Kristen Santos-Griswold and Bear and Koda

Kristen Santos-Griswold and Bear and Koda

kristen santos-griswold and bear and koda

Nulo partner Kristen Santos-Griswold is a short track speed skater and the first American to win the prestigious Crystal Globe for best overall skater. In 2024, she made history at the World Championships, winning five medals, including gold in the 1000 meters. Ranked number one in the world heading into the 2026 Winter Games in Milan, Kristen's journey to the top has been defined by mental toughness, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to improvement.

Off the ice, Kristen is a dog mom to Bear and Koda—two huskies with wildly different personalities. Bear is 13 years old and the sweetest, most well-behaved companion you could ask for. Koda, a 7-year-old, is full of funny antics and mischief that keep life interesting. Growing up figure skating before moving to short track at age nine, Kristen understands the importance of discipline, recovery, and quality nutrition. That same commitment extends to Bear and Koda, which is why she chooses Nulo to fuel them. Kristen sat down with the Nulo team to share how Bear and Koda support her journey and why she trusts Nulo for their nutrition.

Tell us about Bear and Koda and how they became part of your family.

Bear is a 13-year-old husky, and Koda is a 7-year-old husky. Bear is the sweetest little thing in the world, and Koda is something else. He definitely keeps life interesting. We got Bear when he was two, almost three, from my husband's sister. She was in the Air Force and got relocated to England, so we took Bear in. He came very well trained, very well behaved, and is just the sweetest thing. We were thinking about getting another dog, and we're like, we love Bear, he's a husky, let's get another husky. And then we got Koda as a puppy and realized that Bear is not your typical husky. Koda is, and he definitely keeps us on our toes!

How have Bear and Koda evolved together?

Bear, as a 13-year-old, when you see him, he is in such great health and shape, and I think that's really because of Koda. Koda keeps him young. He likes to play with him. If it weren't for Koda, Bear would probably lay around all day and not want to do anything. But Koda definitely keeps him young and excited and playing. Sometimes Bear seems really annoyed by him, but if they're ever apart, each of them are freaking out. They hate it. If one has to go to the vet or something, now we have to schedule their appointments together or just take the other one along.

What do Bear and Koda mean to you?

Bear and Koda mean pretty much everything to me. Bear was my first real responsibility in my life where I was like, I have this dog, I'm responsible for taking him to the vet, making sure he goes on walks, eating, feeding him, all of that. I think that really helped me grow up and grow as a person, but also just created such a strong bond for us. And then having Koda just keeping life interesting has been really fun. It's definitely unconditional love with them. They just keep me so happy. I think no matter what I do, and no matter how I skate, I can come home to two dogs that love me.

What role have Bear and Koda played in your journey and success?

Bear and Koda have been really pivotal for me. I get home and they make everything so fun, so lighthearted. When I have a hard day of training, I can come back home and relax and unwind and get my mind off of things. But they're also going on runs with me, keeping me active, getting me really good recovery with that. And another thing is whenever I travel, I don't have to physically take anything of them with me because they shed a lot. I'll open my suitcase and all of my clothes have some amount of their hair on it, and I think when I'm getting ready for a race in the morning, even when they're not there, I see that and it kind of just warms my heart a little bit.

What role does good nutrition play for you as an athlete, and why is it important for Bear and Koda?

Good nutrition is really important to me as an athlete. I think fueling your body correctly is how you're going to be able to perform well. So that's something I also want to do for my dogs. I'm vegan, but I know that dogs are carnivores and they require meat and fish for a healthy and balanced diet. I chose Nulo for Bear and Koda because I want to make sure they're getting as high-quality nutrition as I am. Nulo is high in animal-based meat proteins and low in carbs, and it provides Bear and Koda with balanced nutrition that's so important for large breed dogs. I love reading the labels on Nulo food—it's ingredients I know and understand: real meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables. Koda has a chicken allergy, as do a lot of dogs, and I need to feed them both the same food. Nulo is so great because they have so many chicken-free kibble options with all sorts of other proteins like beef, salmon, and turkey. Bear is our old man—he's 13—and Koda is recovering from knee surgery, so mobility is really important for both dogs to live their best lives, and Nulo has great products to help with mobility.

Try Kristen and Bear and Koda's Picks

Each day, Kristen feeds Bear and Koda a mix of these great Nulo foods to fuel their incredible journey with her. Mixing and matching the products keeps things fun and exciting for Bear and Koda, and can for your pet as well.

SEE MORE ABOUT KRISTEN AND BEAR AND KODA ON INSTAGRAM @KRISTENSANTOS
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