Frequently Asked Questions
Table of Contents
Courses
- Getting Started
- Pick a Class
- Enrolling & Registration
- Payments & Refunds
- Student FAQ
- Forums & Videos
- Webinars
- Connect with Us
Getting Started
We have the following paid learning products:
Six-week-long classes: These are broken into three levels that range in price from $65-$260. These sessions run every second month (beginning on the 1st) with a different set of available classes. If you can stick around and stay engaged for six weeks, they are your best value. Classes are a combination of written lectures and video examples released over the six week period. There is no set class time and the lecture information can be viewed at your convenience during the six weeks. The instructor videos illustrate the lecture rather than being the lecture.
Self-Study Classes: These are priced at $50 are primarily are classes that have been previously taught in our six-week-long class format but are no longer offered in that format by the instructor. The self-study versions include all of the course materials provided by the instructor and generally contain written lectures with video examples. Students will have access to all of the course lectures after purchase. There is no access to the instructor and there are no class forums.
FDSA Workshops: These are broken into two price levels; $29.95 or $39.95. The higher price point allows you to submit questions and a video for instructor review. The lower price point allows you to ask questions. Workshops involve a prerecorded lecture of about an hour in length which is always released on a Sunday and can be viewed at your convenience. The instructor will include specific steps for the students to attempt with their own dogs to learn the skill under consideration. The following Sunday student submissions, both videos and questions, are due to the instructor. The instructor then creates another recording to answer your questions and review videos. These are an excellent option for students who find it too difficult to stay motivated and on track with a full six week long class, and also a great option for students who need feedback but cannot afford a gold spot in a six week long class.
Webinars: Webinars have one price point of $19.95. They are run on Thursday evenings at 3pm or 6pm Pacific time. Webinars take a topic and look at a specific and narrow slice of that topic, OR they give an overview of a topic. If you attend live, you may ask questions after the lecture. All students will receive the recording into their webinar library about two days later.
Pet Dog Training On Demand: Our on Demand Pet Dog Training Presentations are available individually at $18.95, in Starter Packs of 2 for $29.95, as Combo 6 Packs for $65 or as an entire set for $260. These presentations address important pet dog life skills in approximately one hour long videos. These videos will be stored in your Class and Workshop library under Self-Study.
Pet Professional Workshops: These on-demand videos have only one price point at $19.95. They include a prerecorded lecture of about an hour in length and a feedback video reviewing prior student questions and homework. PPP workshops assume a professional trainer, but it is not required! Anyone can take these workshops and apply the materials to their personal situation. The topics in the PPP program tend to focus on house manners, general pet skills and behavior. There is also a heavy emphasis on how to teach others most effectively. These workshops are found on the Pet Dog Training page.
To register for any of these paid options go to the FDSA website. Log in. Look at the black bar at the top and you will find each one; 6 week courses, webinars, Pet Dog Training, FDSA workshops. Pick what you want and go from there!
We offer three enrollment levels for our courses. They differ in the amount of interaction with the course instructors and other students.
Gold Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to post questions and videos specific to your dog in the homework forum.
The ability to participate with other gold or silver students in the class discussion forum.
Instructor feedback on both written questions and video assignments.
Price = $260
Silver Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to participate with other gold or silver students in the class discussion forum.
The ability to post general clarification questions on course materials to the class discussion forum.
The ability to post general clarification questions regarding gold student threads to the class discussion forum.
The ability to submit a total of two, one-minute videos for instructor feedback.
Any questions about your dog/situation MUST be accompanied by the allotted allowable videos.
Price = $130
Bronze Level Access
Access to all course lecture and video materials.
The ability to read all questions and answers posted in the class homework and discussion forums.
Bronze students will not post questions or submit written or video assignments.
Bronze students will not have any feedback from the course instructor.
Price = $65
We run new sessions starting on the first day every two months (February, April, June, August, October, December). The individual classes offered are decided by the instructors. Visit our schedule for more information on available classes.
Classes are six weeks long. During that period, you will have complete 24-hour access and may access the materials at your convenience. After class ends, homework and discussion forums are locked and you will have read access for approximately six more weeks before they are removed. We do not transfer or archive any forum materials. All instructor lecture materials will transfer to your acitve Class and Workshop library after class completes. (see info on library pass for time limits).
Each student is automatically given a library pass for one year from the point of enrollment in a course (including workshops and self-study classes). When a course is completed the instructor lecture materials will be moved to the “library” and can be viewed as long as your library pass is active. You can keep your library pass current by enrolling in at least one class or workshop a year. If a student does not make a purchase within one year then their library goes into “hibernation”. Access to your library can be restored by purchasing a new course/workshop/self-study item or students may choose to purchase a library pass for $25. Please note that the forum portion of classes is not included in your library pass; that material is removed six weeks after class ends.
Please note that under very rare circumstances that are beyond the control of FSDA, it can happen that a class is removed from the library, or video links may end up broken. If this happens FDSA will not provide a refund or credit. When you sign up for a class, you are paying for the “live” version of the class, which includes the lecture materials, the forums, and the instructor feedback. The library is a courtesy which we provide, but for which we do not take responsibility. We encourage students to take courses when they have the time to work through the material.
Our Thursday night Webinars also have a library system with the same properties as the classes/workshops but it is a separate library. A class/workshop will activate the class/workshop library but will not extend access for any webinar purchases. Similarly a webinar purchase will not renew access to you course/workshop library.
Registration opens on the 22nd of the month preceding the course start date (ie March 22 for courses beginning April 1st) and close on the 15th day of the month the session has started (ie April 15 for courses starting April 1st). You cannot register outside of this period. Please see the Enrollment and Refunds tab here in the FAQs for more information on registration.
Scholarships are offered to students who do not feel they can afford the full tuition, but who have a sincere interest in expanding their skills as a dog sport trainer. Scholarships are offered in the form of a 50% tuition credit at the Bronze level. To apply, select the Scholarships link from the top menu (under new students) or click this link. We ask that if you are on a scholarship, you limit yourself to one class. There are a maximum of three scholarships per student permitted in a calendar year.
Students will receive a detailed information email upon registration that contains useful information on accessing your course and other useful links. To access your registered course you will need to log in using the Student Login Box on the top right corner of the home page. You will then see new menu items as purple buttons including My Courses, My Forums, and My Library. Lecture materials for the courses you are enrolled in can be accessed by clicking on Current Courses and Workshops. Forum access is under the Homework and Discussion Forums link. These items can also be accessed by clicking on the drop down menu next to your name (purple box) in the top right corner. Please note the Quick Links options in the top header black bar which allows you to easily access between lectures, homework forum and discussion forum after you have entered your class. Click here for access to video tutorials about our classes and forums.
Self-study classes go directly into your library. They can be viewed by clicking on the My Self-Study Classes option on the right menu after you have logged in as a student, or the purple button labeled Student Course and Workshop Library.
Yes. We suggest all students go to the classroom forums and find the discussion forum thread called “Class Announcements”. Open that thread and click the “subscribe” button in the upper left hand corner. This will allow you to be notified by email every time a new lecture is released. You may also opt to subscribe to threads in the gold homework forum.
Your username is emailed to you when you first sign up for a class – be sure to check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. If you still cannot find your username, click the “Forgot Username” link in the login box, then enter the email address that you used to sign up for the class. Your username will be emailed to you.
Click the “Forgot Password” link in the Login Box, then enter the email address that you used to subscribe for a class. You will receive an email from Fenzi Academy with a reset code. If you do not receive an email with a reset code, check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. You will use your username (not email) and the reset code to regain access to your account. You can then choose a new password. If you continue to have problems please email your desired password to help@fenziacademy.com and we can reset your information for you.
Pick A Class
All of our classes are online. The instructor will begin posting written lectures with video examples on the first day of the session. The schedule of lectures will depend on the individual instructor and how they feel they can best present the information. Some will release once a week and others will release more often. You can view the lectures at any time of day or night. Your participation would depend on what level of course purchase you make (gold, silver, bronze).
We encourage new students to watch the first two videos on this page What Will You Find in Your Class.
This may help you to understand how our classes work.
Our instructors work hard to ensure that potential students are provided with an accurate class description and a syllabus to help you select the right course. However, sometimes you’ll need more help than that! You can always contact help@fenziacademy.com if you need help selecting courses, and you can contact the individual instructors if you’re still not sure about the suitability of a class for your situation. Because we do not offer refunds after instruction begins and materials have been released, it’s important that you take care when selecting the correct class for your situation. Anyone at the academy can be contacted through the “Faculty and Staff” link, which is at the bottom of this page.
See our suggested courses of study here.
No. Each instructor brings their unique skill set, interests, and preferences to their courses. While many classes will have similar goals (for example, raising a performance puppy), each school or instructor will have a special take on how to get there. Your best bet is to consider the sports you are most interested in, and also to consider the specialties and interests of the instructors when deciding which course will best suit your needs. At Fenzi Academy, we consider it a strength that classes are approached in many different ways – dog training is a highly individualized event, and the more methods and approaches available to help you reach your goals, the better off you’ll be. Teaching styles will vary but you will find that all of our instructors use methods that are dog and people friendly. Contact the instructor if you have specific questions regarding the format of a class.
Every instructor has been hand-picked by Denise Fenzi for their success in dog sports, quality as a trainer of both dogs and people, and in some cases, their academic qualifications (especially when teaching a dog behavior course). In many cases, the instructors are already well known in the dog world. For more information on our instructors, check out their biographies.
We have several classes available for self-study. These include instructor lecture materials and video examples. They do not include class forums. Click here for a detailed listing of available classes.
Gold level participants must have access to a video camera and have the ability to upload documents to youtube. Please ensure you can do this BEFORE you register for a class. It is also important to ensure that you meet any course prerequisites or requirements (or have prior permission from the instructor) before enrolling. See the prerequisites link next to any class that might interest you. Silver level participants also need to meet the prerequisites or have instructor permission for the class to ensure that questions are not duplicating topics covered in lower level courses. Bronze level participants do not need to meet the prerequisites or requirements.
Enrolling & Registration
Start by clicking on the Course Schedule link at the top of this page. If registration is open, select the course you wish to take from the list and click on that link. From that page, click on the registration link and choose the enrollment level you are interested in. This webpage describes the steps in more detail.
Registration opens on the 22nd of the month preceding the course start date (ie March 22 for courses beginning April 1st) and close on the 15th day of the month the session has started (ie April 15 for courses starting April 1st). You cannot register for 6 week courses outside of this period.
Some of our classes are extremely popular and as a result, they fill instantly when enrollment opens. To allow more people a chance at a spot in those classes at the Gold level, we have instituted a lottery system for a very small number of classes (rarely more than two or three per term). If the registration tab says the Gold spots will be assigned by lottery then that means you need to enter the lottery when it opens (usually a week before regular registration) for a chance at a Gold spot. We send out an email to inform all of our current or former students of classes that will be run by lottery, so make sure that you are on our mailing list so that you will be notified! If you win a spot in the class, you will be expected to pay the full $260 and enroll at the Gold level within 12 hours of notification. If some spots are not claimed another lottery will be run to fill the class with the remaining contestants. We ask that you do not enter the lottery unless you plan to enroll if you win. Repeated violation of this rule will eliminate you from eligibility from future lotteries.
Yes. If, during open enrollment, there is still space at the level you are interested in, you may upgrade simply by purchasing the new level. The system will automatically charge you the difference between your current status and the one you are upgrading to. If the higher level is already full, you will not be able to upgrade. If you are on a scholarship, you will not be able to upgrade.
No. We do not maintain a waiting list. If a spot opens up in a level that already filled, we offer the currently enrolled students the opportunity to upgrade their status on the first day of class.
No. If a class has a prerequisite listed then the instructor feels that success in the current class requires the prior class to have been taken at any level as long as the student has sufficiently mastered the materials. As a result, you cannot sign up for Gold or Silver. You MAY sign up for bronze, but do so knowing that you are taking a risk, because you may lack the foundation knowledge which is assumed for the current class. Other courses have “recommended” classes. In that case, you may sign up for gold even if you do not have the recommended class.
If a class is running that requires an earlier class, then the prerequisite class will be available for sale during open registration for the current term. Be aware that you are purchasing the teacher’s lecture notes and videos only – there will be no forum for the prerequisite class because it is not in session. Purchases are never made outside of open registration for any courses.To make a prerequisite purchase, please visit our Prerequisite page during open enrollment.
Our system does not “check” to ensure that you meet the requirements for a class. If you believe that you can follow the materials without the prerequisite class, and if you are enrolling at bronze or silver, then you will be able to register. If you choose this path, be aware that the instructor will not repeat materials from the earlier level(s), and you will not be allowed to ask questions about materials from the earlier levels. If you are unsure about the suitability of a class for your skill level, please contact the instructor before enrolling to check the suitability of the class for your situation, but be aware that you are enrolling at a higher level class ‘at your own risk’. There are no refunds once classes begin.
Our self-study classes are available for purchase anytime. Check out our great selection!
No. We feel it is important that people take the full class with the forums and instructor feedback – not just the lecture notes – whenever possible! As a result, you cannot purchase classes outside of the period of time when they are offered (with the exception of prerequisite and retired courses). We do offer On Demand Videos through our Pet Dog Training Online Program if you need assistance with life skills, or weekly registration for workshops and webinars.
Your username is emailed to you when you first sign up for a class – be sure to check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. If you still cannot find your username, click the “Forgot Username” link in the login box, then enter the email address that you used to sign up for the class. Your username will be emailed to you.
Click the “Forgot Password” link in the Login Box, then enter the email address that you used to subscribe for a class. You will receive an email from Fenzi Academy with a reset code. If you do not receive an email with a reset code, check your spam filter as sometimes emails from Fenzi Academy get flagged as spam. You will use your username (not email) and the reset code to regain access to your account. You can then choose a new password. If you continue to have problems please email your desired password to help@fenziacademy.com and we can reset your information for you.
Payments & Refunds
When you register, you can choose to pay by credit card or with PayPal. Our credit card transactions are securely handled by Stripe.com Please note that on occasion, PayPal will block a credit card payment if you have a balance that is large enough to cover the entire transaction. In addition, during periods of high server load, the PayPal option may be blocked and you will need to pay directly with your card.
The process is the same regardless of what country you live in.
Your course / workshop / self-study class registration payment history is available here. You can also find the link under My Profile on the side menu. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have a payment history available for webinar purchases.
Yes. You are welcome to purchase a gift certificate from here. Please read the terms and conditions carefully.
We offer a 90% refund for all current classes if you meet the conditions related to your class level. (The other 10% (minimum $10) covers non-refundable processing fees.) If you signed up at the Gold or Silver level, you will receive a refund if:You request your cancellation at least four days before the class begins, AND
The level you are canceling has not already sold out.
If you signed up at the Bronze level, you will receive a refund if you request your cancellation at least 24 hours before the class begins.
There are no refunds available for self-study classes. We suggest you read the information (description, syllabus, sample lecture, testimonials) carefully before making your purchase.
No. We offer very well qualified instructors who care about the success of their students, and our survey results consistently show this; more than 95% of our survey respondents plan to take more classes with us. However, not every instructor or class is the perfect match for every student and there is always some risk when you purchase a service. In order to maintain our very reasonable tuition, you accept this risk when you enroll. We encourage students to view the sample lectures and course syllabus to understand the course materials before purchasing. Additionally, you may contact the instructor before registering to determine if the course is suitable for your purposes.
No. Each instructor is an independent contractor so you cannot switch between classes. If you change your mind about class, then you can ask for a refund for the first class (see requirements above – the session must not have started yet), and then enroll in the class that you want at this time.
Student FAQ
Students will receive a detailed information email upon registration that contains information on accessing your course and other useful links. To access your registered course you will need to log in using the Student Login Box on the top right corner of the home page. You will then see new menu items as purple buttons including My Courses, My Forums, and My Library. Lecture materials for the courses you are enrolled in can be accessed by clicking on Current Courses and Workshops. Forum access is under the Homework and Discussion Forums link. These items can also be accessed by clicking on the drop down menu next to your name (purple box) in the top right corner. Please note the Quick Links options in the top header black bar which allows you to easily access lectures, homework forum and discussion forum after you have entered your class. Click here for access to video tutorials about our classes and forums.
Each student is automatically given a library pass for one year from the point of enrollment in a course (including workshops and self-study classes). When a course is completed the lectures and videos posted by the instructor will be moved to the “library” and can be viewed as long as your library pass is active. You can keep your library pass current by enrolling in at least one course a year. Alternatively, you can purchase a library pass for $25 per year for as long as you wish to have access to prior class materials. Please note that the forum portion of classes is not included in your library pass; that material is removed six weeks after class ends. Please note that under very rare circumstances that are beyond the control of FSDA, it can happen that a class is removed from the library, or video links may end up broken. If this happens FDSA will not provide a refund or credit. When you sign up for a class, you are paying for the “live” version of the class, which includes the lecture materials, the forums, and the instructor feedback. The library is a courtesy which we provide, but for which we do not take responsibility. We strongly suggest taking courses when you have the time to work through the materials.
If you are a Silver status participant, you simply start a topic in the discussion forum if you have a question about the course materials or instructor feedback on one of the gold homework threads. Silvers are encouraged to participate in any/all of the Discussion Forum threads and questions. Note that questions are restricted to “general” questions.
What does that mean?
Consider this example: Let’s say you are struggling with a lecture because when you attempt the exercise, your dog gets bored after only two or three repetitions. For example, you put out a target, your dog touches it, and then 20 seconds later your dog walks away from the game.
You want to ask the instructor what to do, but you can’t because that is a “my dog” question so would require a video for accurate instructor feedback. But actually – you can still ask about this situation. The phrasing is: “How might you handle this exercise if the dog gets bored relatively quickly and walks away after only two or three repetitions?”
The difference is that you have interpreted the issue and framed it. You think the dog got bored so the instructors will now answer that question. The problem with “My dog gets bored” framing is that you’ve included your interpretation, and a decent percentage of the time, your instructor may have a different interpretation if they actually saw it with video.
Now let’s say you apply the instructor’s suggestions for a “bored dog” scenario -and your dog doesn’t get better. Then you might consider that you interpreted it incorrectly but that doesn’t’ mean it didn’t work – it means you need to study the situation a bit more. So maybe your next question would be, “If you discover that the environment is too difficult for your dog to succeed for more than two or three repetitions, and you don’t have space to move to an easier environment, are there options that might be a reasonable middle ground in those situations? Then the instructor will answer that generic question – maybe they will have some other ideas to consider.
Can you see how with the right phrasing you can ask anything you want and the instructor can answer without actually seeing the dog? And how this approach provides a lot more value to the class, who now has a chance to address the root training issues rather than trying to visualize your dog? And how in this fashion you will become a much better dog trainer, as you learn to sort through the variables?
Be sure to actually utilize your video time. Don’t wait until the very end of class. Many times you are better served by getting those first steps right from the start!
Plus, don’t forget those facebook study groups. We encourage students to use the groups similar to how golds submit homework. Video your work, watch it and share it. Fresh eyes from other students and teaching assistants (if available for your class) can often see what you cannot.
You may upgrade to either Silver or Gold level status, assuming that status is still available and registration has not closed. Bronze level is intentionally kept at a very low price to allow as many people as possible to watch and learn. Think of it like watching a TV show with a live audience rather than being in the audience. The trade-off for the low price is that there is no way to ask a question, so please respect that and do not contact instructors privately. Due to the workload, instructors cannot answer questions that are asked outside of the forum.
Be aware that FDSA has an extremely active presence on Facebook, and many classes have strong interactive communities in forums where class materials are discussed among each other. If you are interested in joining the FDSA facebook community and if you are an FDSA alumni, search for Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni and submit a request to join. Be aware that we will check your eligibility against our database, so please do not ask to join if you are not a current or former student.
When class ends, all students will be encouraged to submit a survey. This is your opportunity to suggest improvements to the course materials. In most cases, however, you will find that a Gold or Silver level participant will have already asked your question if a portion of lecture material was not sufficiently clear.
Sometimes when you sign up for several classes at once, it takes a while for the course list to refresh in your account. To speed it up, you can log out and log back in, which should cause it to refresh. If you still can’t access all your courses, please email us at help@fenziacademy.com.
No, all work is public. This is to allow all of the participants to learn from each other.
Yes. We suggest all students go to the classroom forums and find the discussion forum thread called “Class Announcements”. Open that thread and click the “subscribe” button in the upper left hand corner. This will allow you to be notified by email every time a new lecture is released. You may also opt to subscribe to threads in the gold homework forum.
If you wish to share the materials (written or video lectures and video examples), you must contact the instructor for that class. The written materials and the accompanying videos are the intellectual property of the instructor, and you may not legally share this material without permission. However, you MAY share what you learn in class and indeed we encourage you to do so! As a courtesy, you may also consider giving credit as to where you learned the information, but this is not required. A good deal of time and preparation goes into each class, and the tuition compensates the instructors for their efforts. If you share their materials with your friends, then you are taking income away from the person who created those materials. We have worked hard to keep our fees extremely reasonable with the hope that anyone who needs the information can afford a class, and we offer the scholarship fund for those who still need extra help. Please do not undercut the system by sharing materials without permission.
No, sorry. Because our instructors are constantly updating their materials and classes, links quickly become broken, especially to videos. A PDF would quickly become outdated. Furthermore, the videos are embedded within the lectures and it’s not possible to create a PDF in this situation. Instead, we do provide you with a library pass that allows you to access the most current materials and videos from your instructor for a full year from the start date of your class. However, please note that we do not take responsibility for the library as part of your tuition – tuition covers the courses as they are in session.
For those of you who are unaware, students on Facebook have created discussion groups for most of the classes. These are student run; the school has had no involvement with them. Some of them have been extremely active and the bronze students have reported that this has been quite helpful to their learning.
To find the student study group for your class on Facebook:
Go to Facebook. You must have a Facebook account.
Go to the search bar in Facebook.
Search for your class using FDSA Class# Class Name. For example FDSA FE140 Engagement
That will take you to the study group for this class. Click the “Join” button.
But wait, there’s more! You will not be added to the group until you prove that you are actually in this class. To do that, you need to send a screenshot of your library that shows both your name and this class in the screenshot. That needs to be sent via Facebook messenger to one of the group admins. To find a group admin, when you get to the FB group click on members. It should show you which one is an admin. Persons using a phone app may need to click the info button then members for that information. Send a message to the admin via FB messenger attaching your screenshot.
Remember that group admins are volunteers and it may take a day or two for them to review your request. Don’t know how to send a screenshot? How to take a screen shot link: www.take-a-screenshot.org/ . Alternatively take a picture of your screen with another device (phone or camera) and then message that to the admin.
So you’ve gotten yourself added to the study group for this class. Now what?
Introduce yourself! Tell the group a little about who you are. Now what? Keep the group posted of your progress! Talk about what you’re doing and what is or is not working for you. Express your frustrations! Express your joy at your progress! And if you need help? Put up a post!
MORE TECH QUESTIONS?
We also have another FDSA student group that just might help you with your various technical problems! That is: FDSA Tech Support. www.facebook.com/groups/fdsatech/ Join that group and ask your questions on various things from the FB groups to help with submitting videos at gold.
FDSA ALUMNI GROUP
Oh dear, there’s even more. Not a member of the “official” FDSA Alumni list on FB? Almost all FDSA groups on FB will check your status as an FDSA student against the alumni group on FB, so you absolutely want to join that group. There, your student email address is confirmed when you answer the two questions- which you must answer- and you will be added to that group. That alumni group can be found by searching FB for: Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni Group or use this direct link www.facebook.com/groups/fdsa.alumni/
Note: If you get confused or stuck, you must ask your questions about student-run programs on the Facebook alumni group. Please do not send them directly to FDSA for help. We cannot offer additional support; these are student-run groups, and while extremely valuable, we simply don’t have the resources to assist with that. Thank you!
Historically some instructors have applied for CEU’s for their classes, but too few students actually requested them for us to continue with this practice. Instead, you may apply directly with your organization for your own CEU’s for certification after class ends. Generally, CEU’s are only available to Gold level participants. Be aware that several organizations exist that offer/require CEU’s and their expectations vary, which means that some of our classes may qualify and others may not. If CEU’s are important to you then we strongly recommend that you confirm eligibility for CEU’s BEFORE you enroll.
Absolutely! However, because we are based in the United States, all assignments and lectures will be presented and submitted in English. You may wish to sign up as a silver or bronze level participant to see if you’ll be comfortable in class.
Self-study classes go directly into your library. They can be viewed by clicking on the My Course and Workshop Library option on the drop down menu under your name after you have logged in as a student.
When courses are completed the lecture material access is moved to your library. They can be viewed by clicking on the My Course and Workshop Library option on the drop down menu under your name after you have logged in as a student. Class Homework and Discussion Forums will not transfer to your library. For more information about library access please click here.
No. You must purchase a separate Gold level membership for each dog and only one person should be handling the dog.
Forums & Videos
You will interact with your instructor and fellow students by using our course forums. After logging in click on your course and select forums. Each class has two forums, one for homework, and one for discussions. Only Gold level students can create or reply to threads in the homework forum. Gold and Silver level students can create and reply to threads in the discussion forum. Bronze level students can view all threads, but cannot create or reply to threads in any forum. To create a new thread on the forums, click on either the homework or discussion forum, and then click the green “New Topic” button on the top left. Note that if you do not have posting permissions to the forum, you will not see the “New Topic” button.Click here for a picture tutorial on how to use the forums.
First, upload the video to your YouTube account. Then copy and paste the link to the video into the forum message. The video cannot be private; it must be either public or unlisted. You do not need to use any special formatting, as our forum software will automatically embed the video into the message for you. If you want to see what your message looks like before submitting it, click the “Preview” button.
Each student has their own thread in the forum. Once class starts, you will post all of your written assignments directly into the forum. If you are including a video, you will copy and paste the youtube link into your thread as well. The instructor will respond to your assignments and videos within your thread. At the end of six weeks, you will have all of your questions, comments, and assignments in one place!
Here’s a picture tutorial on how to add images to your posts.
Please note that images should be in jpeg format, no more than 900×900 pixels large. If you are uploading multiple images, you need to make sure the size of your total upload is under 2Mb, otherwise the upload will fail. You can also attach txt, rtf, pdf, zip, tar, .gz, tgz, tar.bz2 files to your posts, using the same method described above. These flies cannot be more than 120Kb in size.
To upload a photo as your avatar, go to “My Forums” and click the “Profile” tab. Click the “Edit” button next to your name. You will be taken to a screen where you can edit your personal information, including your avatar photo. We recommend uploading pictures of no larger than 800×600 pixels or more than 50Kb. If your photo is bigger than that, please use an image editing program to resize it first. If you want to change your avatar photo, first click on “Use Default Avatar,” then “Save.” This will remove your old photo. You can then upload a new picture. Please note that sometimes the avatar photo does not come up in the correct orientation. This happens most often if the photo was taken with an iPhone or iPad and the device was held in a weird orientation. We cannot help with this; the orientation information embedded in your jpeg file is not recognized by our software. You can try using an image editing program to resize your photo to 800×600 resolution, which often also has the effect of embedding the correct orientation into the jpeg file. If this does not solve the problem, we will be unable to help you further. Having avatar pictures is a bonus feature; it is not essential to being able to learn materials on this website.
The error message is likely caused by a strange character or emoticon in your forum post. It can especially happen when you copy / paste your message into the forum as sometimes the source formatting on the copy doesn’t talk nicely to our forum for the pasting part. Please remove any emoticons and see if that makes a difference.
Another possible problem may be how you are typing in your running time. Sometimes if you use a lot of brackets or symbols the system gets confused. Try typing in something like Week 2 – total time is 3:50 instead of a formula with brackets or symbols and see if that fixes it.
You might also consider consider clearing your browser cache or restarting your computer. If you still have issues then send an email to help@fenziacademy.com.
Your video camera does not have to be fancy; many people use a flip-style video recorder or a cell phone with a direct USB link to their computer and then upload directly to youtube with no editing at all. Most of the time this works well, but there are a few points to consider before posting your video:Are you in the range of the camera? Laying down ground poles and testing this before you start can save you the heartache of taking an entire video, only to realize that you were walking in and out of range the whole time.
Is there unnecessary footage? Editing the video down to the part you want the instructor to see will give you the best feedback on your video. It’s not necessary to add words, special fades, or anything else, but clipping the beginning and end will make your video more compact. Most of the time a 1 – 2 minute video is more than sufficient to target the relevant behaviors for review.
Is the lighting sufficient and the video lens clean? Your videos do not need to be movie quality, but the easier it is to see, the better the feedback you will receive.
As a rule, several videos over the course of the week is far preferable to one long video. Watching a student’s progress every other day for a few minutes will yield the best results.
Once you have found a good place for your camera, consider marking that spot on the ground and using it routinely. You’ll find that videotaping your work rarely adds more than a few minutes once you get the hang of it. Many of the Silver and Bronze level participants also choose to videotape their sessions even though they will not submit these for formal review. Videos are really useful for developing your training!
Most courses at the Gold level require you to submit video of you working your dog. The easiest way to do this is to upload the video to YouTube and then post a link to the video in the forum. If you have never used YouTube before, please read the following on how to create an account and upload videos.YouTube Signup: How to Make an Account
How to Upload Videos to YouTube
If you are having problems viewing videos linked in the course lectures or posted by other students, you may need to upgrade the Flash player on your computer. Take a look at this site for instructions.
You can set the videos to be unlisted, which means they do not appear in your YouTube channel and cannot be found in a search. Anyone with a link to the video can view it. Do not make your videos private as the instructors will not be able to view them. To make a video unlisted, follow these steps:Go to your YouTube channel.
Click on the video.
Under the video itself, right under the progress bar, there’s a row of black buttons.
Click the left-most button that looks like a pencil and says “Info and Settings” if you mouse over it.
This will take you to a screen where you can set the title, description, and other settings for the video.
On the right side, there’s a drop list called “Privacy settings.” Click on that and choose “Unlisted.”
No. Students may opt to copy their personal thread for their own use only.
We understand that Gold level participants may want to save their personal forum threads to refer back to after the class is over. Our commitment is to provide a “live” product and as such we do not provide technical assistance on how to save your threads. The following information is provided for convenience as it is the simplest method to archive the information. There are other options including printing your thread, saving as pdf or using programs such as Evernote but we cannot support or provide information on how to use those services. NOTE: THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE ONLY TO SAVE YOUR OWN GOLD THREAD FOR YOUR PERSONAL USE ONLY. YOU MAY NOT SAVE YOUR CLASSMATES THREADS; THAT IS NOT YOUR MATERIAL. To save a thread, click on it and then go to File->Save As in your browser. Enter the filename you want to save your thread under and make sure the option “Web page, Complete” (or something similar depending on your operating system and browser) is selected. This will save the thread into an html file on your computer that you can open locally. If the thread has more than one page, make sure you save each page separately. We delete the forums approximately six weeks after the class is over, so if you want to keep any of the threads from the class, you need to save them on your computer before then.
Webinars
Webinars will each be about an hour long
Webinars will each cost US$19.95
At the end of the LIVE webinar, we will offer time for Q&A
Live webinars are offered on Thursdays at 3pm PT and 6pm PT
New webinars will likely show up on the calendar on the FDSA site first, followed by on the Webinars page once they are available to purchase.
When you register, you’ll receive 2 emails – a receipt, and details on how to access the live webinar. If youare a current student, you can access the link to the live webinar in your student account under My Webinars. If you don’t receive those please send an email to allthethings@fenziacademy.com so we can make sure everything is correct.
If you pre-purchase the webinar, a recording of the webinar will be available in your FDSA account under the “My Webinars” tab; however, you will miss out on the opportunity to participate in Q&A. It generally takes us about 48-72 hours to process and post the recording to be viewed and then students will have one year to view the recording. If you purchase another webinar then access to all webinar recordings will renew for a year from your most recent webinar purchase.
The webinar may be up on the purchase page for a short period after the live webinar. The purchase option will be removed within 24-48 hours after the webinar airs and after that will no longer be available for purchase. Students that purchase the option in that short window after the webinar airs will have access to the recorded version of the webinar.
All webinars are based on “San Francisco” time. You can click here to see what time it is now in San Francisco, or click here to figure out the exact time by date.
The link to access the live webinar will be available in your webinar library. You can access your library after logging into this FDSA website and selecting “My Webinars”. If the link is not there please send an email to help@fenziacademy.com. Common registration errors include email address typos or using alternate emails from your student account will result in the webinar not showing in your library. Please also be sure to check your spam for any missing emails.
Absolutely! Additionally, our system automatically creates an account for you to be able to view the recorded version of your pre-purchased webinar. Your account details will be emailed to you. Recordings will be available in your FDSA account under the “My Webinars” tab.
Recorded webinars will be in your webinars library for a year from the purchase date; your library will renew each time you purchase a new webinar.
Recorded webinars are hosted in your student account for viewing under “My Webinars”. If you are a new student an account will be created for you as part of your purchase and details will be emailed to you. Recorded webinars will be in your webinars library for a year from the purchase date; your library will renew each time you purchase a new webinar.
Note: The webinar library is separate from the class library; buying a class does not renew your webinar library, and buying a webinar will not renew your class library.
Video to demonstrate how to access your webinar recordings in your library:
Connect With Us
No, our instructors are worldwide. All of our programs are online. Our administration is based in the USA.
If you have questions that are not answered here, please send a note to help@fenziacademy.com with a detailed question and your inquiry will be forwarded to the appropriate person within 24 hours.
We do not offer telephone support.
Yes! Fenzi Academy has an extremely active Facebook presence. There are several lists designed for FDSA current students and alumni. The main list is called “Fenzi Dog Sports Academy Alumni“. From there, you can learn about many other lists that will support students with a variety of goals and interests. There are also a variety of student-run discussion forums to assist each other with their classwork. Feel free to join the lists after you have signed up for a class!
Dog Sports Camp refers to our annual in-person conference! Please refer to our Camp page for more information https://fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/self-study/camp.
WorkshopS
How does it work? When can I access?
- Once you sign up, your workshop classroom will be added to your “My Workshops” page.
- The workshop classroom will contain all materials for that workshop, including the presentation lecture, workshop forum for video submissions and questions, and lecture information for the feedback session.
- On the first day of the Workshop (noted in each workshop description), the lecture portion of the workshop will be released. This will be a recorded video presentation – watch at your convenience.
- Now practice with your dog! Students with a working spot will upload a short video of their work to YouTube and share the unlisted link (double check it is not private!) in the classroom homework forum by the date and time listed in the first assignment (Note: it’s important that students with a working spot submit homework video on time or they will forfeit the opportunity for instructor feedback).
- Got questions? All levels of students may ask general clarification questions relating to the workshop materials in the workshop class forum. The instructor will provide feedback on the working student submissions and answer these questions in the follow up video that will be posted ten days after the original presentation for you to view at your convenience.
- Each student is automatically given a library pass for one year from the point of enrollment in a course or workshop. When a course or workshop is completed the lectures and videos posted by the instructor will be moved to the “student library” and can be viewed as long as your library pass is active. You can keep your library pass current by enrolling in at least one course a year.
Q&A – What does it cost? Can I have a working spot? +
- You have the option of signing up as a working spot or as an auditor.
- Working Spot – $39.95. Working participants receive access to all presentation materials and will submit a short video (approx. 90 seconds) for instructor feedback. Limited number of spots available.
- Auditor Spot – $29.95. Students will receive access to all presentation materials but will not submit video for review. Auditors may ask general questions regarding class materials in the workshop forums to be answered by the instructor in the feedback video session. Unlimited number of spots available.
Do I have to be present to participate?
No. The initial lecture will be available in your classroom on the first day of the workshop, and the recorded video feedback session (student videos and questions) will be added to the classroom 10 days after the initial presentation. Both sessions may be watched at your convenience.
Will I be able to ask questions?
Yes! All students, at all levels, are welcome to submit general clarification questions regarding the lecture materials in the workshop forum. Questions must be submitted by the posted due date. The instructor will answer your questions as part of the recorded video feedback session which will be posted 10 days after the initial presentation.
How long are the presentations?
The lecture and the video student feedback session are each approximately one hour long.
What is the last day I can purchase a specific workshop?
Workshops can be purchased up until noon on the last day of the month in which they began. Please see our registration page and individual workshop descriptions for more details. Once registration is closed, the workshop will be moved to “My Library” where it may be viewed.
I want a working spot! When do the upcoming workshops open for purchase, so I can be ready at the given date?
Workshops will open on the 22nd of the month prior to the workshop running. For example, all April workshops will open on March 22nd. Please see the link for your workshop for the exact time.
I would like to work with more than one dog in my working spot. Is this possible?
No; please submit only one dog. If you really want to receive video review for two dogs then you’ll need to purchase two working spots.
How do I watch the video presentations?
The links to all necessary parts will be provided in the class lectures.
Pet Dog Training
Presentation Information & Frequently Asked Questions:
If you are a new student an account will be created for you as part of the purchase process. You will need to select a username that you can remember (email is recommended) and a secure password.
Existing students should sign in before purchasing to ensure the presentation is added correctly to your student library.
Once you sign up, your presentation will be added to your “Self-Study Library” page and can be viewed after logging in to your student account.
Each student is automatically given a library pass for one year from the point of enrollment and purchases can be viewed as long as your library pass is active. You can keep your library pass current by enrolling in at least one course/workshop/self-study product per year.
Pet Dog Presentations are in a video lecture format and generally run approximately one hour in length.
Pet Professional Presentations are in a video lecture format and generally run approxiametely one hour in length. Additionally they contain a video feedback lecture (youtube) where the instructor provides guidance to pre-submitted homework from previous students.
All presentation lecture videos are closed captioned and have a readable PDF transcript.
No, we do not have that option at this time.
There is no option to ask questions to the instructor regarding these presentations.
Individual presentations are available to purchase for $18.95 per presentation.
Starter Packs and Combination Packs provide significant discounts when purchasing select multiple products.
Sorry, our system does not currently allow that. You will need to purchase each product in an individual transaction.
There are no refunds available for self-study classes including our on-demand pet training presentations. We suggest you read the descripton carefully and watch the video trailer before making your purchase. If you have additional questions on the materials to be covered please contact our help desk at help@fenziacademy.com PRIOR to purchasing so we may help determine if the topic is suitable for your needs.
Conferences
ONE DAY CONFERENCE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When you register for the conference an account will automatically be created for you, if you don’t have one. After you register you will receive an email giving you a log in and a password. If you do NOT receive an email after you register, send a message to help@fenziacademy.com.
You will receive an email confirmation shortly. Then, on the monday before the event, you will receive an email with additional information about the event. The night before the event you will receive another email with details for logging on with the presentation links to the day’s live presentations. Emails will come from allthethings@fenziacademy.com – please add this to your address book to ensure our emails come through!
We are not providing any full or partial refunds. We’ve done everything possible to bring this conference to our community at low prices along with a scholarship option. Refunds require extra staff time, banking fees, and create instability in our budgeting. So if you buy a ticket, thank you! You’ll be helping others as well as yourself.
The conference will run from 9 am through 5 pm. All presentations are scheduled in the Pacific Time Zone – make sure you convert to your local time so you don’t miss anything! The easiest way to determine what that means in your time zone is to ask Google, “What time is it right now in San Francisco?”
Option 1: Check your email the day before! We will email everyone who registered for the conference the links to that day’s presentations.
Option 2: Log into your FDSA account. All the links will be available in the conference classroom found there! Check under your current courses/workshops and follow the links.
Yes! But…Our live streaming platform does not support closed captioning. However, we believe accessibility is important; so the captioned presentation recordings will be available in your FDSA account library and we will release those videos in advance of each live session. Anyone who would like to take advantage of the closed captioning may do so in their library, and then join the live session for Q&A (however, since the platform does not offer a CC option, live Q&A will not be captioned). We will caption and upload the recorded Q&A sessions after the event.
Yes! The presentations are recorded (along with the Q&A) and will be placed in your library for a year (possibly longer, if you are an ongoing FDSA student).
All students will have an FDSA course library created for them. To find your library:
Log in to your account (purple button in the upper right-hand corner).
Select “Course Library” from the options. Your library will remain active for one year. If you want your library to remain active after this time you can purchase additional workshops or classes with FDSA and that will renew your library for another year from the date of purchase.
No. The conference must be purchased before registration end. Registration is available for purchase through to the end of the conference.
No — we’ve worked hard to make the conference as affordable as possible, so we ask that each person registers individually.
If you’re struggling, we want to support you so please request a scholarship The conference scholarship discount is $40 which will make the price $49. The deadline for scholarship applications is the wednesday prior to the confererence date to allow for processing time. Scholarships will open when registration opens and the link will be posted on the registration page along with exact deadline dates.
There is not a way to test it in advance, however live streaming events take a good deal of bandwidth. If you wish to watch the presentations live then you will need high-speed internet. If you still wish to participate but your internet is not sufficient for live streaming but is sufficient for video services such as Youtube or Vimeo, you’ll be able to watch the recordings from your library.
The following are real world possibilities: A presenter is unable to get on and connect. An attendee cannot get on and connect. A presentation is interrupted or is unable to be completed. A Q&A session is interrupted or is unable to be completed. The entire webinar network goes down. We have used this webinar software reliably for 3+ years and do not anticipate problems. While we are taking all precautions to avoid internet challenges, we cannot control every possibility that could interrupt your experience. In all cases the presentations will be available in recorded form in your FDSA account so you will still be able to watch at a later time. While we deeply regret possible challenges, no refunds will be issued should they occur.
You may apply directly with your organization for your own CEU’s for certification after the conference ends. Be aware that several organizations exist that offer/require CEU’s and their expectations vary, which means that some may qualify and others may not. If CEU’s are important to you then we strongly recommend that you confirm eligibility for CEU’s BEFORE you register.
You may submit questions using our website CONTACT US FORM (Click here). Someone will get back to you as quickly as possible!
Alternatively, you can send an email directly to: help@fenziacademy.com