Canine Complex & Friends (Buffalo)

CC&F offers structured 8-week group classes across multiple levels: Natural Puppy (three tiers for puppies 8 weeks to adolescence), Scent Work for Fun, Social Cues (off-leash socialization), Senior Dog Enrichment, and specialized classes for blind/deaf dogs. Each class focuses on behavior, communication, and emotional well-being using choice-based methods. Dog walking services are customized per dog’s needs. Private in-home lessons are available for basic manners and minor behavior issues. All programs emphasize understanding canine body language and creating a secure, fair environment for the dog.

Pricing Summary

Group classes are priced at $200 for 8 weeks (Natural Puppy, Scent Work, Senior Dogs, Blind/Deaf classes); Social Cues is $250 for 8 weeks. Dog walking services are individually priced with options available via application. No package discounts or tiered pricing are specified.

Canine Complex & Friends (CC&F) is a force-free, dog-centered training facility in Buffalo, NY, focused on building trusting relationships between dogs and their owners through choice-based, ethological methods. They specialize in behavior modification for fearful, reactive, high-arousal, and senior dogs, using positive reinforcement exclusively. Their curriculum emphasizes canine communication, emotional well-being, and natural behaviors, helping dogs thrive in human environments. They offer group classes in Natural Puppy, Scent Work, Social Cues, Senior Dog Enrichment, and specialized programs for blind/deaf dogs, all held at partner locations including My Lil Pawdise, Dog Days of Buffalo, and Smith Road Paw Park. They also provide personalized dog walking services tailored to each dog’s needs, from sniffaris to off-leash romps. Their instructors are certified professionals with deep expertise in canine behavior and ethology, led by Jeannine Jay, a Master’s-level behavior consultant with specialized credentials in family dog mediation and predation substitution training.

CC&F avoids traditional command-based training, instead prioritizing the dog’s emotional state and autonomy. Their programs are designed to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and foster communication, making them ideal for owners seeking compassionate, science-backed training that respects the dog’s nature.

They also support rescue organizations and offer private in-home lessons for basic manners and minor behavior issues.

Their services are rooted in Applied Ethology and the LEGS framework, ensuring holistic care for dogs’ physical, emotional, and social needs.

Accomplishments

Jeannine Jay holds a Master’s in Anthropology with a focus on nonverbal communication, is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (IAABC), Licensed Family Dog Mediator (Sheltering and Behavior), Control Unleashed Certified Instructor, and Predation Substitution Trainer. She pioneered an ethological approach to dog training in Western New York and developed unique curricula including a three-tiered puppy program and fear/reactivity classes. Gillian Skidmore holds a BA in Animal Behavior and MA in Sociology, and is a certified dog trainer through CATCH Canine Academy.

How to Get Started!

Prospective clients must apply for classes via the online application form. For Social Cues, dogs must undergo an evaluation to ensure neutrality around other dogs and people. Dog walking services require an application and individualized assessment. Private lessons are available upon request.