About Canine Connection LLC

Canine Connection publishes itself as "Dog Training and Behavior Modification for the REAL WORLD", founded in 1994, "Serving DFW and Beyond" and "NOW SERVING The MidSouth & all the Surrounding Memphis, TN Area" from 4060 Billion Road in Memphis.

What they offer

Their own services list is Online Group Classes and Webinars; Group Classes; "Private Lessons/Behavior Modification – Fear, Anxiety, and Aggression"; Seminars and Workshops; "Private Lessons – Basic Manners and Dog Sports Coaching"; and Board and Train Programs. They note that group offerings are currently specialty classes and that basic manners and puppy classes are planned "at our home location, soon". Seminars and workshops are delivered "for private groups, training clubs, and government agencies, all over the United States".

The people behind it

The business was started by Karen Vass in 1994; Bob Deeds joined in 2003, merging their two businesses. The site states they have "combined fifty, plus, years of dog training experience". Karen's published background is in canine behavior: an Association of Pet Dog Trainers "Community Educator of the Year" award in 2010, and in 2013 becoming, in the site's words, "one of less than 200 Certified Dog Behavior Consultants in the United States through the IAABC". She also teaches online behavior-modification classes for the Fenzi Dog Sports Academy. Bob's published background is urban search and rescue – a retired Canine Search Specialist with Texas Task Force One of FEMA, later an evaluator certifying US&R teams – and he has titled in AKC Rally and in Mondioring.

What that means for a Memphis dog owner

The practical center of gravity here is reactivity and aggression: the pair describe assessing dogs for working potential in disciplines from search and rescue to detection and service work, and Karen's teaching focus is a customized Reactive Integration class. They have also started a Dog Scouts of America troop, Dog Scouts Mid-South Troop #250, in the tri-state area near Memphis. Note when you call that the contact numbers published on the site are still Texas (817) lines.