SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech Canine Program

05/21/2026

We are so grateful for all of the support the Penn Vet Working Dog Center has given to our program. They give our students hands-on experience in both class fieldtrips as well as internship opportunities. Please consider supporting them by purchasing one of the shirts from this fundraiser!

We're excited to launch our newest fundraiser featuring our Poppy x Boomer puppies - Ben, Kane, and Phoenix! Help support our puppies in training by purchasing a shirt - the fundraiser closes on June 1st.

https://www.customink.com/fundraising/pvwdc-future-heroes-2026
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PC: Nina De Luna

05/09/2026

Congrats 2026 SUNY Cobleskill Ag & Tech Canine Training and Management grads! Put your photos in the comments!

04/26/2026

Current student spotlight: Regan Welch

Regan, currently a Senior in the Canine Training and Management program, hopes to become a TSA K9 handler or an Explosives Detection dog (EDD) handler. Throughout her years on campus, her favorite dogs have been Loki and Hank (the labrador - we have a few Hanks!). Her favorite courses have been Canine Detection and Canine Aggression, so it's no wonder when asked what she was still excited to do, she answered, "the Penn Vet (Working Dog Center) trip!"

Well, it took us a few weeks to get to her spotlight, and she has since taken the field trip for both the courses, so we were able to reach back out to ask how it went! Her answer:

"The Penn Vet (Working Dog Center) trip was an amazing experience and so fun! I loved the fact that we all got hands on opportunities with the dogs! Aggression and detection were both so interesting to me since I want to pursue a career in the working dog field. I especially enjoyed getting bit (in a bitesuit of course!) and getting that experience since I have never done anything like that before. It was cool to see how each and every dog worked a little differently! I would recommend taking both detection and aggression classes as I know they are going to be very beneficial to me in the future."

04/23/2026

Faculty spotlight: Catherine Ricchetti, LCSW-R, KPA-CTP, AAA IP Evaluator

Today we are showcasing Catherine Ricchetti, an adjunct instructor in the Canine Training and Management program, who joins us on campus every semester to bring her "Dogs in the Helping Professions" course to our students. Have you seen that viral video of the horse playing a xylophone to support a child at the hospital? That is exactly the type of animal-assisted intervention that Catherine teaches our students. She is also working alongside instructor Jamie Sharma to bring a Certification for Animal Assisted Interventions Specialists to our campus; see more about that soon!

Catherine does have a lot of letters after her name you may not be familiar with, so we've listed them here and as you can see, she is highly qualified to bring this content to our students!

LCSW-R (licensed clinical social worker)
KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner)
AAA IP Evaluator (Association of Animal Assisted Interventionist Professionals)

We asked each facutly member three questions, and Catherine's answers are below!

Why do you enjoy teaching here?
"It really is fun for me to teach at Cobleskill. My specialty as a dog trainer is facility dog work. In my course you learn how to help professionals (OT, PT, SLP, teachers, social workers, counselors, medical professionals, first responders) partner with a canine at work to help their clients/students achieve goals. This is referred to as a targeted intervention. During the semester you will train dogs to preform specific targeted interventions. In the photo you see a dog "reading" a cue card.... this is a fun skill you will learn. I find it very satisfying to help Cobleskill students learn these skills. It is fun for students, for the dogs and for me too."

What do you hope the students learn before they leave?
"This question is way too big! Having a strong knowledge base around the canine. This is a broad topic that includes the science, the research, reading and understanding the dog and properly using the tools of their chosen profession. This seems like an obvious answer... My overarching hope is that students learn to clearly communicate with the canine. Clear, concise communication with the dog makes training look easy but it really is an impressive skill. It takes a good deal of problem solving, nuance and practice. I also hope students learn to cooperatively work together with each other. Being cooperative and easy to work with sets students up for strong futures in their chosen career."

Why should someone come to our program?
"You will learn from extremely knowledgeable professors. I am frequently impressed by my colleague's wealth of skills and knowledge."

See Catherine speak TONIGHT, 4/23 on Zoom about her background and courses; sign up here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/4fh0zdT86j

04/23/2026

Reminder: we have a double header presentation TONIGHT, 4/23 starting at 6pm!

Instructor Jessica Bukovinsky will speak about Behavior and Working in the Dog Industry, then instructor Catherine Ricchetti will speak about Dogs in the Helping Professions: Animal Assisted Interventions.

Both of these instructors teach specialized courses on campus, geared towards preparing students for jobs in their industry - these presentations are not to be missed!

Sign up here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/4fh0zdT86j

04/20/2026

04/18/2026

Graduate Spotlight: Cass Miller, Class of 2025

Today we're celebrating a more recent graduate - Cass Miller, who graduated from our program in 2025. Cass enjoyed so many courses while she was with us, she couldn't decide between just one... or even two! Her favorite courses were Canine Detection (ANSC 345) and Domestic Animal Behavior (ANSC 364) with Dr. Essler, Sporting Dogs (ANSC 342) with Professor Holohan, and Canine Fitness (ANSC 465) with Professor Smith. Her goal for post-graduation was to become a detection dog handler, so she completed her internship at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center under their Law Enforcement Program Director, Bob Dougherty. All of her hard work paid off, and she now works as an explosives detection dog handler in Washington D.C. (at the Capitol One Arena!) and around Northern VA. She is pictured here with her K9 partner, Gemma.

When asked how the SUNY Cobleskill Canine program helped in her professional development and career goals, Cass had this to say:

"Cobleskill helped me grow substantially both personally and professionally. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the help and guidance from my mentors. Cobleskill truly became a second home to me and I wouldn’t trade my time there for the world. My internship requirement was fulfilled at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, and thanks to all of these connections I’m able to do what I love while continuing to learn and grow as a trainer and handler."

04/17/2026

If you're a student or parent interested in the day-to-day life of a Canine student on campus, and an introduction to how our kennels are run, this Zoom presentation is for you!

Sara Sam-Zee-Moi, recent program graduate and current assistant kennel manager, will be giving a presentation via zoom TOMORROW! Don't worry, we won't make you wake up too early yet - it's at 11am. The signup to receive the Zoom link is below. We hope to see you there!

Please fill out this link for a zoom link:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/trsCyAzpXt

04/13/2026

‼️Summer break is fast approaching‼️If you're looking for a fun and unique experience for your dog-loving kid, Canine Handler Academy is for them!

7th-9th graders (2026-2027 school year) will be immersed in the world of training search and rescue, law enforcement, medical detection, and conservation dogs. Campers will also get hands-on experience with canine fitness, behavior, and positive reinforcement training.

We offer 4 weeks of Canine Handler Academy:
☀️Beginner Session #1: July 6-10, 2026 FULL
☀️Beginner Session #2: July 13-17, 2026 5 SPOTS AVAILABLE
☀️Beginner Session #3: July 20-24, 2026 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE
☀️Advanced Session: July 27-31, 2026 FULL

📚Scholarships are available for those who qualify for the NSLP. Apply for a scholarship.

🐾Learn more and register at: https://capable-canine.com/canine-handler-academy/

04/13/2026

The SUNY Cobleskill Ag and Tech Emergency Food Pantry is here to support our campus community, providing access to essential food and resources when it’s needed most.

Together, we can make a difference. Whether you donate, volunteer, or help spread the word, every action counts.