They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but the staff of Kinzua Canine begs to differ.

“There is no such thing as old dogs who can’t learn,” said Brittany Holsinger, owner. “I have trained every age and type of dog and they all pick it up really quickly as long as they understand what we are asking them to do.”

That level of communication is often what separates a misbehaving dog from a well-behaved one. Holsinger hopes to help people bridge that gap and learn how to better communicate with their furry friends.

Her new business is located at 30 Airport Road, Unit 3, in Lewis Run. In addition to doggy daycare and day training, she offers classes in a variety of topics including pet first aid, puppy classes, adult dog training and more. Training is by appointment but daycare hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday with dropoff between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and pickup between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. There are 12 daycare spots available each day.

“This is an enrichment-based daycare so it isn’t all just play,” said Holsinger. “We have brain-teaser feeders when they come in; then they go for walks; they have time to play with their doggie friends and then we have structured play throughout the day.”

The Kinzua Canine staff currently consists of Holsinger and two other trainers, all of whom are dedicated to helping dog owners better understand their pooch.

“I love to get to see people make a deeper connection with their dogs,” said Holsinger. “Dogs do so much and have a huge boost of confidence when they understand what they need to do to make their owner happy.”

Brittany Holsinger, owner of Kinzua Canine in Lewis Run.

She notes that dogs aren’t meant to sit around all day and get their food delivered in a bowl each morning and night.

“Originally, dogs were scavengers so they are used to working a little bit for their food,” Holsinger said. “It is good for them to do a little thinking and solve a few puzzles to keep their brains active.”

Holsinger knows a well-trained dog can make a huge difference in a family’s overall quality of life.

“If we work to find out what makes them tick and what they enjoy, you start to have a much deeper and rewarding relationship with your dog,” said Holsinger.

Even those dogs who are doing well at home can benefit from socialization with other dogs. Holsinger’s many classes offer information for even the most well-seasoned dog owner. Her ultimate goal is to keep dogs in their homes — as opposed to filling up shelters.

“The rescues are just overwhelmed and overrun at this point,” said Holsinger. “We want to use training as a tool to help try and keep dogs in their homes.”

When she begins working with a new client, Holsinger asks the owner to think back to when they first got their furry friend.
“I ask them to think about the types of activities that they imagined doing with their dog,” said Holsinger. “Then, if they aren’t already doing that activity, we take steps to make that happen.”

Dogs, of course, have their own understanding of the world. The secret to a well-behaved dog is in knowing how to speak that language.

“Dogs think in their own way and they speak to us with their body language,” said Holsinger. “We teach people how to pay attention to those cues.”

Those who are interested in booking Holsinger for training or signing up for a daycare spot can do so at kinzuacanine.com.