teach behaviors that lead to faster adoptions
If you work at, volunteer for, or have visited a shelter, you’ve probably experienced rows of dogs barking and jumping at the kennel doors. Dogs that bark excessively as people pass by are sometimes overlooked by potential adopters. How do you teach these dogs to remain calm and quiet so that they can increase their chances of being adopted? With positive reinforcement training, of course!
In this video by Clickstart Dog Training Academy, volunteers at a shelter are working with the dogs to reinforce calm, quiet behavior. After they have ensured that all of the dogs’ basic needs have been met, they walk by the kennels calmly and offer each dog a treat—regardless of each dog’s behavior—until all of the dogs are quiet and comfortable. “If these dogs learn that people walking by their kennels is a good thing, and if they learn how to be calm and quiet under those conditions, then the quicker they can find their forever homes. Force-free training for the win!”
For more tips to improve the lives of the animals in your care as well as low-cost, high-value enrichment ideas, check out KPA’s Shelter Training & Enrichment course!