At Yappily, we’re all about shining a light on the passionate, knowledgeable people who are doing brilliant things for dogs and the humans who love them. Today, we’d like you to meet Anna Herzog.
Anna is an internationally respected dog trainer and coach with over 20 years of professional experience. She’s competed at the highest levels of both Kennel Club Obedience and FCI Obedience, represented Great Britain at the FCI Obedience World Championships in Norway, and has spent the last several years doing something no one else in the UK was doing: building FCI Obedience here from the ground up.
If you’ve never heard of FCI Obedience, you’re not alone. But that’s changing, and Anna is the reason why. We asked her everything! What the sport is, how it got here, who it’s for, and what the community looks like today. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or someone who just loves training with your dog, we think you’re going to want to read this.
1. How did you become a professional dog trainer?
I got my first dog when I was 15 after spending years walking and entertaining the farm dogs near my grandparents who typically back then were guarding property and attached to a chain on the yard. I was quite used to being around highly reactive and even aggressive dogs which is why at first I got stuck in behaviour modification and pet training.
The dog club I took my first dog to was fantastic and specialised in exactly those topics. The head trainer took me under her wing as she believed in me and taught me everything she knew. I worked at her dog club (which was really more a dog training school, not a typical dog club as they didn’t do any sports,) for about 3 years before moving on to the next adventure.
I wanted to learn more about clicker training and sports, and started teaching at another dog club when I was given the opportunity. I have to say, I was so lucky to meet the right people at the right time. Amazing behaviourists and skilled dog trainers who introduced me to Biologists and Dog Psychologists who I worked with closely.
After learning about trick training and clicker training I entered my first heelwork to music and freestyle competitions with my small crossbreed, my second dog who was a rescue. I loved the detail and thought that went into training a routine and all the sequences. (I still do that today, every year for Crufts, I run a display team). I played various instruments and sports when I was young so the importance of understanding mechanics and techniques has been drilled into me. It was around that time I found out about UK Obedience. FCI Obedience which was a lot more common in Germany didn’t interest me much back then, I didn’t like the vibe and the dogs didn’t look very motivated. But the heelwork in UK Obedience was a different story. I was instantly hooked and it became my passion.
I got my first Border Collie 2011 and started training her for UK Obedience right from when she was a pup. I still lived in Munich back then so I travelled to the UK and Holland regularly to compete and she won her first Novice in the UK at only 16 months and was in ticket 3 years later. With my new passion, my interest in teaching shifted and sports, especially competitive Obedience took more and more priority.
I’ve been running my own business now for 20 years, and I’ve been travelling the world to deliver seminars for around 15 years. There were times when I was away more than at home – it’s not quite like that now. I’m getting old but what amazing adventures I’ve had over the years. When I competed with Lia in UK Obedience, we qualified twice for Crufts and she won four tickets in total.
11 years later I competed at the FCI Obedience World Championships in Norway with Lia’s son Nox, representing Great Britain for the first time ever. I’m the first handler to have competed at the highest level at KC Obedience and FCI Obedience.
For the last 4 years, I’ve been at the forefront of introducing FCI Obedience to the UK which is now finally taking off. It took a lot of work, sweat and determination, but I’m proud to say that it’s actually finally happening. I’m planning to start my FCI judges training by the end of this year, (I’ve been judging KC Obedience for over 10 years) I’m about to start filming and developing a big online training platform and finalising my second book. I love my job, I love everything about it and I’m grateful I get to do the things that I do.
2. What is FCI Obedience, and how is it different from Kennel Club Obedience?
It’s one of the most popular dog sports across many European countries, regulated by the FCI but with a lot of room for modification of entry classes on a national level. Meaning that every country has their own Beginner classes and qualification processes. FCI Obedience offers a great variety of exercises from the lowest class, that combines skills of many other dog sports, which makes it accessible for many. It includes jumps, various retrieve, redirects, sendaways, scent, heelwork, stays and distance control. In KC Obedience, heelwork is the main exercises across all levels and you need to win your class to be able to qualify into the next class. You don’t need to be a heelwork pro in FCI as it’s one of many exercises which for dogs or handlers who struggle with the perfection needed for KC, is great news. To qualify into the next class, you have to gain a certain number of points out of the total. Which means you don’t have to win AND it’s you against the test, not against other teams. I believe this creates a much nicer atmosphere at competitions.
The progression of each exercise throughout the classes is very well thought through. It’s great for dogs and handlers to train an array of exercises for the lowest class but it’s simplified and achievable compared to the same exercise in the highest class. For example in Distance Control in Class 1, the dog needs to perform 4 position changes, from down to sit, down, sit, down. With the handler standing 3-5m away. In Class 3 (highest class), it’s 6 changes including the stand in a random order, with the handler at 15m. This applies to most exercises – they increase in complexity, distance or duration but it all makes sense and is fun to break down into simple steps.
Another difference between the sports is that the KC Obedience stays in the UK. FCI runs national but also international competitions, like the World Championships which brings people from many countries together and is a fantastic team event, run every year in different countries.
3. How did FCI Obedience come to the UK?
During Covid, I spent some time in Germany and discovered my love for FCI Obedience. Things had changed over the years and I think to be honest I also got a little bit bored of KC. I felt like I’ve been there and done it so I wanted a new challenge. FCI Obedience is all about details, but across a huge variety of exercises. It means lots of training and geeking out about it which is what I love. So I started to retrain Nox who at that point had been competing up to B in KC, he was 5 years old at the time. Within 3 years (despite not being able to travel much for some of it) he qualified into the highest class in FCI Obedience and managed to perfect skills that were completely different to his foundations.
Over the first couple of years I trained mostly on my own as there just wasn’t anyone in the UK, who even knew much about FCI Obedience. I really struggled with motivation at times as some of the exercises require a helper and it’s hard without. Like placing dumbbells, stewarding, placing scent sticks, etc. I also missed the sense of community. At the time, I still mostly taught KC Obedience in the UK, 1-2-1s, group classes, workshops and camps. I knew I needed to do something to get people hooked on this fabulous dog sport so I started to train FCI exercises at KC shows, I started posting more about it on my socials, I ran Introductory workshops, got my clients and friends involved in my training and sloooooowly but surely it grew.
Between 2021 and 2024 it went from training solely on my own to building a small circle of people who learned how to steward, helped me with my training and (most importantly) fell in love with the sport and started training it with their own dogs. I travelled to Germany and Italy to compete with Nox and decided to enter the qualifications for the German National Team for the World Championships in Latvia 2024. Despite my German nationality, it wasn’t an option as Nox is registered in the UK – it all would have been way too complicated and after a moment of disappointment I contacted the Kennel Club and asked, if they’d be willing to enter me to represent GB to which they agreed! I was pretty shocked at first as up to that point all I heard from the Obedience community in the UK was that the KC “would never support FCI Obedience”. Well turns out, that was a lie lol.
I trained hard but to be honest it was a very lonely journey at times. Watching other teams prepare for the World Championships amongst tons of fellow enthusiasts and countries running qualifications with up to 50 Class 3 teams made me feel pretty much like a one man band, which I totally was. But I was extremely committed and hoped that us representing GB could be the start of something amazing here in the UK.
2 months before the WC, Nox injured himself and we had to pull out. One of the biggest disappointments of my life – at least for a few days – I felt the weight of the pressure I had put on myself and worried that now, FCI Obedience will never take off in the UK. The Number one priority was of course Nox’s recovery and I’m grateful for all the wonderful support from so many professionals who helped me get him back to where he is today. At the same time, us not going lit a fire in me. Within a few weeks I got in touch with various board members of the KC, FCI committee members and experts from all over the world, judges, stewards, even those from other disciplines who might know something or someone. I’m lucky really that I have made great connections over the many years in the industry and I was offered lots of information and support. My goal was to introduce FCI Obedience to the UK. Properly. Nationwide. Big community, competitions, training meet ups, people falling in love with the sport. I didn’t want to be a one man band anymore.
4. What was it like representing Great Britain at the FCI Obedience World Championships?
Initially after Nox’s injury in 2024, I never even dreamt of competing with him again. Throughout his recovery and rehab, I had the most amazing support from Rochelle at Vault Physiotherapy. With her help (and my very determined attitude haha), Nox grew from strength to strength and I began to see a glimmer of hope. After months of progressive fitness exercise, I went back to training Obedience. I was so much more aware then of the impact and stress on the dog’s body and I completely changed our training. Not only that, everyday life looked different. A warm up on lead before any off lead running on every walk. Daily fitness or stretching routines and lots of little changes I implemented to ensure he stays sound. Nox is a dog without any self preservation so it’s not been easy!
In November 2024 I invited 2 very good friends of mine and amazing instructors from Finland to hold a seminar here in the UK and on that weekend, with their advice and support, I decided that I was going to give it another go. I contacted the Kennel Club and within days I started making a training plan to get Nox ready for the World Championships in Norway. Training had to be smart and definitely not hard. I knew I couldn’t and didn’t want to push him and his health was of course paramount. I questioned my decision many times along the way, not because Nox was showing any signs of weakness – quite the opposite, but because my training volume compared to what you’d expect when you prepare for such a big competition, was minimal. But we did what we could and started our journey to Norway in June as “Team GB”, accompanied by one of my best friends, a very strong and fit Nox and masses of anxiety that he was going to hurt himself just before the event.
Fast forward – it was one of the BEST experiences of my life. I loved every second of it and so did Nox. I’m immensely proud of both of us and I was totally on my A game, and he was on his. When I think back to 2024 and how far we’ve come – smashed Nox’s recovery and went back to the world stage, stronger than ever. I mean that’s something! It was an honour to represent GB as the first ever team, at a FCI Obedience World Championship.
5. What are FCI Obedience training competitions in the UK, and how can you get involved?
Currently, all FCI competitions events I am organising are classed as “Training Competitions” as FCI Obedience is not licensed by the Kennel Club at this point. It’s not an official sport here in the UK, however that is exactly what I am working towards.
The first training competition took place in August 2025, followed by another in November. Over the winter, my team and I put a plan together for 2026, which is to run one training competition per month. So far, we organised one in February in Hampshire, one in March in Lancashire and another in April in Hampshire. The 2026 schedule is full of great events across the country and entries are growing every time which is super exciting.
Training competitions are open to everyone. We have designed Beginner classes which we are trailing this year called Intro and Starters. Handlers are allowed to reward their dog in between exercises, use extra commands, targets and shorten the distance for certain exercises. Those classes have been very popular and the feedback super positive. Handlers can purchase a “CPD booklet” to track their progress and it gets them used to having a workbook which is common in FCI sports to document points, rankings and qualifications.
The next competition is planned for the end of May, followed by one in June held at the British Dog Sports Festival, which is a big festival near Rugby, bringing multiple dog sports together.
6. Is FCI Obedience only for Border Collies? Who can take part?
Any dog of any breed and any level of experience. We are getting people from a huge array of sports – Gundog, Agility, IGP and more who are all super keen to train and compete in FCI Obedience. In my weekly classes alone I have Spaniels, German Spitz, Malinois, Labrador, Australian Shepherd, Golden Retriever, Doberman, Terriers and many more. The display I run yearly at Crufts is known for the great variety of breeds and I believe that FCI Obedience is a great sport for many dogs. It’s all about finding the best way for the dog in front of you and not having a “one method for all” mentality.
7. Is FCI Obedience force-free? Anna Herzog on positive training in competitive obedience.
I love this question as I’ve been having a lot of conversations about this topic recently. Attracting handlers from various disciplines also means various styles of training, beliefs and values. I have never been the type of trainer or coach who “tells people how to train” and I don’t believe that there’s only one way or that my way is the only right way. Everyone who’s trained with me, over a longer period or just once at a seminar knows that I adapt to the team in front of me. Their skillset, experience and handling. But I have clear boundaries and values of how people treat their dogs. I know I’m unable to control how anyone trains behind closed doors but I will forever educate on how to train kinder and smarter. And on the importance of a relationship built on trust and mutual understanding – how our dogs feel is so important. Every day and especially in dog sports training where the level of technicality is immensely high. I don’t care how fancy your heelwork or impressive your send away is, if your dog looks stressed af (can I say that HAHA) or would clearly prefer to be elsewhere.
I won’t tolerate the use of tools at any of my events and that includes FCI Obedience UK. Any dog club associating their training meet ups with Anna Herzog Dog Training or FCI Obedience UK must adhere to those guidelines. The use of tools is nothing I want to promote and not what I stand for. I want to ensure that as FCI Obedience grows in the UK, the community built around it is thriving and nourished by positive, motivational and smart dog trainers who understand the impact our choices have on our dogs. Something I feel very strongly about.
I won’t tolerate the use of tools at any of my events and that includes FCI Obedience UK.
8. What does great dog training look like? Anna Herzog on skills, mindset, and the learning process.
Great training to me is a combination of:
What we do as handlers before we even begin our training session – planning, breaking exercises down, making notes, learning about the sport, watching videos, connecting to likeminded people and self reflection. What can I do better? How can I be a better teammate for my dog? What do I need to change in order to improve my dog’s behaviour?
Dog training never starts with the dog.
The session itself – the ability to create and maintain a clear mind as a handler and to take care of the dog’s mindset, feelings and his body. Being flexible instead of getting stuck, and to control our own emotions when things go wrong. Finding a good balance between improving small details to build skills and strengthen certain elements, and competition training to work on duration, formal exercises and around distractions.
Every dog and every handler is different. Planning sessions is a great idea to ensure a structured approach but the one thing I wish more dog owners understood is that good dog training starts way before we start a training session. Our dog will only ever be as good as our own handling so improving our own skills is paramount. And maybe just one more thing – always remember why you started all this. The relationship you have with your dog, the love you have for them is more important than any rosette. So if things go wrong, shake it off and learn from it. Enjoy the journey – you will learn so much from training your dog, it’s the most precious gift.
9. What is the FCI Obedience UK community like, and what’s next for the sport?
The community has grown massively over the last year. The facebook group has doubled in members since November 2025 and there are more and more dog clubs organising training meet ups. There now are active FCI clubs in Lincolnshire, Lancashire, Essex, Hampshire, Devon and Glasgow who organise monthly meet ups which are self-led get togethers, open to anyone to join and learn more about the sport. I ran another successful FCI display at Crufts and my team and I are constantly working on new ideas on how to make the sport more accessible nationwide.
In 5 years, I would hope that the KC and the FCI came to an agreement on how we can run official FCI Obedience competitions in the UK and that we were able to implement that by then. I also hope that by then, we have more teams who have qualified for the highest class and are able to compete at the world championships so that “Team GB” isn’t just a one man band but a team of brilliant people and their dogs.
10. If a dog guardian reading this is curious about FCI Obedience, whether for competition or just for fun, what would be their first step?
Follow all the social media accounts.
Facebook group FCI Obedience UK, you will find a lot of free stuff to watch and read and training meet ups you can join across the country.
Instagram @annaherzogdogsports and @fciobedienceuk to find out first about events, watch educational reels and take part in discussions all around the sport
The main website is www.annaherzog.online, which is currently being built and you can currently sign up for the waitlist.
Soon you will find everything you need to know about FCI Obedience. Clubs all over the UK who offer FCI training, meet ups for all levels, training competition dates, workshops, camps and more.
You’ll be able to book onto events with a few simple clicks, connect to me via whatsapp and join my online training program filled with various courses on FCI Obedience, Heelwork, KC Obedience, Dog Sports Foundations for Young Dogs and so much more. Join the maillist and get everything first hand.
Thank you Anna
If Anna’s story has sparked your curiosity, the best thing you can do is dive in. Follow FCI Obedience UK on Facebook and Instagram, join the community group, and keep an eye on Anna’s website currently being built and launching soon, where you’ll find clubs, events, training resources, and everything you need to get started.
FCI Obedience is growing fast in the UK, and the community at the heart of it is exactly the kind we love to see, positive, passionate, and genuinely dog-centred. We’re proud to have Anna listed on Yappily, and we can’t wait to watch this sport grow.
👉 Find Anna Herzog and other FCI Obedience UK Trainers on Yappily
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