Simplifying Shelter Behaviour

In this episode, veterinary behaviourist Dr. Sophie Liu dives into the complex world of shelter dogs and frustration-related behaviour, why it happens, how it looks, and what we can practically do to help these dogs cope and thrive.

Ep.50 Simplifying Puppy Raising in Shelter and Rescue with Suzanne Clothier 

In this episode, Tom talks with Susanne Clothier about what it takes to raise behaviourally healthy puppies, with a focus on the special considerations for those growing up in rescue or shelter settings. Suzanne shares her experiences with supporting puppies’ emotional and social development, creating positive early experiences, and building a foundation for lifelong well-being.

About Suzanne Clothier 

Suzanne Clothier’s work reflects a lifetime shared with dogs and many other animals, as well as her extensive professional experience.

She has been working with animals professionally since 1977, with a deep, broadly varied background of experience. Her Relationship Centered Training (RCT™) approach has been helping people and dogs for more than 30 years. Blending heart and science, her deeply holistic approach to the dog and to the dog/human relationship is unparalled.

An innovative trainer, Suzanne’s work has helped dogs and people around the world in countless ways. Her books, DVDs, article, assessment tools, training techniques and materials have been put to use in guide & service dog organizations, in animal assisted therapy, for every day pet owners, and by trainers, breeders, veterinarians, academics and in research.

Links 

Suzannes Free Resources-https://suzanneclothier.com/articles-in-english/

Enriched Puppy Protocall-https://suzanneclothier.com/shop/enriched-puppy-protocol/

Other courses- https://suzanneclothier.com/product-category/courses/

About this episode

In this episode, we discuss how to best support deaf dogs both in a kennel environment and how they move into their new homes. They explore how communication through visual and tactile cues can replace verbal signals,helping dogs feel secure and understood. The conversation highlights the importance of building a trusting relationship, creating consistency between caregivers, and offering gentle, structured support during transition. Caroline gives us some amazing practical tips as well as helping us possibly challenge our perceptions!

About Caroline Lewis

Caroline is the founder of Help at Hand Dog Behaviour, and Deaf Not Difficult.

a member of the International Companion Animal Network and the Dog Welfare Alliance. All meaning she is passionate about ethical force free methods, whilst ensuring standards are high for the welfare of dogs.

She has always been around dogs, rescuing her first dog when she was 12 years old. Her two dogs – Molly, a Labrador Retriever and Morris a rescue, who is deaf are her inspirations to be the best she can be.

Always wanting to fully understand dogs, and work in a force free way, led her to train with Sheila Harper and then Turid Rugaas to ensure she works at the deepest level possible. Her quest for the most up to date methods, fully backed with scientific research, means she only learns from likeminded people, including many elements of cpd with Dr Amber Batson.

Whilst Caroline works with all dogs of all ages, she is known for the work she does in and around rescue centres advising on rehabilitation, behaviour, rehoming and always ensuring dogs are understood including those displaying complex behaviours. Combined with a huge passion for deaf dogs, running courses in the UK and internationally to remove them is conceptions, and show how amazing they are.

Www.help-at-handdogbehaviour.com

Ep. 48 Gamification for Grooming with Victoria Shepherd

In this episode we discuss Victoria journey to becoming a holistic grooming professional. A big passion for Victoria is gamification for grooming and she takes us through some of these games, and easy techniques to support grooming both in and out of the shelter!

About Victoria Shepherd

Originally from Salt, Staffordshire, Victoria returned to the UK in September 2020 after living in the US for nearly 30 years. She has had many careers over the years, including executive assistant, investor relations consultant, voice and on-camera talent for the official US Tourism website, as well as script-writer, video editor and video/podcast producer. It turns out that Happy Henry's! is what she was meant to be doing all along! Happy Henry's! started out as a passion project to get through COVID but has grown into way more than Victoria could have hoped for. Victoria is a Taking the Grrr Out of Grooming Dogs Approved Professional, a member of the Holistic Grooming Academy, a games-based trainer, and currently a DoGenius Canine Behaviour Level 4 student. She hopes to never stop learning and finding ways to help more dogs who struggle with navigating the world, both inside and outside of the grooming salon.

Links!

Victoria is kindly opening spaces on her holistic grooming course to shelters for free!

https://happy-henrys.co.uk/sign-up-today

Contact Victoria on [email protected] to arrange for the free course

This episode explores practical strategies for improving the daily lives of shelter animals through kennel enrichment. The discussion emphasizes how enrichment is not just about keeping animals entertained but about reducing stress, promoting natural Behaviours, and improving overall well-being—ultimately making them more adoptable.

Key points include:

·       Why enrichment matters: A kennel environment can be stressful and monotonous for animals. Enrichment provides mental stimulation, comfort, and opportunities for animals to express species-appropriate Behaviours.

·       Types of enrichment: From food puzzles, scent games, and chew toys, to music, visual barriers, and soft bedding, shelters can use simple, low-cost tools to make kennels more engaging. Rotating enrichment items is highlighted as a way to keep things fresh.

·       Role of staff and volunteers: Everyone in the shelter can contribute. Staff can integrate enrichment into daily routines (like feeding and cleaning), while volunteers can help create toys, run playgroups, or provide one-on-one interaction.

·       Building a culture of enrichment: Success comes when enrichment becomes part of the shelter’s standard of care. Training staff and volunteers, sharing ideas, and celebrating creative solutions encourages consistency and innovation.

·       Impact on outcomes: Animals with better enrichment show reduced stress Behaviours, increased sociability, and improved adoptability, which benefits both the animals and the shelter as a whole.

The big take away here is enrichment doesn’t need to be complex—what matters most is consistency, creativity, and a team-wide commitment to improving the lives of animals in care. 

About Mik Moeller

Mik is a professional certified dog trainer. He worked at the San Francisco SPCA as the canine Behaviour specialist for 18 years. He has his CPDT-KA and his CBCC –KA certifications. He is a recognized expert in shy/fearful dogs, reactive dogs meaning those dogs who bark and lunge on leash and canine enrichment. 

Mik graduated from the renowned San Francisco SPCA Dog Training Academy in 1999 and awarded special certification for dog-dog aggression in 2002 by Jean Donaldson. Mik frequently writes articles and lectures both nationally and internationally on leash reactivity, canine body language, dog play, canine enrichment and scent games, dog park etiquette and how to work with shy/fearful dogs. He also developed and taught the Reactive Rover dog training classes.

His teaching motto is you can teach an old dog new tricks and he brings a sense of humor to his classes to help the two legged students learn to understand their dogs Behaviour and provide tools to help them get the Behaviour they want in a positive, force-free, fun environment.

Links 

AHS Behaviour- https://www.azhumane.org/pet-Behavior-tips/

Moeller Dogs- https://www.facebook.com/p/Moellerdog-100054231800397/

Contact- [email protected]

About this episode

Join us as we delve into Dr. Erica Feuerbacher’s groundbreaking work in applied animal behavior. In this episode, we explore how what we often consider simple—like petting—can deeply influence a shelter dog’s emotional well-being and adaptability. From reinforcement theory to practical applications in rescue environments, we'll explore how science supports more thoughtful, humane interactions with dogs in shelters—and ultimately improves their welfare and outcomes. we also discuss Eric's over research into pair housing dogs, separation related issues and more!

About Erica

I am an Associate Professor of Applied Animal Welfare and Behavior in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. I teach students about learning, behavior, and welfare of animals, especially focusing on dogs and horses. My lab’s research focuses on what maintains the human-dog relationship, how animals learn, and how best we can train them.

I earned my Ph.D. in Psychology (Behavior Analysis) at the University of Florida, in the Canine Cognition & Behavior Lab, under the tutelage of Dr. Clive Wynne. My dissertation focused on dogs' preferences for types of human interaction, the special relationship between owners and their dogs, and what human interactions function as reinforcers for dog behavior.

I earned my Masters in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas under the guidance of Jesus Rosales-Ruiz and his lab the Organization for Reinforcement Contingencies with Animals. My thesis investigated concept formation in domestic dogs in the natural environment.

I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and have worked as an animal behaviorist at the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, CA. 

In this episode, we sit down with renowned trainer Grisha Stewart to explore how Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT)can be applied to support shelter dogs. We dive into the foundations of BAT and how it helps dogs build resilience, reduce reactivity, and make better choices in challenging environments.

Together, we unpack practical tools such as set-ups that create safe learning opportunities, lead handling skills that support calm communication, and the importance of recognizing a dog’s threshold to prevent overwhelm. Grisha also explains how to spot and nurture glimmers—the subtle signs of curiosity and comfort that guide progress.

Whether you’re a shelter worker, volunteer, or dog lover, this conversation offers valuable insights into using BAT to improve the welfare and adoptability of dogs in care.

About Grisha Stewart 

Grisha Stewart is a kinship tender, visionary author, international keynote speaker, dog trainer, community grief ritualist, and song leader based in Oregon, USA, devoted to nourishing belonging and care for all beings. She is the Grisha behind the Grisha Stewart Academy (surprise) and a founder of the Stellar Village community network.

Grisha is of European ancestry, specifically Scotland, England, France, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, according to family lore and DNA tests. In her 20+ years as a professional dog trainer, she is best known for her Behavior Adjustment Training (BAT) technique for dog socialization and reactivity/aggression rehabilitation (more on that below). 

In 2001, Grisha founded Ahimsa Dog Training, which grew to be Seattle's largest and most popular dog training company. "Ahimsa" is a Buddhist doctrine of nonviolence to all living beings, which reflects Grisha's focus on more collaborative methods to promote the well-being of dogs and their humans.

Links

Grishas Birthday Sale- https://school.grishastewart.com/pages/birthdaysale/?ref=352ff9

Shelter Scholarship at GSA- https://school.grishastewart.com/bundles/rescue?ref=352ff9

Grisha Reading BAT 2.0 with download book- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/abc-bat?ref=352ff9

BAT 3.0- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/evolution?ref=352ff9

Lead skills with Grisha and Mike Shikashio- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/ropes?ref=352ff9

How to Human- https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/human?ref=352ff9

In this episode I’m joined by Kat Creagh an animal welfare scientist who reviews policies and procedures for a large uk animal welfare charity. In this discussion we tackle some of the complicated questions around capacity to care and how we can best support the behavioural health of animals we are helping! There is no perfect solution to this problem and one of the discussions that continually kept appear is the importance of having discussions as individual organisations about our aims, hopes and ability. This episode will pose some questions to help start the conversation around this difficult but hugely important topic

City dogs conference September!

I think we can all agree that the shelter constitutes a difficult environment for behaviour modification! In September I'm going to spend a whole day discussing how we can maximise success in shelter and rescue but also take our learning and apply it to dogs outside of the shelter to improve behavioural health for all.

Ill be discussing emotional assessments, problem solving tools and how we best support the dogs in our care to get long lasting, welfare boosting behavioural change to boost rehoming and prevent relinquishment

Join Me, @ZazieTodd and @MalenaDeMartini for Three amazing days of workshops.

Join us online, or in person in Toronto Canada from Friday the 26th to the 28th of September.

In August the dogs in the city conference is also 20% off using the following code CITYDOGS link in captions!

In this episode Tom and Andrew Hales explore what it means to approach emotional experiences with Compassion Acceptance Knowledge and Empathy. Focusing on how we can take care of ourselves and those around us Andy explores the CAKE model and how it can impact the work we do in shelter and rescue, before moving on to discuss resilience, support and most importantly looking after ourselves to ensure we can turn up everyday and be the person we need to be, with no negative affect on ourselves!

Ep. 42 How do we Choose the Doggy in the Window, Decision Making of Adopters with Lawrence Minnis.