DS525 Six New Indoor Teaching Games for Retriever Sports

Want to play some retriever games with me?! I have 5 brand new indoor games for building awesome retriever sport skills. And we have a 6th game I've taught before on Honoring.

Course Details

Want to play some retriever games with me?! I have 5 brand new indoor games for building awesome retriever sport skills. And we have a 6th game I've taught before on Honoring.

In this new class, we play one indoor game per week that builds or practices concrete skills we need for the retriever field.

These games are great for all levels of trainers - beginner, intermediate or advanced.

All great trainers start big complex skill sets inside, as learning games! I like to take this to the next level for my competition retrievers. Indoor games are a perfect way to build skills AND keep them polished!

What's In Store?

This year, we have new games that help you practice the big and small mechanical skills that make outdoor success possible. They cover the most common challenges people have AND they are easy to transfer outdoors and scale up to test size proportions. Check out the syllabus for more details!

Game 1 : Heel to the Line! Plus Temptations.

Game 2 : Marks With Blinds

Game 3 : Whistle While You Work

Game 4 : Casting Mechanics

Game 5 : Handler Mechanics for Lining

Game 6 : Honoring thy Neighbor

Teaching Approach & Sample Lecture:

Each week you will get a new game to train and get feedback to help you polish that skill. Bronze students will get to view the Gold and Silver student submissions and my feedback for those.

Each game will have one or more video lessons and a written description.

When you submit your own video homework as a Gold or Silver participant, I will review it with your specific details and past experiences in mind - meeting you where you are in your journey and helping you bridge to the next level. My goal is to have fun and make sure our dogs are having fun, too! I want my training to be game-like and create great accuracy with a lot of joy!

SAMPLE LECTURE:

Layer 5 : Heel step by step Forward To A Prize

Video Lesson:

Syllabus

Week One:

Game 1 : Heel to the Line! Plus Temptations.

Practice heeling to the line TOGETHER with the pull of temptation out in front of you both. Build great awareness of each other, while focusing forward toward the field - without repeated cueing.

Learn to use your body's motion or stopping as a cue for the dog to stay with you, no matter what's attracting her attention in front of you.

Week Two:

Game 2 : Marks With Blinds

This game lets you practice building your dog's memory for doubles and triples as well as running a cold blind after running a marked retrieve - all inside your house with treats or toys.

There are lots of things you can practice with this game! Blinds behind the mark, blinds run past the old fall, and even under the arc of a mark!

Week Three:

Game 3 : Whistle While You Work

Practice getting great whistle sits, while your dog is in prey drive mode. Don't worry, it's all indoors and actual prey is not required. We make it fun to choose to sit - even when something they really want is in motion! A great way to help your dog practice thinking during a distracting moment.

Week Four:

Game 4 : Casting Mechanics

Getting the dog to look at you and wait for the cast and actually think about the accurate response. This is a challenge when outside - but indoors, we can teach this at close range, with rewarding outcomes!

This helps with Spin Direction accuracy - Left vs Right Backs and Angle Accuracy - Same side, Over vs Back

Week Five:

Game 5 : Handler Mechanics for Lining

Super valuable game to build your line communication skills for blinds and memory marks. All with food bowls and treats. You learn from your dog and your dog learns from you. Both of you gain clear cuing and accuracy for lining.

Week Six:

Game 6 : Honoring thy Neighbor

This is a set of Indoor games that build foundation layers for Honoring another working team. And they really do work!! Great to practice with a friend and their dog. Or with your own 2nd dog or extra house human.


Instructors

Jennifer Henion (she/her), KPA CTP has been playing and studying the US retriever sports for 13 years with 6 different dogs. All of whom have achieved Hunt Test titles...

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Registration

Choose the plan that fits your goals and start learning at your own pace.

Gold

$260

Enrollment limit: 12

  • Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
  • Read all posted questions and answers
  • Watch all posted videos
  • Post general questions to discussion forum
  • Submit written assignments
  • Post dog specific questions
  • Post videos (unlimited)
  • Receive instructor feedback

Registration dates:

November 22, 2025 - December 15, 2025

Enroll

Silver

$130

Enrollment limit: 25

  • Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
  • Read all posted questions and answers
  • Watch all posted videos
  • Post general questions to discussion forum
  • Post dog specific questions (video only)
  • Post videos (up to 2)
  • Receive instructor feedback

Registration dates:

November 22, 2025 - December 15, 2025

Enroll

Bronze

$65

Enrollment limit: Unlimited

  • Access to all lectures and homework forums discussion
  • Read all posted questions and answers
  • Watch all posted videos

Registration dates:

November 22, 2025 - December 15, 2025

Enroll

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I live in a remote area several hours away from experienced positive competitive obedience dog trainers, so Fenzi Academy gives me a great opportunity to get instruction from some of the best positive reinforcement trainers in the country. My current dog is getting a much better foundation than my previous dogs due to having access to this great instruction. Thank you! It is amazing to realize that Internet training isn't "second best". The success of training through video and critiques and lectures is nothing short of amazing. Thank you for bringing this quality of instruction to everyone, regardless of their geographical location The class was thoughtfully planned with just enough material each week to keep us busy but not overwhelmed. The lectures and videos were clear and easy to follow. Can't wait for the next class!

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