Course Schedule

AG123: Can You Handle It? Beginner Sequences

You have the basics of handling from AG 110- now it's time to really play the game - with your first sequences!  These sequences are designed to take your skills and apply them with speed, accuracy and confi...

AG140: Building and Maintaining A Start Line

Many dogs start out their agility career with a good start line. But, over time that start line behavior deteriorates. Why do good start lines break down for some dogs and not others? How can some dogs have great...

AG195: Teeter Training: From Trick to Treat!

This class starts with a trick and ends with a teeter! Teeter training can begin pretty early in a dog’s agility career because it begins with a simple trick: backing up! From this rear end awareness exercise, we...

AG400: Smooth Moves: Adding the Dog to Your Agility Handler Mechanics

This class introduces handling techniques to your dogs, then proofs them and progresses them into short sequences. We will begin with the key skills Megan believes dogs need before sequencing should begin: commit...

BH150: Management for Reactive Dogs

  https://youtu.be/tNKvwjofJ8U This class is for learning strategies for managing and controlling dogs that are reactive to dogs and people. Helping them get over their fears is best done when you can set ...

BH300: Worked Up! Understand, assess, and soothe arousal in sport dogs

This class is all about dogs that are over-stressed, over-aroused, over-adrenalized, and just plain over the top. Help your dog give his true performance in the ring by helping him be in a healthy state of arousa...

BH315: Hidden Potential: Tapping Your Reluctant Dog's Talents

  This course is all about dogs that have been labeled as shut-down, down-stressors, shy, or low-drive. Dogs that run fast in training but slow in trials, dogs that have good days and bad ones, dogs that gi...

BH370: Feelings Change – Desensitization and Counter-conditioning

Learn the art and science of Desensitization and Counter-conditioning. Acquire skills that will allow you to help your dog develop a diminished or a more positive emotional response to things he’s not too keen ab...

CC110: K9 Conditioning

This course will give you an understanding of basic dog anatomy, basic conditioning for dogs, and general exercises. We'll work on conditioning exercises, endurance exercises, and strengthening exercises. In addi...

CC310: Canine Fitness Trainer 1

  This will be the first in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an ex...

CC330: Canine Fitness Trainer 3

  This is the third in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an...

CC440: Strong Foundations: Fitness Fundamentals

Class Description This class is about connection, training, observation, behavior, and the joy of fitness! In this class, we'll cover "all the things" that prepare you and your dog for progressing to the next le...

FE190: It's All In Your Head - Developing Your Mental Game

  Do you overthink your training, have ring nerves, experience anxiety around training or competing, or feel excessive stress about training? Are you curious to understand the impact your brain has on train...

FE525: Managing Multi-Dog Mayhem

    Multiple dogs can create some interesting training challenges! This class is designed to give you the tools to make a multi dog household a peaceful and productive place. In this class, we will cover...

FE585: Modifier Cues

  WHAT IS A MODIFIER CUE?It's a cue that gives additional information to your dog to further differentiate the exact behaviour that will earn them a reward.  Some examples of Modifier cues might includ...

FE620: Photographer's Choice

This is the photography version of "Agility Problem Solving" or any of the "Handler's Choice" classes offe here at FDSA.  You choose the topic and we'll work on improving your photography in that area for th...

FE650: Adjust the Dog - Introduction to Lightroom

  This course is designed to introduce the basics of post-processing.  The software we will use is Adobe Lightroom Classic, but it is also possible to use Adobe Photoshop Bridge instead.  Post-pro...

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 ...

FE240: Calling All Dogs

  Do you dream of a reliable real-life recall? Do you dream of a dog who pays attention to you, making sure not to lose you when you're out on an off-leash hike? A dog who keeps a certain radius around you?...

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 ...

FE595: Bombproof Behaviors

  You've trained the behaviors down to the tiniest of detail and are now ready to show them off to the world. This class will help you prepare for the distractions that await you in any environment you can ...

FF280: Empowerment

  A Course for Expanding your dog's Personal Power! You can nurture your dog's natural curiosity and optimism toward the big wide world. There will also be not one but TWO Teaching Assistants in the study gro...

OB115: TEAM Sports Foundations - Level One

  This class is all about foundations! Start a new dog on the right foot or discover missing pieces in your training. This class is designed to cover all the exercises in TEAM level 1. The TEAM program lays...

OB330: Obedience Games

If you like to think of training as a game, then this is the class for you! If you have a busy schedule and are always on the go and finding your obedience training taking a back seat - come play and see h...

OB540: Shaping the Competition Retrieve

In this class we will work through all the steps and fine details requi to develop a precise and reliable competition-level dumbbell/scent article/glove retrieve. We will use shaping, rather than play, as the ba...

OB590: Stand With Me

  This course will focus on all things related to the stand behavior!!! We will look at teaching a stand, and getting ready for an exam whether that's in obedience, conformation, or even being measu for agili...

OB605: Conditioning and Body Awareness for Effortless Heeling

Heeling is requi at all levels of obedience.  Due to its complexity, we typically spend more time training heeling than the majority of other obedience exercises.  This class will ensure that your dog i...

OB733: Handler Choice - October

The people spoke! And FDSA Answe! After popular demand, and listening to the response from many…. the resulting outcome… Handlers Choice Class with Kamal Fernandez! During this 6weeks course, the handler can d...

DS380: Push it! Treibball Foundations and Problem Solving

Want to build your distance control and connection with your dog while participating in a great new sport? Or maybe you’ve always been fascinated by herding, but don’t have sheep. Check out Treibball!  So...

RA285: Putting it All Together: Rally Courses for All Levels

Do things fall apart when you attempt an entire rally course with your dog?  Does your dog start off doing great, but lose focus as you continue through the course?  Do you struggle with stayi...

RA290: Get Ready to Rally - Advancing to Rally Excellent!

Once you get into the Rally ring, most teams move through the Novice level fairly quickly.  Be prepa for move ups with this class on Advanced and Excellent signs! We will focus on the AKC signs for this clas...

RA511: Positions, Laterals and Backing

  In Rally-FrEe and musical freestyle there are four primary positions: Left heel, right heel, standing center and behind facing the handler. While maintaining position, the dog is requi to move in any dire...

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 attri...

N101M: 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 s...

N120S: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

NOTE: NW120S has been restructu in order to allow students from NW101 to catch up as needed with the help of either the Instructor (for Gold Spots) or the Teaching Assistant (for Silver & Bronze Spots). Dogs ...

N130J: NW130 - Developing Advanced Nosework Skills

   Want to continue the Nosework fun?  Then this class is for you!   This is the third skills level course in our nose/scent work program and will build on the skills acqui in the pr...

NW145: To Boldly Go… Shaping a Confident Nosework Dog

 Confidence in Nosework isn’t always best addressed by setting out hides and practicing searches. Sometimes we want to work on confidence and comfort in the search environment separately. We do this so that ...

NW150: Scent Theory and Dynamics

NW370: Hide Placement for Powerful Training

  Do you struggle with how to set hides?  Do you accidentally overface your dog or make the hides too hard?  Do you have structure to your training so that you thoughtfully build skills?  Hav...

NW430: Common Scents Proofing: Building Confidence with Distractions

In this class we will develop the ability to search in the midst of distractions.  We will build odor value by removing the distractions and playing energy building and motivational games.  Then we will...

AG190: The Glue for Future Agility Stars

This course is different than most agility foundation classes. Rather than introducing obstacle and flatwork skills needed to run an agility course, this class lays out the critical skills (the glue) that your do...

AG470: Love'em and Weave'em - Speed and Independence in Weaves

  Do you wish your dog could hit any weave entry regardless of where you are?  Do you get nervous when walking a course and see a particular entry?  Do you wish you could leave your dogs in the we...

BH110: Dealing with the Bogeyman - Helping Fearful Reactive and Stressed Dogs

This is Amy's signature Play Way class! Is your dog brilliant at home but shuts down at the show? Or does he bark and lunge at people or dogs on walks? Does she seem generally stressed, whether frantic about it ...

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...

BH330: Fix It: Effective Behavior Change

Do behavior problems freak you out? Have you ever thought "I wish I could fix that" about a nuisance behavior your dog exhibits? Do the intricacies of behavior modification overwhelm you, though you feel comforle...

CC120: K9 Conditioning 2

  As a dog sport enthusiast, you know that keeping your dog fit is important to prevent injuries that could sideline or even end your dog's career. Unfortunately, understanding HOW to keep him fit is much m...

CC320: Canine Fitness Trainer 2

  This is the second in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement a...

CC340: Canine Fitness Trainer 4

This is the last in the 4 part series.  This course will discuss specific types of dogs including seniors, overweight dogs, puppies, and overly active dogs.  We will start using cases to put the four se...

CC430: Helping Dogs Thrive: Massage for Performance Dogs

In this class you will learn about massaging your own dog. We will cover canine massage techniques, the muscles we are affecting with massage, muscle anatomy, assessment, palpation, fascia, Tellington TTouch® bod...

FF180: Yes Please! Cooperative Canine Care

Can you draw blood from a whale without force?  Yes, you can.  What about put eye drops into a sea lion's eyes with no fuss?   Again, yes you can.  But you have to train for it.  Captive ...

FE298: Unleash Personal Potential

  Want to expand your life skills for dog training and competing? Wondering how to make mindfulness and dog training work together? Curious about how to plan to include dreams and aspirations? Not sure how ...

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 her enough? Come join us in Finding Five! We’ll be looking at 5 commo...

FF490: Greeting Skills: From Friendly Tornadoes to Warm Hellos

  This course is eligible for 13.5 training CEUs and 1 behaviour CEU for CCPDT for all levels of enrollment (This class will have a Teaching Assistant available in the Facebook study group to help the Bron...

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...

FE320: Toys - Advanced Concepts

  This class expands on two essential skills started in Toys: Building Cooperation and Play-- working in arousal and switching reinforcement. (You can also get the exact same toy skills through the two Driv...

FE420: Bye, Bye Cookie: Hello Delayed Reinforcement!

  Does your dog seem to forget what sit means until you reach into your pocket?  Do you struggle to get your dog's focus without a cookie in your hand?  T...

FE425: Teenage Tyrants: Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence

You had a really cute puppy. Now you have a tyrant! Leg-lifting, humping, newfound reactive behaviors, and just plain naughtiness abounds in the 6 month to 2 year range. In this class you'll learn to head off pote...

OB130: TEAM Sports Foundations Level One

  This class is all about foundations! Start a new dog on the right foot or discover missing pieces in your training. This class is designed to cover all the exercises in TEAM Level 1. The TEAM program lays...

OB160: Ring Confidence for Obedience, Rally, and Agility

    This course is officially expanded to include agility as well as obedience and rally!   Most handlers spend months or even years teaching their dogs the specific exercises and obstacle performa...

OB290: Give Props to Props: Getting Clean Competition Behaviors

Are you struggling with crooked fronts or finishes?  Is your dog creeping on the position changes?  Is your dog still not backing up on cue?  Learn how props can help prevent or fix all these probl...

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...

DS330: Disc Dog - Freestyle Tricks

  Winter is the perfect time to work on your disc freestyle routine! Oh, that snow and sleet and ice outside? No worries! In this class, we will focus on teaching new tricks that can be incorporated into an...

RA280: Get Ready to Rally: Get in the Ring!

Imagine this… It’s your first time in the Novice Rally ring with your dog. You walk into the ring and you feel confident — you just know that both you and your dog are fully prepa for this moment. You set up ne...

RA545: Joy of Heeling Part Two - More Rock it like a Freestyler!

You’ve found the Joy!  Now how are you going to keep it and use it in the ring!  In Joy of Heeling Part Deux we will add some new games, start to add duration in heelwork and start to change the ratio o...

N101J: 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...

N120M: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

  Nosework / Scent Work is the popular new dog sport that is sweeping the nation, and you can get in on the fun! Our classes are taught with the method used to produce the nation's top drug and bomb dete...

NW170: Building Blocks of Nosework - Before Odor

  You, your dog, an inquiring mind and the start of a whole new world of opportunity. In this course you will learn the foundations of nosework even before you ever introduce odor. This course has been desi...

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 ...

TR101: Foundation Tracking 1

  This class covers everything the handler needs to know to get organized and get started in tracking. We will discuss topics such as equipment preferences, other equipment needed, how to develop a start rout...

BH150: Management for Reactive Dogs

  https://youtu.be/tNKvwjofJ8U This class is for learning strategies for managing and controlling dogs that are reactive to dogs and people. Helping them get over their fears is best done when you can set ...

CC280: Preventing and Addressing the Iliopsoas

  Iliopsoas injuries are unfortunately becoming a fact in many performance dogs' lives, as well as the lives of active dogs.  This course will review the reasons why so many dogs are suffering from ili...

CC310: Canine Fitness Trainer 1

  This will be the first in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an ex...

CC330: Canine Fitness Trainer 3

  This is the third in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an...

CC410: Helping Dogs Thrive: Aging Dogs

In this six-week class, you’ll learn about how to keep your aging-dog’s minds and bodies active.  Many dogs appear so much stronger and younger after going through this class. As dogs age...

FF240: Tricks for Titles

Instructor: Sara Brueske Registration courselist sessions FF240 /s

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 ...

FE370: ALL THE SPORTS: Foundation for the Cross-training Canine

This course outlines the foundation training program developed by the instructor, Sara Brueske.  This program was developed with experience training many different breeds and ages of dog to successful career...

RA560: Shape Up - Improving and Maintaining Your and Your Dog's Shaping Skills

  Both dog and handler’s shaping skills can deteriorate when not used regularly. In training, many of us focus on specific sports. Each sport has its own set of skills that we work to train to fluency in ou...

OB115: TEAM Sports Foundations - Level One

  This class is all about foundations! Start a new dog on the right foot or discover missing pieces in your training. This class is designed to cover all the exercises in TEAM level 1. The TEAM program lays...

OB135: TEAM Sports Foundations Level Two

This class continues on with the foundations begun in TEAM 1!  This class is designed to cover all the exercises in the TEAM Level 2. The TEAM program systematically lays out the building blocks for dev...

OB600: Healing Your Heeling Handling

This course is designed for experienced handlers as well as new obedience handlers that know nothing about the finer points of handling during heeling in obedience. Dogs make mistakes in heeling when they are no...

RA260: Get Ready to Rally - Foundation Skills

Welcome to the world of Rally!  In this course we will break down and teach the skills for each Novice sign, including halts and sits, fronts, finishes, turns, short heeling segments, and more! &nb...

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...

N120J: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

   Nosework is the popular new dog sport that is sweeping the nation, and you can get in on the fun! Our nosework classes are taught with the method used to produce the nation's top drug and bomb dete...

N130M: NW130 - Developing Advanced Nosework Skills

     Want to continue the Nosework fun?  Then this class is for you!   This class will have an awesome TA to assist in the study group!   This is the third skills level cours...

NW415: Nosework Handler's Choice

I asked and FDSA responded! I will be offering a Nosework Handlers Choice class and am VERY excited about it! During this 6 week course, the handler can decide on WHATEVER it is that they want to work on for th...

AG220: Building and Maintaining Stopped Contacts

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

AG225: LOVE’EM From the Start: Foundation Weaves

  Teach your dog to love the weaves right from the beginning.  This course will not only create the drive and love for the weave poles but to nail those entries and hang on to their poles even at speed...

AG230: The Tipping Point: Contacts and Teeters

  This course will take you through the steps from start to finish to create the teeter performance you have always wanted through a series of fun games.  We will also work through the Aframe and Dog W...

BH110: Dealing with the Bogeyman - Helping Fearful Reactive and Stressed Dogs

This is Amy's signature Play Way class! Is your dog brilliant at home but shuts down at the show? Or does he bark and lunge at people or dogs on walks? Does she seem generally stressed, whether frantic about it ...

CC160: Canine Sports Medicine for the Performance Dog Handler

There are many musculoskeletal injuries that can occur to performance dogs.  Some are subtle and come on gradually.  We are not really sure if there is something wrong.  Some are acute and come on ...

CC290: Dogs With Long Backs - Things You Need To Do

   Long backs in dogs come in many shapes and sizes.  There are many long backed breeds, such as Daschunds, Corgis, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and many more.  Thee are also many breeds th...

CC320: Canine Fitness Trainer 2

  This is the second in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement a...

CC340: Canine Fitness Trainer 4

This is the last in the 4 part series.  This course will discuss specific types of dogs including seniors, overweight dogs, puppies, and overly active dogs.  We will start using cases to put the four se...

CC420: Helping Dogs Thrive: Fitness in Five

  Short on time for fitness training? No worries, you only need five minutes plus a warmup and cooldown. In this class, you will learn specific fitness exercises for your dog(s). We will cover exercises to...

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...

FE355: Rock-Solid Stays for Competition & Real Life

If you find teaching movement-oriented behaviors easy but “the absence of behavior” (stays!) hard - then this class is for you!  Whether your dog is just learning stays or you’ve been struggling and you know...

OB320: Obedience Starter Games

This class is a "prequel" to the popular OB330 Obedience Games class. This is not a skills class but designed to present many short, fun, and fast paced games for beginner competition obedience training...

OB460: Shaping a Flashy and Confident Heel - Foundations

  Do you have “heeling envy”? Do you see all those prancing dogs in perfect position looking up at their handlers and wish you could teach your dog THAT? Does your dog love the pivot platform, but how DO yo...

RA310: From Good to GREAT! Increasing Your Rally Scores

You love playing rally with your dog, but sometimes you wish your scores were just a bit higher.  Imagine being able to increase your rally scores simply by incorporating some minor changes.  Did you kn...

N101M: 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 s...

N120S: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

NOTE: NW120S has been restructu in order to allow students from NW101 to catch up as needed with the help of either the Instructor (for Gold Spots) or the Teaching Assistant (for Silver & Bronze Spots). Dogs ...

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 ...

BH150: Management for Reactive Dogs

  https://youtu.be/tNKvwjofJ8U This class is for learning strategies for managing and controlling dogs that are reactive to dogs and people. Helping them get over their fears is best done when you can set ...

CC260: Those Bum Knees

  Knee problems are incibly common in dogs.  Whether the dog is a top level athlete or a professional cookie catcher at home, the knee is one of the weakest links.  Cruciate disease, ACL or CCL pr...

CC310: Canine Fitness Trainer 1

  This will be the first in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an ex...

CC330: Canine Fitness Trainer 3

  This is the third in a 4 part series of classes focused on canine fitness and conditioning. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive program that will allow you to understand and safely implement an...

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...

N101J: 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...

N120M: NW120 - Introduction to NW Search Elements

  Nosework / Scent Work is the popular new dog sport that is sweeping the nation, and you can get in on the fun! Our classes are taught with the method used to produce the nation's top drug and bomb dete...

N130S: NW130 - Developing Advanced Nosework Skills

     Want to continue the Nosework fun?  Then this class is for you!     This is the third skills level course in our nosework program and will build on the skills acqui ...

CC110: K9 Conditioning

This course will give you an understanding of basic dog anatomy, basic conditioning for dogs, and general exercises. We'll work on conditioning exercises, endurance exercises, and strengthening exercises. In addi...

OB465: Shaping a Flashy and Confident Heel - Putting the Skills Together

This class is the 3rd in a series of 3.  We've taught the foundations, both moving and stationary, and now is the time to put them all together to create the full picture! We'll be teaching turns, figure 8s,...