Through positive reinforcement training, enrichment-based daycare, and premium boarding, we help dogs and their people develop meaningful, lifetime connections. Have you heard the news. WE HAVE OPENED A SECOND CENTER to house our TRAINING ACADEMY. This center, located in north Chico, is allowing us to expand flagship program to more hours of the day and days of the week.We are dedicated to bringing nothing but the most positive and progressive training approaches to YOU and YOUR DOG! Our DAYCARE and BOARDING program is currently accepting applications from our training clients only.
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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 and that it is our responsibility to better understand them so that we can be their best guardians. To this end, we believe that the connection between dogs and people can be life-changing and we strive to bring to people the resources to enhance their connections with their dogs!In recent years there has been a dramatic shift in how we look at dogs.
When she arrived in Chico in the summer of 2001, she realized that there were no opportunities for people to learn about the power of positive training in the area - not surprising since positive reinforcement training was then very new to dog training everywhere - and so she set about creating ways for people and dogs to benefit from science-based, force-free training.
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).
Veterinarians specializing in behavior recommend that owners take advantage of every safe opportunity to expose young puppies to the great variety of stimuli that they will experience in their lives. Enrolling in puppy classes prior to three months of age can be an excellent means of improving training, strengthening the human-animal bond, and socializing puppies in an environment where risk of illness can be minimized. Read the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior's AVSAB Position Statement on Puppy Socialization HERE.
Reviews (8)
Tamara Yates
May 31, 2021
I've had dogs for over 60 years, the Canine Connection is the best, most Professional and most loving Dog resource I have ever experienced. Training with Dr. Sarah Richardson and her staff is a joy. My Camp Fire dog Shadow was made to feel comfortable And safe so she could learn new things (she had a troubled history). My English Shepherd puppy, Charley was brought out of his shell into the amazing "teenager" he is today during his Pup 1 class. Sarah hires the best, dog loving and knowledgeable staff. my dogs love them. I also want to shout out to Sarah whom I worked with during the Camp Fire, caring for the lost dogs (including my future Shadow and her Rudy). She was tireless
Mandi Mitchell
May 29, 2021
Our high energy doodle loves Canine Connection! He goes to doggie daycare there twice a week, is groomed there once a month, and stays there overnight anytime we travel. The staff members are always friendly and the facility is top notch. They are great about communicating and you can tell they really love all of the dogs.
Olivia Johnson
Jan 14, 2021
I like everything about this place! My dog and I have attended training classes here, he goes to daycare on a regular basis, and now we have started using their groomer as well. The people are always kind, amazing with my dog, and COVID compliant. They even text me pictures of my pup during the day and answer quickly when I check in on him. I started training classes online via Zoom at the beginning of the pandemic and they were fantastic, then we transitioned to in person classes.
There were 4 or 5 of us in each group and everyone remained masked and distanced. Most recently we have started using their groomer, oh my gosh, she is incredible. I brought her details of how I wanted my pup to look and a picture for reference and not only did she do a great job with the groom, but I could tell he was not as stressed as after other groom appointments elsewhere.
My dog is pretty sensitive and she made the time to go slow and ease him into the process to keep him comfortable. Usually after a groom his stomach is upset from the stress and he smells bad from having gas, after this groom he was perfectly happy and fully himself. I commend groomer Sarah on her work and look forward to our next groom. As for Dr. Sarah, if you don't already know, she is wonderful.
She has given me all kinds of advice on dealing with various behaviors and training techniques. I love Canine Connection for all things DOG and if you are in the market for daycare, training, grooming, or boarding (I don't have personally experience with this but if I had to live my pup somewhere other than with close friends I would definitely pick here) definitely check them out and see if they are the right fit for you.
There were 4 or 5 of us in each group and everyone remained masked and distanced. Most recently we have started using their groomer, oh my gosh, she is incredible. I brought her details of how I wanted my pup to look and a picture for reference and not only did she do a great job with the groom, but I could tell he was not as stressed as after other groom appointments elsewhere.
My dog is pretty sensitive and she made the time to go slow and ease him into the process to keep him comfortable. Usually after a groom his stomach is upset from the stress and he smells bad from having gas, after this groom he was perfectly happy and fully himself. I commend groomer Sarah on her work and look forward to our next groom. As for Dr. Sarah, if you don't already know, she is wonderful.
She has given me all kinds of advice on dealing with various behaviors and training techniques. I love Canine Connection for all things DOG and if you are in the market for daycare, training, grooming, or boarding (I don't have personally experience with this but if I had to live my pup somewhere other than with close friends I would definitely pick here) definitely check them out and see if they are the right fit for you.
Dot Morris
Jan 12, 2021
Charlotte DeWitt
Dec 09, 2020
If you are a dog lover and owner you really need to check out The Canine Connection. Sarah's training is research based and effective, the facilities are state of the art and the staff are all knowledgeable, friendly and supportive. Our energetic Aussiedoodle is at her happiest after time spent here. An exceptional resource for our canine companions!
Tim Steele
Feb 18, 2020
Sarah and her team are top notch. Sarah is highly educated, friendly, professional, and great with the dogs in her care. I don't trust everyone with my two crazy dogs - but I certainly trust Sarah. Canine Connections is a great facility that is welcoming, clean, and well-thought-out. If you need training, daycare, or boarding, I highly recommend Canine Connections.
Sheri K.
Apr 11, 2019
My dog loves it here. She sprints to the door and puts her front paws up on the door until she's let in. We never have to worry when our dog is boarded here. She's treated like royalty! The staff and facility are wonderful and they are only place in town where there is always someone on staff 24/7. They also provide training as well.
Draft
Jan 31, 2019
So very happy that we found this amazing place to bring our puppy. The team of employees is professional, hardworking and has shown that the animals come first. With our pet being a part of our family, this has been very comforting to us. So if you need a place to bring your pet for lessons or daycare, try Canine Connections and you won't be disappointed, !
