“Find a dog that’s going to make you happy.”
I sit down with Denise Fenzi to talk about choosing the right dog for your real life — not the one you think you should want. We talk about fit, expectations, training, and working with the dog in front of you.
In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer, Barbara O’Brien sits down with renowned dog trainer and educator Denise Fenzi to talk about choosing the right dog for your real life— not the one you feel you should want. Their conversation centers on aligning a dog’s temperament, energy level, and needs with an owner’s lifestyle, personality, and goals.
Denise shares insights from her background in dog sports and obedience training, emphasizing that successful relationships with dogs begin with honesty and self-awareness. Rather than chasing an ideal breed, performance goal, or image, she encourages people to slow down and thoughtfully consider what will genuinely make them happy day-to-day. The discussion highlights the emotional side of dog ownership—how expectations, guilt, and rigid training philosophies can create unnecessary stress for both dogs and their humans.
Throughout the episode, Denise’s approach stands out for its clarity and compassion. She advocates for flexibility in training, paying attention to the individual dog in front of you, and recognizing that most people truly are trying their best. Ultimately, the episode is about building joyful, sustainable partnerships between dogs and their humans by making thoughtful, realistic choices from the start.
To find out more, visit the links below!
https://denisefenzi.com
https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com
https://www.thehighdrivedog.com
https://www.facebook.com/denise.fenzi?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/fenzidogsportsacademy
https://www.instagram.com/Thehighdrivedog
