self-study classes
Fe101: Relationship Buildling Through Play
For some people – and dogs – play comes naturally. But did you know that good play is more than simply WANTING to interact with your dog? Good play requires the ability to engage with your canine companion on a level that taps into his natural interests, and this ability is one part art and one part mechanical skills. This class will teach you both of these elements.
We’ll discuss the correct presentation of toys, learning how to make cookies into an event, and understanding how to interact with your dog in the way that he likes best. It takes time and effort to learn your dog, to know what to do, when to do it, and when to STOP doing it. Taking this time is well worth the effort because the end result will be a dog who naturally looks to you for both direction and entertainment.
This class will introduce one form of play at a time. With over 70 videos featuring a variety of breeds, sizes of dogs, and handlers, you’re sure to find the information you need to form a fun and satisfying play relationship with your individual dog!
FE140: Engagement
The question we ask the dog will always be the same: Do you care enough about what we do together to ask for interaction?
Because engagement is easily turned to work, we can also ask: Will you ask to work with me at home? At a park? At the car wash? Can you interact with me on grass and on cement? When that dog is watching you? Can you interact with me in a playful fashion without specific cues to follow, simply to enjoy the act of engaging with me?
And for the human: Do you know how to engage your dog in a playful and relaxed fashion? Can you respond to your dog’s cues and then grow the interaction from simple eye contact to movement? Can you recognize when the environment will win? Do you understand acclimation, engagement, opportunity costs, conditioned emotional responses, and how to ask without begging?
If you want a beautiful display of teamwork and joy, then a basic understanding of the cues or exercises for your sport will not be enough; you will need engagement. Join this class to develop a deep understanding of this fascinating topic!
OB200: Precision Heeling
We will use placement of food reward, platforms and discs, “pocket hand,” and activities that teach you and your dog exactly where heel position is located. Static position (as opposed to moving) will be the primary focus.
OB260: Advanced Confidence Building for the Obedience and Rally Ring
Each of these exercises is designed to target a specific aspect of the competition ring. We will consider the role of additional people, dogs and environmental distractions to our work. While most of the exercises will continue to focus on creating a super bright and positive attitude towards the ring, we will now add some work within the ring.
OB300: Heeling Games
To utilize this class, a dog needs a few steps of good quality heeling but not much more than that!
OB310: OB-ILITY
OB400: Advanced Heeling and Problem Solving
Concepts from Precision Heeling and Heeling Games will be used in this course and Denise will presume a working knowledge of basic precision and heeling games techniques, including the correct use of discs, pocket hand, “fly,” etc.
FE260: I'm Just Little! Foundation Skills for Smaller Competition Dogs
Join Denise and her super star small dog Brito and learn how to make your small dog as confident as possible in this full sized world!
FE430: From Start to Finished!
In this class, Denise will introduce proofing, reducing reinforcement, how to approach new locations, and creating finished exercises; all vital components of competition readiness! Denise will also address the importance of considering your dog’s unique temperament. When class ends, you’ll have a plan for how to proceed from absolute novice to the competition ring!
OB700: Shaped Precision Heeling: No Props, No Lures, and No Editing!
This is a class for advanced trainers! Denise will assume that you have the skill of shaping, and that you are able to deduce by watching what she is reinforcing, where she is offering support and what she is ignoring altogether.
EW100: Reducing Overarousal and Reactivity via the Circle Method of Leash Walking
This self-study option is a series of three recorded webinars that work together. There are no written lectures.
Recorded Webinar 1 – The Fenzi Method: Cutting Corners to Loose Leash Walking
Is your dog is a chronic leash puller? If leash walking is a misery then this webinar is for you!
The Fenzi “cutting corners” method can work even for dogs where other approaches have failed. It requires no food, no highly controlled environments, and allows for reasonably inexperienced handlers.
This method is equally suited to a young puppy on dog directed socialization outings as it is for strong adult dogs with years of practice pulling on walks. And the best part? It works fast and without compulsive techniques by reducing frustration in both the puller and the pullee!
If you are tired of being dragged around or a trainer who simply wants more options for helping your clients, then join Denise and hear what she has to say about an entirely new approach!
Recorded Webinar 2 – Circle Method for Basic Reactivity and Over Arousal
This webinar is intended to provide advice, interventions, and skills for individuals working with reactive or overexcited dogs.
“The circle method of Loose Leash Walking” will be used to help the behavior and emotional state of reactive and over-aroused dogs by allowing them to adjust to their environment, reconnect with their handlers, and become more emotionally comfortable in the presence of specific triggers.
The method can be used regardless of food interest and does not require elaborate set-ups. The information presented will build upon the circle method of loose leash walking, and will assume knowledge of that material.
This webinar assumes professional or amateur trainers who can assimilate the information with a preexisting working knowledge of dog behavior, reactivity and over-aroused behavior.
Recorded Webinar 3 – Circle Method: Advanced Techniques for Reactivity, Over-Arousal, and Problem Solving
This webinar provides additional advice, interventions, and problem solving strategies for individuals working with reactive or overexcited dogs who are struggling, even after application of the basic techniques presented in the prior webinars.
This method is designed to allow dogs to adjust to their environment, reconnect with their handlers, and become more emotionally comfortable in the presence of specific triggers. The method can be used with dogs who are not interested in food when in public, does not require elaborate set-ups, and can also be used as a management technique to get out of uncomfortable situations.
This webinar assumes professional or amateur trainers who can assimilate the information with a preexisting working knowledge of dog behavior, reactivity and over-aroused behavior.
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