Donna Hill, Faculty (Foundations, Electives )

Main info

Donna Hill (she/her) has had a life long love affair with dogs and a fascination with dog behavior. She has competed in agility, flyball, and rally O and teaches people to train their own service dogs. She uses a holistic approach when solving people's problems with their dogs.

Donna's classes use step by step training using text, videos and diagrams. Given her background in zoology and teaching humans, she also explains principles, biology and ethology of behavior as appropriate for each topic. Be prepared to do much reading in Donna's classes, as well as doing the practical!

Donna has broad practical experience in the dog world: volunteering and working in kennels and shelters, dog sitting and walking, fostering rescue dogs, teaching behavior modification privately, and teaching reactive dog classes. She stays current in dog behavior and learning by regularly attending seminars by top trainers and researchers.

She is probably best known for her two Youtube channels (supernaturalbc2008 and supernaturalbc2009). She was also the past group owner of the Facebook group "Observation Skills for Training Dogs." She is active locally as co-founder and professional member of Professional Animal Care Training Association BC (PACTABC) and the founder and instructor for Vancouver Island Assistance Dogs (Now Service Dog Training Institute).

With her own dogs and other pets, Donna loves to apply learning theory (R+) when teaching a wide variety of sports, games, tricks, and other activities such as cycling and service dog tasks. She loves using shaping to get new behaviors. Her teaching skill is in keeping the big picture in mind while using creativity to define the small steps to help the learner succeed. She is a splitter!

Join Donna in one of her classes and find out how much fun (and success) positive reinforcement training and learning observation skills can be for everyone!

Pronouns: Donna goes by she/her.

Why choose us?

We offer a variety of online training solutions designed to help you and your furry friend achieve success

World Class Trainers

Learn from professionals with years of experience in canine behavior

Proven methods

Science-backed positive reinforcement techniques that actually work

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Engaging lessons

Keep training exciting with interactive exercises and games

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I have struggled to find a trainer in my area that would consistently work with my reactive dog. We often got dumped in the summer, classes cancelled, or was told that we weren't part of the trainers focus. I thought that I would never be able to improve my training beyond reading and watching DVDs. I thought that I would never get personal feedback. I felt discouraged and excluded from the dog training community. I thought that I would always have mediocre training and a mediocre relationship with my dog. A friend recommended FDSA and I enrolled in "It's All Tricks" with Deborah Jones at Gold level. In 6 weeks my dog has become more confident than I've ever seen her. She is more motivated and eager to learn. Furthermore, my confidence as a trainer has improved. I finally feel like I have a resource that I can rely on. At FDSA it doesn't matter that my dog is reactive, we can finally work on exercises that would have been completely inaccessible before. Deb has been absolutely wonderful to work with. She provides kind, encouraging and constructive feedback with meaningful critique. This experience has been the epitome of what I have always dreamt that training my dog would be. I cannot be thankful enough to have discovered FDSA. It has given my dog and I a second chance at having a successful, meaningful relationship. I cannot wait to enroll in more classes. I wasn't so certain that online classes would be REALLY useful - I am blown away by how much one can learn and implement through the online system - certainly makes it possible to participate in novel learning experiences that would not otherwise be available!

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As a newbie to dog sports I find the Fenzi academy an incredible way to get the best instruction from a wealth of knowledgable instructors with no intimidation or sense that I can't participate in a class alongside excellent seasoned trainers.

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Love the Fenzi Academy! It's great that finally there is a place where force free trainers can get good, detailed instruction, support and be part of a community. The material covered is up to date and fully relevant - no 'hocus pocus' just good, solid science and understanding of dog behviour. Also love the online FB groups; everyone is so supportive!

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