The Better Companion

The Better Companion Check our website for classes - all are based on positive reinforcement techniques. Check out all the "dog sports"; Agility, Flyball, Treibball and Nose Work.

We provide scientifically-backed, positive reinforcement training through group classes in obedience & dog sports, Day Training, professional grooming, Open Play Time, Behavioral Modification, and Private Lessons. Obedience/behavior classes from Puppy groups & basic adult dog "Foundation" classes through "High School" and even our version of "College" classes! Our Open Play Time on Friday evenings

is great for exercise and socialization and we offer a variety of workshops and seminars throughout the year.

🐴🐾 Walkie Talkies: Hay There, Kin-Win! 🐾🐴Today’s Walkie Talkies headed out to Kin-Win, and we decided to bring along two...
08/09/2026

🐴🐾 Walkie Talkies: Hay There, Kin-Win! 🐾🐴

Today’s Walkie Talkies headed out to Kin-Win, and we decided to bring along two of BETCO’s largest demo “dogs” to date…

Odin & Windir.

They’re a little tall, their recall is questionable when snacks are involved, and their treat budget is astronomical—but they were excellent assistants for today’s focus: horse neutrality!

Our dogs practiced keeping their brains attached while sharing the trail with some very large friends: creating space, checking in with their humans, disengaging, passing appropriately, and learning that horses are neither giant dogs nor suspiciously fast snacks. 👀

And because the training gods apparently wanted to make sure everyone got their money’s worth, Kin-Win threw in some surprise bicycles AND other horses on the trail. 🚲🐴

✨ Planned distraction: Odin & Windir
✨ Bonus distraction: Bikes
✨ Plot twist: MORE HORSES
✨ Dogs: excuse me, this was not in the syllabus

But that’s exactly why we love taking training out into the real world. We can practice all day in controlled environments, but trails have their own agenda—and learning to safely navigate the unexpected is part of building confident dogs and handlers.

Everyone did a neigh-verly good job.

Huge thanks to Odin & Windir for working for hay and absolutely destroying our usual demo-dog weight limit.

Walkie Talkies will be back NEXT SUNDAY! Keep an eye out for the next location and come take a walk on the wild-ish side with us.

Looking for something to do today?We will be at Kinwin Trailhead for Walkie Talkies today at 11 am, working around horse...
08/09/2026

Looking for something to do today?

We will be at Kinwin Trailhead for Walkie Talkies today at 11 am, working around horses for some on leash neutrality practice.

Walkie Talkies is our FREE walking / hiking class, this is an on leash 60 minute easy walk with like minded people to help keep your skills sharp 🥰

☀️🐾 Welcoming August with sunshine… and apparently a mud bath. 🐾☀️Alaska finally gave us some glorious sunshine for Open...
08/09/2026

☀️🐾 Welcoming August with sunshine… and apparently a mud bath. 🐾☀️

Alaska finally gave us some glorious sunshine for Open Play Time, but Harbour wasn’t about to let a little nice weather interfere with his plans. 😂

On his very first day, this handsome cream Golden made a beeline for the muddiest corner of the field and promptly transformed himself from Golden Retriever → Chocolate Retriever. 🤎

Honestly, we respect the commitment.

Open Play Time is all about giving our already dog-social pups a chance to run, wrestle, sniff, splash, and apparently make some questionable cosmetic choices while their humans get to be part of the fun. 🐕💨

Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy the sunshine with us — clean dogs are temporary, but the photos are forever. 😂

🐾 Owner-attended, supervised social play
$12/hour
Reservations: 907-357-2521

08/07/2026

🐾 Big dog. Big feelings. Big advocacy. 💙

Beretta had his neuter and gastropexy consult today, and with big exams can come some big feelings.

Even at the veterinary clinic, training doesn’t stop. During his exam and blood draw with our friends at Borealis Veterinary Clinic, we came armed with our trusty LickiStick from Spunky Pup dog toys to help keep him engaged, create positive associations, and support low-stress handling. Small training choices like this can make a huge difference in how dogs experience veterinary care.

One thing we talk about often is perception. Large dogs—and certain breeds in particular—are frequently held to a different standard. When you have a big dog, it’s important to advocate for them in ways that also help everyone around them feel safe and comfortable.

Calm handling, cooperative care skills, appropriate restraint when needed, and thoughtful preparation go a long way toward building confidence for the dog, their owner, and the veterinary team.

Beretta’s journey didn’t start today. His socialization and training began at just 8 weeks old, and those investments continue to pay off years later. Cooperative care isn’t something you teach the week before a procedure—it’s a lifelong skill that makes everyday care and unexpected medical needs much less stressful.

Want to build these skills with your own dog?

Our Level 1 Cooperative Care Class begins August 15th and is designed to teach dogs to become willing participants in their own care—from veterinary exams and blood draws to nail trims, grooming, ear cleaning, and more through positive reinforcement and choice-based training.

As part of our commitment to making quality training accessible, this course is being offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, so cost doesn’t have to be a barrier to giving your dog these lifelong skills.

Give us a call at 907 357 2521 to register!

08/07/2026

Big news, I'm so happy to share:

My camper van dream finally came true! Meet Cassy the classic, she a 1987 GMC Vandura and my new adventure & dog massage mobile.

Every Thursday from 5pm to 8pm you can book a massage session and come to me. I'll be parked in specific spots in Wasilla or Palmer. Once I get enough bookings I'll choose a different day for Eagle River & Anchorage clients.

In my van I will also offer short 20 min sessions for $55! As an addition to the 30 & 45 min sessions.

Please reach out to book a van massage for your beloved companion.

08/05/2026

🎭✨ Trick Dog 101 is coming this September! ✨🎭

Who says learning can’t be a little flashy? 😎

From Luca showing off his “Over, Over,” Maui charming everyone with a perfect wave 👋, Mavra cruising in on a skateboard 🛹, and Birdie confidently hopping through a hoop—these dogs prove that tricks are so much more than just fun party pieces.

Teaching tricks helps build:
🐾 Confidence in shy or cautious dogs
🐾 Better body awareness and coordination
🐾 Stronger communication between you and your dog
🐾 Mental enrichment that tires the brain in all the best ways
🐾 A stronger relationship through positive reinforcement

Whether your goal is to earn an AKC Trick Dog title, impress your friends, or simply give your dog a fun new outlet, Trick Dog 101 is a fantastic place to start. No previous trick experience needed—we’ll break everything down into achievable steps for every team.

Get ready to laugh, learn, and discover just how much your dog is capable of. Spots are limited to six dogs so everyone can get the same attention!

This video is just a small glimpse of what’s possible—we can’t wait to see what tricks your dogs have hidden up their sleeves! 🐕✨

Learn more, or register, here: https://bettercompanion.dogbizpro.com/public/registration/index.aspx?cls=36

💙 NEW CLASS: Cooperative Care 101 💙We’re so excited to offer this class for the very first time at The Better Companion!...
08/04/2026

💙 NEW CLASS: Cooperative Care 101 💙

We’re so excited to offer this class for the very first time at The Better Companion!

Starting August 15th at 12:30

If you’ve ever wished your dog was more comfortable with nail trims, brushing, ear cleaning, taking medication, vet visits, or simply being handled, this class is for you.

As part of our commitment to making training accessible to everyone, we’re offering this inaugural class on a pay-what-you-can basis for the full 4-week course. We simply want more dogs and their people to have the skills to make everyday care less stressful.

Cooperative Care isn’t about holding a dog still or “getting it done.” It’s about teaching dogs they have a voice in the process, building trust, reducing fear, and creating willing participation through positive reinforcement. When dogs understand what’s happening and have predictable choices, everyone wins.

Over our 4 weeks, we’ll cover:

🐾 Week 1: Building the Foundation
• Consent and choice-based training
• Marker skills and reinforcement
• Start-button behaviors
• Introducing stationing (mat/work surface)
• Reading canine body language and stress signals

🐾 Week 2: Gentle Handling Skills
• Handling paws, ears, muzzle, tail, and body
• Building duration and confidence
• Cooperative restraint concepts
• Introducing grooming and examination tools

🐾 Week 3: Husbandry & Veterinary Skills
• Nail trim preparation
• Brushing and coat care
• Ear cleaning and eye care
• Mock veterinary exams
• Medication practice (without the struggle!)

🐾 Week 4: Putting It All Together
• Creating individualized care plans
• Troubleshooting common challenges
• Generalizing skills to new environments
• Preparing for real-life grooming and veterinary visits
• Graduation with take-home practice plans

This class is perfect for:
🐶 Puppies learning lifelong handling skills
🐶 Adult dogs who dislike grooming or vet visits
🐶 Senior dogs needing more frequent care
🐶 Dogs recovering from difficult experiences
🐶 Anyone who wants to build an even stronger relationship with their dog

No force. No intimidation. Just communication, trust, and teamwork.

4 week course
Pay what you can
We have room for just a few more teams

Give us a call at 907-357-2521, send us a message, or stop by the facility to reserve your spot. We can’t wait to help make everyday care something your dog feels safe and confident participating in—not just enduring.

Update: we found a wonderful company, thank you all for putting us in touch 🥰We’re hoping to go a little old school and ...
08/04/2026

Update: we found a wonderful company, thank you all for putting us in touch 🥰

We’re hoping to go a little old school and see if anyone in our community is interested in bartering!

As many of you know, taking over BETCO in 2025 came with a long list of dreams and improvements we’d love to make. We’ve been steadily working our way through those projects while keeping our programs as affordable as possible, investing in our staff, and continuing to improve the experience for both pets and their people.

Our most recent facelift was the Day Training play yard!

These photos show some of the work we’ve already completed, including bringing in gravel and fill dirt so we could repair and improve the fencing. It’s been a huge step forward, and we’re incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported these improvements along the way.

Now we’re looking toward the next round of projects, including additional work on our outdoor field and fencing, along with some electrical upgrades to help bring those plans to life.

To help keep costs manageable while continuing to invest back into BETCO, we’d love to see if there’s an electrician or electrical company interested in exchanging services for training and pet care.

We can offer:
🐾 Group classes
🐾 Private lessons
🐾 Day Training packages
🐾 Board & Train credit
🐾 Vacation with an Education boarding
🐾 Grooming services
…or a combination that works well for everyone!

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in—or you know a fantastic local electrician—please send us a message, call 907-357-2521, or email [email protected].

(If you’d rather not barter, that’s okay too! We’re still happy to connect and discuss the project. We simply wanted to see if there was an opportunity to support another local business while keeping improvement costs as reasonable as we could!)

🎉 A Well-Deserved Congratulations to Abby! 🎉We’re so excited to officially announce Abby’s promotion to Day Training Man...
08/03/2026

🎉 A Well-Deserved Congratulations to Abby! 🎉

We’re so excited to officially announce Abby’s promotion to Day Training Manager at The Better Companion! 🐾

Over the past year, many of you have watched Abby grow into an incredible trainer, and we’ve had the privilege of watching the passion, patience, and dedication she brings to every dog and family she works with. She has become an invaluable part of our team, and this promotion is a reflection of the hard work she’s put in every single day.

In her new role, Abby will be leading and continuing to grow our Polite Paws Day Training Program, helping mentor staff, refine our training systems, and ensure every dog receives the same thoughtful, individualized experience our clients have come to expect.

Don’t worry—you’ll still be seeing plenty of Abby! She’ll continue working with:
🐾 Pawsitive Pathways Board & Train dogs
🐾 Vacation with an Education guests
🐾 Shadowing and assisting with behavior modification cases and private lessons
🐾 Continuing to build her knowledge through professional credentials, continuing education, and mentorship as she develops into an even stronger trainer.

One of our core values has always been investing in our people, because when our trainers continue learning, every dog and family who walks through our doors benefits.

We’re incredibly proud of Abby, grateful for the experience, compassion, and work ethic she brings to BETCO, and so excited to watch her continue to grow. Congratulations, Abby—we can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you! ❤️🐶

Congratulations again, Abby!

From tiny toes to muddy paws… everyone got in on the fun this week! Our photo follow up 🐾💚Our 5:30 Small Dog Open Play T...
08/02/2026

From tiny toes to muddy paws… everyone got in on the fun this week! Our photo follow up 🐾💚

Our 5:30 Small Dog Open Play Time crew proved that big personalities come in little packages, while our 6:30 Puppy & Gentle/Medium Dog group happily embraced the puddles, the zoomies, and just enough swamp to make Dutch and Bear Claw proud. 🐊😂

Every Open Play Time looks a little different, but our goal is always the same: providing a safe, supervised environment where already social dogs can practice appropriate dog-to-dog communication, burn some energy, and let their humans enjoy watching them simply be dogs.

Thank you to everyone who braved the sweaty weather with us—we love seeing these friendships grow week after week (even if everyone heads home needing a bath! 😅).

Want to join us next Friday? Give us a call at 907-357-2521 to reserve your spot!

Open Play Time is designed for dog-social dogs with their humans present throughout the session.

Address

1400 E Regine Avenue
Wasilla, AK
99654

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 6pm
Tuesday 7am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 4pm
Thursday 6:45am - 6pm
Friday 6:45am - 7:30pm
Saturday 7am - 5pm
Sunday 7am - 5pm

Telephone

(907) 357-2521

Website

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