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Laura Holder
CPDT-KA, CNWI

  • Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed, CCPDT

  • Certified Nose Work Instructor, NACSW

  • Approved ORT and Trial Judge, NACSW

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My Story

My journey into dog training began with my first dog, Fanny, in 2003. Initially following popular TV training methods, a pivotal moment with her led me to discover positive reinforcement training, fundamentally changing my approach to living my life alongside dogs.

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The real turning point came with Oscar, my second dog, in 2009. His behavioral challenges taught me that each dog is unique, and success comes from building genuine partnerships rather than trying to 'fix' them. This revelation drove me deeper into professional training, leading me into the world of K9 Nose Work. My life was never the same after that point. I dug deep into the fascinating world of dog training and scent work. I became a certified trainer in 2011 through CCPDT, and later a Certified Nose Work Instructor™ in 2016.

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Today, I'm the co-founder of Conservation Dogs Collective, where my dogs Ernie & Betty White and I conduct professional scent detection work for conservation-centric projects. At Connecting with Dogs, I combine science-based methods with joy and compassion to help people build authentic relationships with their dogs through K9 Nose Work workshops, private sessions, and group classes throughout Wisconsin and beyond.

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My commitment to continuous learning and staying current with the latest positive training methods ensures my clients receive the most effective, humane support possible. I share this knowledge and passion each week through my in-person and online classes, private lessons, and judging assignments.

  • Certifications, Affiliations and Memberships
    Co-founder, Executive Director, Conservation Dogs Collective Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed, Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers Certified Nose Work Instructor™, National Association of Canine Scent Work® (NACSW™) Approved Trial and ORT Judge, National Association of Canine Scent Work® (NACSW™) Graduate, Better Vet Visits, Karen Pryor Academy Co-founder and Steering Committee Member, Force Free Trainers of Wisconsin Member, National Association of Canine Scent Work®
  • Live Education and Training
    2022-current NACSW Enhanced Education Day for K9 Nose Work® Instructors 2024 From Nose to Brain: The Neuroscience of Scentwork, Daniel Shaw, 2024 I Spy – Early Detection of Injuries, Dr. Chris Zink, 2024 NACSW Enhanced Education Day for K9 Nose Work® Instructors 2023 NACSW Virtual Nose Work Camp Winter 2023 NACSW Enhanced Education Weekend for K9 Nose Work® Instructors 2022 Drive Building and the Toy Reward Dog Part One with Amy Herot, 2022 Wildlifetek Wildlife Detection Dog Conference, Participant & Presenter, 2022 2017-2021 NACSW Enhanced Education Weekend for K9 Nose Work® Instructors 2020 Conditioning: What it is and how can it help my dog?, Dr. Lori Rockwell 2020 Stretching for Dogs—Why it’s important and how to do it safely, Dr. Lori Rockwell 2020 Learning to Spot Pain and Injury in Dogs, Dr. Lori Rockwell 2020 Hidden Gems with Sue Sternberg, Virtual NACSW Camp 2020 Field Observations with Amy Herot, Virtual NACSW Camp 2020 Search Area Evaluation: Exteriors, Dana Zinn, 2020 Chirag Patel 4-day Intensive, 2019 Developing a Dynamic Training Plan for your Nose Work Dog, Leah Gangelhoff, 2019 Stress and the Nose Work Dog, Ann Waterbury, 2018 CE910: Instructor Continuing Education for CNWI/ANWI, Joyride K9, 2018 Presenter, Training Thoughtfully Milwaukee, 2017 K9 Nose Work Seminar, Dana Zinn, 2017 2011-2016 Kay Laurence - Skills for Tomorrow's Trainer 5-Day Course, 2016 Practical Hide Placement, Jacy Kelley, 2016 Scent and Scent Theory, Donna Hrenick, 2016 From Stress to Success: Handler & Dog Skill Development in K9 Nose Work® Training, Leah Gangelhoff, 2015 Reading Your Dog: The Not-so-Hidden Language of Communicaiton in Scent Practice, Roxanne Baudry, 2015 Trainer Accredited by Kay Laurence 2-year Study Course, Kay Laurence, 2015-2017 Kay Laurence 2-day Training Seminar, Kay Laurence, 2014 True Potential Partnership Intensive Training Program, Kathy Kawalec, 2014 NACSW K9 Nose Work® Camp, Georgia, 2014 Brilliant Partners Club, Kathy Kawalec, 2013 - present Mentor to Learn Trainer Course, Family Paws, 2013 "Get SMART! About Training" 2-day Seminar, Kathy Sdao, 2013 Steve and Jennifer White Seminar, 2011
  • Recorded Education and Training
    2022 Penn Vet Working Dog Conference 2022 Learning the Ropes: All Things Leash Handling with Michael Shikashio and Grisha Stewart 2021 Silence is Golden, A Protocol for Teaching Stillness: Leslie McDevitt 2021 VNWC: Breaking Down the Bracket, Michele Ellertson 2021 VNWC: Love the One You're With, Carolyn Barney 2021 Elements with Confidence Series, Amy Herot 2020 Penn Vet Working Dog Conference The Pros and Cons of Working Dog Techniques for Your NW Dog, Jacy Kelly Repetitive Drills with Gail McCarthy Rethinking Heat Injury in Dogs, Janice Baker, DVM, MS, NCVMB Stretch don't Snap (Colleen Pelar, CBBC, CPDT-KA) I-Spy: Early Detection of Injuries in Our Dogs (Chris Zink DVM PhD DACVP DACVSMR CCRT CVSMT CVA) Considerations for Successful Hide Placement (Barbara Schwerdt, CNWI) Emotional and environmental enrichment with scent (Dr. Robert Hewings, BSc MA) Inspiration for the K9 Nose Work Classroom (Leah Gangelhoff, CNWI) Science of Olfactory Perception and Learning (Dr. Simon Gadbois) Start Button Behaviors (Hannah Brannigan) Distractions don't have (Large) Scent Cones! Distractions in Nosework (Stacy Barnett) Scent-work Planning and Problem Solving (Robert Hewings) Canine Sense and Scent Ability (Dr. Nathaniel Hall) Spay/Neuter of Dogs: What every dog trainer should know (Dr. Daniela Zurr) What Exotic Animals Taught Me About Training Working Dogs (Ken Ramirez) Expanding Your Force Free Dog Training Toolkit Part 3 (Chirag Patel) A Brief Look at Arousal in Dogs (Ken McCort) What the Nose Knows (Dana Emerson & Jane Fallander) Pick the brain first: The right nose, breed and training method will follow (Simon Badbois, Ph.D) Nutrigenomics for Dogs: Creating Healthy Vitality Through Food (Dr. Jean Dodds) Reducing Behavior with Reinforcement: Oxymorons and Other Jumbo Shrimp (Susan G. Friedman, Ph.D) Extinction and Resurgence (Jesus Rosales Ruiz) Aggression in Depth (John Rogerson) What it Means to Be a Positive Trainer (Ken Ramirez) Different Breeds Have Different Needs (Trish King) Rehabilitation in Aggression Cases (Trish King) Terrible Teens - Canine Adolescence (Trish King) The Art of Trick Dogging (Emily Larlham) The Body Language of Canine Play (Terry Ryan) The Magic of Shaping (Pamela Dennison) Pavlov Meets Cujo (Kathy Sdao) Control Unleashed (Leslie McDevitt) Understanding the Dynamics of Dog-Dog Play (Nicole Wilde) Pairing Pavlovian Conditioning with Operant Odor Discrimination Clicker Training for Small Pets (Emily Cassell) Essential Oils & Pets (Dr. Melissa Shelton, DVM) The Seductiveness of Shock (Kathy Sdao)
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