Who you are.
You might be a fit for Souly Dog if...
You're looking for lasting change instead of a "quick fix".
You care deeply about your dog's emotional wellbeing.
You want to better understand your dog's communication.
You're willing to prioritize partnership over power and control.
You're open to the evidence of modern animal welfare science even when it conflicts with traditional obedience training.
You accept that you and your dog are on this journey together, and that you may need to make changes to your routine and/or lifestyle so that you can experience shared wellbeing.
Who we are.
Ann Christmas, CPDT-KA, LFDM-T
Hi, I'm Ann, and I'm happy that you're here!
I founded Souly Dog in 2022 after working for 30 years in the veterinary field. What began as a conventional dog training business has evolved into something bigger and deeper.
In June of 2026, we will be opening the Souly Center, the first-of-its-kind, nature-based, welfare-centered, canine behavioral wellness center. Here we offer a different approach to resolving behavior problems.
The Souly Center provides what our dogs need most - off leash time in nature.
dogs and their people move beyond obedience-based training into emotional wellness, trust, and true understanding.
What we believe.
Behavior is communication.
Behavior is the primary way that dogs express their needs and emotions.
The behaviors we find most challenging are usually symptoms of unmet needs.
We believe that Rather than silencing our dogs' communication, we listen and respond to their behaviors by supporting their emotional, social, physical, and instinctive needs.
What we do.
What began as a positive reinforcement training business has evolved into a nature-based canine behavioral wellness center focused on resolving behavior problems through developing a shared language and meeting welfare needs.
But what if training isn't enough?
Many dogs are simply trying to cope with daily life.
They were bred for purpose, movement, and connection to the natural world.
Yet most of their lives are shaped by human expectations, limited choice, and very little space to just be.
They're not misbehaving.
They're communicating.
And they're trying to find their way in a world that doesn't always meet their needs.
The more I learned and observed, the clearer it became.
I needed to create a place where dogs could truly be dogs.
Not controlled.
Not micromanaged.
Not constantly corrected.
A space where they could move, explore, rest, and express the behaviors that come naturally to them.
A space rooted in nature.
In autonomy.
In meeting needs, rather than suppressing behavior.
When dogs are given that, something shifts.
They settle.
They soften.
They begin to show us who they really are.
The Souly Center grew from my dream to create an environment
This space is intentionally designed to encourage dogs' natural behaviors, offer dogs varied environments to explore, to engage the senses and to and the freedom to make choices without interruption.
Everything here is set up to support natural behavior, not restrict it.
It is not a place to drop your dog off. It’s a space you experience together.
You and your dog move through thoughtfully designed outdoor environments that support decompression, exploration, and natural behavior.
There’s no pressure to perform.
No expectation to “train.”
No need to correct or manage behavior.
Instead, you’re invited to slow down.
To observe.
To notice what your dog chooses when they have space.
To see what shifts when their needs are met.
Some dogs explore.
Some rest.
Some move, sniff, dig, or gently engage with the environment.
There’s no one way they’re supposed to be here.
And over time, something begins to change.
Not because they were taught to behave differently—
but because they’re finally able to.
If you’re curious what this could look like for you and your dog, you’re welcome to explore the next step.
Ann Christmas, CPDT-KA, LFDM-T
Many dogs are simply trying to cope with daily life.
They were bred for purpose, movement, and connection to the natural world.
Yet most of their lives are shaped by human expectations, limited choice, and very little space to just be.
They're not misbehaving.
They're communicating.
And they're trying to find their way in a world that doesn't always meet their needs.
The more I learned and observed, the clearer it became.
I needed to create a place where dogs could truly be dogs.
Not controlled.
Not micromanaged.
Not constantly corrected.
A space where they could move, explore, rest, and express the behaviors that come naturally to them.
A space rooted in nature.
In autonomy.
In meeting needs, rather than suppressing behavior.
When dogs are given that, something shifts.
They settle.
They soften.
They begin to show us who they really are.
The Souly Center grew from my dream to create an environment
This space is intentionally designed to encourage dogs' natural behaviors, offer dogs varied environments to explore, to engage the senses and to and the freedom to make choices without interruption.
Everything here is set up to support natural behavior, not restrict it.
It is not a place to drop your dog off. It’s a space you experience together.
You and your dog move through thoughtfully designed outdoor environments that support decompression, exploration, and natural behavior.
There’s no pressure to perform.
No expectation to “train.”
No need to correct or manage behavior.
Instead, you’re invited to slow down.
To observe.
To notice what your dog chooses when they have space.
To see what shifts when their needs are met.
Some dogs explore.
Some rest.
Some move, sniff, dig, or gently engage with the environment.
There’s no one way they’re supposed to be here.
And over time, something begins to change.
Not because they were taught to behave differently—
but because they’re finally able to.
If you’re curious what this could look like for you and your dog, you’re welcome to explore the next step.