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 […]

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 […]

Note: Obsessive-compulsive behavior is a serious problem and depending on the severity, it can result in harm to the dog. For critical behavior problems, a qualified behaviorist should work in conjunction with a veterinarian to solve the problem. Kiwi’s Story A strong desire to engage in a game of fetch when a ball is thrown […]

THE FOLLOWING DOGS HAVE EARNED VCD TITLES ON THE DATES LISTED BELOW: 8/20/2017 VCCH Webshire's Three Point Shot UDX3 PCDX OM4 BN GN GO MXS MJSRET-GOLD. Owned by: Susan Ruth Oviatt-Harris of CASTLE ROCK, CO. 1/7/2017 VCD1 CH Rolyart's Go Out On A Limb VCD1 BN RM RAE OJP RATO CGC TKISPAN-WELSPR. Owned by: Merrielle Turnbull/Shelley Traylor/Cindy Ford […]

Why Your Dog Needs a Job. Jan/Feb 2017. Kathy Santo. AKC Family Dog  Digital Copy Printable Copy Read and annotate the article. Then answer the questions below. How did Sailor show he was bored? List three strategies Kathy Santo recommends for bored dogs. Explain this quote “A tired dog is a good dog.” Make a connection between this […]

--Family-Friendly and Educational Event Returns for its 18th Year-- The American Kennel Club® (AKC®) invites you to celebrate the human-canine bond by participating in the 1st ever Virtual AKC Responsible Dog Ownership Day on September 17th, sponsored by AKC Pet Insurance. Owning a dog has endless pleasures and rewards, but it’s important to be aware […]

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. […]

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,” […]

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 […]

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. […]