Academy for Dogs
Educating both ends of the leash since 2002
Our Training Approach is Positive and Force-Free!
We stand with the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior who recommend our training methods.
Seriously…. it’s time to pitch the prong and choke collars. And shock collars have no place in training our animal friends. We can and should do better for our canine companions.
What is meant by “positive reinforcement,” or “force free” training?
It means we focus on building rewardable behaviors for dogs. We put the focus on ensuring dogs are set up for success by considering the underlying emotional and environmental conditions that drive their behaviors. Then we set them up for learning and fill their lives with “Yes!” Positive reinforcement training is more than just a method; it’s also a way understanding, appreciating, and interacting with dogs that recognizes their intelligence and sees them as partners in learning and fun.
We introduced positive reinforcement training to the Chico, California area in 2002 and have been leading the way with the most current, science-based knowledge about dog behavior and training ever since!
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Positive Puppy Headstart (up to 5 months)
Puppies have a “window of opportunity” when lessons learned can last a lifetime. Through positive socialization and training, we help you and your puppy get off to a “pawsitive” head start.
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Teen & Adult Dog Training (5 months up)
Our “Life Skills & Manners” program, for dogs 5 months and up, builds a strong connection - based on positive reinforcement - between you and your dog. Our training approach keeps the spirit in your dog!
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Continuing Ed for Grads
Our Continuing Ed group classes helps grads of our foundation program take their training further. By adding new skills and pushing existing ones to a higher level, we keep your training on a steady course of advancement and refinement.
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Fear, Anxiety, and Aggression
When our dogs experience fear, anxiety, and/or aggression, they need our help and support. We address underlying stress that drives behaviors so that your dog emotions and behaviors can both improve.
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Training Client Support
Current training clients can access class and private training homework, handouts, and scheduling links here. Be ready to enter your assigned password to access your materials.
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Helpful Resources
There is so much out there on the internet - good and bad - and training advice from others can be hit of miss. Check out these sound resources for helping you with your dog training goals.
We believe that…
…our relationship with dogs is one of partnership.
We believe in dogs and in the power of the human-canine bond to enrich the lives of both people and dogs. At the root of all we do is a belief that dogs are thinking, feeling partners in our lives. In our training program, you won’t hear us use words like “alpha” and “dominance” because we don’t believe in ruling over our dogs (besides, those terms are dated and don’t reflect current understanding of dogs). Instead, we believe in creating partnerships based on understanding, teaching, and communicating effectively with our canine friends.
…teaching good behaviors starts with building positive emotions.
Every one of us has been in situations where we don’t behave our best because we don’t feel our best. Stress and anxiety can have a delibilating effect on behavior. A dog who is not comfortable, can not learn well. Therefore, all of our training begins with addressing your dog’s underlying emotional state (and sometimes their physical wellbeing too). A happy, healthy, comfortable dog is a good learner!
…it’s never too early to start training your dog (nor too late!)
Studies of canine behavior show that there is a developmental “window of opportunity” for puppies when lessons learned can last a lifetime. For this reason, we encourage and facilitate, early positive socialization and learning. Many dogs come to us when they are older and so we love being part of new chapters for teen and adult dogs. And we believe that training can help keep our senior younger in mind, body, and spirit. Regardless of your dog’s age, we are here for you and them.
…training is part of an ongoing lifestyle of engagement with your dog.
Teaching your dog to behave, then maintaining those behaviors, is much like going to the gym. At the gym, we build muscle, then maintain it. In training we build new behaviors, but then we need to maintain them. How do we do this? Though a lifestyle of interaction, engagement, and enrichment with our dogs. We don’t look at training as an event. Rather, we look at it as a way of living, interacting, and enjoying life with our canine friends.
…training should be FUN for both ends of the leash!
When training is fun for dogs they…
enjoy it more, engage in it enthusiastically, gain confidence and trust, develop a better bond and partnership with their people, learn a larger repertoire of behaviors, learn to practice those behaviors in more situations and locations, and respond more reliably.
Come Join the FUN at The Canine Connection!
When training is fun for people they…
enjoy it more, practice it more, develop a better bond and partnership with their dogs, teach a larger repertoire of behaviors, train in more locations and take their dogs more places, and interact with their dogs more frequently and enjoyably.
Our Training Team is Certified, Experienced, and understands BOTH ENDS OF THE LEASH!
“An appropriate trainer should avoid any use of training tools that involve pain (choke chains, prong collars, or electronic shock collars), intimidation (squirt bottles, shaker noise cans, compressed air cans, shouting, staring, or forceful manipulation such as “alpha rolls” or “dominance downs”), physical correction techniques (leash jerking, physical force), or flooding (“exposure”).”
“I met Sarah, Founder of The Canine Connection, roughly 14 years ago when I had a fearful German Shepherd pup that I did not know how to handle. I had taken him to three other trainers before meeting Sarah…”
One trainer told me the dog was useless. One trainer said to put the pup into those situations that scared him, saturate him until he changes behavior, and the other trainer just did not know what to do with him.
When Sarah first met my shepherd she said “this is going to be one of the sweetest dogs you will ever have.” She was right. It was this dog who changed my heart for the better and helped me begin to understand the canine world. Sarah taught me to train this pup in a positive, reinforcing manner. She taught me about thresholds, how to approach his fearful behavior and begin to change it, in turn changing the dog's mindset and fear responses.
Fourteen years later, my third shepherd in tow, she continues to inspire me to learn more about canine behavior and training. I am now studying animal behavior in college and continue to perfect my marker training skills with all my animals. I strongly recommend Sarah Richardson, and The Canine Connection team to anyone wanting to better understand how animals learn, and how to use positive based training methods.”
-Candice Smith, Service Dog Trainer