Opal passed her Dog Scout Badge test and is now the first Dog Scout in Iowa!  Dog Scouts of America is a national organization with a mission, "To improve the lives of dogs, their owners, and society through humane education, positive training, and community involvement." Dogs and their owners have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities, learn new skills and badges for their achievements.

Congratulations to Crosley and owner Mike on doing an excellent job on Crosley's therapy dog certification test! Welcome to the Canine Connection team! Keep up the great work!

Congratulations, Whitey and owner Nancy on Whitey's certification as a therapy animal with Canine Connection!

We are very proud to welcome Shirley Thoreson, CPDT-KA of Middletown, Ohio to the Canine Connection team of Certified Therapy Dog Evaulators. This past spring Canine Connection launched the first ever force-free therapy dog program in the world. We are taking therapy dog designation to a new level! Canine Connection Therapy Dog Evaluators are required to demonstrate a commitment to force-free training and/or low stress animal handling as well as a high level of professionalism, expertise in dog training (and/or handling), excellent client interactions and teaching skills as well as experience and education in animal training and behavior. If you live in the St. Louis area, look Shirley up after the first of the year for training and/or therapy dog certification - if you have a dog that has been/is being trained with force-free methods (no choke chains, leash corrections, prong collars, shock, verbal corrections, physical molding, alpha rolls, etc.)