The Connection Canine Behavior and Training

06/16/2026

🐶 Got a puppy? Private lessons can help you accomplish more in less time while getting personalized support for the challenges that matter most to your dog.

Meet Kobe! 💙

• 12 weeks old• Mixed breed• Rescued from Saipan

Kobe’s family are first-time dog owners who are committed to setting him up for success from day one. ✨

In just ONE session, we covered:

✅ Nipping, biting, and jumping recommendations
✅ Marker training
✅ Hand touches
✅ Movement and lowering games (aka “Cheese” and “Pizza” 🍕🧀)
✅ Intro to sit-stay
✅ Intro to heeling
✅ Three recall games
✅ Emergency recall

Two things really stood out:

⭐ The entire family of four stayed engaged for the full session—including both children under 10.

⭐ Kobe stayed focused and engaged for the entire hour, which is phenomenal for a 12-week-old puppy!

My recommendation is two more sessions, then we’ll reassess and build from there.

This pint-sized cutie is off to an amazing start and well on his way to his best life ever. 💫 

06/11/2026

Say hi to Mr. Black Bean 🖤, who had a follow-up Canine CBT session last Sunday.

Please send him some love and healing vibes 🙏

Last night, while out for a neighborhood walk with his family, a dog broke away from its owner, rushed over, and attacked Black Bean. He required surgery, but thankfully he’s sore, recovering, and expected to be okay.

Black Bean originally came to us with concerns around dog reactivity, human reactivity, fast-moving objects, noise sensitivity, and a history of biting/nipping with intent to harm. Working alongside both Kelly and Mais, he has made incredible progress.

This session took place in an environment packed with challenges: scooters, basketball courts, baseball diamonds, a splash park, children, playgrounds, dogs—you name it.

And Black Bean did amazingly well.

Not long ago, this level of stimulation would have been overwhelming. Instead, he stayed calm enough to work, take food, engage with his family, and even hand out a few kisses. We are so proud of this boy.

We chose not to do any on-leash dog greetings that evening, wanting to finish on a strong, successful note and give his family a confidence-building win.

One of the most rewarding parts of the session was seeing the shift in his handlers. They were walking more calmly, giving direction with greater certainty, and trusting their dog. ✨ They openly shared that outings feel easier when a trainer is present because they feel more confident. That’s a powerful insight—and rebuilding confidence is a journey worth celebrating.

Special thank you to Rosey for coming out to support the session! This little girl could be a therapy dog
For now, Black Bean’s focus is on healing. Once he’s ready, we’ll get him back out there and continue building on all the amazing work he’s done. Our goal is to make sure this unfortunate incident doesn’t overshadow the progress, resilience, and trust that Black Bean and his family have worked so hard to create.

You’ve got this, buddy. 🖤 BlackBean

06/11/2026

Damn cute, and he knows it! 🤍

Say hey again to Yoji, who just had his third Canine CBT session.

Original concerns: anxiety, noises, people, strange places, emotional intensity.

How’s it going?
Yoji has come a long way! Noises are now no big deal, he’s comfortable in most of his common situations, and both Mom and Yoji are relaxed, happy, and bonded.

Today’s session:
We pushed the envelope and went to a busy park, which is a trigger zone for Yoji. Mom wasn’t sure if he could do it, but she said, “Let’s go for it.”

Check out our stories to see what he accomplished in a busy park filled with baseball games, children playing, and traffic noise from a busy street.

We worked from his comfort zone into the busy zone, and he did it! 🤸🤸🤸

He was even relaxed enough to offer behaviors, take treats, and sniff.

What was key tonight was using the cognitive exercises, coupled with a reduction in leash tension. Leash tension can build anxiety and frustration, so we worked on giving him as much leash as possible without him deciding to put Mom off balance.

He did great. More practice in this area will continue to strengthen the confident behaviors of both Mom and Yoji.

06/10/2026

Nevada got a body check with the lovely and knowledgeable Anita and. K9 Rehab Wellness Center today. We’ve been sent home with homework 😉

06/09/2026

Say hello again to Roger, who just completed his second session with Mais! 🤍

Original concerns: human reactivity, dog reactivity, leash skills, and manners.

Today we focused on improving leash communication so Roger and his family can enjoy more relaxed walks together.

We chose a busier park near Steveston, and Roger surprised us. With more going on around him, he was less fixated on individual dogs and people, allowing him to stay calmer and more engaged with his handlers.

We also adjusted his walking equipment and introduced clearer leash communication paired with body language and verbal guidance. The result? A more responsive, relaxed, and connected Roger.

To support his growing confidence, we added a 20-foot long line, giving him a little more freedom and autonomy while reducing the frustration that can come from constant restraint.

There’s still work to do with his cognitive exercises, and consistency at home will be key moving forward. Even so, we were able to use some of those skills today to help redirect his focus when needed—a great step in the right direction.

Well done, Roger! 🐾

RichmondBC

06/09/2026

Coytoy outing today! The pups and humans had a blast on their fist pack walk, while learning new experiences! Thank Bonnie Judd for the fun!

06/08/2026

Fun summer, outdoor, amazing classes!

June Classes are Starting Soon!

Things may slow down during the Summer but we still have some great classes on the schedule!

📌Register: https://www.tntkennels.com/registration22/

06/07/2026

06/06/2026

Welcoming a new puppy to the pack?

Last week, we welcomed little Lucy, a German Shepherd X Shar-Pei mix to our family!

Was it planned? Nope! But the heart wants what the heart wants 😂

After a few days letting Lucy get used to her surroundings, we slowly started introducing her to big sis Pepper - still practically a puppy herself at 1 year old.

Lots of playing and tug-a-war but sometimes the growls were a little precarious so I knew I needed to bring in the expert 😂

And of course, our first call was to Mais to come observe their behaviour and give me some tips on how to be a calm leader & support her integration into the fam.

Mais helped us SO much with our super friendly, high energy girl Pepper during her transition to adolescence, and she came in with some practical, easy to understand tips that I’ve started implementing with the sisters ♥️

I’m happy to report the girls are doing great & loving their little pack life 😍

06/05/2026

Best day ever! Playing learning training with these amazing coy pups. Thank you Bonnie Judd for the fun learning experience!!