What makes these "obstacle courses" unique is the training philosophy used for teaching them. Inspired by the best practices in human coordination and movement training. Proven to work just as efficiently with dogs by more than 1100 Movement Puzzle enthusiasts in our Academy.

The learner must feel safe at all times, we only use positive reinforcement and force free training.

Instead of handler cues and luring, we use patterns, clever prop setups and splitting the exercises into gradual, easily achievable steps for the dog.

So the dog does the exercises only on her own initiative, independently from the handler, helping these skills transfer over to real life surprisingly fast! Your dog will be feeling empowered "Yes! I want to do this! This is fun!".

Every single repetition gets reinforced, even if the dog does something unexpected (usually called a "mistake").

In this training we DON'T USE withholding the reinforcement, waiting for the dog to offer a "correct" behavior before reinforcing or no reward markers (like saying "no" or "uh-uh") when "mistakes" happen.

Instead, it's a two way communication. We set up the exercise and our dogs let us know if it works for them and what needs to be changed. When "mistakes" happen, then it's information to us how the exercise setup needs to be adjusted!

We create setups where the dog can ACTUALLY be successful!

I am a Certified Professional Canine Fitness Trainer (CPCFT), passionate about helping dogs navigate new and funny situations with confidence and enthusiasm by teaching them how to use their bodies and feel comfortable with moving in all kinds of different situations.

Over the past 7 years I've worked with more than 2000 dog training enthusiasts and since 2020 I've been focusing on developing the concept of Movement Puzzles - exercises that helps dogs learn to balance, control their bodies and move with precision while actually running.

What started as a canine fitness training concept has now been shown by my students to also help dogs with confidence, focus, independent obstacle performance and even reactivity! It has become an integral part when preparing my own dogs for their own activities like search and rescue training and nosework.

I live in Estonia, Europe and share my home with 2 Australian Shepherds - Pipi and Bo - and a mixed breed rescue Mirru.

My training ideas and Movement Puzzles have been featured in Fenzi Dog Sports Academy (where I'm also a proud alumni!), Susan Garrett's Agility Nation and numerous international dog training summits.

New benefits of this super fun training concept pop out every single time I run this hugely popular Movement Puzzles program and I can't wait to see you inside!

Hélène Lawler

Fenzi Dog Sports Academy instructor, Founder of Shaping Chaos and Dog Sport Scholars

USBCHA herding Open handler & coach

"My dogs and I are absolutely loving Movement Puzzles, which have become my new go-to for building foundations."

This unique skills-building program is so powerful that I believe it has the potential to completely change how we train our dogs for work and sport. Not only that, it SHOULD change how we train for work and sport.

Mari’s systematic program teaches both dog and handler the skills we need for performance excellence without danger of over-arousal (hallelujah!), all the while building confidence and developing excellence in communication.

Her step-by-step lessons are clear, easy to follow, and well organized. Her insights are paradigm shifting. Which, as a lover of rabbit holes, is my favourite part of working with Mari. But my dog is very grateful too! Particularly since the exercises allow her to tell me exactly where I need to improve, and how.

Pat Gornall

"Well, having joined MP just a week ago, I am gobsmacked/delighted at how this course is giving confidence to Tilly, my just 1 year old lurcher cross."

She is innately suspicious of randomly moving inanimate objects, plus many, many other things and activities which I would normally overcome by shaping. However, with shaping, she doesn’t seem to carry forward any confidence gained and we always have to start over at each session.

In just ONE week, we have achieved a short puzzle with her walking over a platform, a piece of noisy wrapping paper, a flattened cardboard box and a wobble mat - all done with great enthusiasm and happiness 😁

We started with FF and RF targeting, on and backwards off the platform as instructed, and she’s never looked back. Waiting for the ground to dry up so we can move outside with some poles.

Amazing! Thank you so much.

Pike Bremer

"It is an excellent and genuinely kind program for handlers and dogs alike."

The dogs and I love the Movement Puzzles and find them rather addictive! They are so much fun and we learn something new with every monthly challenge. This program provides just the right amount of theory, great explanations plus example videos for each exercise, doable challenge spacing as well as helpful and prompt feedback to our videos by the knowledgeable team members.

Movement puzzles have made me a more patient trainer and my dogs race up to the training area as soon as I grab the cones as they indicate happy play time for them.

It is an excellent and genuinely kind program for handlers and dogs alike.

Emma Lee

Lighten Up Dog Training

"When I first encountered Mari's Movement Puzzles for dog training, it was a game-changer."

As a behaviour consultant, I often dealt with dogs struggling with impulsive behaviours and poor decision-making, especially in dynamic situations like agility. Many programmes focused on calmness, which wasn't the primary concern for my clients. It was the dogs' ability to make decisions on the go and control their behaviour in various settings that needed attention.

Mari's Movement Puzzles addressed this issue brilliantly. I joined the course in March 2022 and quickly recommended it to my clients. The results were astonishing. Dogs, especially the highly sensitive and impulsive ones, started having their 'lightbulb moments.' Within weeks, we observed improvements in a wide range of behaviours, from abnormal repetitive behaviour through to high levels frustration and even more simple things like leash pulling.

What sets this programme apart is its thoughtfulness. Mari has anticipated every possible challenge and provides strategies for guardians to overcome them. The monthly challenges are exceptional and cater to a variety of dog backgrounds, including sensitive working-line dogs. This means I very rarely need to make individual adaptations or suggestions for my clients' dogs – and when I’ve needed to, it’s simply been to say to re-visit Mari’s guidance.

It’s also been useful for fitness and recovery as well as confidence building. For many of the dogs I work with, they seem much more comfortable navigating the world. Having predictable patterns has also helped those dogs who need a bridge into other environments to help them settle. So often, stillness is an impossible challenge. A few short puzzles in new spaces seems to remind the dogs I work with that they make the decisions about what their body does, not the world around them.

Having worked with dogs for over a decade and seeking continual development, I can confidently say that Movement Puzzles was a true lightbulb moment in my career. I very much look forward to seeing The Moving Canine as it develops. 

Bobbie Lyons

CCFT, KPA CFT, Program Director CSCC, KPA Faculty

"From my first exposure to movement puzzles I was super intrigued with the concept and now I use it often for so many different things.  "

I love it for puppies and old dogs. It is a great way to teach clicker mechanics to new students. It is a great way to teach proprioception to dogs and for dogs to learn and think at a distance from their handler.
I continually find more and more uses for movement puzzles. Thank you Mari for sharing this concept.  It will always be part of what I teach.