Fenzi Courses

[Southpaw]

I'm really liking this class so far if for nothing else than the fact that it's given me something to think about. I know Cajun likes food play but I don't ever really utilize it... so we did some of that, incorporated it into our training session which she LOVED, and then once her excitement was up I was able to get some personal play from her which can be difficult to do. She was really in heaven!

 

[Southpaw]

I.... just signed up for Get Focused.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

There is no need for me to be signed up for 3 training classes at the same time. :yikes:

 

[amberdyan]

I.... just signed up for Get Focused.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME.

There is no need for me to be signed up for 3 training classes at the same time. :yikes:

I'm still considering that one!

Let me know if you like it.

 

[Southpaw]

I'm excited about it because the dog were stalking in relationship building is also a gold in this class! And once again is a Cajun twin.

So far from the couple of lectures it looks like lots of good info

 

[amberdyan]

Okay, I think I'm going to do it.

(clearly I needed a lot of convincing, lol)

 

[Southpaw]

Okay, I think I'm going to do it.

(clearly I needed a lot of convincing, lol)

Hahahaha I'm the same way

The biggest sticking point so far is that "lack of focus" is divided into 3 major groups, and then those groups each have like 5 subcategories... it's been really interesting to look at it, see where my dog fits in and analyze where the focus issue is actually stemming from.

 

[amberdyan]

Hahahaha I'm the same way

The biggest sticking point so far is that "lack of focus" is divided into 3 major groups, and then those groups each have like 5 subcategories... it's been really interesting to look at it, see where my dog fits in and analyze where the focus issue is actually stemming from.

Hmm... That sounds really really helpful. Hugo sort of "checks out" even in a non distracting environment sometimes. I'm never sure if I'm not using a valuable reward, if I'm asking too much, if he's overwhelmed, etc. Signing up tonight!

 

[Southpaw]

That was my hang up with deciding whether or not I should take this class - I kind of kept trying to play typical scenarios in my head and asking myself "do we really have issues with focus?" I guess in my head, anytime we have a problem with something I just think well, the behavior(s) isn't trained well enough. Now I'm starting to think that may be A component, but that probably we have a ton of other things we can address!

And that was just what I got from skimming through things for 10 minutes before I had to get to bed last night LOL haven't had a chance today yet to REALLY look things over!

 

[Elrohwen]

Is anyone else a bit confused by the prey drive class so far? I'm sure there's a bigger point to the games presented, but so far it just seems like kind of a basic shaping class.

And I need to take more videos for my training excellene class! I feel like I'm already falling behind. I meant to do one on Tuesday but I was so tired and lost track of time. Last night we did practice, but we had done an hour long class already and I didn't video because I knew it wouldn't go well. So I'll definitely get a video tonight.

I learned that Watson cannot open his mouth to take the dumbbell while keeping his butt on the floor. lol

 

[cellardoor]

Is anyone else a bit confused by the prey drive class so far? I'm sure there's a bigger point to the games presented, but so far it just seems like kind of a basic shaping class.

Yes. Really confused. I sort of wish all the lectures/games were posted at once so that I could look ahead and gather a sense of how these little pieces will come together, because right now I feel in the dark.

 

[Elrohwen]

Yes. Really confused. I sort of wish all the lectures/games were posted at once so that I could look ahead and gather a sense of how these little pieces will come together, because right now I feel in the dark.

I kind of felt like that with the focus class too. It started with some super simple little games and I just didn't understand the point. And I'm learning that I'm not one to follow through if I don't understand "why".

 

[xpaeanx]

Yes. Really confused. I sort of wish all the lectures/games were posted at once so that I could look ahead and gather a sense of how these little pieces will come together, because right now I feel in the dark.

I'm not sure how they will piece together towards the end, but I'm not particularly confused by them.

I'll use agility as an example, we do all kinds of small foundation things that when taken by themselves seem to make no sense in terms of the end goal. However doing them first is what ensures success at the end.

Since this is a two part class, I'm taking the games as strictly foundation exercises that will then be integrated into the end plan. Since this is a new subject for me, I can't say how it will go. But I do like that she uses foundation exercises because I have found that that type of training really creates a solid behavior--it just takes longer and that sucks.

That said if you're really upset by it, maybe email the instructor? Or Denise Fenzi ? Or even post on the FB group and see if one of the golds or silvers will ask a question for you. I've found that they've always been more than happy to ask questions as others tend to chirp in and feel the same way. Also the instructor is on the FB group and while she doesn't answer seem to answer super technical questions she will answer if she feels she needs to.

 

[Elrohwen]

I've seen comments on the FB page about other people being confused as well. Haha.

Other than holding still with a toy (which we're working on separately as part of a retrieve in the Training Excellence class), Watson has the other foundation stuff so far and a long history of scent detection training, which she emphasizes. So I guess I'm just going to wait and see where it goes.

 

[amberdyan]

I'm confused about how it's all going to be pieced together, but I think I'm just trusting that it will. I get how to play the games, I just don't get the purpose of them (yet). I know she states what they're trying to accomplish in the lectures (like letting a dog control it's environment for the first game) I just don't really know how that's going to apply to prey drive down the road.

I will say that I'm not a huge fan of the videos. A few of them seems more confusing than the basing it off of written speech. For this most recent game there isn't a video of the dog actually playing the game. This is my first online training course though, so I don't know if there are usually videos. I just assumed there would be.

ETA: Based on the syllabus, I'm pretty excited about next week. It looks like it will fun.

 

[Elrohwen]

I've done a couple classes with a few different instructors and it varies a bit. Denise tends to include a ton of videos, because she has some of her own dogs and from seminars she's taught (which brings in lots of dogs of all ages and breeds). Other instructors include less, or add videos as they go when they realize things need to be more clear (I think the focus class had a lot of additional stuff added).

In my Training Excellence class, there's almost no point in watching the instructor's videos, because we're each working on what we want to work on. So she can show us a training sessions she did working on scent articles with her dog, but my own training session will be completely different (and her dogs are way better trained than mine and make things look easy). It is definitely useful to watch the other Gold people though.

 

[amberdyan]

Watching gold videos has been what's the most helpful to me. I'm stalking one dog who reacted as closely as I thought Hugo would have in the given situation, lol.

 

[monkeys23]

I'm in get focused too! Are you guys bronze too?

Really liking the in depth examining of the whys behind individual focus issues. I still need to write mine up and post to lurker group, but so far having fun.

Scout did fine with me videoing our first 30sec session this morning, but I tried again in a spot 10 feet away from the first one and she shut down completely. Oh speshul dog... So Lily got to work for ten extra cookies since I had leftovers!

It is really frustrating not being able to film Scout half the time and when I do I always wonder what responses are influenced by the camera presence... and yes we've been cc-ing and oc-ing good associations with the camera consistently for YEARS.

Oh well, I'm more worried about addressing Lily's focus issues anyway. Particularly how some of her frustrations about having to go on exercise walks with Scout because we can't leave her come (and can't always find someone to sit with her) out as focus issues. Those aren't all our focus issues, but its the one I really want to address this term.

 

[Southpaw]

Yep we're in bronze And just joined the lurker group last night. I was gonna sit down last night and do the homework in a word document but just got lazy lol. But that's cool we're doing the exercises, I just wish the weather didn't suck so bad so I had motivation to do it away from the house.

I also would like to videotape but again... I'm terrible and it's easier not to!

 

[PWCorgi]

I have $260 riding on the idea that the prey stuff will come together, so it had better! :rofl1:

That said, I'm not too worried. I can't imagine Fenzi lets just anyone teach a class there, this lady probably knows what she's doing.

 

[amberdyan]

I have $260 riding on the idea that the prey stuff will come together, so it had better! :rofl1:

That said, I'm not too worried. I can't imagine Fenzi lets just anyone teach a class there, this lady probably knows what she's doing.

I'm sure it will. Plus I LOVE the new game posted today. I think it makes total sense and is one of the big things I'm wanting to work with Hugo on. We started a bit this morning and he was pretty successful is short chunks. Can't wait to add duration this weekend!