s nothing better than seeing your dog joyfully running full speed toward you just because you called their name... Except maybe when they do it at a busy dog park — or when they turn away from a deer mid-hi...

Melissa Breau(Faculty)

Obedience

OB315: Balancing Motivation & Precision

Dog training is like balancing on a tightrope. We want our dogs to be happy, engaged and motivated. Yet we also need precision which often leads to a loss of enthusiasm. It’s a delicate dance. Once dogs have lear...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

OB335: Gloves and Go-Outs!

Do you dream of doing fancy obedience work someday? No need to wait until you’ve slogged through novice! We can start splitting down the parts for even the most advanced exercises right ...

Laura Waudby(Faculty)

OB462: Shaping a Confident and Flashy Heel-Moving Foundations

Fancy, flashy, free, prancing, head up heeling! Want it? You've come to the right class. Got forging, vocalizing, crabbing instead? You've come to the right class too! (make sure you grab that first class as wel...

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

Other Dog Sports

DS325: What's UpDog - Disc Game Strategies

Want to join in on the latest dog sport craze? Disc dog with the UpDog Challenge! This unique disc competition is designed to encourage new players to get involved in this fun sport as well as test the...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

FF260: All Things Parkour

This class will cover International Dog Parkour levels training, novice, intermediate, expert and championship. It is designed for those new to parkour as well as those wanting to train the higher lev...

Melissa Chandler(Faculty)

Rally & Freestyle

RA340: Signs of Trouble: Fixing Rally Mistakes One Sign at a Time

Does your dog know the signs—but still struggle to stay in position, maintain focus, or deliver consistent performances? Whether you’re stuck between levels, prepping for trialing, or simply looking for smoother ...

Nicole Wiebusch (Faculty)

RA540: Joy of Heeling - Rock it like a Freestyler!

What is your ideal picture of beautiful heelwork? It likely includes words like precision and accuracy. Does it go beyond that to include enthusiasm, energy, lift, spark and joy? These are the attributes th...

Julie Flanery(Faculty)

Scent Sports

N101S: NW101 - Introduction to Nosework

Nosework is easily the hottest new sport around, and it’s easy to see why! It’s fun for humans, dogs love to participate, and it’s good for building confidence and focus in dogs that have issues like shy...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

N120J: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

Many teams stall after initial foundations: progress slows, motivation dips, and it can feel hard to know what to train next. This course keeps you moving forward with clear structure and purposeful exe...

Julie Symons(Faculty)

NW180: Developing Scent-sational Skills for Competition

You’ve learned the basics, even dabbled in some advanced skills but are you ready for competition? With so many scent detection organizations out there now (up to 11 and counting!) teams are entering competition ...

Julie Symons(Faculty)

NW270: Foundations, Foundations, Foundations for Nosework

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Go back to Foundations?" Do you really know what that means? In this class we will learn WHAT the proper foundations are for Nosework and will work on enhancin...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

NW530: The Upper Levels: Building Skills for Elite and Summit

There is nothing quite so exhilarating as searching at the Elite and Summit levels. These are levels that push you as a handler to be nimble and focused. In Summit you have to not only maint...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

TR102: Foundation Tracking 2

This course will continue to develop both drive and accuracy on foundation tracks. Our priority for this class will be to further develop the skills that the dog acqui in TR101. We will work towards incre...

Lucy Newton(Faculty)

August 1, 2026

Agility

AG316: Precision Charged Weaves - Handler Choice

Did you miss registration for “AG315 - Precision Charged Weaves Poles” last session? Did you take the class, and would you like to continue to get feedback on your weave progress? This handler’s choice class allo...

Nancy Gagliardi Little(Faculty)

AG385: Power Steering! Fast Transitions from Speed to Collection

Instructor: Loretta Mueller Registration courselist sessions AG385 /s

Loretta Mueller(Faculty)

AG600: Fit to Jump: Fitness for Agility Dogs

Fitness is useful for all dogs, but especially for those participating in training and competition in performance sports. Working through a complete fitness workout regularly can positively impact cardiovascular ...

Kelly Daniel(Faculty)

Behavior

BH110: Dealing with the Bogeyman: Helping Reactive and Fearful Dogs - The Play Way!

This is Amy's signature Play Way class! If your dog feels fine at home but struggles once the world gets involved, you are not alone. Barking or lunging on walks, freezing or scanning in new places, or just seem...

Amy Cook, PhD(Faculty)

BH225: Achieving Zen: Building Confidence and Calm for Anxious Animals

Is the animal you live with struggling with confidence? Do they have a tough time relaxing? If so, this class may be just what you need! It focuses on helping animals learn to relax and feel mor...

Irith Bloom(Faculty)

BH230: Control Unleashed - A Deep Dive into Pattern Games

Bring the power of Control Unleashed into your training with this deep dive into CU Pattern Games! Control Unleashed is a program that was founded by Leslie McDevitt to help dogs adapt to and live comforly in our...

Kim Palermo(Faculty)

BH275: Reactive Integration

REACTIVE INTEGRATION - If you have a dog that has undesirable reactions around specific ‘triggers’, this class will help by integrating various foundation training and behavior modification protocols to help...

Karen Deeds, CDBC (Faculty)

BH405: Composed & Focused Around Critters

This class is for the dogs who just cannot ignore the scent, sight and/or sound of prey animals or birds, making walks with them difficult to enjoy. Prey drive is one of the fundamental parts of making dogs who t...

Tracey McLennan(Guest Instructors)

Electives

FE345: Imitation and Mimicry - You Can Do It

Are you ready for the next step in your journey with your dog? Are you ready to communicate in a way few have explo? You’ve heard of it! You know you want to do it! You can! And so can your dog! &nb...

Julie Flanery(Faculty)

FF245: Stunt Dog Tricks

Want to train fun, active tricks that "wow" your friends? This class focuses on teaching more extreme tricks that are sure to impress. In this class we will teach body stalls, rebounds, dog catches and other tric...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

Foundations

FE155: Crucial Concepts of Competition - Shaping/Luring/Capturing and More!

Got a new puppy? A new sport prospect for the sport of your choice? Got future plans but no idea how to start? Which behavior DO you start with? Got a pet dog and discove how fun teaching is? Interested i...

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

FF200: Let's Play!

Teaching Approach: New class! Registration courselist sessions FF200 module title="FF200 Subscriptions" /s

Crystal Wing(Faculty)

FF215: Game Changer!

As positive reinforcement trainers, we understand that our dogs have choices – the choice to engage or not engage, to stay or go, to work or not work, to choose us or choose the environment. These choices are cru...

Julie Flanery(Faculty)

Obedience

OB215: Competition Heeling Part One - Fundamentals

Great heeling is a pleasure to watch. Dog and handler moving together as one. The dog is happy, animated, joyful and confident. Heeling is a dance that should express joy and teamwork. How do you accomplish...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

OB340: Strike a Pose: Fabulous Positions!

You enter your sport ring/field, dog heeling by your side. When the exercise comes, you leave them on a specific position and walk away. You cue each position change, and your dog executes them perfectly with paw...

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

OB355: Open Foundation Fun!

Open Obedience Foundation Fun! It’s time to move away from thinking of obedience as serious. An open run is really just a long chain of pet tricks! Breaking the exercises into small pieces and teaching eac...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

OB375: Enhanced Engagement - Building Competition Skills

Most dogs know how to do the exercises. They even have a foundation in engagement. But when they compete, things often fall apart. Competition requires another level of engagement. Dogs must maintain engagement w...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

OB380: Unstick the Stuck Heeling: What's Keeping you from Trialing?

Are you and your dog struggling with heeling? Do you and your dog have nice heeling when you train, but the performance falls apart when you leave the comfort of home? Have you been stuck with the same problem fo...

Nancy Gagliardi Little(Faculty)

OB800: Mondioring OB: All-Breed Obedience

Mondioring Obedience is a fun new obedience venue cate to all breeds! Based on real-life challenges and working under distraction, Mondioring takes familiar obedience exercises to a new level. With the devel...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

Rally & Freestyle

RA260: Get Ready to Rally - Foundation Skills

Discover the Joy of Rally: Build Skills, Confidence, and Connection! Are you ready to take your dog training to the next level while deepening your bond as a team? Welcome to Get Ready to Rally: Foundation Skill...

Nicole Wiebusch (Faculty)

Scent Sports

N101J: NW101 - Introduction to Nosework

Strong Foundations. Clear Communication. Confident Teams. Nosework is one of the fastest-growing dog sports for good reason — it’s fun, builds confidence, and is suile for dogs of all ages and temperaments. N...

Julie Symons(Faculty)

N120S: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

Did you know that the MOST important time in a dog's early career in Nosework happens AFTER they learn target odor (as in NW101) and BEFORE they start their general searching? Making mistakes now are costly. &nbs...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

NW265: Nosework Small Space Skill Up

Too hot to go train? Or maybe you are just short on time? This class is about leveraging YOUR HOME to train your nosework dog. We will spend six weeks working on pieces of the puzzle that will s...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

NW335: Nosework Handling: Insights and Improvements

In this class, handlers will learn to assess and enhance their handling skills within the context of nosework. Designed for all skill levels, this course offers a supportive environment where participants can eva...

Julie Symons(Faculty)

NW345: Container Wizardry: Fixes, Proofs, and Results

This class is about creating the AMAZING Container Dog... Containers are tough in that they really are NOT a searching exericse... they are a Selection exercise. That means that we can get all sorts...

Stacy Barnett(Faculty)

October 1, 2026

Agility

AG140: Building and Maintaining A Start Line

Many dogs begin their agility careers with a solid start line - only to see that behavior slowly unravel over time. Why does a reliable start line hold up for some dogs but not others? Why do some teams struggle,...

Nancy Gagliardi Little(Faculty)

AG380: Agility Drills - Get a Responsive Dog!

Does your dog have a tendency to ignore your commands on course? Or "blow you off"? Do you feel you need clarity in the information you are giving to your dog? Is your dog a tunnel sucker? How do you fix it? I...

Loretta Mueller(Faculty)

Behavior

BH150: Management for Reactive Dogs

Amy Cook, PhD(Faculty)

BH425: Harmony in the Household

Is there discord in your home? Would you prefer to have peaceful music with the individuals living together instead of a cacophony of grumbling, growling, and fighting? Whether you are struggling with a dog that...

Karen Deeds, CDBC (Faculty)

Body, Health & Fitness

CC205: Targeting Fitness

Want to start fitness using targeting? Maybe fine tune your dog’s fitness skills to uce your dogs luring during exercises. This class is for you! This class will teach a variety of targeting skills including fro...

Kelly Daniel(Faculty)

Electives

FF230: Tricks with a Purpose

There are so many reasons why training tricks are beneficial to your dog, yourself and your relationship, tricks aren’t just for entertainment or rainy days anymore! Teaching tricks not only help our dogs learn h...

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

Foundations

FE130: Toys - Developing Cooperation and Play

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

FE240: Calling All Dogs

It is my passion to help humans and dogs develop stronger relationships based on games, sha adventures and maximizing our dogs' freedom while keeping them safe. A strong relationship and, built o...

Caden Cristopher(Faculty)

FE335: Spaces In Between

This is a class about preparing our dogs for the competition or seminar environment. Over and over I see dogs that are unprepa or rehearsing behavior we don't want at seminars, classes and trials. Over time this ...

Shade Whitesel(Faculty)

Obedience

OB225: Competition Heeling Part Two - Skills & Engagement

Heeling requires significant concentration and sustained focus to maintain position, focal point and engagement. Heeling is easily the most difficult obedience exercise. When trained properly, it is a ...

Petra Ford(Faculty)

OB370: Reliable Retrieves

This class will cover all of the pieces needed to train a reliable obedience retrieve. We will begin by teaching each piece of the behavior chain including the hold and front position. Then we will work to put th...

Course Schedule

SCHEDULE

May 1, 2026

May 1, 2026

Bronagh Daly(Faculty)

Christina Young(Guest Presentations )

Kim Palermo(Faculty)

Deborah Jones(Faculty)

Sara Brueske(Faculty)

Petra Ford(Faculty)

Caden Cristopher(Faculty)

Nicole Wiebusch (Faculty)

Aleks Woodroffe(Guest Instructors)

Julie Symons(Faculty)