Help Support Our Volunteer Training Program

Implementing and maintaining a dog training program at a shelter can reduce stress
for the dogs while increasing adoption rates and decreasing euthanasia and return
rates. The program started at Mount Vernon Animal Shelter over one year ago has
achieved all these goals by using positive reinforcement techniques that are simple and
yet powerful and also by creating dog play-dates where our dog friendly dogs are
acclimated to participate in off-leash play in the yard with other dogs. Long term
kenneling, even in the best case scenarios, can be frustrating, confining, arousing, and
scary for dogs. The greatest value of a training program is not only working with our
easy dogs who simply need to learn a few simple manners, but also taking those dogs
who are suffering the ill effects of the kennel-life and creating a successful management
protocol that allows them the time to decompress long enough to wait for the potential
adopter, which can take many months.
Most of the dogs turned into the shelter have little to no training so can be
overwhelming for the average adopter to handle. Our training program creates an
assessment and color code for each dog, a prescribed training plan with 5-7 exercises,
and allowances for buddy-walking with other dogs or yard play. The professional
trainers have conducted many volunteer classes where we carefully instruct and
demonstrate techniques for teaching a dog his name, overcoming fear-related
behaviors or nipping, and learning how to relax. These training exercises not only
prepare a dog to appropriately meet with a potential adopter, but also provide that dog
with the skills needed to successfully adjust into a home environment. The knowledge
we gain through individually working with each dog gives us the ability to really make an
appropriate adoption where we know the home dynamic will match with the dog?s
personality.
Perhaps the most thrilling part of our program is being able to see 4-5 bully breed
dogs run together in the yard with smiles on their faces. It is a slow process for one of
our dogs to be allowed this freedom because safety is our number one concern, but
happily almost every dog involved in our yard play program is now living in a home,
soaking up love and affection daily. It has been proven in shelters across the country
that dogs who play together have greater chances of adoption, lower incidence of
behavioral problems, and a better quality of life at the shelter. It is a work in progress
and we are in the process of training more volunteers to be able to supervise these
playgroups safely.
Some of our special students, now residing with families of their own: Isis, Rex, Maya,
Chucky, Nene, Mugsy, Debo, Ginger, Allie, Jr, Eeyore, Grover.......still many more that
have been living in a cement kennel too long.
Thanks to all the volunteers who support the dogs with time, training, money, food, treats,
fostering, events, marketing and to all our supporters and friends. It would not be possible to do all this without your help.