In this episode, Mara Velez talks about the value of behavior modification as stress-reducing enrichment for shelter dogs. We discuss:

• The use of desensitization and counter-conditioning to help dogs learn how to appropriately interact with conspecifics
• The lack of positive reinforcement training focused behavior conferences for shelters and the reasons behind it
• Catering behavior modification exercises to the skillset of the handlers 
• The effectiveness of using of constructional aggression treatment (CAT) in shelter behavior modification programs
• Shy dog adopter's guide
• It's good welfare to work on behavior modification in shelters

Mara's bio:
Mara Velez (CPDT-KA) is the Executive Director of the Shelter Playgroup Alliance and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer.  Prior to co-founding the Shelter Playgroup Alliance, Mara spent over a decade in sheltering, including several years as a behavior and training consultant at Contra Costa Animal Services, an open-admission county shelter, where she collaboratively designed, developed, and implemented behavior program structures, including a robust volunteer training program, a behavior evaluation, and canine enrichment and playgroup guidelines.  Mara is also the executive director of Humane Dog Training Advocates a non-profit focused on owner education, which features a surrender diversion program. Mara holds bachelors and master’s degrees in psychology and completed all of the course work for a doctorate in education.

Links:
https://www.shelterdogplay.org/
https://www.shelterdogplay.org/2022-conference
https://www.humanedogtrainingadvocates.com/
https://www.humanedogtrainingadvocates.com/webinars
Shy Dog Adopter's Guide

An example of shelter dog behavior modification with positive reinforcement

Theme music composed and performed by Andy Sells

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