Absolutely! We are committed to fear and force free approaches and more. We seek to ground fear and force free training within the context of wellbeing for the dog, the human guardian(s) and you as the professional supporting them. It is essential that we train without force or fear but even this is not enough. We also need to be sure we are meeting everyone’s physical, emotional, mental and social needs and creating an environment that empowers all concerned. This is our focus in Connect but be assured -  nothing we do or recommend involves coercion, pain or discomfort for dogs or people!

Connect is run by Michelle Dart & Dr. Janet Finlay. 

Janet is an Animal Centred Education (ACE) Instructor, an accredited dog trainer (UK APDT & ABTC), a TTouch Practitioner (Level 3) and a qualified coach for people (Level 7 Institute of Leadership and Management). She’s also an author, has a PhD in Computer Science, and is the co-author of best-selling textbooks on Human-Computer Interaction and Artificial Intelligence which have been translated into numerous languages. 

Michelle is a certified trainer (UK APDT, ABTC, IMDT-accredited), a Real Dog Yoga Instructor, a SuperDogs Instructor, a World Scent Dog Association Instructor, a Force Free Trick Trainer and Certified Trick Dog Instructor. 

We also bring in other trusted experts to support in specialty areas to ensure that you always get the best available support.

Connect is suitable whether you're at the beginning of your career or more experienced. It’s for anyone who is setting up or running a dog-centred business who wants a caring community of people to support them and help them to grow their business ethically and sustainably.

We have members who are just starting out, members with years of experience, and members who aren’t dog trainers but are committed to advancing canine wellbeing in different ways. 

What's most important is a passion for doing the best for your clients and their dogs and a willingness to learn and develop yourself.

Connect is designed primarily for full- or part-time trainers and behaviour specialists, focusing on understanding and training dogs, supporting clients, and creating a business that works for you. 

But we’re an inclusive community and there's so much inside Connect for other dog centred professionals, as so much of it is transferable if you use your imagination.

Connect is a monthly membership but you will get most out of it by committing to at least a year. Your payment is set up as an automatically renewing subscription and, as long as you remain a member, your joining price will never increase. 

If you cancel there will be no refunds of monies already paid  and you will lose access to all materials once your paid period expires.

In the unlikely event that we cancel you will receive a pro-rata refund of any unused portion of the membership that you have already paid for.

Yes at the moment Connect is designed as an online experience with both live and community elements. We are however planning face-to-face retreats and VIP days and these will be initially exclusively for Connect members.

We understand that adding something new can feel daunting. Connect is designed to support you, not overwhelm you. With a variety of resources and a supportive community, you can engage at your own pace and find the help you need when you need it.

Absolutely. Our platform is user-friendly, and we provide guidance to help you navigate it.

Michelle is our resident tech expert and she loves geeking out and simplifying tech - so you’ll not only be able to get the most out of everything we have to offer, but will be supported to improve the systems behind your business too.

No problem. All live sessions are recorded and available in our Pro Vault, so you can watch them at your convenience. Many members watch the replays and ask questions or join conversations on the topic in our community on their schedule.

Of course. Drop us a message at [email protected] and we can arrange a chat.