Dog trainer Tanja Schnatz opens her own school in Holzappel!

Dog trainer Tanja Schnatz opens her own school in Holzappel!

Tanja Schnatz from Holzappel's passion for dogs motivated her to start her own dog school. After her training at the Cologne Dog Academy, the newly licensed dog trainer has perfected her craft and is now focusing on positive and needs-oriented dog training. It is particularly important to her that the training is fun and tailored to the individual needs of the dogs. On July 1, 2025, she opened her dog school in Diez and now offers a wide range of training sessions.

Tanja Schnatz, who lives with her husband and their three dogs, Quinn, Mimo and Berta, deepened her knowledge of positive reinforcement and learning theories in 2023. In her practice, she places particular emphasis on training taking place in different environments such as the forest, city or home. The goal is not only to train the dogs, but also to keep them busy without them suffering from stress. One method she likes to use is searching with dummies, especially on warm days.

Focus on positive reinforcement

A central pillar of her training methodology is positive reinforcement. This method, used by organizations such as FOUR PAWS is recommended, excludes any kind of punishment. Instead, Schnatz relies on rewards through praise, treats and games. A common problem when training dogs is pulling on the leash - a problem that can be controlled with patience and positive reinforcement. Dogs should be rewarded when they don't pull, which not only makes the walk more pleasant for the owner, but also leads to a more relaxed bond between humans and animals.

The benefits of positive reinforcement cannot be underestimated. While this form of training can take some time, experience shows that it has lasting and positive effects on the human-animal relationship. Negative training elements that convey pain or dominance are not only counterproductive, but also lead to stress symptoms in the dog, which can impair their ability to learn. Furthermore, it is emphasized, that punishments are often linked to the person doing the punishing, which can put additional strain on the relationship.

Course offerings and contact

Tanja Schnatz offers a variety of training units that cover, among other things, the following topics:

• Leinenführigkeit
• Rückruf
• Grundgehorsam
• Maulkorbtraining
• Gelassene Begegnungen

For anyone who is interested in individual training plans, Schnatz usually comes to the human-dog team's home for the initial appointment in order to analyze the situation directly. If there is an increased risk potential, she refers you to experienced colleagues.

If you would like to find out more about Tanja Schnatz and her offers, you can contact her directly:

Address:Bahnhofsweg 1a, 65582 Diez
Phone:0170 – 41 43 638 (Tue–Sat, 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.)
E-mail:hundeschule-tanja-schnatz@t-online.de
Website: www.hundeschule-tanja-schnatz.de

Tanja Schnatz's dog school is a breath of fresh air in the region and is accompanied by the new series "Getting to the Dog" in the BEN Kurier, which will offer exciting insights into her practical exercises and training methods. This means that the positive change will be noticeable not only for the dogs, but also for the dogs' families.