About Us

About Us--Our Trainer

Our trainer, Debbie DeSantis, CPDT-KA, has trained
dogs and been a canine behavior consultant for
over 24 years. She is a certified pet dog trainer who
passed the only nationally licensing exam for dog
trainers, which is administered by the Certification
Council For Professional Dog Trainers. She is also a
professional member of the Association of Pet Dog
Trainers. Additionally, she has written a column
about dog training and behavior on the third
Wednesday of each month called "Dog Talk" for The
News of Delaware County. She has also written dog
training articles for PhillyFit magazine and other
publications.

Debbie and Going to the Dogs Obedience Training
has also won BEST DOG TRAINER of 36 contestants
in Channel 17's Philly Hot List for 2014, the only year
she entered.

Debbie is also authorized to administer the American
Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen Test. Employing
positive methods, she has successfully trained and
solved problem behaviors in many breeds and mixes
of dogs, from toy dogs through giant working breeds.

She belongs to dog training clubs and is
veterinarian, groomer, and shelter-recommended.
Debbie also regularly attends seminars and reviews
the latest literature on dog training and behavior.

Debbie also has actively shown her dogs in
obedience competitions. She has nationally-ranked
shih tzus, shelties, and Lhasa apsos. Her dogs have
ranked first through fourth nationally in their class
for their breed and have attained some of the
highest American Kennel Club obedience titles. In
addition, Debbie and her canines have received
many placements and high-scoring honors during
their obedience careers. One of her dogs, a Belgian
Tervuren (shepherd) was a conformation Champion
and had received many honors, including Best of
Breed. She has also obtained titles and awards in
the United Kennel Club.

Many of her dogs have been rescued from various
abusive and neglectful situations. In rehabilitating
them, four have become therapy dogs and two
nationally-ranked AKC obedience dogs.

Many of her dogs have been therapy dogs who
comforted patients on a weekly basis. Her dogs
have been featured on The Animal Planet and in
publications, such as The Philadelphia Inquirer and
Front and Finish (a well-respected dog training
magazine).

Even though she shows her dogs in competitions,
she believes that's just the "icing on the cake" and
that the day-to-day relationship with our dogs is the
most important aspect of having a dog. She also
believes in helping save dogs and actively helps
with dog rescue.

From puppy kindergarten through advanced
training, she can help you. She also can help with all
behavioral problems and specializes in rehabilitating
dogs with behavioral issues, including rescued dogs.

Debbie believes that the human-canine bond should
be maximized. She is often out at shopping centers
and other public places with her dogs to socialize
them and to demonstrate to others how intelligent
and exceptional all dogs are--and what they can be.
They just need the BEST, EFFICIENT, EFFECTIVE
TRAINING METHODS used!! In addition to their many
other activities, Debbie and her dogs also engage in
trick training and entertain many people.

Debbie's "canine pack" has consisted of shih tzus,
including a rescued shih tzu; Lhasa apsos, including
two rescued Lhasa apsos; Shetland sheepdogs,
including a rescued Shetland sheepdog; a Belgian
tervuren; three rescued golden retrievers: and an
Aussie mix. Some of her rescued dogs had been
severely abused, and two were former puppy mill
breeder dogs. She has also had the privilege of
having poodles and terrier mixes in her life.