Foundations

What do we mean when we talk about Foundations for Competition dogs?

We are referring to the very wide range of base skills, behaviors, and attitudes that make a dog ready to learn just about any set of behaviors for any sport. If your dog loves to interact with you, shows good focus and impulse control and has a few basic behaviors, the sky is the limit in terms of what you can accomplish.

Classes in this school are extremely valuable to all dogs that are destined for competition, and most are suitable for both young and old dogs alike. the more foundation skills you can work through and master with your dog, the easier and more joyful the rest of your training will be!

If you’re looking for a place to start, look no further than our Foundation courses.

Foundation Courses

  • FE105: Get Focused! taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE115: Baby Genius taught by Julie Daniels
  • FE120: Performance Fundamentals taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE125: Adolescent Sport Dogs taught by Julie Daniels
  • FE130: Toys - Developing Cooperation and Play taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FE135: Shaping Demystified taught by Sarah Stremming
  • FE145: First Things First - Puppy Foundations for a Bright Future taught by Erin Lynes
  • FE150: Play Skills for FCI Heeling taught by Kamal Fernandez
  • FE155: Crucial Concepts of Competition - Shaping/Luring/Capturing and More! taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FE165: Magic Mats: Where to be, When to go, and What to do taught by Julie Daniels
  • FE175: School of Fish - Raising a Performance Puppy taught by Barbara Currier
  • FE205: Focus Games taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE210: Shaping taught by Sue Ailsby, Heather Lawson
  • FE220: Control that Crazy Canine - Developing Impulse Control in the Competition Dog taught by Nancy Gagliardi Little
  • FE225: Shaping Skills: From Start to Finish! taught by Heather Lawson
  • FE240: Calling All Dogs taught by Caden Cristopher (Chrissi Schranz)
  • FE280: Cutting Out the Cookies (or Toys!) - Reducing Reinforcement for R+ Trainers taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FE315: Are You Ready? Trial Preparation for Competition taught by Ann Smorado
  • FE320: Toys - Advanced Concepts taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FE330: Shaping for Agility and Obedience Foundations taught by Kamal Fernandez
  • FE335: Spaces In Between taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FE340: Beyond the Basics: Shaping Advanced Skills taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE350: Build Your Bond -- Recalls taught by Donna Hill
  • FE355: Rock-Solid Stays for Competition & Real Life taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FE360: Achieving a Balance Between Motivation and Control taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE370: ALL THE SPORTS: Foundation for the Cross-training Canine taught by Sara Brueske
  • FE385: The Science of Training: Think, Plan, Do! taught by Amy Cook, PhD
  • FE405: Thriving Under Pressure taught by Petra Ford
  • FE415: Zen Logic - Making Sense of Self Control taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FE420: Bye, Bye Cookie: Hello Delayed Reinforcement! taught by Laura Waudby
  • FE425: Teenage Tyrants: Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence taught by Sarah Stremming
  • FE435: Behavior Chain Games; Reducing Reinforcement the Easy Way taught by Sara Brueske
  • FE440: Shaping Games - Clean Mechanics and Keen Observations taught by Julie Daniels
  • FE445: Crazy Good! Self-Control Games for the Wild Child taught by Julie Daniels
  • FE450: Training Levels - Level 1 taught by Sue Ailsby, Heather Lawson
  • FE455: Beyond the Backyard: Distraction Training for Competition and Real Life! taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FE460: Training Levels -- Level 2 taught by Sue Ailsby, Heather Lawson
  • FE485: All the Sports: Building on the Basics taught by Sara Brueske
  • FE490: Build the Bond: Recalls Part 1 taught by Donna Hill
  • FE495: Build the Bond: Recalls Part 2 taught by Donna Hill
  • FE505: The Book: Train the dog in front of you! taught by Denise Fenzi
  • FE515: Hound About Town - Lifestyle Skills and Manners Training taught by Heather Lawson
  • FE518: Loose Leash Walkers Anonymous taught by Heather Lawson
  • FE545: May the reinforce be with you! taught by Caden Cristopher (Chrissi Schranz)
  • FE550: Unbroken taught by Hannah Branigan
  • FE580: Mission Accomplished! taught by Julie Flanery
  • FE595: Bombproof Behaviors taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF100: Fully Focused taught by Deborah Jones, Judy Keller
  • FF110: Pay to Play: Using Food to Get Great Toy Play taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF115: Control Games for All the Sports taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF120: Shaping Skills taught by Kamal Fernandez
  • FF125: The Adolescent Dog: Making a Terrific Teenager! taught by Erin Lynes
  • FF140: Connect and Engage with Games: Build Focus for Sport Dogs taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FF145: Food Cues and Markers: Powerful Reinforcement for Clean Training taught by Shade Whitesel
  • FF150: Greet Expectations: The Art of the Polite Hello! taught by Erin Lynes
  • FF155: Go Ahead, Motivate Me! Engagement for the Differently Motivated Dog taught by Sharon Carroll
  • FF160: The PROOF is in the Training: Building Strong Behaviors taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FF225: Energized Engagement taught by Petra Ford
  • FF280: Empowerment taught by Julie Daniels
  • FF310: From the Backyard to the Ring: Conquering Distractions for Competition Success taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FF320: Better Still: Stays Without Frustration taught by Nicole Wiebusch
  • FF470: Cookie Jar Games taught by Julie Daniels
  • FF475: Advanced Cookie Jar Games taught by Julie Daniels
  • RA560: Shape Up - Improving and Maintaining Your and Your Dog's Shaping Skills taught by Julie Flanery
  • Electives

     

    Electives are those classes that we want and need but don’t quite fit anywhere else! Check this section often and see what might be available for you!

    Electives Courses

  • EL110: Beyond the Click: Adventures in +R2.0 taught by Helene Lawler
  • EL120: Volunteer Ready! Therapy Dog Skills taught by Heather Lawson
  • EL130: Senior Dogs Staying Young: Body and Mind taught by Julie Daniels, Karen Kay
  • EL800: Unlock Your Handling Potential: Handler Fitness 101 taught by Liz Joyce
  • FE190: It's All In Your Head - Developing Your Mental Game taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE193: Don't Worry Be Happy taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE195: Love the One You Are With - Being the Best Team Possible taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE198: No More Excuses - Building Accountability and Motivation taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE290: Handle This - make the most of goals, planning and learning taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE293: Tough Enough - Handling Difficult People with Grace taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE295: Infinite Possibilities - Think your way to success with Clarity taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE298: Unleash Personal Potential taught by Andrea Harrison
  • FE345: Imitation and Mimicry - You Can Do It taught by Julie Flanery
  • FE375: Is This It? Match To Sample taught by Heather Lawson
  • FE525: Managing Multi-Dog Mayhem taught by Loretta Mueller
  • FE540: Knock-knock: From Chaos to Calm taught by Nancy Tucker
  • FE565: Finding Five - Training for a Busy World taught by Caden Cristopher (Chrissi Schranz)
  • FE585: Modifier Cues taught by Heather Lawson
  • FE590: Out and About taught by Caden Cristopher (Chrissi Schranz)
  • FE600: Shoot the Dog! taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE620: Photographer's Choice taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE630: Clone the Dog (Photoshop for Photographers) taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE640: Compose the Dog - Photographic Composition taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE650: Adjust the Dog - Introduction to Lightroom taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE655: Enhance the Dog: Advanced Photo Composition taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE660: Chase the Dog - Photographing Dogs in Motion taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE670: Expose the Dog taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE680: See the Dog: Developing Your Photographic Vision taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE690: Collage the Dog: Creating Photo Collages in Photoshop taught by Amy Johnson
  • FE750: From Trainer to Teacher 1: Beginning the Transition taught by Deborah Jones, Lee Fox
  • FE760: From Trainer to Teacher 2: Strengthening your Skills taught by Deborah Jones, Lee Fox
  • FE770: Business End of the Dog: Marketing for Pet Professionals taught by Melissa Breau
  • FE780: Business End of the Dog - Building a Wordpress Website taught by Melissa Breau
  • FE790: Building a Website Advanced: Handler’s Choice taught by Melissa Breau
  • FF210: Brain Benders - Cognition & Thinking Games taught by Heather Lawson
  • FF220: Tricks for the Thinking Canine taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF230: Tricks with a Purpose taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF240: Tricks for Titles taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF245: Stunt Dog Tricks taught by Sara Brueske
  • FF410: Cognitive Challenges: The Key to How Your Dog Thinks taught by Barbara Lloyd
  • FF420: Cabin Fever - More Games for Small Spaces and Indoors taught by Donna Hill
  • FF450: The Daredevil Within - Building Confidence Through Skateboarding taught by Donna Hill
  • FF460: Brain Games - Puzzles for Canines taught by Donna Hill
  • FF490: Greeting Skills: From Friendly Tornadoes to Warm Hellos taught by Nancy Tucker
  • RA590: Tricked into Freestyle: From Foundation to Fantastic! taught by Julie Flanery