About Us

The Better Companion was launched by Claudia Sihler CPDT-KA in July 2002. It was her intention to provide professional assistance in training animals using positive, motivational methods geared toward individual requirements in Palmer and Wasilla, Alaska. She also wished to meet the need for private, individualized treatment, and consultation to solve a wide variety of behavioral problems. Her love for agility soon set The Better Companion on a course for offering agility classes.  Claudia Sihler will also demonstrate the use of her methods and clicker training by request. In September 2003 BetCo began teaching weight pulling classes as well. October 2005 we opened our newly built training facility and now have a permanent space for our classes. This allowed us to offer regular daycare and open play times to our clients as well as the evening and Saturday classes. We also added the Pet Partner Seminar and evaluation in 2007 and Mushing and Skijor workshops in 2009, using our very own ‘house-trail’. Our facility is now in use mostly seven days a week, with seminars and workshops on some weekends, and rental use of the facility most Sundays.

Meet Claudia Sihler

As a veterinarian from Germany,  I have always had a special interest in the behavior of small animals. My doctoral degree thesis was a research project about temperament testing of dogs in animal shelters to help placing the right  dogs in the right homes. I have since followed the development of positive reinforcement techniques in behavior modification and dog training. I am a member of the APDT (Association of Pet Dog Trainers) and the ABN (Animal Behavior Network).  I am a Certified Professional Dog Trainer as well as an official Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) and STAR Puppy ® evaluator for the American Kennel Club (AKC).

My experiences began training a big variety of dogs as a teenager on free running walks in Munich, Germany.  I opened The Better Companion Dog Behavior Training and Consultation in Wasilla, Alaska in July 2002.  My husband, Frank Sihler and I owned a sled dog kennel for mushing including long distance racing.  In 2003 and 2004 Frank completed the Iditarod Sled Dog Race (The Last Great Race) - 1049 miles from Anchorage to Nome across rugged Alaskan wilderness by dog-team. Now we own three sled dogs for recreational mushing, and two. I also have three pet dogs for recreation, agility, and companionship. You may get to meet my dog Sally (Aussie/Husky) and Lucy (Jack Russell Terrier) during your class.  They’re both are currently competing in agility and competition rally obedience. 

See our Affiliations