Denise Fenzi

Lyra - 13 to15 weeks - generalization

You know my doggy genius?  Well, she's only that way at home. When we take the show on the road, she looks a lot like every other puppy.  She's fascinated...
Read more

Lyra - 14 weeks - re-evaluating my plan

Here are a few things I've learned or changed  in the past few weeks. I'm using more food.  What can I say...it works.  When I call her into the house,...
Read more

Lyra - 13.5 weeks scent discrimination

She's a doggy genius! It took Lyra about a week to grasp the basics of scent discrimination.  This video shows the steps I took her through: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8ownH511o Take the food...
Read more

Why would any trainer....

allow their dog to hit them so hard during training that they were bruised? That's a really good question and I'd like to answer it.  Some of you have asked...
Read more

Dog Trainer or Victim

Unusual day today.  To give you some context for what happened, check out this short (8 sec) video clip from yesterday: I'm working on Raika's "drive with control".  The training...
Read more

Lyra 13.5 weeks - play to work to play

Lyra has made great progress in her play and work skills. She consistently returns her toys to me - all types of toys including tug toys and stuffie toys. She knows what...
Read more

Lyra's socialization - the role of Environmental Cues

Someone recently asked me if I allow Lyra to socialize with other dogs.  The answer is, “it depends”.  With my own dogs, she has full access.  Since my dogs do...
Read more

Lyra - Blending Behaviors at 12 weeks 6 days

When Lyra showed some proficiency at a series of small behaviors, I wanted to string a few together.  I am starting by teaching her to pick the dumbbell up from...
Read more