Laura Holder, CPDT-KA, CNWI™
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Certified Professional Dog Trainer - Knowledge Assessed, CCPDT
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Certified Nose Work Instructor, NACSW
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Approved Trial Judge, NACSW
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Evaluator, Cyber Scent Work
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, starting K9 Nose Work classes with Oscar in 2012, and became a Certified Nose Work Instructor™ in 2016. In 2024, I was approved to be an approved NACSW Trial Judge and in 2025, I became an Evaluator for Cyber Scent Work.
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Since 2017, I've be involved with Conservation Dogs Collective (as the former Executive Director and now owner) where my dogs Ernie & Betty White and I conduct professional scent detection work for conservation-centric projects during Spring and Summer. 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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K9 Nose Work is a core part of my life and I thoroughly enjoy setting up searches with both Ernie and Betty White to test our skills and enter competitions when my schedule allows. Team Ernie earned our NW2 title with a 1st place finish in April 2025, and Team Betty White earned our NW2 title with a 2nd place finish in November 2025. While titling offers a certain sense of achievement, showing up to play as a connected team in competitions is why we do it.
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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.