Dr. Sarah Richardson founded Canine Connection in 2002 after finding few positive-reinforcement options in the Chico area. According to her site, she holds CPDT-KA, CDBC, and CSAT certifications, completed the SF SPCA Academy for Dog Trainers program with honors, and serves as faculty at Chico State researching the human-animal bond. She also mentors trainers through the CATCH academy and has presented research at national and international conferences.
The business operates two Chico facilities: The Academy, a climate-controlled training center, and The Resort, which handles daycare and boarding. Their site states the team collectively has over 70 years of experience in positive-reinforcement training and has worked with more than 10,000 dogs. They describe their approach as force-free, explicitly avoiding prong, choke, and shock collars, and they note they do not guarantee outcomes since behavior is "complex and dynamic."
Services include puppy classes starting at 8 weeks, foundation training for adolescent and adult dogs, and behavior modification programs for fear, anxiety, reactivity, and aggression. Behavior cases begin with a paid consultation before follow-up lessons. The business also claims involvement in local rescue work, stating it has fostered over 200 dogs and raised more than $250,000 for area shelters.
