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Canine Connections offers a holistic approach to bring the relationship between humans and their dogs into balance and harmony.
Through working with Lead Dog Behaviourist David Magnussen, our support team and training dogs we train and rehabilitate your dog. We teach your dog how to self regulate bringing an end to unwanted and unstable behaviour patterns.
We align you with your dog so you can relate to, connect with and lead your dog in the healthiest and most natural way possible.
“As the Founder and Owner of Canine Connections I am dedicated to connecting with and teaching people who prioritize a healthy relationship with their dog.
The core of my vision and what I offer through teaching and guidance is to bridge the gap between Canine and Human. To live with our dogs as Nature intended.
Dogs are always reflecting their humans energy offering a mirror to see how we are living. They are calling us back to our hearts, to our true nature.”
-David Magnussen
Client Reviews
-Julie Tsui
“Within in few minutes of meeting David, you can see his passion for dogs and his genuine interest in their welfare. This is more than a job to David. He is truly gifted in understanding the canine mind and temperament. His heart is to assist owners in training their dog to be calm, settled and in harmony. This doesn't happen overnight, but we have noticed improvements in our 7 month pup since working with David. He has a firm yet gentle approach to working with dogs and their owners. He has encouraged us in our training efforts and has been so positive. We have truly appreciated his sharing his expertise with us.”
-Wanda Kinzel
“It was so wonderful meeting David. My son has two very large dogs who were so aggressive with each other that we had to separate them for their own safety and ours. David was recommended by a friend so we decided to get him to do some training with us. It was amazing to say the least! Within hours we could see a change. David also followed up with us to make sure everything was going well. This is more than a job for David. He is caring and connected with the dogs. After a few weeks David worked with my son with the other dog. The dogs are now back together happy! I never thought this would be possible so I am so grateful to David for all his help.”
-Tanya Westman
“I am so happy that we were able to work with David at Canine Connections. I have two large breed dogs that have very different personalities and he made sure to tailor his training techniques to suit each dog perfectly. David is very knowledgeable and offers a great training approach by personalizing the training to each of his customers and taking the time to listen to and understand what the client wants to get out of the training. His techniques were so helpful for both me as a dog owner and for the dogs, and I started to see amazing results within two weeks. I was very happy that he came to my home to do the training sessions so that he could see how my dogs act in their own space and can then witness/understand firsthand what each dog needs. David also encourages his clients to ask all types of questions at any time and was very dedicated to helping our dogs by continually following up with more information and suggestions after the training sessions had ended. It is evident that David has a true passion for helping dogs, and his calm yet assertive training style makes it easy to work with him and learn from him.”
-Stacy Hornick
“There are some people who are truly gifted with the ability to read the energy of dogs, Dave is one of these people. This kind and gentle dog whisperer allows for a deeper understanding of what it takes to nurture a healthy family pack. Dave gives you the foundational building blocks to positively affect behaviour on a much broader level. If you’re looking to have a greater understanding that goes far beyond behaviour modification in dogs, Dave’s your man. Allowing dogs to thrive means changing the human perspective and being a human whisperer too. Thank you Dave! You’re the best!”
-Luke Hansen
“David is an exceptional individual that has a gift in what he does. He truly understands dogs, their behaviour, and also has a wealth of experience dealing with different situations. He works with owners to show how their behaviours incite certain reactions in their dogs and also teaches you about your dogs behaviour so you can act accordingly. I would highly recommend David to anyone who is committed to having a meaningful connection with their dog.”
-Chantalle Striga
“David is extremely knowledgeable, I am so happy with our training sessions for our two year old large mixed breed. We contacted David because our dog was becoming progressively more reactive with other dogs for no apparent reason. After an incident that left our friends dog injured we knew we had to figure out why the behaviour was happening. At our first training session with David and his dog Zeus my dog was so reactive I could hardly contain her, she barked, snarled and foamed at the mouth for the length of our walk until she was away from his dog. By the end of our session he had her leashed beside Zeus walking like nothing. Fast forward to our 3rd session and she’s walking attentively with us alongside not 1 but 3 dogs in his team. It’s incredible to watch how he interacts with the dogs, and we have learnt so much. Dog training is no joke and your house hold needs to be on the same page but the results are worth it. David sure knows what he is doing and he invests a lot of effort into helping his clients learn and grow. We are happy with our choice in training with Canine Connections and highly recommend David and his team!”
-Nancy Johnson
“David is excellent. He goes above and beyond with being accessible for any issues that come up before or after training. Explaining the difference between human behaviour and dog behaviour. It all was fascinating! We, the humans, have a work to do to help ensure our pup has a good environment to thrive in. Thank you David. Highly recommended!!”
-Garrett Cutts
David came highly recommended by a friend and we are so grateful for the connection. Our dog Sookie, who is 4 years old, had a lot of issues with reactivity towards other dogs and general anxious tendencies at home. We’ve only been working with David for a few weeks now but we have noticed a massive improvement in her demeanour and are encouraged by the results we are seeing in a short period of time. David is truly remarkable with dogs - he has a way with them that is obvious he really understands the psychology of the animal and loves all dogs. His passion and kindness working with us has been really appreciated and we’re excited to be have a full understanding and solidify a strong bond with Sookie. We would recommend David to anyone who has any kind of trouble with their dog, anyone who wants to build a genuine relationship with their dog but has trouble knowing where to start or how to communicate with them. We are so grateful for the work he does and we will never see dogs the same!”
-Emma Camp
“There are so many invaluable lessons we have learned, and will continue to learn, working with David. Our 1-year-old Great Dane had been displaying protective and dominant behavior when interacting with anyone unfamiliar to her. We were quickly becoming apprehensive to introduce our dog to new people, after witnessing these reactions a few times. We realized that we were dealing with an issue we did not fully understand and needed help and guidance. We so appreciated David's approach to training and feel that we have gained so much from our sessions. David's methods go beyond traditional dog training and have brought balance to our relationship with our dog. Thanks David!”
-Chace Murray
“I couldn’t of asked for a better dog Tranier, David is very gifted, as soon as he got with my Roxy, he got her under control and you could tell Roxy really wanted to listen to him. His program is set up very well to help you succeed. David was there every step of the way to answer any questions or concerns I had. David goes above and beyond to get you to your goals, and really gets to know the dog and the person he is working with. His program gave me the peace of mind I needed to have a healthy relationship with my dog, and to help me excel in my dog training knowledge.”
-Heather Bueckert
"I adopted a VERY hyperactive rescue dog and shortly realized I was out of my depth with how much energy and anxiety she had. After starting training with David we have made big strides in a short amount of time. A few days ago she was jumping and nipping and biting her leash while today she was peacefully walking behind me. Shes learning patience and to control her excitability in a calm method. While we are still learning (especially me) and have more strides to go, we have had great support the whole way through and continuing on as we go. I've been able to call with any questions or concerns as we go and always get a supportive response if im having trouble with something. If me and this fuzzy food loving dog can casually pass by a hotdog beside her without her reacting, thats a huge win! (Not that this needs saying but, she loves hotdogs :) ) Thanks Canine Connections!"
-Kristin Langridge
"Totally recommend Dave. He came to our house to help with our 2 aussiedoodles and my one was being very reactive and creating bad behaviors. With a few sessions we were able to turn it around and take the leadership of our pup."
-Cheyenne Bendall
"David is THE best trainer, and the only one I trust with my dog. My dog is high prey-drive, quick to get excited, and very attached to me. David is helping me figure out what makes Harlow tick. He has several different types of collars, leashes, and other tools to get results. His intuitive approach will have you working on yourself as much as your doggie companion. A sense of confidence, instilling calm, and being in control are keys to a better relationship. If you are looking to change the way your dog sees the world, and learn in a low-pressure, controlled environment, this is the sign you’ve been looking for. I highly recommend David for dog training services!"
-Cass Hazel
"Working with David has been a blessing for our family. We reached out to him after some issues with our two herding breed dogs. David was able to help us see our own part in the dysfunction and give us the tools & confidence to work in the right direction. To us healthy coexistence is super important with our dogs, we are now working on becoming the leaders that our dogs need to be regulated & fulfilled. Thanks David!"
-Amy Smith
"Our family has had such a great experience working with David. He goes over and beyond expectations. The time he spent going through everything even before we got our puppy was amazing . In terms of going out of his way to help us, he even came out to our house with his own dogs to help our pup develop more confidence. His work is holistic and I would recommend him to anyone having issues with their dog or even just if you’re deciding to get a pup for the first time."
Terry Wiebe
"Highly recommend! I was having issues with my dog welcoming my baby into the pack. Her behavior changed significantly as she used to stare down my baby and growl. Now she learned to move around him and they are becoming friends! She was full of anxiety and has calmed down significantly. She actually sits on her bed and rests. It's so good to see her happier and in return better behavior"
-Karen Gunn
"Very informative and knowledgeable about every aspect of dog training from nutrition to why my dog Rosie was acting as she did in response to certain training techniques, even how to use training aids properly. I would highly recommend him for anyone with a new pup or an older dog for a more enjoyable experience as he teaches both dog and owner. Well worth it!"
-Bob Klein
"My wife and I recently re-homed a one year old golden retriever. We found out soon after getting him that he had been basically neglected in his development. He had no manners, or experience in meeting people or other animals. We have had 3 other dogs in the past and thought we could give this pooch the love, attention, and training necessary to give him a healthy and happy start to his life with us. Unfortunately, we quickly found out that we were dealing with a dog that was very delayed in his maturity and it was going to take some alternate training expertise to help him and us. We had heard of David and K9 Connections before and thought we would contact him to see if he could help. David was quick to respond to our dilemma. He did an in-depth analysis of our dog prior to us making a commitment to training with him. After a phone call with him, we hired him to work with our dog. This was the best money we have ever spent on any of our dogs. After two intensive one on one training sessions with us and our pooch, we were able to see tremendous changes in our dog’s behaviour in our home and outside when meeting people and other dogs. It will be a journey with continued consistency and training, but we are extremely happy with our new dog. Many thanks to David and his staff for the great work they did in helping us and our dog on the road to a happy life together."
-Jill Johnson
"After thoroughly researching dog trainers in the city to find someone who aligned with our values and goals for our family and household, we discovered Dave, who has far exceeded our expectations. With two small dogs boasting large personalities, we were in need of help due to their pushy and reactive behaviors. However, under Dave's guidance, we've witnessed remarkable progress toward achieving a healthy, calm, and balanced household. Dave's approach involves not only training the dogs but also understanding their unique personalities and our interactions with them. It's clear that he invests the time and energy to establish a deep connection with both the pets and their owners. While this training requires effort, perseverance, and patience, the results are immensely rewarding. We've experienced a profound sense of accomplishment and pure happiness, knowing that our dogs are now healthier, happier, and living their best lives possible. If you're seeking a trainer who prioritizes understanding and individualized attention, Dave is the perfect choice."
-Ryan Perehudoff
"David was exactly what me and my dog Chewy needed. He is super knowledgable and shows great patience to help the pet owner learn how to help their dog fulfill all their needs. He provides confidence by showing that proper behavior from the dog is possible through the tecniques he uses. He then gradually allows the pet owner an opportunity to try it themselves in a judgement free environment. I would highly recommend Canine Connections to anyone looking for help with their dog. His work with my dog has really helped me develop a great bond with him that I initially wasnt sure was possible."
-Ryan Schmitz
"If you want to understand your dog, this is the place to go. Canine Connections don't just train dogs, they promote harmonious living. If you can understand your dog and be the pack leader they need, then they will be the dog you want. Our pup Meat Loaf was about as high strung as a dog can be when meeting another dog and he could stay that way for hours. He was getting aggressive with us as well and we didn't understand why. Thanks to the training and guidance of Canine Connections, we better understand the unintended consequences of many of our actions. Now we have the knowledge and tools to help him regulate and stay calm. It was not a simple process, it requires considerable effort to change habits that promote negative behaviours. Learning about canine vs. human psychology takes an open mind. Sometimes it seems counterintuitive, but just give it a chance. If you can follow through the result is very rewarding and you will feel your bond with them grow stronger. If you want someone to fix your dog without putting in any effort or considering how it got there, this is not the place to go."
-Tasha Metzler
"David from Canine Connections was fantastic to work with. He explained very clearly the type of work that he does with his clients and their dogs. David was thorough in checking what our concerns were and the goals we had as a family. He gave us things to work on that worked specifically for our family and our dog’s personality. We saw a difference in our dog’s behaviour after our first session and using David’s techniques for a few days. The time we spent with David for our sessions were so comfortable and supportive and we appreciated how he checked in with us and was available for questions during the time between our sessions. Our family had so much fun working with David, his staff and his dogs and we know the knowledge we have now will give us a life of happiness with our well balanced and regulated dog."
-Melissa Solomon
"There are no words to express how happy we are with our entire experience. David is an incredibly gifted, insightful, dedicated trainer. We have a two year old Maltipoo who was extremely reactive to dogs. Going on walks was an absolute nightmare. Kona constantly pulled on the leash, and was viciously reactive to dogs and even sometimes people. We knew it was coming from a place of fear as he was an extremely anxious and low confident dog. We spent a lot of time watching You Tube videos and tried a million different things to try to help Kona. Nothing we did seemed to help. In fact as time went on he only seemed to get worse. We finally came to terms with the fact that we had no idea what we were dealing with. We needed an expert. An expert is exactly what David is. During our very first phone consultation David took the time to ask very important detailed questions. He also reassured me that Kona is not a lost cause, and that what has been done can be undone. During our first session we were blown away. We had no idea that the things we were doing around the house, and how we were interacting with Kona was actually the main cause of his reactively. After applying what we learned just after the fist session we had already noticed some big changes in Kona. After just four sessions we now have a dog that is way less anxious, pulls little to none on the leash, and we have the tools to keep him from not reacting to dogs. There is still more work to be done with Kona, but his progress is outstanding, and we now have the proper insight and tools to move forward. David was an absolute pleasure to work with. He truly cares for the dogs and his clients. He is not afraid to tell you the hard truths so you are able to make the needed changes. If you are willing to take accountability, show up, and put in the hard work, David will show up for you like no other. He held our hand through the entire process. He spent countless hours with us on the phone. He constantly checked in with us, and would answer many questions that came up. Our sessions are now over and he continues to check in to see how things are going. His dedication is nothing but inspiring. You will not find a better trainer!!!"
-Hunter Pickering
"It is truly evident that David has a passion for working with dogs, AND their owners. We have two small dogs and we have noticed a HUGE difference since the day we met David. David encouraged us to ask as many questions as we needed, and made us feel understood, supported, and empowered the whole way through. Not only does he have an amazing connection to animals, but they feel connected to him! The improvement in our dogs is night and day, and our family members and friends cant stop talking about how well behaved our girls are. We finally feel like we have the tools and the leadership we needed to give them the best life possible. They are relaxed and happy, and most importantly they trust us. THANK YOU DAVID!"
-Kevin Goodmanson
"My partner and I were nervous welcoming an energetic rescue to our home. Our entire perspective of what it meant to interact with our dog changed after seeing how David was able to bring tranquility to our home within moments of arriving. Being able to see what was possible gave us the confidence to begin building a relationship with Tulee based on love and respect. 6 weeks later it's impossible to even tell she is the same dog. She was able to learn to control her energy levels and we began to see a happier more confident dog emerge. I would highly recommend anyone who feels overwhelmed or just needs help to reach out to Canine Connections where David and his helpers (human and canine) showed Tulee, and maybe more importantly us, how to build a respect filled lasting relationship with our dog."
-Karin Heaney
"My first dog was a bit anxious when we got her and it only increased as she got older. For our new puppy I wanted to figure out how to train with him to build stronger confidence and bond between both of us. I loved that David talked so much about connection and how little interactions meant so much more to create a healthy relationship with our dog. David and his crew of humans and canines went over and above anything I expected to get to know Joey, spend time with us and teach us how to work best together. Joey is still a puppy and needs lots of reinforcement and energy but he showed so much growth already. Thanks so much!"
-Don Litz
"David & crew showed us how to solve the problem we had with Pancho...he showed us the methods that provide quick results if you are consistent. We were both amazed that so much can be accomplished when you have the knowledge and David sure has that! We both enjoyed learning along with Pancho, and that was due to David’s excellent way of teaching. We truly never thought Pancho could overcome some of his issues till we realized that the issues were really ours. DAVID TAUGHT US THAT...THANK YOU!! This was a terrific investment for us and our dog.”
-Rylee Andres
"David has been a huge blessing to our pup and our family! We have a 1 yr old Bernedoodle (Bingo) who is SO full of energy. We struggled with him on a leash, going crazy when we saw other dogs, and dealt with a lot of whining. David taught us so much about Bingo, but also so much about us! - and how our actions were affecting him. These sessions with David and his team have been invaluable. Our home and dog are much calmer, happier and healthier ♥️"
-Uwazie Oluomachi
"My dog's aggression is something I had been dealing with for a while. Following an incident where my dog bit another dog, I knew I had to take quick action regarding his behaviour. I called up so many dog training centres but no one agreed to train a 4 years old aggressive dog, one place even told me that “it is impossible to train a dog’s nature”. I was on the verge of giving up until I stumbled on a review about Canine Connections. I got on the phone with David and we spoke for a long while after which my family and I decided to book the training sessions moving forward. On our first meeting I knew this would be possible, I noticed a side of my dog that I had never seen before, David knows what he’s about and he does it so well! Over three months, he helped me understand how my previous interactions with my dog were harmful and taught me effective methods to correct his behaviour. Thanks to David and his team, there has been a remarkable improvement in my dog's behaviour. Now I have a healthy, happy and obedient dog! I am forever grateful for David’s expertise and support, none of this would have been possible without him! If you're facing similar challenges with your dog, don't hesitate to call David."
Scott & Chandra Pratt
"Recently, my husband and I adopted a young male rescue dog by the name of Fiver. He was about 16 months old, and we knew he was not recommended to be in a house with other dogs, but we knew very little else about him. Over the years, we have had 8 dogs and all of them have been rescues, so we thought we were well equipped to train another pup who needed a forever home. Early on, we realized we had taken more than expected with Fiver. He is a very dominant dog with strong prey drive and a keen dislike for other dogs. It was evident that he wanted to be the CEO of our household. By chance, we met and started working with David. Within a short period of time David, gave us the tools to help Fiver be the best dog he can be. It was hard work, and we are still diligent to keep going with the techniques we were shown. I was most proud of Fiver when on our last session with Canine Connections, he was able to be off leash and play with David's other, well adjusted dogs. Our household is much less chaotic, and I honestly can say that Fiver is happier and healthier, and Scott and I have regained the position of CEO within our domain. Thanks David!"
-Maria Trakadas
"Well, what can I say. David is amazing!! He truly is the Dog Whisperer!!! After using a couple of trainers with no success, we were lost as how to train our yearling pup. Now our pup is 4 and even more difficult to train. Bottom line, he wouldn't allow anyone in the house. Or any strangers near him. Then we found David. Wow, just wow! In the first 5 minutes of meeting, he was walking with David. I literally was stunned. Now after 3 classes, we have a behaved dog. David focuses on behavioral training which is much more than your typical obedience training. During the training, David kept in touch daily on the progress of our dog. He really is amazing and cares for the dog and it's owners. He trained our dog by training us first. Our dog went from King Kong to a calm, relaxed dog. If you have a pup that you think cannot be trained, David is your man. Highly recommend him!"
-Lucas Quintino
"My family and I are so grateful for Canine Connections and the service which has provided us with the necessary tools to raise our puppy. Through each session Odin had the chance to meet with David's pack dogs which allowed for him to be prepared when going on the pack walk; this was huge in helping him socialize with stable dogs, both seniors and puppies. The experience is so much more than dog training or obedience school; it has helped foster a strong foundation of trust and understanding with our puppy which we know will yield a wonderful relationship for years to come."
-Kelsey Derkach
"We had an all around incredible experience working with David at Canine Connections and highly recommend working with him. His knowledge, approach and passion for what he does made us confident dog owners. His attention to detail and genuine care for the well being of your dog is infectious and impressive. He was very patient, kind and open to our puppy Charlie, meeting her where she was at, as well as us as dog owners. We are so grateful we dedicated the time to working with him and to have these tools moving forward."
-Marc
"David took us in despite his busy schedule, and boy am I glad he was able to help us train little Lucy, our 8 month old pitty. He was amazing, communicative, kind, direct, blunt, empathetic and very knowledgeable. His view on training & his method of training just makes sense and WORKS. Not only does he help show you how to properly train your dog but he trains you as well, and for me that was one of the biggest pieces. Thanks David!"
-Dave King
"David was fantastic to work with, his understanding of dog behavior is quite extensive. He was able to give us the guidance we needed to work with our dog to get us on the right track. He gives you a lot of information to work with so be ready to do your homework. The difference in our dog is quite noticeable using David’s techniques. He goes above and beyond for his clients and their dogs!"
-Thomas Lepine
"Before we started working with David, our Rottweiler had bitten our toddler, a neighbour, and almost bitten others. He was very aggressive and very hard to control and redirect. Our dog didn’t listen to any commands, would do basically whatever he pleased in and out of the house and really was in control. We were at the point of rehoming and/or euthanizing him. When we introduced our dog to David, a staff and one of his dogs, our dog was pulling me off my feet trying to get at the dog. It was intimidating and worrisome for us. David went over some main tips and tricks, gave us the walk through of how to properly walk our dog, get him muzzle trained and start training for where we were at. After only a couple sessions, our dog has MAJOR improvements with walks, aggression, people coming into our house (which was a massive no no prior to the training), and obedience work. We have now introduced our dog to other dogs with the help of David and it’s breath taking how far he’s come and how much progress there is. It’s the same dog with a completely new mind set. Our kids, family and friends are no longer scared of our dog and we’re not even done with the training! If you’re considering getting a trainer, I HIGHLY recommend Canine Connections. The staff and dogs that work with our dogs are incredible! He not only helps train our dogs, but helps us as people figure out how we can change to better our own lives and our pets lives. I can’t thank David enough for everything he has done. All of the dedication and hard work truly is worth it."
-Cassie Rutherford
"Brought my great pyrenees, olly, to canine connections with a fear that he was dog aggressive. david was very understanding and extremely helpful in showing me that he wasn't, getting to the root cause of his issues and giving guidance on ways i could help my dog live a healthy fulfilling life. results were night and day, from not being able to look at another dog without barking/lunging/growling to interacting and even playing with other dogs. along with being better behaved on leash and in the house i cant thank david enough!!!"
-Jennifer Bogdan
"I'm beyond grateful for the order and harmony that David brought to our family. We had a chaotic situation with our 3 young dogs at our acreage - two Akbash (livestock guardian dogs) and one Golden Retriever - where the Akbash were so afraid of everything and everyone (and barked incessantly at everything and everyone), and our Goldie was learning to behave like an Akbash and deviating from the Retriever that she was. On top of it all, our one Akbash who has a lot of anxiety is the Alpha of the three. Our initial mistake was thinking that the pups would 'eventually come around', but after over a year, they hadn't, and we were unable to even adjust the collars on the two Akbash (let alone put a leash on them) and our Goldie was unsure and confused of everything. David agreed to help us with our situation, and envisioned us going on a pack walk with all three dogs by our last training session. At this time, I remember chuckling at the thought of this because I couldn't even imagine getting a leash on our very anxious Phoenix, let alone taking her on a walk with other dogs. David helped us improve the set up that we had for the dogs and explained how the way we had it was contributing to the fear that the dogs were living in (we had no idea). He helped us to better understand how dogs think and behave - and how to communicate and interact with our dogs using a 'canine brain', and not with our 'primate brain'. After each session and continued training, there was a big shift and improvement in how the dogs behaved. And sure enough, on our last session, we went out on a family pack walk with David, Rheanna and his four dogs. I honestly don't know what we would have done with our situation without David's help...and there's no way we would have been able to pull porcupine quills out of Phoenix's chin the other night had we not been through David's training sessions. Now, the dogs LOVE going on their walks, they don't bark nearly as much, they have learned/understand/listen to commands given, and they are more regulated and balanced as a whole. My only regret is not giving David a phone call way earlier, but I'm so thankful that we invested in his method of training when we did. Thank you so much David and Rheanna and your pups for helping us through what we thought was an impossible situation!"
-Shalene Leedahl
"We feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with David and his team. We saw noticeable improvements after just our first session. We have completed our sessions and now have a happier, healthier and more manageable pup. David’s approach to training is well rounded and positive. He found a way to work with us to implement strategies that work in our day to day lives. Thank you David and team, you guys really do have a “Canine Connection.” We highly recommend to anyone looking for a healthier relationship with their dog."
-Cadence Buhr
"David was genuinely the best investment we could’ve made to not only help our dogs to live a happy, healthy & balanced life but for us too. My fiancé & I reached out to David shortly after rescuing our 2 yr old pitty, Rocky, in addition to our already 1 yr old pitty, Juni. They got along great very quickly, thinking we got pretty lucky. Around the 3rd week of having him, he began lunging at both our neighbors barking dogs through our fence & any dog that would walk past our fence, especially lunging & getting into a serious state of fixation at other dogs on our walks. At first we felt silly hiring a trainer so soon as we’d only had Rocky for a few weeks & we already need help, however, when we had our first session, we soon realized how severe his case really was. David informed us that Rocky’s fixation towards dogs was a rare & an odd type of fixation, as its quite literally unbreakable. Rocky definitely made sure David had his work cut out for him, lol, we’re sorry David! David helped us understand where Rocky’s behaviour stems from, as well as opened our eyes that Rocky’s fixation & dominance was also visible in other little aspects of our everyday lives that’s very easily overlooked. He provided us with all the training tools & knowledge, showing us how to implement the training ourselves & ensuring we understand the meaning & importance behind the work we were taught, which meant a lot to us! Everyday we continue to make progress through the training that David has provided us in which we cherish that we can implement it throughout our pups lives! David gave us back our confidence, control & security in managing a super tough dog. We now have Rocky to a point where he can be redirected/called off of fixation in our backyard as well he’s now manageable on our walks when encountering dogs. To even say those words, to us is— a miracle! I truly don’t think there is anyone better cut out for this line of work than David. He is genuinely passionate about his work & consistently dedicated to helping his clients & pups. We cannot say enough good things about David at Canine Connections or thank him & his team enough!"
-Bernie Laevens
"We highly recommend Canine Connections and are forever grateful to have had the opportunity to learn and grow under the guidance of David and his wonderful team. David has given us the tools to make positive changes in our relationship with a high anxiety, overprotective animal who has extreme attachment issues and would present with aggression towards pretty much anyone, both human and canine. Little did we know that how we interacted with our dog was actually encouraging these behaviours. We also learned that he isn’t really aggressive, but insecure and scared, always on guard, mainly because of how we have related to him. David’s ability to assess, individualize a plan to rehabilitate and create a balanced, calm relationship with a dog is a true gift. He is extremely knowledgeable in canine behaviour, and to be perfectly honest, we learned a lot about ourselves. And he does this with such kindness. With David’s expertise and guidance, we continue to learn and make the necessary adjustments and the biggest bonus is a calmer, happier and healthier dog. Now, this is not a simple process, It requires ongoing commitment and trust me, changing old habits is very difficult. We know we have a long way to go. But we celebrate our progress, and couldn’t be happier with the changes we are seeing in Timber. Thank you, thank you. May your future be Blessed with happiness and success."
-Angela B
"We reached out to David at Canine Connections after 2 weeks of bringing home 2 rescues. We already had our Black Lab, who is 3, and were having issues with their ability to coexist. We went from being fearful that one of our rescues was going to rip the ears off our lab to watching them play and sleep together. The change in the 2 rescues is like night and day. They are no longer fearful of people or dogs on our walks, and make a perfect addition to the family. We are so grateful for David and his patience, guidance and understanding how to help make our pack happy and coexistent. We still are working with all 3 to ensure everything we were taught continues to help the pack grow and flourish with positivity."
-Lisa
"David’s knowledge of dog and pack behavior is vast. I have trained dogs before but what I was dealing with I had no idea what to do. Nothing seemed to work. We were having issues with our dogs that were excitable, reactive, confidence issues, dominance and had taken over as leader of the pack. And it was getting worse. I found David’s website and booked a phone consultation. From there we had David over for training. I quickly realized this was different training and more about learning why your dog is doing what it is doing and specific training for that behavior. Within 24 hours of the first training session there was a noticeable shift in the dogs and energy in the house. The next day I took the dogs out on the first pack walk. We encountered other reactive dogs, a rabbit, and by using David’s techniques everything was under control. It was a peaceful pack walk and I felt like I had my dogs back! This gave me the confidence to implement the strategies David showed us. What a game changer! It has been less than a month and there has been so much progress with all three. If you want to understand your dogs and want dogs that are a pleasure to hang around with, David can guide you to the right path."
-Connie N
"David is truly amazing at what he does, he has an aura & calm about him that not only helped my dogs but helped me when I was at my breaking point.. I noticed a huge change in my dogs after our first session and by the time we finished our fourth session I was truly astonished with the transformation in my dogs. Every day I come home to a little calmer house than the day before and am truly grateful for everything we learned from David & his team/pack. I have two small dogs that were very reactive on walks and would bark/screem/be on two feet trying to get at whatever was passing us. I found their reactivity and aggression was getting progressively worse. Our walks were NOT fun, they felt embarrassing and stressful. at home.. my one dog never stopped barking and/or whining to the point where I didn't looking forward to coming home and dreaded anyone coming to my house. In our yard.. my dogs along with the neighbours would run the fence line loosing it, barking and trying to get at each other, through the fence. I literally felt like a crazy person try to stop them. I couldn’t get them to stop nor get them to come back inside. On our third session with David. My two dogs and three of his were in the back yard when the neighbour let out his dog.. His dog “scream barked” like she always did.. all 5 dogs ran to the fence line. David and I both said “Let’s go” all 5 dogs ran back to us… It was an AHA Moment and felt truly amazing!!! Being able to “call my dogs off” a trigger they have had for over a year!! So amazing!! Now that we fished all four sessions with David & his team/pack. I can confidently say.. My dogs are no longer reactive on walks and I look forward to our daily walks. David truly understands dogs and what they need."
-Brittney Beckie
"I adopted Ace last year who is a 5 year old Siberian Husky, GSD cross with a few other retrievers. He is a former street dog and rescue who is reactive to most dogs and reactive aggressive to male dogs in particular. We had worked with trainers before but it was not helpful got various reasons. I found Davids website and submitted an inquiry. At first, we had a 2 hour phone consultation which was amazing and I learned so much even from that. Right then and there David booked us in for 4 sessions. Other trainers were so hard to follow up with so this already showed me dedication. David came to my house the first 2 sessions and filmed the interactions had both in the home and outside. I have implemented lots of changes that to be honest, before I did not think would make a huge difference but they truly have. When we moved to our house, I did not take Ace for a walk for the first month because I was scared. But with Davids help, we go on walks at least every other day. David has taught me how to be calm and have a loose leash and use my voice and body to help correct Ace. He does still react but not like he used to and not for as long. This last session, we were able to go on a pack walk (Ace was muzzled) and no issues. We also had play time and Ace absolutely fell in love with his dog Sophie. We are teaching Ace how to play properly and not come in so hot and seem threatening to other dogs. David is always up to answering all of my many questions and I am super thankful for that. Thank you so much David, I am in tears writing this. Happy tears!"
-B. Rodgers
"We are very thankful to David and Canine Connections. Without David‘s help it is unlikely Grace would be with us today. Grace, our five-year-old English Springer Spaniel, started to develop reactive/aggressive behaviour tendencies during the pandemic when she was between 18 months to two years old. She was very possessive and highly reactive to objects, other dogs, people – including her own people. For three years we tried various approaches in an attempt to change this behavior, including medication. Some training methods and medications made the behaviours worse. We were feeling helpless and hopeless. After reading a news article where David had been interviewed on the topic of Dog attacks we called him immediately. David spent several hours speaking with us even before our first meeting to gain an understanding of our situation and give us some direction until we could meet in person. During our first meeting, we learned that Grace was not a lost cause. Remarkably, during that first session, Grace had a positive interaction and walk with David’s dog, Zeus. We saw rapid improvement as we worked through the protocol with Grace. We are grateful to David for his non-judgmental and kind approach with both the humans and Dog. He responded to our questions and request for guidance quickly and went above and beyond to keep us pointed in the right direction. He has also helped us understand maintaining our progress requires an ongoing commitment given the amount of time Grace was in an unregulated state. Grace is no longer on her 40 mg dose of fluoxetine. We highly recommend David, Rhianna, and the team."
-Donne Mewis
"Working with David was eye opening in terms of how to interact with and understand my dog. The methods he teaches have helped us develop a strong baseline of communication with our puppy and have led to consistent improvements in our training. Working with him was an incredibly positive experience, we felt supported whenever we had questions or concerns about specific situations, training tools and anything else we needed more information on. Would highly recommend David for dog owners who are committed to learning about and forming a reliable relationship with your dog. Ours was ~6 months during training and the improvement over a month was seen in his self regulation, communication and obedience."
-Nakita Funk
"My dog Cypress has always been reactive but often really loves dogs when he’s introduced properly. This summer we got a puppy, overly optimistically thinking they would be fast friends. When they weren’t, and the research I was doing was not helping, I finally contacted David. If I could go back in time I would have contacted him as soon as I saw issues with Cypress. David has a demonstrably deep and comprehensive understanding of dogs, especially dogs like Cypress. He’s almost more of a dog psychiatrist than a trainer. His holistic approach leaves no stone unturned, ensuring that your home environment will be conducive to progress and growth. From the human side of things, David is a great communicator and makes the process as easy as possible. I really appreciated that he took the time to explain the importance of everything we were doing, and how and why it would benefit the dogs. I also appreciated that he gave his honest opinion, even once offering to cancel one of the sessions we had paid for because he wasn’t sure if it would be helpful. By the end of our sessions, the two dogs were able to spend time off-leash together in our home. It was also really special to see Cypress hang out and play with David’s dogs. It was a rewarding experience and I’m so grateful to David for everything. He cares very deeply about his work and approaches everything with intentionality and understanding. Truly an experience that transcends the 5-point rating system."
-Yasmine Kebick
"Google doesn’t let us rate 1000/5 so I’ll just have to justify it with words. It took me a few years to find a trainer for my dogs. The positive reviews is what grabbed my attention. I wanted someone to work with who I could trust. After our first session we knew that David was a grounded trainer, that could help us reach our goals. You can’t ask for a better trainer. He goes through every angle of what a dog needs and how they perceive it. From their energy, their environment, their diet, their triggers, all the way to their nature. I noticed my dogs change in energy the first week. As we wrap up our last session I feel more confident in working with them and I can see their confidence as well. Every training session was beneficial. Not only does he train in home sessions, he makes himself available to questions at anytime even post training. Each session was exactly what the dogs needed and more. You can see he enjoys the work he does and is damn good at it. Our dogs couldn’t co-exist, they were reactive, fearful, and were unconditioned to other dogs. David helped us understand how to decompress and check in with our pack. He was able to dial the dogs back to a calm energy when they were rising to fixations. It was amazing to see the dogs do a pack walk without reacting and making a walk meaningful instead of fearful. He changed the way we work with our dogs and changed our demeanour. Only when you ready yourself for change your dogs will follow. The three keys to succeed in training with David is to work on your mountain energy, practising every training aspect, and asking questions to progress He has all the information and knowledge to reach your goals with your dog, but it’s what we do with that information that impacts your home after training is completed. His training has and will continue to change many homes, hearts and paws. With Canine Connections there is hope in working with your companions to excel. David is truly an inspiration and we thank him indefinitely!"
-Sue Brooks
"🐾 Top Notch 🐾 First of all we would like to thank David, his support team and the working dogs. David has a great understanding of dogs and how humans interact with them. He has guided us through transitioning our pack back to where we have both harmony along with balance in our pack. We have learned so much not only about how we were interacting with our dogs as well as how our dogs were interacting with us. We could not be where we are without David’s teachings in a holistic healthy in home private setting, along with nature walks and the centre. We are so blessed to have had met David and how he guided us through this journey. Forever thankful 😊 for bringing Harmony back to the pack Sue, Troy, Miss Molly, Charlotte, and of course Kodiak"
-Joel and Jenny
"We contacted David to help us with our excitable 8 year old pup Watson. He's older and not used to our attention being divided. He was on edge as our baby started to become more mobile. We recognized there was already uncertainty when he was around children in general and wanted to address the issue. David looks at the whole picture and we discussed other areas where Watson becomes excitable or reactive. He came to our house and worked around our schedule. David helped us work on the underlying issues and showed us how to shift our verbal and physical communication with Watson. We started to see results within a week. Watson is much more relaxed in general, especially around our toddler. We still have some work to do, but David gave us the tools to do it."
-Stephanie Owen
"Our vet referred us to David, the owner of Canine Connections. During a routine exam, our 2 year old Standard Poodle x with Old English Sheep Dog barred his teeth at our vet! In spite of my son having achieved an impressive level of obedience -our dog “Aegius” persisted with annoying behaviours. Walks were stressful! Although he was great at loose leash walking, he would randomly hurl his 60 pound body towards passing dogs, squirrels or rabbits. He would then be hyped up the duration of the walk. When we had visitors, Aegius was super friendly but annoying! He would insist on more pats and attention after being told “all done.” To add to my frustration, Aegius’s negative behaviour showed up when I was the handler and not as often when my son was in charge. During our first session with David, we outlined our challenges and he gathered information! David has intuitive understanding of canines AND humans. Beyond the information we provided, David saw what we could not. The session was illuminating and intense. When David left after our 1st session, my son and I agreed it was a mind blowing experience! We dove into the skills David taught us and began to see improvements on leash and in our home. We have now completed the sessions. Our leash walks are the absolute best part of the day. In addition to incredible insight into how our dog sees and responds the world, we now have an awareness of how our state of mind influences our dog. The improvements in our dog and the practical skills we learned have gone beyond what we sought help for. We are grateful to David and his team!"
-Trisha Springall-Getz
"We are truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with David. Our 2 year old lab Nala, was a handful to say the least. We were becoming apprehensive even having people in due to her jumping, climbing on them, and her basic lack of respect for anyone that entered our home. We were dealing with a dog we did not understand and needed help. Enter David. His passion for our dogs well being was evident immediately. He is truly gifted. He helped us understand Nala in a way we hadn’t even imagined. He shows great patience to humans and dogs alike, and we are forever grateful for the lessons and guidance he provided. We now understand the unintended consequences of our actions with Nala. In turn, we have a dog who is now more calm, more relaxed and happy to work with us. David has provided us with the tools and knowledge to continue to work on living a harmonious life with our dog. We continue to work with Nala as this is a life long commitment for us. Thank you David and Canine Connections."
-Payton Kirkness
"I have nothing but amazing things to say! David changes lives! Lenny is my first dog and my world, and with first dogs come many mistakes. He is the sweetest pup, but due to my lack of leadership and unfortunate experiences we have had some reactive/aggressive behaviours arise. Lenny struggles with meeting new dogs and new people. He would be on the end of his leash on his hind legs and barking as we walked past dogs and people. Having someone over to my house wasn’t even a thought as I knew how Lenny would react. The anxiety and embarrassment that it caused me was unbearable, and I was so sad to see my sweet little guy behave the way he was. All I wanted was for people to see him the way that I see him; a sweet loving pup. I didn’t know how to deal with his reactivity/aggression, I had went to several dog trainers that didn’t help and looked online where I got to the point where I was overwhelmed with information and unsure of what to do. Lenny is 2.5 years old and will most likely be around for another 10-12 years so I couldn’t just let this happen. He was progressively getting worse, I was finding that every couple months there was another thing that Lenny was reacting to that he had no issues with before. I looked for dog trainers in Saskatoon and came across Canine Connections, after reading many reviews like the one I’m writing today, I thought I’d take a chance to try to get some help for my little guy and I. Within the first couple minutes of our first session, David was walking Lenny, and after a couple more minutes, he was walking Lenny with Zeus. My mind was blown! I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! After an amazing first session, I knew that I had to do as much as I could to help my little guy out. Within the first week of training at home, I could already notice a difference with Lenny. By our third/last session, we were able to walk past other dogs without any reaction whatsoever, and we even went on a pack walk where you could truly see Lenny healing and being part of the pack. After all three sessions, the improvements have been remarkable. Lenny is overall more calm, listens better, and our relationship just feel so much better. He is a totally different dog! Last week we were able to go on a walk with my sister golden retriever puppy, that in the past Lenny was aggressive towards. He was a calm confident little guy and walked with her with no problem, she even let out a couple barks at the start and Lenny didn’t react at all. My family has continuously been commenting on the amazing changes that they have seen in Lenny and are eager for me to teach them what David has taught me! It is obviously still a work in progress, but I cannot be more proud of my little guy. I am excited to continue our training and see where life takes us. David, I cannot thank you enough! You have truly changed mine and Lenny’s lives! I am so thankful that we found Canine Connections!"