It’s National Dog Bite Prevention week and we know that despite management and prevention, dog bite accidents can still happen. And, healing is not just physical, but emotional after a bite. Here are two existing learning opportunities on Maddie’s® University to help decrease the chances of dog bites occurring: Fundamentals of Canine Communication and Safe… Learn More

We’re excited to share that Assessing Dog Behavior Through Everyday Interactions and Building Trust with Dogs Who Aren’t Ready to Come Out of the Kennel are now available for free on Maddie’s® University. These two self-paced courses were authored by Kristen Brown, CPDT-KA, VSA-CDT, with assistance by Dr. Sheila Segurson DVM, DACVB, Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorist, Director of Shelter… Learn More

This post originally ran in 2021.  Finding foster caregivers for pets who have behavioral needs can feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are six strategies animal welfare organizations across the country are using to do just this!    1. Prioritize “unicorn” fosters who have ideal home set-ups for some of your more challenging pets (people who don’t… Learn More

Join us on March 26th for the next Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection call: Beyond our Safety Net: Navigating Returns, Risk and Humane Outcomes in Dog Adoptions. This session will explore the complex realities of accepting adoption returns for dogs exhibiting challenging or dangerous behavior. While our goal is always to keep adopted animals in homes, there are times when a… Learn More

We’re excited to share that Maddie’s® University now offers four dog behavior courses from Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA), an animal trainer and ecologist dedicated to improving the lives of animals and their caregivers. His business, Sits & Wiggles Dog Training specializes in treating complex canine behavior problems for both private clients and shelters. The four… Learn More

We’re excited to announce that the highly anticipated follow up to the course Fundamentals of Canine Communication and Safe Dog Handling is here! The new and second course in this series is called Recognizing and De-escalating Big Feelings in Dogs. Please complete the first course before taking this one. As in the first course, this course offers… Learn More

Pain & discomfort are often underdiagnosed in dogs with behavioral issues. Dr. Emily Levine, DVM, DACVB, Animal Behavior Clinic of New Jersey will join us on January 22 for the first Maddie’s Monthly Behavior Connection of the year to speak on this topic. This presentation, Pain and Behavior: a Case-based Talk, will highlight why this happens,… Learn More

Working in animal shelters can be deeply meaningful and emotionally draining. That’s why our next Maddie’s® Monthly Behavior Webcast is so important. Join us on Thursday, September 25th at at 12PM PT/ 3PM ET for The Human Side of Shelter Work: Building Compassion Satisfaction and Resilience (Part 1). In this session, Valerie Bogie, MSSW, Veterinary… Learn More

There’s a new self-paced course on Maddie’s® University and it’s all about dog behavior and communication! “Fundamentals of Canine Communication and Safe Dog Handling” is authored by Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA, a certified dog trainer with over 15 years of experience working with not just dog owners, but dogs in shelters, assistance dogs and other working… Learn More

Since Fourth of July is a stressful time for shelter pets, we’re republishing this blog from 2018. Here’s how one shelter kept their dogs calm during fireworks.  It was the Fourth of July, and both of the shelters run by Maricopa County Animal Care & Control (MCACC) were full. Fireworks displays, a notorious trigger for… Learn More