Getting Started
Please explain the differences between classes, workshops and webinars.
We have four paid products.
Six-week-long classes. These are broken into three levels that range in price from $65-$260. These sessions run every second month (beginning on the 1st) with a different set of available classes. If you can stick around and stay engaged for six weeks, they are your best value. Classes are a combination of written lectures and video examples. There is no set class time and the lecture information can be viewed at your convenience during the six weeks. The instructor videos illustrate the lecture rather than being the lecture.
FDSA Workshops. These are broken into two price levels; $29.95 or $39.95. The higher price point allows you to submit questions and a video for instructor review. The lower price point allows you to ask questions. Workshops involve a prerecorded lecture of about an hour in length which is always released on a Sunday and can be viewed at your convenience. The instructor will include specific steps for the students to attempt with their own dogs to learn the skill under consideration. The following Sunday student submissions, both videos and questions, are due to the instructor. The instructor then creates another recording to answer your questions and review videos. These are an excellent option for students who find it too difficult to stay motivated and on track with a full six week long class, and also a great option for students who need feedback but cannot afford a gold spot in a six week long class.
PPP Workshops. These have only one price point at $29.95. They include a prerecorded lecture of about an hour in length which is released on Sunday and can be viewed at your convenience. The following Sunday student submissions, both questions and videos, are due. The instructor then creates a recording to answer any questions and review videos. All students may submit videos in the PPP workshop. PPP workshops assume a professional trainer, but it is not required! Anyone can take these workshops and apply the materials to their personal situation. The topics in the PPP program tend to focus on house manners, general pet skills and behavior. There is also a heavy emphasis on how to teach others most effectively. Three PPP workshops are offered each week.
Webinars. Webinars have one price point of $19.95. They are run on Thursday evenings at 3pm or 6pm Pacific time. Webinars take a topic and look at a specific and narrow slice of that topic, OR they give an overview of a topic. If you attend live, then you may ask questions after the lecture. All students will receive the recording into their webinar library about two days later.
To register for any of these paid options go to the FDSA website. Log in. Look at the black bar at the top and you will find each one; 6 week courses, webinars, PPP workshops, FDSA workshops. Pick what you want and go from there!
What are the different enrollment levels and what do they cost? (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
We offer three enrollment levels for our courses. They differ in the amount of interaction with the course instructors and other students.
Gold Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to post questions and videos specific to your dog in the homework forum.
The ability to participate with other gold or silver students in the class discussion forum.
Instructor feedback on both written questions and video assignments.
Price = $260
Silver Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to participate with other gold or silver students in the class discussion forum.
The ability to post general clarification questions on course materials to the class discussion forum.
The ability to post general clarification questions regarding gold student threads to the class discussion forum.
The ability to submit a total of two, one-minute videos for instructor feedback.
Any questions about your dog/situation MUST be accompanied by the allotted allowable videos.
Price = $130
Bronze Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to read all questions and answers posted in the class homework and discussion forums.
Bronze students will not post questions or submit written or video assignments.
Bronze students will not have any feedback from the course instructor.
Price = $65
When do you run classes?
How many weeks long is a class? What time of day?
Classes are six weeks long. During that period, you will have complete 24-hour access. After class ends, forums are locked and you will have read access for approximately six more weeks. For one year after class, you will have a library pass that will allow you to review videos and lectures from your courses at your leisure.
When Do I Register?
Registration opens on the 22nd of the month preceding the course start date (ie March 22 for courses beginning April 1st) and close on the 15th day of the month the session has started (ie April 15 for courses starting April 1st). You cannot register outside of this period. Please see the Enrollment and Refunds tab here in the FAQ for more information on registration.
Do you have scholarships? How do I apply?
Scholarships are offered to students who do not feel they can afford the full tuition, but who have a sincere interest in expanding their skills as a dog sport trainer. Scholarships are offered in the form of a 50% tuition credit at the Bronze level. To apply, select the Scholarships link from the top menu (under new students) or click this link. We ask that if you are on a scholarship, you limit yourself to one class. There are a maximum of three scholarships per student permitted in a calendar year.
How do I access the courses?
Students will receive a detailed information email upon registration that contains useful information on accessing your course and other useful links. To access your registered course you will need to log in using the Student Login Box on the top right corner of the home page. You will then see new menu items as purple buttons including My Courses, My Forums, and My Library. Lecture materials for the courses you are enrolled in can be accessed by clicking on My Courses. Forum access is under the My Forums link. These items can also be accessed by clicking on the drop down menu next to your name (purple box) in the top right corner. Please note the Quick Links options in the top header black bar which allows you to easily access between lectures, homework forum and discussion forum after you have entered your class. Click here for access to video tutorials about our classes and forums.
How do I access the self-study courses?
Can I have reminders when lectures are released?
Yes. We suggest all students go to the classroom forums and find the discussion forum thread called “Class Announcements”. Open that thread and click the “subscribe” button in the upper left hand corner. This will allow you to be notified by email every time a new lecture is released. You may also opt to subscribe to threads in the gold homework forum.
What is a library pass and how do I get one?
I forgot my username. What do I do?
Your username is emailed to you when you first sign up for a class - be sure to check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. If you still cannot find your username, click the "Forgot Username" link in the login box, then enter the email address that you used to sign up for the class. Your username will be emailed to you.
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Click the "Forgot Password" link in the Login Box, then enter the email address that you used to subscribe for a class. You will receive an email from Fenzi Academy with a reset code. If you do not receive an email with a reset code, check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. You will use your username (not email) and the reset code to regain access to your account. You can then choose a new password. If you continue to have problems please email your desired password to help@fenziacademy.com and we can reset your information for you.
Pick a Class
What time is class?
All of our classes are online. The instructor will begin posting written lectures with video examples on the first day of the session. The schedule of lectures will depend on the individual instructor and how they feel they can best present the information. Some will release once a week and others will release more often. You can view the lectures at any time of day or night. Your participation would depend on what level of course purchase you make (gold, silver, bronze).
We encourage new students to watch the first two videos on this page About Classes Videos which may help you to understand how our classes work.
I'm not sure if the class I am considering is the right one. What should I do?
What classes should I take?
See our suggested courses of study here.
I see classes that sound similar listed under different schools. Will these classes be the same?
Who are the instructors and what are their credentials?
Every instructor has been hand-picked by Denise Fenzi for their success in dog sports, quality as a trainer of both dogs and people, and in some cases, their academic qualifications (especially when teaching a dog behavior course). In many cases, the instructors are already well known in the dog world. For more information on our instructors, check out their biographies.
Do you sell other classes outside the normal class sessions?
We have several classes available for self-study. These include instructor lecture materials and video examples. They do not include class forums. Click here for a detailed listing of available classes.
I picked a class! What do I need to know before signing up for Gold, Silver or Bronze?
Enrolling & Registration
How do I sign up for a course?
Start by clicking on the Schedule link at the top of this page. If registration is open, select the course you wish to take from the list and click on that link. From that page, click on the registration link and choose the enrollment level you are interested in. This webpage describes the steps in more detail.
Why does it say that registration is closed? When can I register?
What does it mean when it says a class is using a lottery system for the Gold spots?
I want to upgrade my status in a class to Silver or Gold. Is this possible?
The class I wanted has filled! Can you put me on the waiting list?
The course I want has a prerequisite. Can I sign up for Gold in the current class without it?
Can I buy that prerequisite class?
To make a prerequisite purchase, please visit our Prerequisite page during open enrollment.
I want to sign up for a course at bronze or silver level that has a prerequisite that I do not have. Will I be allowed to register?
When can I purchase a self-study class?
The class I need is not on the schedule. Can I purchase it for the lecture notes only?
I forgot my username. What do I do?
I forgot my password. What do I do?
Click the "Forgot Password" link in the Login Box, then enter the email address that you used to subscribe for a class. You will receive an email from Fenzi Academy with a reset code. If you do not receive an email with a reset code, check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. You will use your username (not email) and the reset code to regain access to your account. You can then choose a new password. If you continue to have problems please email your desired password to help@fenziacademy.com and we can reset your information for you.
Payments & Refunds
What kinds of payment do you accept?
I am not in the United States. Can I enroll? How will I pay?
Can I view my payment history?
Your course / workshop / self-study class registrations payment history is available here. You can also find the link under My Profile on the side menu. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have a payment history available for webinar purchases.
Are gift certificates available for purchase?
Yes. You are welcome to purchase a gift certificate from here. Please read the terms and conditions carefully.
What is your refund policy for current classes?
- You request your cancellation at least four days before the class begins, AND
- The level you are canceling has not already sold out.
What is your refund policy for self-study classes?
The class has started but I don't like it. Can I get a refund?
I picked one class but I want to switch to another. Is that possible?
Student FAQ
How do I access the courses?
Students will receive a detailed information email upon registration that contains useful information on accessing your course and other useful links. To access your registered course you will need to log in using the Student Login Box on the top right corner of the home page. You will then see new menu items as purple buttons including My Courses, My Forums, and My Library. Lecture materials for the courses you are enrolled in can be accessed by clicking on My Courses. Forum access is under the My Forums link. These items can also be accessed by clicking on the drop down menu next to your name (purple box) in the top right corner. Please note the Quick Links options in the top header black bar which allows you to easily access between lectures, homework forum and discussion forum after you have entered your class. Click here for access to video tutorials about our classes and forums.
What is a library pass and how do I get one?
I choose Silver level status, how do I ask questions?
I am a Bronze level participant and I really need to ask a question! What do I do??!!!
You may upgrade to either Silver or Gold level status, assuming that status is still available and registration has not closed. Bronze level is intentionally kept at a very low price to allow as many people as possible to watch and learn. Think of it like watching a TV show with a live audience rather than being in the audience. The trade-off for the low price is that there is no way to ask a question, so please respect that and do not contact instructors privately. Due to the workload, instructors cannot answer questions that are asked outside of the forum.
Be aware that FDSA has an extremely active presence on Facebook, and many classes have strong interactive communities in forums where class materials are discussed among each other. If you are interested in joining the FDSA facebook community and if you are an FDSA alumni, search for Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni and submit a request to join. Be aware that we will check your eligibility against our database, so please do not ask to join if you are not a current or former student.
When class ends, all students will be encouraged to submit a survey. This is your opportunity to suggest improvements to the course materials. In most cases, however, you will find that a Gold or Silver level participant will have already asked your question if a portion of lecture material was not sufficiently clear.
Why aren't all my courses showing up?
Sometimes when you sign up for several classes at once, it takes a while for the course list to refresh in your account. To speed it up, you can log out and log back in, which should cause it to refresh. If you still can't access all your courses, please email us at help@fenziacademy.com.
I'm embarrassed to have others see my work. Can I have a private thread?
Can I have reminders when lectures are released?
Can I share the materials that I receive in class?
Can I have a PDF of the class's materials?
How do I join the student facebook study groups?
To find the student study group for your class on Facebook:
Go to Facebook. You must have a Facebook account.
Go to the search bar in Facebook.
Search for your class using FDSA Class# Class Name. For example FDSA FE140 Engagement
That will take you to the study group for this class. Click the "Join" button.
But wait, there's more! You will not be added to the group until you prove that you are actually in this class. To do that, you need to send a screenshot of your library, that shows both your name and this class in the screenshot. That needs to be sent via Facebook messenger to one of the group admins. To find a group admin, when you get to the FB group click on members. It should show you which one is an admin. Persons using a phone app may need to click the info button then members for that information. Send a message to the admin via FB messenger attaching your screenshot.
Remember that group admins are volunteers and it may take a day or two for them to review your request. Don't know how to send a screenshot? How to take a screen shot link: www.take-a-screenshot.org/ . Alternatively take a picture of your screen with another device (phone or camera) and then message that to the admin.
So you've gotten yourself added to the study group for this class. Now what?
Introduce yourself! Tell the group a little about who you are. Now what? Keep the group posted of your progress! Talk about what you're doing and what is or is not working for you. Express your frustrations! Express your joy at your progress! And if you need help? Put up a post!
MORE TECH QUESTIONS?
We also have another FDSA student group that just might help you with your various technical problems! That is: FDSA Tech Support. www.facebook.com/groups/fdsatech/ Join that group and ask your questions on various things from the FB groups to help with submitting videos at gold.
FDSA ALUMNI GROUP
Or dear, there's even more. Not a member of the "official" FDSA Alumni list on FB? Almost all FDSA groups on FB will check your status as an FDSA student against the alumni group on FB, so you absolutely want to join that group. There, your student email address is confirmed when you answer the two questions- which you must answer- and you will be added to that group. That alumni group can be found by searching FB for: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni Group or use this direct link www.facebook.com/groups/fdsa.alumni/
Note: If you get confused or stuck, you must ask your questions about student-run programs on the Facebook alumni group. Please do not send them directly to FDSA for help. We cannot offer additional support; these are student-run groups, and while extremely valuable, we simply don't have the resources to assist with that. Thank you!
Are Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available?
I am not in the United States. Can I still participate?
How do I access the self-study courses?
My course is finished. Where can I find the lectures?
When courses are completed the lecture material access is moved to your library. They can be viewed by clicking on the My Library option on the drop down menu under your name after you have logged in as a student. For more information about library access please click here.
May I work more than one dog at the Gold Level? Can we switch off handlers?
Forums & Videos
How do I use the forums?
How do I post videos to the forum?
How do I submit gold level assignments?
How do I add images to my posts?
Here's a picture tutorial on how to add images to your posts.
Please note that images should be in jpeg format, no more than 900x900 pixels large. If you are uploading multiple images, you need to make sure the size of your total upload is under 2Mb, otherwise the upload will fail. You can also attach txt, rtf, pdf, zip, tar, .gz, tgz, tar.bz2 files to your posts, using the same method described above. These flies cannot be more than 120Kb in size.How do I get a cool photo in my forums profile?
Why do I get this error - "Kunena Internal Error - Please contact the administrator"?
The error message is likely caused by a strange character or emoticon in your forum post. It can especially happen when you copy / paste your message into the forum as sometimes the source formatting on the copy doesn't talk nicely to our forum for the pasting part. Please remove any emoticons and see if that makes a difference.
Another possible problem may be how you are typing in your running time. Sometimes if you use a lot of brackets or symbols the system gets confused. Try typing in something like Week 2 - total time is 3:50 instead of a formula with brackets or symbols and see if that fixes it.
You might also consider consider clearing your browser cache or restarting your computer. If you still have issues then send an email to help@fenziacademy.com.
I own a video camera but I don't have any editing skills. Will this be a problem?
- Are you in the range of the camera? Laying down ground poles and testing this before you start can save you the heartache of taking an entire video, only to realize that you were walking in and out of range the whole time.
- Is there unnecessary footage? Editing the video down to the part you want the instructor to see will give you the best feedback on your video. It's not necessary to add words, special fades, or anything else, but clipping the beginning and end will make your video more compact. Most of the time a 2 - 3 minute video is more than sufficient to target the relevant behaviors for review.
- Is the lighting sufficient and the video lens clean? Your videos do not need to be movie quality, but the easier it is to see, the better the feedback you will receive.
- As a rule, several videos over the course of the week is far preferable to one long video. Watching a student's progress every other day for a few minutes will yield the best results.
How do I use YouTube?
YouTube Signup: How to Make an Account
How to Upload Videos to YouTube
If you are having problems viewing videos linked in the course lectures or posted by other students, you may need to upgrade the Flash player on your computer. Take a look at this site for instructions.
What if I don't want my videos to be public on YouTube?
- Go to your YouTube channel.
- Click on the video.
- Under the video itself, right under the progress bar, there's a row of black buttons.
- Click the left-most button that looks like a pencil and says "Info and Settings" if you mouse over it.
- This will take you to a screen where you can set the title, description, and other settings for the video.
- On the right side, there's a drop list called "Privacy settings." Click on that and choose "Unlisted."
Will my gold forum thread be transferred to my library after class ends?
How do I save a forum thread?
Webinars
How do webinars work?
- Webinars will each be about an hour long
- Webinars will each cost US$19.95
- At the end of the LIVE webinar, we will offer time for Q&A
- Live webinars, initially, will be offered on Thursdays at 6pm PT / 9pm ET -- this may change, if they prove popular!
- New webinars will likely show up on the calendar on the FDSA site first, followed by on the Webinars page once they are available to purchase.
- When you register, you'll receive 2 emails - a receipt, and details on how to access the live webinar. If you don't receive those please send an email to allthethings@fenziacademy.com so we can make sure everything is correct.
What if I can't attend/watch the live version of the webinar?
Will I be able to buy a webinar afterward?
How do I know what time the webinar will be in my timezone?
A: All webinars are based on "San Francisco" time. You can click here to see what time it is now in San Francisco, or click here to figure out the exact time by date.
I didn't receive the email with the link to the live webinar. How do I access?
Can I participate if I am not an FDSA student?
If I pre-purchase a webinar, how long will the recording be available?
What is a webinar library?
A: Recorded webinars are hosted in your student account for viewing under "My Webinars". If you are a new student an account will be created for you as part of your purchase and details will be emailed to you. Recorded webinars will be in your webinars library for a year from the purchase date; your library will renew each time you purchase a new webinar.
Note: The webinar library is separate from the class library; buying a class does not renew your webinar library, and buying a webinar will not renew your class library.
How can I access my webinar library?
Video to demonstrate how to access your webinar recordings in your library:
Connect With Us
Does Fenzi Academy have a physical school location?
No, our instructors are worldwide. All of our programs are online. Our administration is based in the USA.
How can I contact Fenzi Academy by email?
Does Fenzi Academy have a phone number?
We do not offer telephone support.
Do you have a support network?
Yes! Fenzi Academy has an extremely active Facebook presence. There are several lists designed for FDSA current students and alumni. The main list is called "Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni". From there, you can learn about many other lists that will support students with a variety of goals and interests. There are also a variety of student-run discussion forums to assist each other with their classwork. Feel free to join the lists after you have signed up for a class!
What is the FDSA dog Sports Camp?
Dog Sports Camp refers to our annual in-person conference! Please refer to our Camp page for more information https://fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/camp.