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It's that time of year again when I the most common question I get is, "What camera should I buy for Shoot the Dog?"https://youtu.be/E6ONYZbQBigThe question seems simple, but the answer can be mind-boggling in its complexity.If you are here to just get an answer and then race off to the camera store to make your purchase, I'll start with my recomme

 What is commitment? How do we teach our dogs to understand when to go and when to pay more attention to our cues? Laurie and I talk about that and more in this week's episode of the podcast.  Transcript Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academ

 Ever wondered what key foundation information is essential to getting a good start in agility? In this episode Loretta and I talk about exactly that — including a look at some of the terminology that it's easy for beginners to get tripped up on!  Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Spo

Boundless Junior Agility Company or BJAC exists to support junior agility handlers — join us for a conversation about the future of the sport, how you can lend your support, and what challenges junior handlers face that may be overlooked by other competitors.  Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi

 Duration is about so much more than just a sit or down stay! Join us for a conversation on how teaching duration as a concept makes it easier to generalize to new behaviors. Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school

When your dog comes up lame, when is it time to worry that it may be something serious? What do you do if your general practice vet doesn't seem concerned... but you know there's something wrong? What should you do to chase down a diagnosis? Sue and I chat about all that and more in this week's episode. Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa

Whether you realize it or not, every time you and your dog step to the line handler pressure will play a role in the search. So, how can you use it to your advantage? Aleks and I discuss exactly that in this episode of the podcast! Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to y

Ever wondered what to expect at our annual in-person event? This week we'll hear from several people who have attended multiple events about what they love and why they keep coming back.   Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog. Sports Acade

 As an instructor I see common mistakes that many students make. Important concepts that can be applied to all aspects of training. Regardless of the sport, level, or dog's experience. These are concepts we need to remember every time we train for the length of the dog's training career. This is the first in a series of blogs I'll put out revi

 Competing in conformation is so much more than running in circles — join me and Ashley for a conversation on the skills it takes to become best in class.  Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast, brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, an online school dedicated to p

Choice and habit both play a role in our dog training - and if we want to change behavior, it's important to determine which that behavior falls into to create an effective plan. During this episode, Irith and I talk about how to know and what to do! Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Pod

Often times, the hardest step in heeling is that first one. There are so many fun ways to start moving forward! Stop heeling from a boring sit and start motivating your dog! Hand Touches​ I like the dog to be attentive and driving up and forward on that first step. One technique you can use to accomplish this is the hand touch. Start by ensuring th

Here's the thing… With so many dog sports out there, each with their own pros and cons, it can be hard to decide which to choose! If you enjoy teaching precision and control, maybe you'd like obedience. If you enjoy fast and dynamic behaviors, agility may be more your speed. Exploring the world with your dog? Maybe you'd like parkour! Fascinated wi

What's the big deal about play, anyway? Join us for a conversation on the benefits of play... and how to tap into your inner child, so both you and your dog can enjoy playing together!   Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy,

What really goes into having a focused dog? Join us for a conversation what it means to train focus — and how we can split a complex behavior down into component parts to build a strong but flexible skillset every sports dog needs.  Transcription Mellisa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought

For many dogs, stillness is a challenging concept to grasp. Especially in sports-bred dogs, which are highly motivated by movement, training methods often focus on encouraging and rewarding action. As a result, teaching stay behaviors can be more difficult. However, introducing the concept of stillness can help your dog remain calm, composed, and f

Have a dog that's easily distracted or driven to chase prey-like critters? In this episode Tracey and I talk about overcoming critter distractions and building behaviors so you can both enjoy the outdoors again. Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports Podcast brought to you by the Fenzi Dog S

We hear so much about puppys and adolescents, but it's rare to focus on seniors — in this episode, that's exactly what we do. We take a deep dive into what it means to live with and love our dogs in their golden years.   Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Breau, and you're listening to the Fenzi Dog Sports podcast brought to you

Core strength is important for both ends of the leash — so for this episode, Liz and Kelly both joined me to talk about their relative expertise... Kelly shared what to consider and why it matters for our four-legged teammates, and Liz talked about fitness for the human-half of the team!   Transcription Melissa Breau: This is Melissa Brea

In rally obedience, the "around" behavior is one of the most frequently used skills, second only to heeling. It is most commonly seen in the right finish, but many other signs also incorporate the dog circling the handler. Teaching around as a solid behavior will be a valuable investment as you and your dog progress through the rally levels.When co