Training at Holzbach Kennel

We firmly believe that good training is the key to a healthy relationship with your dog and time well-spent in the field.

Good training is built on a foundation of clear communication and a teaching mindset. Well-bred working dogs have an innate desire to work with and for their handler. Most training struggles can trace back to unclear communication or a lack of understanding. Success comes when a dog understands the task and can see a clear picture of your expectations.

We use a modern, balanced training approach that focuses on teaching a skill, then slowly increasing the difficulty until the dog can generalize that skill to any environment. Rewards and consequences are fair and easily understood during the learning process. Progress is made in small, measured steps that increase learning without creating confusion. This method is useful with dogs of all temperaments, but it is especially effective with sensitive dogs that don’t respond well to high-pressure, compulsion-based methods.

Put simply, we believe that training is a relationship built on trust and communication.