Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

What Fenzi Dog Sports Academy does

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (FDSA) is a privately held, online-only educational platform founded in 2017 by Denise Fenzi that delivers structured dog training instruction to a global audience of competitive dog sports enthusiasts, hobbyist pet owners, and working pet trainers. The platform runs six enrollment sessions per year (February, April, June, August, October, December) and offers 6-week and 3-week courses at three price tiers — Gold ($260), Silver ($130), and Bronze ($65) — that vary by level of instructor feedback via forum-based discussion and YouTube-hosted video submissions. Adjacent products include 10-day workshops ($29.95-$39.95), one-hour webinars ($19.95), self-study courses ($50), one-to-one private lessons ($130/hour minimum), on-demand video bundles (Pet Dog Training Online, Pet Professional Program), an annual library pass ($25-$50), annual conferences (Arousal Modulation, CANIS), and free content such as a downloadable e-book, blog, and podcast.

The underlying technology is a conventional learning management system rather than a proprietary platform: coursework is delivered through forum threads, video content is hosted on YouTube and Searchie.io, payments run through Stripe and PayPal, and instructor feedback on Gold-tier submissions is asynchronous and human-mediated. The faculty is curated — 35+ instructors hand-picked by Fenzi, including PhDs in behavior science and titled competitors across obedience, agility, nosework, tracking, conformation, dock diving, and other disciplines — and is augmented by 45+ on-demand videos covering pet dog skills. Revenue is generated through a mix of recurring-style course enrollments, one-time webinar and workshop purchases, self-study downloads, subscription-style library pass renewals, and professional services for private lessons, with no disclosed headcount, no external funding, and no institutional ownership.

The go-to-market is product-led and self-serve, with content marketing (blog, podcast, free e-book, free webinars) feeding top-of-funnel discovery; mid-funnel conversion is driven by enrollment windows, webinar events, and an annual in-person/virtual conference; and retention is sustained through an alumni Facebook community and a library pass renewal mechanic tied to ongoing course enrollment. Geographic scope is worldwide, but administration is US-based and operations are run by a small staff under the founder.

Name

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Legal name

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy

Website

https://fenzidogsportsacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online-only dog training school founded in 2017 by Denise Fenzi, delivering tiered 6-week courses, workshops, webinars, and on-demand video programs to a global audience of competitive dog sports enthusiasts, hobbyist pet owners, and working pet trainers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Dog Sports and Pet Dog Training Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Educational Support Services (611710), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Competition & Tournament Team Training (HSADADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hybrid/Blended Classroom & HyFlex Instruction Systems (EDAFABAC)

Keywords

• Online dog training courses
• Dog sports education
• Positive reinforcement training
• Pet dog webinars
• Canine behavior instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. 6-Week Course Enrollment: Tiered pricing model for 6-week online courses with varying levels of instructor interaction. Classes run in sessions starting February, April, June, August, October, December. Revenue recognized at enrollment.
2. Webinars: One-hour live and recorded webinar presentations priced at $19.95 each. Recordings available for one year from purchase. Library access renews with each new webinar purchase.
3. 10-Day Workshops: Intensive workshop offerings priced at $29.95-$39.95 for short-duration skill-building courses.
4. Self-Study Courses: Pre-recorded course materials sold for $50 per class. No instructor forums or feedback included. Access for one year from enrollment.
5. Private Lessons: One-to-one instructor sessions at $130 per hour minimum. Students submit questions and videos for feedback through forum structure.
6. Library Pass Renewal: Annual library pass at $50 per year for continued access to prior course materials. Also renewable by enrolling in any new course.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online school that sells structured positive-reinforcement dog training education through tiered six-week courses ($65-$260), three-week classes, ten-day workshops, one-hour webinars ($19.95), self-study classes ($50), and one-to-one private lessons ($130/hour minimum), supported by an on-demand video library (Pet Dog Training Online and Pet Professional Programs) and an annual Library Pass for ongoing access. All instruction is delivered online through a forum-based learning platform with video feedback to a global audience of dog sports competitors, pet dog owners, and pet training professionals.

Product overview

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy is an online education platform offering structured dog training courses with a tiered enrollment model. The core offerings include six-week courses ($65-$260), three-week intensive classes, ten-day workshops ($29.95-$39.95), and one-hour webinars ($19.95). The platform provides supplementary products including self-study courses ($50), private lessons ($130/hour), the Pet Dog Training Online Program (45+ videos from $18.95 each), the Pet Professional Program for trainers ($260 complete), and a Library Pass for ongoing access ($25-$50/year). Additional offerings include free resources like the Growing Up FDSA e-book, podcasts, blog content, scholarships, gift certificates, and annual conferences. All courses utilize video-based instruction with instructor feedback through interactive forums, requiring students to submit YouTube-hosted videos for Gold-level feedback. The platform integrates with Stripe and PayPal for payments, YouTube for video submissions, and Searchie.io for video hosting.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Six-Week Online Courses Structured six-week online courses across dog sports and pet training disciplines, delivered through instructor lectures, video examples, and interactive forums. Offered at Gold, Silver, and Bronze enrollment tiers with varying levels of instructor interaction and video feedback, available globally during scheduled sessions.
• Three-Week Intensive Classes Accelerated three-week online courses covering specific dog training topics, using the same forum structure and instructor feedback approach as the six-week courses but in a condensed format.
• Ten-Day Workshops Short-form ten-day online workshops priced at $29.95-$39.95, focusing on specific dog training skills or topics with instructor-led content.
• One-Hour Webinars One-hour live and recorded webinar presentations priced at $19.95 each, covering specific dog training topics led by individual instructors; recordings remain available in the student account for one year from purchase.
• Private Lessons One-to-one private instruction sessions at $130 per hour minimum, in which students submit questions and training videos for direct instructor feedback through the forum structure.
• Self-Study Courses Pre-recorded self-paced online classes priced at $50 each, including instructor lecture notes and video examples without forum participation or instructor feedback; one-year access to materials from enrollment.
• Pet Dog Training Online Program On-demand video program for general pet dog owners consisting of 45+ pre-recorded presentations covering puppy care, behavior, socialization, house training, cooperative care, enrichment, and other foundational topics; individual presentations sold at $18.95 each or available as bundled packages.
• Pet Professional Program On-demand professional development program for pet training professionals comprising 18 pre-recorded video workshops on teaching techniques, business development, and specialized topics; complete program priced at $260 or individual workshops at $19.95 each.
• Library Pass Annual subscription at $50 per year granting renewed access to previously purchased course materials and recordings; alternatively renewable by enrolling in at least one new course or workshop per year.
• Annual Conferences (Arousal Conference and CANIS Conference) Annual in-person and virtual dog sports conferences featuring workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities, including the Arousal Conference (scheduled July 2026) and the CANIS Conference (with both in-person and virtual attendance options).
• FDSA Gift Certificates Purchasable gift certificates redeemable against FDSA courses, workshops, and webinars, allowing customers to give enrollment access as a gift.

Quantifiable outcome

• >95% of survey respondents plan to take more classes with FDSA

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Atlas Assistance DogsminorOthersCollaborative webinar on 'Making Your Training Accessible' presented jointly with Atlas Assistance Dogs. Focuses on training techniques for individuals with disabilities, expanding accessibility of dog training education.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PetSmart Dog Training: In-store dog training programs offered by the largest U.S. pet retailer, including group classes and private sessions at hundreds of locations. Operates at much greater scale with broader service mix.
• Zoom Room Dog Training: Franchised dog training facility chain offering group classes, private lessons, and online video content. Broader incumbent in dog training instruction with retail-style locations and a national footprint.

Direct peers

• Karen Pryor Academy: Premier clicker/positive-reinforcement dog training academy offering certification programs, online courses, and continuing education for trainers and pet owners. Direct competitor in methodology and audience overlap with FDSA.
• Animal Behavior College: Online/distance dog trainer certification program serving aspiring pet professionals. Overlaps with FDSA's Pet Professional Program in the trainer-education segment.
• Victoria Stilwell Positively: Online positive-reinforcement dog training school offering courses, webinars, and instructor-led content. Closest direct competitor in the force-free online education category, serving both pet owners and aspiring trainers.
• Companion Animal Sciences Institute (CASI): Online-only school offering certificate and diploma programs in animal training, behavior, and pet care. Comparable to FDSA in delivery model (online-only) and continuing-education audience.
• Susan Garrett's Dog Agility / DogsThat: Online dog-sports training platform with a strong agility focus, offering online courses, webinars, and a membership community. Direct competitor in the dog-sports enthusiast segment that is FDSA's primary audience.
• McCann Dogs: Canadian dog training operation offering online video courses, live classes, and a popular podcast. Comparable to FDSA in the online training-content category and force-free methodology.
• Ian Dunbar's Dog Star Daily / Academy: Pioneer in force-free dog training offering online courses, puppy programs, and trainer resources. Directly comparable to FDSA's positive-method approach and pet-owner + professional trainer audience.

Others

• Pet Professional Guild (PPG): Industry association promoting force-free pet training, hosting summits, webinars, and continuing education. Ecosystem participant that competes for the same trainer-education attention as FDSA's professional offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FenziAcademy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkFylb6nl_5Rq3rTQ2J5R4w
• Facebookfacebook.com/FenziDogSportsAcademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/fenzidogsportsacademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fenzi-dog-sports-academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fenzi Dog Sports Academy