Fenzi Food For Thought

Catch me here telling stories, conversing with curious and warm-hearted friends, breaking down barriers in the training world, and of course, sharing my love for these amazing beings we share our lives with: the dogs! I'd love to hear from you! Instagram: @denisefenzi Dog training: @fenzidogsportsacademy @thehighdrivedog

Beyond Reinforcement and Punishment 06/06/2025

Beyond Reinforcement and Punishment 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36895570

Conversations About Reactive Dogs 05/30/2025

Conversations About Reactive Dogs 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36792800

What is "Not Fine" For a Dog? 05/17/2025

What is "Not Fine" For a Dog? I talk about genetics and how dogs turn out as adults. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36610205

Dog Training Jargon 05/04/2025

Dog Training Jargon 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 dictionary… That should clarify things for you. Words have multiple meanings. The goal of language is to communicate and be understood. If your goal is to be understood rather than to be right, it’s critically important to know the different ways that these words are used. Not only their definitions, but their connotations. If you have that understanding, you’ll have sensible conversations. If you don’t, you might be right all day long, but you won’t be understood. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36427440

Training Outcomes in the Dog World 04/25/2025

Training Outcomes in the Dog World 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 circles. That’s what I talk about here. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36316895

Can Dogs Be Willful? 04/20/2025

Can Dogs Be Willful? Can dogs be willful? Can they actively choose to disobey, while understanding what you want? Yes they can. Now what? Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36236485

Balancing Priorities in the Dog World 04/13/2025

Balancing Priorities in the Dog World 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36116505

Understand What Motivates Your Dog 04/06/2025

Understand What Motivates Your Dog 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 different resolutions, I hope to illustrate these points in this live. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/36025655

Trial Analysis 03/28/2025

Trial Analysis Trial analysis. What went right? What went wrong? And what am I going to do about it? Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35914930

Puppy Integration 03/22/2025

Puppy Integration 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35820535

I Have a Puppy! 03/07/2025

I Have a Puppy! 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35583005

Getting Through Your First Competition 02/26/2025

Getting Through Your First Competition The first time you compete… What’s the best way to get through it?! I’ll give you some ideas here. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35382785

Raising a Puppy 02/21/2025

Raising a Puppy 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35381365

Structure 02/15/2025

Structure 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35291950

Reactive or bored? 02/07/2025

Reactive or bored? 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 given environment, you probably should not be there. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35199310

Habit 02/01/2025

Habit 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/35110785

Cooperative Care vs. Low Stress Handling 01/24/2025

Cooperative Care vs. Low Stress Handling 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34998760

Safe Walks 01/20/2025

Safe Walks 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34898845

Who are dog sports really for? 01/17/2025

Who are dog sports really for? 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! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34898655

Puppy Genetics 01/03/2025

Puppy Genetics I’m in camp “genetics” over environment. Take a listen to this one if you want to understand how I got here. Plus, a little bit on selecting a puppy from a breeder. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34683665

A Quick Look in the Mirror 01/01/2025

A Quick Look in the Mirror A quick look in the mirror… Are you doing the same things that you accuse others of? Behaving emotionally rather than rationally? Ignoring facts that don’t fit the narrative that you want to drive forward? Probably. It’s the human condition, and we all do it. The trick is to become aware of that, and maybe do better into the future. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34682500

Force Free Beyond Training 12/14/2024

Force Free Beyond Training This live is my plea to apply a force free philosophy to entire life and not just to your dog training. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34447880

Critical Thinking 12/07/2024

Critical Thinking Apparently, folks are very capable of critical thinking skills! When they’re motivated. How can we be motivated to show critical thinking all the time? Even when we’re not not sure we like the conclusions. Especially when we’re not sure we like the conclusions! Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34328565

How and why science matters and where does it fit in the big picture? 11/23/2024

How and why science matters and where does it fit in the big picture? How and why science matters to those of us deeply vested in the Dog community. Plus other stuff. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/34115741

Facing Bias in the Dog World 11/15/2024

Facing Bias in the Dog World So many thoughts. How can we learn to be more critical learners, observers, and communicators? How can we face our own bias and become stronger as a result? Who can we talk to when we have questions? Covered a lot of territory in this one. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33949082

Learn About People 11/09/2024

Learn About People Maybe allow people who are different into your world, and then you can learn about them. Learn about people, and you can have an impact. Don’t allow people into your world and don’t learn about them? Then you can’t do much beyond ignoring (best case scenario) or antagonizing (worst case) others who feel differently than you. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33856572

Do aversives cause aggression? 11/02/2024

Do aversives cause aggression? Do aversives cause aggression? If so, why are famous trainers using them and showing well-balanced dogs? What does the research say? I’m not a scientist, so mostly I can tell you what I see around me, and my thoughts on the matter. If you’re interested, check it out. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33757087

Different Opinions for Different Animals 10/18/2024

Different Opinions for Different Animals Should dogs roam the neighborhood? How about near busy roads? How about a quiet rural area? How about chickens - can they roam? Why or why not? If someone else has a different opinion about this than you for each type of animal, how might you change their perspective via education and perspective taking? Or do you opt for embarrassment and shaming? How’s that working? Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33520127

Can We Stop Talking About "Them"? 10/12/2024

Can We Stop Talking About "Them"? I hope those of us in the Dog industry stop talking about “them”. “They” can speak for themselves. If you have a question, ask “them.” When you make assumptions about why people do what they do, or say nasty things about their character because they don’t share your opinions? That reflects on you and it makes it very difficult to have honest conversations when you’re present because you ruin goodwill, listening and striving for understanding. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33432107

Relationship-Based Training 10/03/2024

Relationship-Based Training What relationship-based training means to me. I give the example of an informal recall with my dog. Follow my training! More online training! /episode/index/show/fenzifoodforthought/id/33322217

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