SHELTER DOGS
Shelter staff can learn to help rehabilitate and even eliminate problem behaviors in shelter dogs before adoption – making the dog’s transition to his/her new family easier and more successful. We offer a variety of options including working one-on-one training, a behavioral psychology lecture and on-site visits to help staff learn to identify what it is they are seeing in a shelter dog and better identify successful placements.
Nationally, nearly 4 million dogs end up in shelters every year, and 1.2 million are euthanized.
Nobody adopts a dog planning to return it, but behavioral issues are a large contributing factor to why dogs are relinquished. People who work in the shelter system intrinsically know this, but here are some studies and organizations with more information.
“Owner Attachment and Problem Behaviors Related to Relinquishment and Training Techniques of Dogs” published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science Animal reports that sixty-five percent of relinquishers reported some behavioral reason for relinquishment.
Study: Behavioral Reasons for Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats to 12 Shelters
There is SO much that can be done to assist these dogs while they are in the shelter system, making minor modifications to the daily routines, such as how they are taken out of their crates and how they are walked. Learning to properly evaluate these dogs and work with them while they are in the shelter system can greatly improve their adoptability; help with home selection and reduce the relinquishment rate.
Our Dog Behavioral Psychology Lecture provides an incredible amount of information and insight for shelter staff. It can be privately scheduled for a group, or members can attend one of the lectures we present throughout the year.