35+ Years of Experience
Positive reinforcement, deep patience, and an intuitive understanding of how dogs think — Ted's approach has transformed thousands of dogs across the U.S. and beyond.
Ted Hoff has been training all dog breeds for over 35 years. His expertise spans a variety of training disciplines — from basic obedience leash manners to total recall off leash.
As a young boy of 10, he got his first dog: a black Labrador retriever named Pearl Bailey. Ted and Pearl built a relationship focused on obedience and retriever training that led him to a lifelong pursuit of developing relationships between dogs and their owners. He came to Crawford, Colorado in 1990 and has since trained thousands of dogs of every breed from across the U.S., Canada, Alaska, South Africa, Venezuela, and New Zealand.
Ted's most important influence is his unique relationship with dogs — an intuitive understanding of how dogs think and behave in partnership with their owners. His ability to 'whisper' with dogs has led to a very personal style of training that relies heavily on positive reinforcement, consistent interaction, and a deep understanding of body language.
He observes the dog's body language while building trust and calming them through touch and praise. This positive reinforcement approach allows Ted to spend a great deal of time with each dog, resulting in a well-trained animal that genuinely enjoys the process.
Ted's positive, calming techniques set him apart from other trainers. There are no harsh corrections, no shock collars, no fear-based methods — only trust built one session at a time.
A well-rounded day at the kennel includes exercise, socialization, and purposeful play. Each training session is a short, repetitive exercise where the dog learns to be calm, attentive, and follow through on commands. The end result is a well-trained dog with a strong bond with the trainer.
"Camp" starts when the dog is released from their training session for open play. These sessions help increase a dog's attention span and build the special relationship between dog and owner that leads to a positive, life-long experience.
While training your dog, Ted also spends time with the owner at pickup — teaching you all the techniques your dog has learned and how to continue positive reinforcement at home. This handoff is critically important: it gives you a concrete understanding of how to maintain the training as your dog grows and situations change.
One-on-one training with the dog's owner is done here at the ranch at time of pickup. Please contact Ted as training nears completion to schedule a time and date for pickup and owner training.
Ted recommends a full 30-day training session for best results. Shorter stays are available for boarding guests who benefit from incidental training and socialization.
Follow-up training after the initial month is available at $50/day for dogs that have already completed a full program with Ted.
Cottonwood's boarding facility is first class, the ranch is absolutely beautiful, and his training is superb.— Tricia Ecclestone
Space is limited. Most guests book weeks in advance.