Stray Thoughts 2016 Volume 3 | Page 5

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Ask the Trainer : Enriching the Lives of Shelter Dogs to Get Them Adopted !

For any true dog lover , spending a day surrounded by dogs can leave them with a feeling of immense fulfillment . As a company , Suburban K9 has dedicated a large amount of time to working with dogs that are up for adoption as well as dogs that have already been rescued . We have seen amazing progress working with dogs that have severe issues and wouldn ’ t normally be able to be adopted . Seeing improvements with these dogs over time is a huge reward . While everyone might not be a dog trainer , volunteering your time at a local rescue or humane society is an ideal way to add fulfillment to your life .

Running a rescue group is not easy . Daily tasks range from feeding the dogs to taking them out for some much needed play time . Almost anybody can help out and make a huge impact on the lives of dogs that are far less fortunate .
While spending time with these dogs is rewarding for both the people volunteering and the dogs , everyone should be focused on one incredibly important goal . Adoption . The joy that both the adopter and the dog feel when they find their true forever match is unparalleled . After years of training rescue dogs and investing thousands of hours , all of our trainers agree that there is no greater feeling than being able to impact the lives of both a dog and their owner .
In terms of training there is a never ending list of things that we can work on , and there are simple things that anyone can do when volunteering . Volunteers have a limited amount of time to spend with each dog so use your time wisely . While it is a good idea to spend time petting and hanging out , it is also important to ensure the dog is receiving mental and physical stimulation . When the dogs are bored they are more likely to show undesirable behaviors that may prevent them from being adopted . The following are some ideas of things that you can do while volunteering , or even for your pets at home :
Have the dog work for treats . A great game that can be played involves hiding treats in an outdoor run and having the dog search them out . Other great options involve using the Kong Wobbler during feeding time .
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Teach the dog agility . You do not need to spend a bunch of money on a full agility set in order to do this . You could create weave poles by putting sticks in the ground and then leading the dog through them on a leash . You could create a balance beam out of a bench or a downed tree , have the dogs jump up onto the object and walk across . A jump can be created out of just about anything that is lying around . Agility is a great way for a dog to think and overcome fears along with burning off some of the pent up energy they have from sitting all day .
Practice obedience . If the dog knows its obedience commands , spend 15 minutes running through each of the commands . This will get the dog into training mode and forces them to concentrate more than issuing commands every once and awhile .
Teach the dog a silly trick . Many dogs are all too willing to do funny things . If you notice something that the dog does that is cute , you could teach them how to do it for a treat . Set up the situation and each time the dog performs , provide them with a treat . This would be a great trick to show potential adopters .
If the situation allows , take the dog out of its familiar environment and go for a walk . Many of these shelter dogs do not experience much outside of the kennel . Go to your favorite park , take them to a pet store to interact with staff and buy a toy from the discount bin . As volunteers , this random trip might not seem like much at first , but this experience could be the most fulfilling and exciting thing the dog has done in weeks !
Working with the dogs gives you a greater perspective on what their personality is and what they enjoy . This will help you pair the right dog with the right adopter . A dog that seems wild and crazy in the shelter might calm down a lot through daily training and stimulation . Or a dog that seems calm and withdrawn due to being shy or fearful might prove to be an extreme athlete after coming out of its shell . It is hard to know a dog ' s real personality when they are acting out due to stress or boredom . Knowing the “ real ” dog will help you make good matches and ensure stronger relationships post adoption .
Send questions and suggestions for Ask the Trainer articles to : Matt Covey , WSHS , 1901 Ogden Ave ., Downers Grove , IL 60515 Email : director @ wshs-dg . org