Meet the Trainer Claire

I have trained and worked with countless dogs over the last six years, loving every single minute of it. But the real heart of C & C K9 Training started after a three-year wait when I finally brought home a rambunctious, fluffy pup of my own: Candace.

Candace has accompanied me everywhere, from the busy streets of San Francisco to the trails of the Grand Canyon, and she has taught me so much.

Early in my journey, a mentor shared a piece of wisdom that forever shaped my philosophy:

"A dog trained with a focus on compliance through force or fear will always run into something or someone that creates more fear than you can match. But if you train based on a relationship of fair boundaries, kindness, and reliability, something incredible happens. When that dog runs into a terrifying situation, they won't run away. They will run to you because you are their safety and their home." - Terra Ruiz.

This is the foundation of everything I do. I grew up surrounded by multiple Standard Poodles and later spent time working with horses, which deeply shaped my understanding of animal behavior and the subtle dynamics of pressure-and-release. My goal is to help you build that same unshakeable bond with your dog, rooted in mutual trust rather than constant micromanagement.