Puppies who learn bite inhibition are less likely to grow into adult dogs who bite. Offering puppy chew toys can help teach your puppy what is acceptable to bite or chew on. Sometimes, it's a good idea to gently put your puppy in their crate to calm them down. Puppies’ mouths are filled with about […]

Since mid-March of 2020, social distancing has put up another hurdle in raising and training new canine family members. At my dog training school, where we see hundreds of clients a month, it became vitally important to create new ways to make sure our four-legged students got the education they needed to become great companions. […]

Whether you remember Petey from The Little Rascals, Lassie and Timmy, Benji, Beethoven, or Clifford the Big Red Dog, images of kids hugging and kissing dogs are burned into our minds. For dog trainers, that imagery makes us cringe. We’ve seen some of the painful results of such interactions in real life—the kinds that won’t […]

Kathy Santo trains dogs for home life and competition at her Kathy Santo Dog Training school in New Jersey. She is the author of Kathy Santo’s Dog Sense and has handled multiple Obedience trial champions. She also teaches digital dog-training courses available online. When I first heard the phrase “old dogs are the best dogs,” […]

Want to teach your dog to walk on a leash without pulling? Here's a step-by-step guide on leash training for both dogs and puppies.

You’ve likely heard a heartwarming story of a therapy dog helping someone in need—whether it’s a pet curling up with an elderly individual at a nursing home, sitting with a young child during a chemo treatment, or even helping students overcome bullying. There are many different facets of this type of work, but they all […]

Catch your dog with his nose on the counter? Some dogs are "counter-surfers," meaning they see what kind of food they can steal from any number of places, including right off your counter. When a dog tries to steal food, and he succeeds, he learns that he gets a reward, which only reinforces the behavior. […]

This week is seeing children from all over the country in freshly pressed uniforms or carefully selected outfits posing for Facebook pictures while clutching lunchboxes and waiting for that big yellow bus. Yes, back to school time is finally here. But it’s possible your four-legged family members may also need a bit of an educational […]

Kathy Santo, a dog trainer and AKC Family Dog columnist, offers tips on what to buy for your dog, whether you're training for Canine Good Citizen or just brushing up on the basics. TreatsFind out what treats motivate your dog most, and stock up on 'em. Also, have a mix of "regular" treats and "high-value" treats—the […]

By Kathy SantoBefore you hit the road this summer, heed these safety tips. Get the paperwork together. For long trips, you should carry a recent photo of your dog and a copy of his health records, listing all of his recent vaccinations. Also: a collar with his I.D. tags attached. If you’re planning on being […]