It’s a well-known adage that “it is never too late To Teach An Old Dog New Tricks,” and this philosophy holds true for animal welfare professionals as well. With 12 years of experience in animal welfare, including my current role as Program Director for Gateway Pet Guardians (GPG), I’ve come to realize a fundamental truth: dogs do not belong in shelters. Prior to GPG, my experience was primarily with foster-based organizations, and I had limited exposure to the shelter environment. However, within my first year at GPG, it became clear that shelters, even with dedicated staff and volunteers, can be detrimental to a dog’s well-being.
GPG operates a modest 13-kennel dog shelter alongside a robust foster program. Our shelter dogs receive care from paid staff and benefit immensely from the socialization and enrichment provided by a dedicated group of volunteers. These volunteers engage in multiple daily walks, facilitate playgroups to expend energy, organize a hiking program, conduct training classes, and ensure the dogs receive enrichment feeders, daily Kongs, calming music, and essential oil diffusers. Despite these extensive efforts, many dogs succumb to “shelter stress,” leading to a decline in their behavior. They may become reactive in their kennels, barking and lunging at approaching individuals, or exhibit nipping behaviors during leashing. These issues often escalate the longer a dog remains in the shelter. Consequently, volunteers may become hesitant to interact with them, leading to reduced exercise and enrichment, while potential adopters are deterred by their behavior. This creates a cycle where dogs stay longer, and staff feel increasingly helpless, believing they are failing these animals.
In January 2019, I had the transformative opportunity to attend the Maddie’s Systematic Canine Lifesaving Class at Austin Pets Alive! (APA!). The culture and energy at APA! are incredibly inspiring. APA! intentionally accepts dogs with behavioral challenges from local municipal shelters, demonstrating a commitment to working with these animals. They have developed a highly effective system for rehabilitating these dogs, enabling them to find loving adoptive families. This experience left me with a wealth of new ideas that we could implement immediately at GPG.
Within just two months, we have held numerous discussions, prioritized our plans, and already introduced several initiatives poised to significantly benefit GPG.
Key Initiatives for Shelter Dog Well-being
Long Stay Risk Assessment
This assessment is designed to identify dogs entering our system who are most likely to experience prolonged stays. We consider factors such as breed and age, recognizing that small dogs and puppies are typically adopted quickly, while larger breeds may remain longer. Health status and social compatibility with other dogs and people are also evaluated. Utilizing a standardized scoring scale, we pinpoint dogs at risk of extended stays and strategically allocate resources to shorten their time in the shelter. This proactive approach allows us to prioritize professional photography, social media promotion, pairing with dedicated “Shelter Guardian” volunteers for extra outings, initiating “Slumber Pawty” short-term foster programs to better understand a dog’s behavior in a home environment, and enrolling them in our training classes.
Establishing a Kennel Routine
At APA!, I learned that a consistent kennel routine forms the bedrock of their behavior modification and training strategies. While behavior modification can seem daunting without a substantial budget for professional trainers, I discovered that every individual interacting with dogs at our shelter can contribute to their behavioral improvement, starting with a strong kennel routine. You can observe a demonstration of our new Kennel Routine.
Implementing the Use of Drag Leashes
This simple yet ingenious tool is one of those “why didn’t I think of that” innovations! Many dogs arrive at shelters exhibiting what I call “frat boy” behaviors – they are simultaneously jumpy, mouthy, excited, and anxious. Volunteers often find these dogs challenging to walk, yet they are the ones who most desperately need the exercise. The drag leash concept involves allowing jumpy and mouthy dogs to drag a thin braided leash at all times, even during walks. This setup enables volunteers or staff to quickly step on the leash when undesirable behaviors emerge, effectively interrupting and training the dog out of these patterns.
Expanding Playgroups
The introduction of playgroups by Dogs Playing for Life three years ago revolutionized our approach. We discovered that very few dogs cannot participate in playgroups, and the benefits are immeasurable. At APA!, the takeaway was clear: if we could only implement one program, it would be expanding playgroups. We have equipped our staff with “playgroup tool belts” containing a spray bottle, a can of pennies, Pet Corrector, and an air horn, empowering them to confidently interrupt any minor scuffles. Furthermore, we are training volunteers to lead playgroups, which will significantly increase their number and size.
Starting a Canine Good Citizen/Top Dog Training Program
While GPG has always offered training classes, learning from APA!’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) training program inspired us to enhance our own offerings. APA! found that their CGC program significantly boosted adoptions, particularly for their larger, blocky-headed breeds. Consequently, we are transforming our Sunday training class into a CGC-focused program. Dogs completing this program will be eligible for CGC certification upon adoption, demonstrating not only basic obedience commands like sit, lay down, and stay, but also proficiency in walking on a loose leash and greeting strangers appropriately. Who wouldn’t want a well-trained canine companion?
As we prepare for our move to a substantially larger facility (54,000 sq ft!), we anticipate a dramatic increase in our capacity to house dogs and cats. Having these essential tools and programs in place will ensure we can hit the ground running and maximize our lifesaving impact from day one.
The commitment to professional development for our staff is a distinguishing characteristic of Gateway Pet Guardians, setting us apart from many other animal welfare organizations. Animal welfare is a recognized profession, and by participating in conferences and learning opportunities like the Maddie’s Fund Apprenticeships, we gain invaluable insights from industry leaders. This allows us to rapidly implement life-saving programs and tools, thereby amplifying our positive impact within our local communities. In essence, you absolutely can teach an old dog new tricks! A heartfelt thanks to Maddie for funding these crucial professional development opportunities.
