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Canine Connection is a dog training business in Chico, California offering Group Classes and Private Lessons, with published programs from $35.
Chico • CA • Training facility • 4.9 ★ (180 Google reviews)
Last verified: Sep 5, 2026
93 / 100
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How clearly this listing publishes the details owners need. See our methodology.
What they say about themselves
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.
Consultations and evaluations before you commit to a program.
An initial consultation to gather information about a dog's history, behavior, and environment in order to recommend a customized behavior modification plan, with immediate management guidelines provided.
Best for: Dogs showing fear, anxiety, reactivity, or aggression.
Focus: Fear & anxiety, Aggression, Leash reactivity
Private lessons for puppies and adult dogs run $145 per session, with travel fees for locations outside Chico. Group options include a 7-week Puppy Kindergarten ($375) for pups 11-20 weeks old, a 7-week Essential Life Skills course ($375) for dogs 6 months and up, and drop-in Puppy Social sessions at $35 each or $100 for four. Canine Connection also offers follow-up behavior lessons addressing fear, anxiety, and reactivity.
All private sessions cost $145, whether for puppies, adolescent dogs, or behavior follow-ups. The 7-week group courses run $375 each, and Puppy Social offers a discounted 4-session pack at $100. Every price is published upfront on the website.
One-on-one training sessions tailored to a dog's specific needs, held at the training center or the client's home, or via Zoom.
Sessions are conducted in person at the center or client's home, or remotely via Zoom.
Best for: Owners with scheduling limits, specific goals beyond group class content, multiple pets, young children, or behavior challenges like fear or aggression.
Focus: Basic obedience
One-on-one puppy training sessions covering housetraining, socialization planning, play and rest, early life skills, and family interactions, held in-person or via Zoom.
60-minute sessions conducted at the center, the client's home, or remotely via Zoom.
Best for: New puppy owners needing individualized support, including those with puppies too young for group classes.
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization
Ongoing one-hour lessons that continue a customized behavior modification program addressing fear, anxiety, reactivity, and aggression through gradual exposure and management.
Approximately one-hour sessions delivered as follow-up to the initial behavior consultation.
Best for: Dogs already in a behavior program following the initial consultation.
Focus: Fear & anxiety, Aggression, Leash reactivity
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Private Coaching Lesson (Adolescent/Adult) | $145 per session | — |
| Private Puppy Lesson | $145 per session | — |
| Follow-up Behavior Lessons | $145 per session | — |
A seven-week flagship group class for adolescent and adult dogs covering foundation behaviors like attentiveness, polite greetings, down, stay, recall, and loose-leash walking. Held in a climate-controlled training center with tricks and confidence-building activities included.
Owners and dogs attend an orientation seminar followed by six weekly one-hour class sessions together.
Best for: Adolescent or adult dogs 6 months and older, including recently adopted dogs after a two-week settling period.
Focus: Basic obedience, Leash training, Socialization
Duration: 7 weeks
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
A seven-week group class for young puppies covering foundation skills such as attention, polite greetings, down, stay, recall, and loose-leash walking, plus tricks and confidence-building. Includes a complimentary Puppy Social session and training equipment.
Starts with an orientation seminar followed by six weekly one-hour class sessions with puppies present.
Best for: Puppies 11-20 weeks old at their first class who have been in the home for two weeks and meet vaccination requirements.
Focus: Puppy training, Basic obedience, Socialization
Duration: 7 weeks
Includes: Owner handoff sessions
A weekly social play program for puppies introducing positive interactions with other puppies across varied surfaces and obstacles, meant to be combined with Puppy Kindergarten or private coaching.
Puppies attend weekly Saturday sessions of social play and exposure to novel surfaces and obstacles.
Best for: Puppies 11-20 weeks old at first class who are enrolled in Puppy Kindergarten or Private Puppy Coaching.
Focus: Puppy training, Socialization
Duration: 1 sessions; 4-session package $100
| Program | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Life Skills | $375 per program | 7 weeks |
| Puppy Kindergarten | $375 per program | 7 weeks |
| Puppy Social | $35 per session | 1 sessions |
The program explicitly describes itself as force-free. They do accept dogs with aggression or reactivity histories for their behavior work.
Method: Reward-based
Uses rewards and positive reinforcement only, without corrections or aversive tools.
Certifications: CPDT-KA, IAABC, AKC CGC Evaluator
Verification still pending or not yet requested. See our methodology for what verification does and does not mean.
Trainers hold CPDT-KA and IAABC credentials, and the business has operated for 24 years. They're also certified as AKC Canine Good Citizen evaluators. Insurance, guarantees, and waitlist status aren't mentioned on the site.
Facility: Training facility
Owner visits: not specified on their website.
Video updates: not specified on their website.
Overnight staffing: not specified on their website.
Insurance: not specified on their website.
Guarantee: No guarantee offered
Waitlist: not specified on their website.
Dogs per trainer: not specified on their website.
Booking: Contact form
Price: Canine Connection does not publish board & train pricing. Across Chico, 13 programs publish prices from about $93 to $4,380.
Reviews: Canine Connection shows 4.9★ from 180 Google reviews among 3 published Chico programs.
Transparency: This listing scores 93 out of 100 (price 100%, program clarity 73%). 1 of 3 Chico listings show certifications; this business lists CPDT-KA, IAABC, AKC CGC Evaluator.
Classes take place at a dedicated training facility on Seville Court. The site doesn't publish details about parking or accessibility.
10 Seville Ct, Chico, CA
Friday: 7AM-6PM
Monday: 7AM-6PM
Sunday: 7AM-6PM
Tuesday: 7AM-6PM
Saturday: 7AM-6PM
Thursday: 7AM-6PM
Wednesday: 7AM-6PM
Reach out directly or send a quote request through Canine Connection.
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