Online Classes
Taught through Fenzi Dog Sports Academy, classrooms are open 24/7 and run for 6 weeks. Working and auditing spots available.
NW101: Introduction to Nosework
Nosework is one of the fastest-growing dog sports for good reason — it’s fun, builds confidence, and is suitable for dogs of all ages and temperaments. Nosework is especially helpful for dogs who struggle with reactivity or low confidence. Even in just a few weeks, you’ll see your dog tuning out distractions and focusing on target odor.
This course is unique because we start on odor from day one — no food searching. We use a proven backchaining method similar to the one used to train top detection dogs. The approach is effective for everything from sensitive or unfocused dogs to high-drive workers. Many teams earn their ORT and Novice titles after our introductory courses.
You’ll learn core Nosework concepts: how odor moves, how to handle equipment and hides, how to build strong odor obedience, and how to make searching both clear and motivating for your dog.
The progression was logical and systematic, but with the flexibility to tailor to the strengths and preferences of each dog. Feedback was timely and very supportive. It was educational to see the variety of breeds of dogs in the class mature in their skills during the course. As someone who has a non-traditional work schedule, finding a quality on-line class is the perfect fit!
I had hesitated to try Nosework because it didn’t seem as exciting as other sports, but as a novice handler with an independent, reactive dog, I wanted to find an activity that might come more naturally to us as a team…we are hooked! It is a special kind of thrill to see my dog starting to understand and search for odor, all in just 6 weeks.
- OPENS March 22, 2026!
- Course runs April 1st – May 12th
- Pricing starts at $65 to audit (Bronze)
- Working spots available (Gold) – work 1:1 with Julie!
- Last day to signup is April 15th.
- Instructor: Julie Symons
NW225: Rise Above: Resilience in Scentwork Environments
Rising above environmental challenges can be the hardest part for our dogs. Scentwork dogs face more than the average sport—working inside, outside, on different surfaces, and in infinite setups and surroundings. It’s no surprise that some dogs struggle with focus or sensitivity in search environments. Even dogs who love their food rewards don’t always have the motivation or confidence to push through challenges to find the thing that earns them that reward.
This course is about building resilience. We’ll develop critical thinking skills and communication structures away from scentwork, then apply them to search behaviors. Sensitivity isn’t a weakness—it’s an opportunity to foster trust, deepen your bond, and help your dog grow more confident. When we embrace their sensitivities and work with them instead of against them, we set them up for success in nosework and beyond.
A resilient dog is one who can tackle whatever comes their way. By increasing their ability to problem-solve and make good decisions, we strengthen neural pathways that help them choose better solutions when faced with adversity. Through trust-building exercises, we’ll boost confidence, strengthen our partnership, and be better prepared to handle challenges as a team.
This course is targeted for dogs who struggle to stay on task during a nosework/scentwork search due to environmental factors and/or lack of motivation/confidence. The material will help you unlock your dog’s potential and develop strategies for overcoming environmental challenges so they can rise above.
- OPENS March 22, 2026!
- Course runs April 1st – May 12th
- Pricing starts at $65 to audit (Bronze)
- Working spots available (Gold) – work 1:1 with Julie!
- Last day to signup is April 15th.
- Instructor: Julie Symons