Not able to find a trainer near you? Or want to do training from the comfort of your own home?

My personal favorite option is FDSA (Fenzi Dog Sports Academy). They offer live 6 week classes, 10 day Workshops, Webinars and On Demand classes. Another plus for their classes is that there is a strong FB Group community of trainers/owners that support and provide advice to eachother. Go through their course schedule, and I promise there will be a topic/class that would be interesting for you and your dog! Take the leap, you will get hooked 🙂

Types Of Courses

• Agility
• Obedience
• Rally
• Nosework
• And so much more!

Registration Types

Okay, if you are looking to register, the next step is determining what type of subscription you get… Below are my personal opinions for how to choose the best fit for you.

The Gold Subscriptions are the most similar to an in person class. Every week the trainer will upload a class lecture (and videos), there will be “homework”. You will video your “homework” training session. And your Trainer will review your training session and give you individual and personalized advice, suggestions, and answer questions. No one is judging you if life get’s busy, or you are unable to do your “homework”. But to get the most out of the subscription you want to stay engaged and on top of the lectures and homework weekly. Also Gold subscriptions have limited seats, so they do sell out (and fast) for popular classes. If you are interested in a class, make sure to set a timer for the Date and Time of registration – and be ready to click Enroll!

The Bronze Subscription are best if you want to take the class casually. Maybe you really want to learn the content at your own pace, or keep the course in your library for reference. You do not get to submit any training videos, or recieve individual feedback from the instructor. But through the class forum you can view the videos and responses of the Gold students. So if someone has a dog with similar personality or questions/issues you face, it can be helpful to see how the trainer addresses it through following along. Majority of the time there are also dedicated class Facebook Groups, so sometimes Bronze students use that as an area to submit their training videos – feedback may be from a Teaching Assistant (TA) or fellow classmates, you will not get Instructor feedback. There are unlimited Bronze seats, so you can register at any time, and at $65 per class it is a steal of a deal!

What to Expect

The Fenzi Dog Sports Academy facebook page has a video on what to expect from the online class – check it out!

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NACSW (often referred to as the “gold standard” for nose work) has a very robust Education Division that provides links directly to their certified instructor directory.

If you aren’t about to find a Nosework trainer from the Event & Trainer Map, you can search the NACSW Directory, they have hundreds of certified instructors in their Directory (https://k9nosework.com/find-an-instructor-or-class/)

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Known Bugs/Issues

Event Map

1. For Some AKC Events the End Dates are sometimes before the Event Start Date. For some events the Trial Entry Closing Date was inadvertently added as the Event End Date. – Not yet fixed.
2. Trials that have past the “Open Date” should no longer appear.
3. NACSW events with the same Start and End date have a default value of 1970 selected for end date. To do, include logic to use the same start date as end date for events without a date range.

To report any bugs or issues please sent it through the Feedback Form, thank you in advance!!

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Backlog for next major Version

• Map should auto zoom out/in when the “refresh” button is pressed, based on the distance filter selected.
• Provide multiple item select for Event Types. (e.g. Allow the ability to select Nosework and Rat Sports events)

Behind the Magic

Data is pulled into the map from a variety of sources dog sport organization event calendars.

• AKC (Performance Sports – for All Breeds)
• UKC (Nosework & Precision Coursing)
• NACSW – Nosework
• NADD – Dock Diving
• Barn Hunt – Rat Sports
• NASDA – Rat Sports

Depending on the type of website there are varying levels of difficulty to compile this information, you may see ‘all events’ currently published (it may extend through next year) or I may cut off the data load at a certain month.

Data is (roughtly) added the first week of each month. Between the dates of upload there may be changes published to the events. Always refer to the source organization or host club’s information for the latest updates, shown in Yellow highlighter.

Feedback

If you have a favorite dogsport organization that you want to see included it please take this survey. I will use the survey information to prioritize which additional dog sports events to add into the FidoEvents Map.

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Car Sun Shade Options

Staples – For the Dog

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Are you curious if your dog will like this sport?

Agility is a fast pace, fun activity to do with your dog! Below are some suggestions on how to get a taste of Agility at home, and see if it is something you might want to pursue further.

Puppy owner: Your dogs development and safety is important, doing agility jumps is something you don’t want to start with your puppy until they are over 12 months of age. But you can do the same activities with the bar on the ground.

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Games

Games are a great way to build your dog’s drive, practice focus, and grow the owner/handler and dog bond! Your pup should know a couple foundational commands before starting Agility. Your dog will run off leash, so a good Recall (or “Come”) is important. And Crate Trained; they should be able to remain in the crate calmly while you are sitting close by. Ideally they can remain calm in the crate when you are out of sight as well.

“Feet”

This game teaches your dog to put his feet on a target location with a (farm) feed bowl, the skill can then be transferred to flat and smaller objects. In agility it can be useful to give you dog an ‘end’ point. e.g. he is running out of a tunnel and by sight and/or command and you want him to keep driving forward, the bowl can be used as that ‘stopping’ point.

For this activity you need a bowl (like this one, suitable for large dogs). Or choose something similar from home that has rubber/non sliding bottom and non slip rim. The object also needs to be study enough for your dog’s weight.

1. Prep – Grab some treats, clicker (if desired), and put the Bowl upside down on the ground
2. Lure your dog with the treat in-hand so that your moves forward and stands with his two front paws on the bowl.
3. When the two paws hit the bowl, use the Clicker or marker word (e.g. “Yes!”) and feed the treat.
4. To get him off of the bowl throw a treat into the ground next to you
5. When your dog is getting onto the bowl consistently use the marker word (“Feet” or your word of choice) before he gets onto the bowl
6. Rinse and Repeat!

• To increase the distance, after he gets on the bowl for his treat, try throwing the ‘reset’ treat further away from the bowl.
• Also vary your location, step by step move further away from the bowl. Keep with the marker word (“Feet”) and continue to pay him his treat at the bowl.

Links

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What To Do Next

• Register your dog for the Association that holds the Trial. (e.g AKC, UKC, Barn Hunt Association, NASDA, NACSW)
• Fill out the Entry Form to the dog club that is hosting the event.
  • Many trials require paper entries (so find your checkbook and stamps!)
  • If your sport is popular, read the trial details (Premium) on how entries will be selected, this will impact when you should submit your entry. (Random Draw, First Received, Day Of Entries, etc)
• You will likely receive an email after the entry ‘closing’ date with notice if you did or did not get into the trial.
  • If you haven’t heard anything, contact your Trial Secretary
  • Many folks whom hold trials also have day jobs, so be patient with response times.
• If you got into the trial (yay, congrats!) you will receive more details from the Trial Secretary a week or two before the event date.
  • what time to check in, where to park, where to potty your dog, etc

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Prep Before The Trial

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What To Bring To The Trial

• Aluminet to cover your car and keep it cool (many people crate their dogs in their car, with the trunk/windows open)
• Camping Chair
• Portable Kennel (to crate your dog when waiting)
• Water bowl
• Treat bag with treats
• Extra dog food (you might be out/on the road during feeding time)
• Spare leash/collar (just in case)
• Poop Bags

Favorites – For the Doggo

Favorites – For You

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Summary

Dock Diving is a fun, exciting, and easy sport – especially if your dog can jump fearlessly into water after their favorite toy! You throw your dog’s favorite toy into a pool while he waits on a dog about 40 ft long. On your command he chases after the toy by jumping off of the platform, landing in the water and grabbing his toy. The dog with the furthest jump wins!

This sport is ideal for water loving dogs, and toy retrievers!

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Stats

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Highlights

• Fun sport to watch and play.
• For dogs of all shapes and sizes.
• You may get wet, dress accordingly!

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Examples of Dock Diving

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Organizations

• North America Diving Dogs (NADD)– US and Canada
  • AKC recognizes titles from NADD
• United Kennel Club (UKC Dock Jumping)
• Ultimate Air Dogs – US

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The Lingo

Trials = an event where a dog sport competition is held.

Classes = In the Trial there may be different “Classes” or types of competitions. (e.g. a “Class” for dogs performing at the Novice, Advanced, Master, levels) The types of Classes vary per sport.

Premium = A document (usually in PDF form) that contains details about the event.; Where the event is held, when you can submit your entry form, what types of Classes are offered, who the judges are, how much the event costs, etc. And very important, The last 2 pages usually contain a blank entry form to fill out.

Q = Qualifying = successfully completing the Class trial.

Legs = Many sports require achieving 3 Qualifying completions to move onto the next Class level (e.g. Moving from Novice to Advanced). Each Qualifying class would be a Leg.

FEO = For Exhibition Only, if you want to have the environment of the trial, without being part of the ‘competition’ you can sign up for classes as FEO. For example, if you and your dog want to practice in the ‘ring’ and environment, without the added mental pressure that come’s with a competition. FEO entries cost the same price as a normal entry, and spots are usually given only if there is empty space in the trial.

Suggestions for things to add? Drop me an email! (trish@fidoevents.com)

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Are you curious if your dog will like this sport?

While you don’t need formal training, these at home activities will get your dog excited at home or for the upcoming trial.

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Toys

Flirt Pole

Home Lure Coursing

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Games

Games are a great way to build your dog’s drive, practice focus, and grow the owner/handler and dog bond!

Building Foundational Skills

Chasing a lure is great fun for the dog, but it can also be an opportunity to teach or practice skills like “drop” or a release cue, like “chase” or “get it”.

• Drop It – Once your dog catches the lure, practice a cue for releasing the toy. Make sure the lure/toy is stopped. By freezing the movement the toy becomes boring (because it “died”), and when the dog releases give a treat and/or praise. If you dog is very motivated by the game, just the action of restarting the play will be reward enough. When the dog is quickly letting go, start adding the verbal cue of your choice, like “drop it”.
• Chase – If your dog loves the flirt pole or lure run, they are probably bouncing off the walls to get it lure. Adding a cue to when it is OK to go and chase will help build your dogs impulse control. Keep the toy steady in your hand/away from where he can steal it. If he is jumping or acting crazy, waiting him out until he becomes still (a stand or a sit). Once he is still, say the release cue word (e.g. Get It) the same time you start the lure/flirt pole toy. You can vary it up, but adding longer pauses before giving the cue.

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