Pet Training & Behavior Topics

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INCREASING THE ADOPTABILITY
OF SHELTER ANIMALS
Part Four of Four

Welcome to Diana Guerrero's Ark Animals Training & Therapy. This section is dedicated to pets, companion animals, and topics related to their care and training. Pet training, behavior modification, and animal therapy are important steps toward better behavior. This four part pet article discusses how to increase the adoptability of animals in pet rescues, animal shelters, animal control agencies, humane societies, and animal services facilities. Begin at Part One.You should get professional help for pet problems.

Increasing the Adoptability of Shelter Animals

This is the final segment of a four part series regarding Increasing the Adoptability of Shelter Animals and may be used by sheltering facilities, animal control, and other similar animal housing facilities. We encourage you to implement this programming in exchange for program credit to Diana Guerrero's Ark Animals. Media, publishing, and other such projects will need to note the copyright and contact Ms. Guerrero directly for permissions.

ONSITE TRAINING: STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
ONSITE APPLICATION:
The breakdowns for this area are estimations of the time an average facility would need to work on the programs. Financial commitment for staff and for behaviorist would vary according to areas. These should be figured out in a worksheet in conjunction with the time commitment outlined.

Time Commitment Staff: 4 hrs/wk for training (2 hours/two days for staff) 8 weeks for dog program=32 hours total per staff participant
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 6 hrs/wk for behaviorist including travel time. 8 weeks for dog program=48 hours total.

TRAINER/BEHAVIOR PARTICIPATION & APPLICATION
Program development and staff supervision for short periods of time is advisable a couple of times a week. Enrichment, training, and other strategies can be addressed and applied. In some cases, the professional can accomplish the task in much less time than less skilled staff enhancing and pushing the program forward quickly. Considerations may include bringing the person onsite to work animals for a concise structured period of time.

Behaviors covered would include all those listed above and an introduction to functional obedience work. In addition, strategic planning for enrichment and other types of mental and physical stimulation would be included.

Time Commitment Staff: Covered in ONSITE applications for staff and volunteers. Minimal preparation time within normal routine. No specific time demands.
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 4 hrs/wk for behaviorist if included with other onsite program. 8 weeks for dog program=32 hours total.

EXAMPLES OF ENRICHMENT DEVICES: Dogs
Kong®, Treat Ball®, Planet Pet®, Bitabone® and some of the Ethical-Spot® products are some of the items you will need to have. Rings, bones, and a variety of balls and toys will help with activities and energy displacement. Hunting Scents placed out in play areas and other creative strategies help wonders. Use of dirt kennels for socialization and interactive work between animals would be necessary in addition to use of dog runs. A schedule of activities outlined on a monthly chart is recommended.

PREVENTION PROGRAMMING
This would be geared toward the general public in the form of seminars for stopping inappropriate behavior, or behaviors that result in animal relinquishment and abandonment. One to two hours of onsite education, technique discussions, and equipment/training aid recommendations. Topics would be: jumping, chewing, separation anxiety, pulling on leash or unruliness, barking, digging, house training etc., for dogs. For cats, scratching, marking or inappropriate elimination, chewing or sucking, are the most common. Aggression for either species is to specialized to discuss and liability issues complicate this matter further.

Time Commitment Staff: 2 hrs/month for opening/closing facility if off hours. Normal wage influence if during regular work hours over weekend. (2 hours/one staff member)2 times per 8 weeks=4 hours total per staff participant.
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 3 hrs/month for behaviorist including travel time. 6 hours total in 8 week dog program=6 hours total.

MANDATORY SUPPORT TRAINING FOR NEW OWNERS
Successful integration into the home is an important technique to master, and many pet owners have difficulty with shelter animals. Class sessions with new animals and their owners could be provided. A once a month onsite training would be helpful or perhaps a continuous onsite training program using volunteers and currently housed animals would be advantageous.

Class would be introduction to functional obedience to teach proper reinforcement and behavior training techniques. Follow up class the next month or a review of techniques would be advised.

Time Commitment Staff: 2 hrs/month to open facility (2 hours one staff member)per 8 weeks for dog program=4 hours total per staff participant
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 6 hrs per 8 weeks for behaviorist including travel time=6 hours total.

OPTIONAL SERVICES OFFSITE VOLUNTEERS
Programming with animals traveling with volunteers to another location for stimulation and training is advisable. Skill levels need to be adequate to avoid liability issues if loss or injury to animals.

Time Commitment Volunteer: 2 hrs/wk for training and transport. Facility training time ideally at one time per day X 6 including travel, setup, training time. (7 hours approximate figure) 8 weeks for dog program=64 hours total per volunteer participant per eight weeks.
Time Commitment Trainer: 1 hr/wk for trainer with group classes. Non-aversive training recommended. 8 weeks for dog program=8 hours total.
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 16 hrs per 8 weeks for behaviorist including travel time=16 hours total.

OPTIONAL SERVICES ONSITE
Problem solving forums to give owners the opportunity to discuss and solve issues would be advisable for the most common behavioral problems. This would be directed at newly adopted animals and their owners but could be combined with the services in community prevention programming. Topics would be: jumping, chewing, separation anxiety, pulling on leash or unruliness, barking, digging, house training etc., for dogs. For cats, scratching, marking or inappropriate elimination, chewing or sucking, are the most common. Aggression for either species is to specialized to discuss and liability issues complicate this matter further.

Time Commitment Staff: 2 hrs/month for opening/closing facility if off hours. Normal wage influence if during regular work hours over weekend. (2 hours/one staff member)2 times per 8 weeks=4 hours total per staff participant
Time Commitment Behaviorist: 3 hrs/month for behaviorist including travel time. 6 hours total in 8 week dog program=6 hours total.

The following program was developed to assist domestic dogs held in a sheltering or kennel facility for long periods of time. In 1998 the American Humane Society began including the program in their Shelter Operations School. In 1999 the program was donated to Animal Behavior & Training Associates, Inc. for their use in assisting animals nationally.

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About the columnist: Since 1978 Diana L. Guerrero has worked professionally with both wild and domestic animals. Guerrero has been affiliated with, and certified by, a variety of animal programs in the USA and Europe. Based in California, she writes, consults, and speaks. Information on her animal career programs, training courses, and her books {What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality (SkyLight Paths, 2003), Blessing of the Animals (Sterling, 2007), Help! My Pet is Driving Me Crazy (Guerrero Ink, 2007), Animal Disaster Preparedness for Pet Owners & Pet Professionals (Guerrero Ink, 2007)} can be found in this web site and in the shop. Questions for Guerrero should be submitted via the blog comments or membership forum.