Fenzi Food For Thought

In this live, I unpack common misconceptions about positive reinforcement training and explain why withholding reinforcement is still a form of clear communication. I share a personal story about my early shaping mistakes and describe how good modern training sets dogs up for success without guessing. This is a call for clarity, accuracy, and respect across all training approaches.   Follow my tra...

If developing resilience requires experiencing stress, does that mean humans need to stress their dogs intentionally? Nope. We're stressing our dogs all the time, whether we mean to or not. Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Do applications of adversive occasionally benefit the dog? It should be obvious that the answer is yes, but if you're struggling with that… Listen to this one. Doesn't mean you have to run out and use them…   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

If something needs to be said, you can say it without being rude. It just takes an extra minute… that minute makes no difference between simply expressing yourself or having an impact.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

In my last live, some people misunderstood the realities of single incident learning and superstitious learning. You don't control these realities…the learner does. You want to know what they are so that you can minimize harm to your training when they show up.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

All three of my dogs learned about electric fencing - the hard way. This live is about their different reactions… And how that might impact them into the future, especially if I were a trainer who chose to use electric collars.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Learning may well be a function of reinforcers and punishers. But behavior over time? Reliability? Habit and relationship should be the end goal. That's what I talk about here.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

I sat down with a guy at a party and we talked about his reactive dog. What happened next? If you want to have intelligent dialogues with people that potentially change behavior, you might find this live interesting. Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

I talk about genetics and how dogs turn out as adults.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

About those words… Punishment, consequence, choice, structure, reinforce, strengthen… All of these words have different meanings depending on your background, training, and where you're coming from. Just because a word has a scientifically defined meaning doesn't mean that it is the "right" definition; it depends who you're talking to. A lay person definition is equally valid! look words up in the...

Do balanced trainers train (fix) dogs and positive reinforcement based trainers manage them? No. Not not at all. That's a problem with words and definitions, not actual outcomes. Do balanced trainers show their work and positive reinforcement trainers not? No. You don't know where to look. If you want to see really good positive reinforcement trainers doing cool things, you have to look in their c...

Can dogs be willful? Can they actively choose to disobey, while understanding what you want? Yes they can. Now what?   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Time. Priorities. Dog welfare. Human welfare. Guilt.  Dog trainers on social media seem out of touch with real world people and their priorities. Are we even doing our job if we don't prioritize our human clients as much as their animals? Those are things I covered here.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

No fetch? Chase but no return? No tug? Tugs but doesn't let go? Understand what motivates your dog makes training and problem-solving a lot easier. Taken further, it will set how you train each individual dog, which may be radically different than how you approached similar issues with the last dog. By comparing my Border Collie Ice and my Belgian Xen, both showing similar issues but with very dif...

Trial analysis. What went right? What went wrong? And what am I going to do about it?   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

It's been about three weeks since I brought in the new young border collie, Ice. This is an update on the integration process.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

I've got a new puppy! In this life I talk about the process of integrating him into my home, the reality of high drive dogs and puppies, handler sensitivity and hardness, etc. We covered a lot of territory!   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

The first time you compete… What's the best way to get through it?! I'll give you some ideas here.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

I shared my thoughts about how I planned to acquire my next dog, and what I will do with that dog to start my training during the first few months!   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Structure is a your friend - really. you can get your way without using physical force or mental intimidation. The end result is higher quality of life for both you and your dog.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

About that reactivity… is a given dog reactive, or simply bored? Lacking structure? Doesn't know what to do in a given circumstance? There are foundation skills that all dogs should have, and they are particularly valuable if the dog should exhibit reactive tendencies here and there. The ability to get your dog's attention is a critical foundation skill. If you can't get your dog's attention in a...

I wanted to illustrate it with the flea study but alas… It appears the flea study is not real. So I just talk about it. Habit! Most important thing you can keep in mind with your new dog or puppy. Plus a few thoughts on trying to train family.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Do you know the difference between cooperative care and low stress handling? You should! It's important if you want to maintain a trusting relationship with your dog.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

A safe walk with a dog is a function of the equipment on the dog, the leash that attaches the equipment to the handler, the size, strength, and temperament of the dog, and the environment. All of these things should be discussed with dog training clients to ensure the comfort and safety of all.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Dog Sports are not all about the dog. They are about people too! It's OK for you to seek happiness and joy, even if it doesn't mean maximizing your dog's happiness at every turn. Make it work; it's a cost of benefit analysis.   Follow my training! Instagram The High Drive Dog More online training! Fenzi Dog Sports Academy