Ann Becnel Companion Dogs, LLC

13/12/2024

Reduction of anxiety lesson with Sabrina. Karen Overall’s Protocol for Relaxation. We are working on building up her confidence and at the same time lowering her anxiety. She did a super job today!!!

13/12/2024

First lesson with the Gentle Leader! Chickpea did a super job working on pulling and leash reactivity. We are going to make big progress quickly with this girl. Can’t wait for her 2nd lesson.

11/12/2024

Love Standard Poodles

11/12/2024

Piper and Skye had a great puppy class with Ada last night

10/12/2024

Jewel on vacation in Mississippi. Dogs with a solid recall earn free time in the woods!

09/12/2024

So much focus for a 3 month old. Nellie the Italian Greyhound had a great lesson this morning.

06/12/2024

Khloe wishes everyone a wonderful holiday season!!! Khloe is a service dog graduate from my Saturday advanced class. Send me your holiday photos with your dogs!

01/12/2024

Finley’s first flight. I am so proud of this team!!! 🐾🐾🐾🐾💕💕💕💕

01/12/2024

Connection is absolutely central to being the best people for our dogs we can be. Understanding and empathy help us to see what they need and how we can meet those needs in any situation, and when we have both of those things between us, we have connection.

That connection can make training so much easier. Because we understand each other much better and are truly listening to each other, we can move in harmony as we go through the world.

In potentially scary or tricky situations, having a strong connection means that our dogs will trust us to help them and keep them safe. They will feel more able to listen to us and do what we ask of them to navigate the sitaution with a minimum of stress and difficulty.

How then do we go about making that connection?

We respect their choices as much as possible (in a dangerous situation we may have to manage their choices more for safety, but should try to make sure choices are respected outside of these situations).

We make sure their needs are met.

We help them to feel safe and secure.

Most important of all, we listen to them.

The importance of learning about canine communication and body language is often mentioned, and with very good reason. It is the central pillar of understanding our dogs, and so forging that connection.

Make the central focus of life with our dogs about connection, honouring them as the individuals they are and ensuring we give them agency and choice. While we need to be able to have our dogs under control when in public places, this is very different to controlling their lives. We have control over so much of their lives in this very human world, and so it is important to give them control of their own lives as much as possible.

Connection, not control.

01/12/2024

Stay don’t move a muscle!

01/12/2024

01/12/2024

Sunday class killed it today!

01/12/2024

Deanie uses a perch to get closer to Paul for pets. We love our St Margaret residents!!! They help us train the therapy dogs.

01/12/2024

Arlo and Deanie parallel heeling. Ashly and Monica did a great job keeping them in unison and keeping a loose leash. I am very proud of these two teams.

29/11/2024

Jewel sends her warmest greetings on Thanksgiving!!!

29/11/2024

Service dog Khloe says Happy Thanksgiving to all the dogs and people in her Saturday class.

21/11/2024

It's not a judgement of their love or your worth - just their mood in the moment!

20/11/2024