Blanche Saunders
Born(1906-10-01)October 1, 1906
Easton, Maine, United States[1]
DiedDecember 8, 1964(1964-12-08) (aged 58)
Alma materMassachusetts Agricultural College
OccupationDog trainer
Years active1934–1964

Blanche Saunders (October 1, 1906 - December 8, 1964) was one of the first Americans to popularize dog training, publishing several books and conducting demonstrations in dog obedience.[2][3][4]

Saunders graduated from Massachusetts Agricultural College with majors in animal husbandry and poultry raising.[5] Helen Whitehouse Walker, who had at first hired Saunders as a kennel maid in 1934, convinced the American Kennel Club in 1936 that dog obedience was a competitive field, and the following year Walker and Saunders criss-crossed the United States in a 21' trailer with several dogs, making a 10,000-mile obedience‐teaching tour, giving lectures and dog obedience demonstrations at dog shows. Saunders later conducted demonstrations in Rockefeller Plaza, and also at Yankee Stadium for seven years.[5]

Saunders was the first dog obedience instructor of the ASPCA in New York (1944-1961), and was training director for the Poodle Obedience Club of Greater New York, the Boxer Obedience Club of Westchester County and the Port Chester Obedience Club.[1]

In 1946, Saunders published her first book, Training You to Train Your Dog.[5] During her lifetime Saunders authored several books, many of which continued to be republished after her death.

Bibliography

References

  1. ^ a b "Blanche Saunders Dies at 58; An Authority on Dog Training; Kennel Owner, Lecturer and Writer Helped Introduce Now Popular Method". The New York Times. December 10, 1964. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  2. ^ Coren, Stanley (June 13, 2017). "Dog Obedience Trials Began Because of Poodles and a Farmer". Psychology Today. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  3. ^ Burch, Mary R (July 15, 2002). "The Evolution of Modern-Day Dog Training & Obedience". www.naiaonline.org. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  4. ^ Gibbs, Angelica (November 17, 1951). "Down the Leash". The New Yorker.
  5. ^ a b c White, Brynn (November 12, 2018). "From Defiant Woman to Mother of Dog Obedience Training". American Kennel Club. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
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