State-of-the-art professional dog training and behavior modification
using force-free, evidence-based best practices
Serving the Springfield, Missouri Area
Owner/Trainer: Cindy Ludwig
Certified Professional Dog Trainer
Certified Professional Clicker Trainer
Master's Prepared Professional Adult Educator
Registered Nurse
Qualifications
Qualifications
- Graduate of the world-renowned Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training & Behavior professional dog training program (March 2010)
- Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner (KPA-CTP) since March 2010
- Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA), Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers
- Certified Third Way Trainer, Levels I and II
- Master of Arts in Higher and Adult Education, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Bachelor of Science in (Natural) Science, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio
- Graduate and post-graduate coursework with field experience at regionally accredited U.S. universities in animal behavior, learning and pet nutrition
- Purdue University Animal Behavior Clinic course, Principles & Techniques of Behavior Modification for certified and/or licensed animal care professionals
- Applied Behavior Analysis course for animal care and training professionals taught by Susan Friedman, PhD, Utah State University
- Professional dog training experience as head or lead trainer, 14 yrs.; business owner, 12 yrs.; dog owner, more than 25 years
- Member, Association of Professional Dog Trainers; (2007-present; 2010 & 2019 Education Committee member)
- American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certified Evaluator (2009-present)
- Founder and Troop Leader of the first Dog Scouts of America troop in Iowa (#224)
- Member, Truly Dog-Friendly Coalition of Trainers
- "Be A Tree" presenter, Doggone Safe (since 2010)
- Paws With A Cause Field Representative (Needs assessments, team training and certification, talks and service dog demonstrations (2009-2012)
- Experience volunteering with various rescue organizations, and 10 animal shelters in Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa over a period of nearly 30 years
- Licensed registered professional nurse (RN), previously certified in critical care (CCRN) and licensed as a paramedic in Texas and Missouri (EMT-P)
- Completed American Red Cross class in pet first aid and CPR taught by veterinarian (2006)
- Professional published writer with by-lines in peer-reviewed journals, print, online and multimedia publications; book reviewer; contributor, APDT (Association of Professional Dog Trainers) Chronicle of the Dog
- Founder, Canine Connection (Positively Trained) Certified Therapy Dogs (2012)
- Dog training expert, AllExperts.com
- Webinar presenter, E-Training for Dogs
- Volunteer trainer, Puppies for Parole
- Workshop presenter, Musical Dog Sport Association
- Professional animal handler, Purina dog food print advertisement (2015)
- Conference speaker, First National Kyra Sundance Tridex Stunt Dog Conference (2018)
Background Verification/Reference Checks
If you require additional references, please use the Contact Form to send a message. Thank you!
Using the same techniques used to train dolphins and other sea mammals
No force, no pain, no intimidation
We do not use choke chains, leash corrections, prong collars, shock collars, physical molding, dominance maneuvers or verbal corrections.
Testimonials
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"At Canine Connection, training is something we do with our dogs, not to them!"
What's in a name?
(Note: the following is the original work and intellectual property of Cindy Ludwig, founder and owner of Canine Connection LLC. It has been stolen and posted on another website as a description of another trainer's services. Any use of the following, word for word with only the business name changed, or paraphrasing, constitutes theft and blatant copyright infringement.)
"After several years of doing business under my given name and considering various business names I finally came up with the name, Canine Connection. Note, there is no "s" after the name. The name refers to the singular "connection" we make with our pets through effective communication which enables us to train them.
The reason I selected the name, Canine Connection is because I realized after many years of working with and observing dogs and their owners, all training and behavior problems really come down to one issue - ineffective communication.
With effective communication we can "connect" with our dogs, have a great relationship and effectively train them. Without it, we cannot.
I visualize this connection as a spark, a sort of magical "aha!" moment (one moment between dog and owner that could happen over and over but that lasts a lifetime) at which time it all just starts coming together for both dog and owner! I see this happen time and time again in my classes and experience it myself with working with my clients' dogs.
At Canine Connection, the emphasis is not about showing off how well controlled your dog is (although that will happen if you attend classes or private lessons and practice the exercises), but rather about developing a wonderful relationship based on effective communication that results in a well trained and voluntarily cooperative dog! It's about making that all important connection with your canine companion through positive reinforcement, not compulsion!"
Cindy Ludwig
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"Training should be about helping animals succeed in the world we've created for them,
not boosting our egos."
~ Dr. Grey Stafford
Cindy's dogs
Ginger
UPDATE: Ginger passed away on January 30, 2018 following a courageous 14-month battle with metastatic mast cell cancer.
10 year-old collie mix adopted from the humane society at the age of about 3 months. Before relocating back to Missouri, Ginger made weekly and monthly visits to a local nursing center for nearly 4 1/2 years. She has resumed animal-assisted activity ("pet therapy") visits in Missouri, doing the work she loves. In addition to therapy work, Ginger has participated in rally, agility, competition obedience, tracking and nosework. Ginger accompanies Cindy in presentations on child safety and bite prevention, and was the dog who accompanied Cindy in the Karen Pryor Academy. Ginger is a Canine Good Citizen, Cadet Scout with Dog Scouts of America and registered with the AKC as an All American Breed in the organization's Canine Partners program. She was certified as a therapy dog with a large therapy dog organization until Cindy resigned as an evaluator for that organization to start her own unique therapy dog organization in 2012. |
Opal
UPDATE: Opal passed away on July 11, 2021 due to hemangiosarcoma and heart failure. Opal had a heart of gold. She had a full life and put smiles om many faces, young and old. Opal left this world unable to stand, but still smiling, sharing Oreo cookies with emergency veterinary staff.
12 year-old Golden Retriever, bred to be a service dog but deemed unsuitable and "career changed" out of a nationally recognized program. She came to live in Iowa and was clicker trained by Cindy to be a certified demonstration service dog with the same organization. Opal has also participated in agility, competition obedience, drill team and canine musical freestyle. She accompanies Cindy in presentations about service dogs and in her work with fearful and aggressive dogs as a "teacher dog." Opal made history by earning the first Dog Scout title in Iowa. The newest member of the family, 11 year-old Precious, was adopted from a local animal shelter on February 5, 2019. Precious was selected for her compatibility with Opal. Opal needed a new canine companion after Ginger passed away, and Precious has been a loyal companion to Opal.
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"Research shows that dogs do not need to be physically punished to learn how to behave, and there are significant risks associated with using
punishment (such as inhibiting learning, increasing fear, and/or stimulating aggressive events). Therefore, trainers who routinely use choke chain
collars, pinch collars, shock collars, and other methods of physical punishment as a primary training method should be avoided."
~American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB)
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB)
advises against trainers who use choke chains, prong collars, shock, leash corrections, forced downs, alpha rolls, scruffing, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, pinching the toes, hitting the dog, yelling, choking, helicoptering and those who advise owners to be the alpha and explain behavior in terms of dominance.
advises against trainers who use choke chains, prong collars, shock, leash corrections, forced downs, alpha rolls, scruffing, kneeing the dog in the chest or abdomen, pinching the toes, hitting the dog, yelling, choking, helicoptering and those who advise owners to be the alpha and explain behavior in terms of dominance.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists (ACVB) has also issued the following advisory for veterinarians:
"It is vitally important that veterinarians be knowledgeable about the qualifications and behavior modifications methodologies used by non-veterinarians to whom they refer clients. Non-veterinarians often play an integral role in the animal health care team. However, if outdated and inhumane methods are used by such individuals, they can cause irreversible harm to the patient and result in client injury. In some circumstances, relegating patient care to a non veterinarian does not meet the accepted standard of care and can constitute a violation of a state’s veterinary practice act."
In addition to the recommendations above issued to pet owners advising against the use of shock, choke chains, prong collars and other methods and tools of force, the association recommends that veterinarians interview trainers with whom they are considering affiliating and "prescreen trainers to interview by selecting those with a certification from an organization that espouses scientifically based, humane training techniques, such as CPDT [Certified Professional Dog Trainer], IAABC [International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants] or KPA [Karen Pryor Academy]. You will want to ask about the trainer’s education and training. Ideally you want someone who, at a minimum, has taken classes in animal behavior, learning theory, and psychology."
The ACVB advises that "good marketing skills do not make a good trainer....education makes a good trainer," and cautions against trainers offering guarantees.
Referrals should be made using the guidelines above offered by the ACVB and the AVMA, which states that "Veterinarians should not allow their medical judgment to be influenced by agreements by which they stand to profit through referring clients to other providers of services or products."
In addition to the recommendations above issued to pet owners advising against the use of shock, choke chains, prong collars and other methods and tools of force, the association recommends that veterinarians interview trainers with whom they are considering affiliating and "prescreen trainers to interview by selecting those with a certification from an organization that espouses scientifically based, humane training techniques, such as CPDT [Certified Professional Dog Trainer], IAABC [International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants] or KPA [Karen Pryor Academy]. You will want to ask about the trainer’s education and training. Ideally you want someone who, at a minimum, has taken classes in animal behavior, learning theory, and psychology."
The ACVB advises that "good marketing skills do not make a good trainer....education makes a good trainer," and cautions against trainers offering guarantees.
Referrals should be made using the guidelines above offered by the ACVB and the AVMA, which states that "Veterinarians should not allow their medical judgment to be influenced by agreements by which they stand to profit through referring clients to other providers of services or products."
Certified Trainers:
There are Certified Professional Dog Trainers (CPDTs) who use force-free positive reinforcement methods, but there are also CPDTs who use methods and tools not recommended by the AVSAB and ACVB, for example shock, also known as "electrical stimulation," "remote collar training" or "e-touch" (not to be confused with TTouch, a force-free method of inducing behavioral calm and relaxation through massage work).
CPDT Certification alone does not guarantee that a trainer has any formal education in dog training since certification only requires passing a (standardized) test and having a minimum of 300 hours of experience, which is supposed to be as a head or lead trainer. It does not guarantee that a trainer uses force-free positive reinforcement (reward-based) training. The only way to know is to ask what tools and techniques the trainer uses and doesn't use. Also, note that unless a CPDT has the initials,"SA" (skills assessed) or "KSA" (knowledge and skills assessed) after the CPDT credential, that trainer's skills have not been assessed, only knowledge in a written multiple-choice examination. The initials, "KA" after the CPDT credential (e.g., CPDT-KA) indicates that the certified individual has passed the written test only.
Karen Pryor Academy graduates and Certified Training Partners (KPA-CTPs) must sign an agreement upon graduation and conferring of the KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) credential that they will adhere to force-free positive reinforcement principles and practices as taught in the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior, participate in ongoing continuing education and adhere to a written code of ethics. Karen Pryor Academy graduates must pass numerous examinations with a minimum of 90% throughout the 6 month-long course and pass final skills and knowledge examinations with at least a 90% score. Skills are evaluated throughout the course. Not all graduates pass the final assessments the first time around to receive the KPA-CTP credential. Only graduates who pass all final examinations are certified as Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners.
CPDT Certification alone does not guarantee that a trainer has any formal education in dog training since certification only requires passing a (standardized) test and having a minimum of 300 hours of experience, which is supposed to be as a head or lead trainer. It does not guarantee that a trainer uses force-free positive reinforcement (reward-based) training. The only way to know is to ask what tools and techniques the trainer uses and doesn't use. Also, note that unless a CPDT has the initials,"SA" (skills assessed) or "KSA" (knowledge and skills assessed) after the CPDT credential, that trainer's skills have not been assessed, only knowledge in a written multiple-choice examination. The initials, "KA" after the CPDT credential (e.g., CPDT-KA) indicates that the certified individual has passed the written test only.
Karen Pryor Academy graduates and Certified Training Partners (KPA-CTPs) must sign an agreement upon graduation and conferring of the KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) credential that they will adhere to force-free positive reinforcement principles and practices as taught in the Karen Pryor Academy for Animal Training and Behavior, participate in ongoing continuing education and adhere to a written code of ethics. Karen Pryor Academy graduates must pass numerous examinations with a minimum of 90% throughout the 6 month-long course and pass final skills and knowledge examinations with at least a 90% score. Skills are evaluated throughout the course. Not all graduates pass the final assessments the first time around to receive the KPA-CTP credential. Only graduates who pass all final examinations are certified as Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partners.
*See the links page for guidelines and recommendations for selecting a trainer. Before selecting a dog trainer, read the position statements of the AVSAB (American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior) and the ACVB (American College of Veterinary Behaviorists). Also see this video on Training Technique Controversies featuring Dr. Gary Landsberg, board-certified veterinary behaviorist, this article about dog collars published by the Humane Society of the United States and this video with Dr. Grey Stafford, Director of Conservation at the Wildlife World Zoo and Aquarium in Arizona.
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