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A Retreat in Relationship Building
Howler is an interspecies retreat where relationship is central to growth
Located in Hudson, Quebec, the horse observers and wolf leaders establish relationships duirng a retreat built around meaningful interactions with wolves, horses, dogs and people.
Each experience is guided with care and grounded in science, allowing clients to form lasting, healing relationships with the animals.
These options bring something different, yet they are all rooted in the same foundation: connection, respect, and the healing power of animals.
The dog, wolf, and horse options are designed for individuals seeking meaningful, lasting support through interaction with animals, buiding on real relationships between people and the animals.
Currently in development, we are working on an individual case-by-case only.
The Howler retreat is an emerging area of work exploring human development through an immersive, interspecies relationship retreat.
The Retreat is for those seeking change
Howler is for those who experience:
Learning difficulties
Relationship issues
Mental health challenges
Recovering from trauma
Howler is anything but conventional
During your retreat you will:
Interpret and train behaviour
Explore attachment and relationships
Apply your skills to your life situation
Problem-solve and make decisions
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 and depening your relationships.
Howler Ethos
Howler is rooted in a simple idea: relationships begin with choice.
Before we ask an animal to respond, we observe, teach, seek to understand, and create the conditions in which trust can grow.
Howler brings horses, wolves, and humans into a shared learning environment where observation, communication, choice, and relationship matter more than performance.
Observe before acting
Listen to what the animal is communicating
Create safety before asking for performance
Let relationships develop rather than manufacture them
Recognize the individual animal as a participant
Understand that humans and animals influence one another
Use the relationship itself as part of the learning environment
Howler Retreat Options
Dogs
Dogs offer 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 disconnect, the dog’s steady companionship and social skills offers a safe path back to trust and connection.
Horses
Horse 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 learning to move in harmony with them.
Wolves
Wolves 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.
About Gaby Dufresne-Cyr
I'm Gaby Dufresne-Cyr, a behaviour specialist, educator, and animal assisted facilitator practitioner in Hudson, Quebec. 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.
For over forty years, I have worked alongside domestic and exotic animals, exploring how cross-species relationships shape learning, trust, emotional growth, and regulation.
I work alongside dogs, horses, and wolves to support people on their path to personal growth and well-being.
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