Heal by Training Horse & Hound!
I'm Gaby Dufresne-Cyr, a behaviour specialist, educator, facilitator, and animal-assisted learning practitioner in Montreal, Quebec. I work alongside trained dogs, horses, and wolves to support people on their path to personal growth and well-being.
With 40 years of experience in domestic and exotic animal behaviour and training, I help individuals tap into the transformative power of cross-species relationships. If you're an individual seeking support, I invite you to explore a new kind of healing, one that’s grounded in empathy, trust, and science.
I believe healing begins with connection, the kind of deep, non-verbal understanding that only animals can offer. When you open yourself to the possibility that an animal can foster growth, resilience, and unconditional love, we become better versions of ourselves.
The Horse & Hound animal-assisted learning and therapy sessions are built around meaningful interactions with dogs, horses, and wolves. Located in and around Montreal, Quebec, each experience is guided with care and grounded in science, allowing clients to form lasting, healing relationships with the animals. Each of these programs brings something different, yet all are rooted in the same foundation: connection, respect, and the healing power of animals.
The dog, wolf, and horse animal-assisted learning and therapy programs are designed for individuals seeking meaningful, lasting support through interaction with animals. The programs are built on real relationships between people and the animals. Dogs, horses, and wolves are especially helpful for those facing emotional, behavioural, or social challenges because they communicate clearly and effortlessly. Horse and Hound Healing is ideal for young adults, people with learning difficulties, individuals with emotional disorders, and people recovering from trauma.
The animal-assisted therapy and learning programs are anything but conventional. During your session, you will learn how to train the animals, interpret their behaviour, and apply these new skills to your current life situation and challenges. The highly trained animals are eager to work and help you achieve your goals; with guidance and clear instructions, you will learn to create meaningful changes in your life.
Dog-assisted therapy offers a gentle, supportive space for emotional growth. Working with our trained dogs, students often find it easier to relax, open up, and express themselves. The presence of a calm, trustworthy dog can ease anxiety, improve communication, and help teenagers build self-confidence. Whether someone is struggling with fear, sadness, or social disconnection, the dog’s steady companionship offers a safe path back to trust and connection.
Equine-assisted learning (EAL) sessions are based on social cognitive animal training. Horses respond honestly to how we carry ourselves, they sense our emotions and mirror them back to us. Through quiet interaction, clients begin to develop emotional regulation, patience, and presence. Without ever needing to ride, participants experience the grounded, empowering effects of simply being with a horse, reading their body language, and learning to move in harmony with them.
Wolf-assisted learning offers something rare and deeply transformative. Wolves, unlike domesticated animals, challenge us to be present. The sessions focus on building boundaries, trust, and self-awareness, all within a safe, and structured environment. The wolves choose to engage, and in doing so, they invite us into a relationship that is honest and unforgettable. A rare and profound experience in trust-building, boundary, and self-awareness, is a guaranteed success.
If you wish to become an animal-assisted practitioner, I invite you to visit the Dogue Academy website and consult the professional dog trainer certification course, also known as the Animal Behaviour Apprenticeship program.
The professional animal trainer certification course, is a complete hands-on program for future animal-assisted professionals.
All our programs are Dogue Academy © 1999-2025
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Superstars Change Teen Lives
2023
Explore the transformative power of animal-assisted therapy in the lives of at-risk teenagers. The story unfolds in a unique setting where dogs, wolves, rats, and horses become facilitators in the journey toward healing.
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Superstars Change Teen Lives Dyslexia Edition
2023
This edition contains the same text, but with the official dyslexia font. The book is nearly 500 pages to accomodate the extra letter space and shape of the font.