Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I love that you take the time to explain it to volunteers and visitors. It's an essential part of this exercise. Keep it up!
Original Message:
Sent: 05-14-2024 06:24 AM
From: Eudora Watson
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast May 9, 2024: Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Shelter Dogs
We train all our volunteers to walk down the kennel hallway and treat all the dogs. I ask those who are physically able to squat down and toss the treat under the door so that we reward four-on-the-floor. But for those who can't, tossing a treat over the door is fine. By tossing the treat under the door we get a double benefit, but the key is to make the connection "visitors means good stuff happens." I suggest not waiting for four on the floor - just get a treat to them quickly anyway you can.
I've found that even dogs who throw themselves against the kennel door will decrease the intensity of response over time. One such dog now sits and waits for me when she sees me coming.
Yesterday I did a training with 5 new volunteers. I always include a short intro about good manners in the hallway - don't make direct eye contact, turn your head, stand sideways to the door, and if you're able scoot a treat under the door to the dog or just toss the treat over. While we went over those manners we could hear the dogs barking wildly while visitors went through. We went through treating as we went, and by the time we got to the end of the 10 kennels on each side hallway and turned back and did the same going back, it was almost silent - with the exception of our one dog who barks non-stop to communicate and isn't treat motivated . That relative quiet was a powerful lesson in what works.
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Eudora Watson
Animal Enrichment and Volunteer Coordinator
Potsdam Humane Society Shelter
New York
Original Message:
Sent: 05-11-2024 10:36 PM
From: Kendra Wagner
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast May 9, 2024: Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Shelter Dogs
We do this at our shelter, however, we still have barking. We generally have visitors treat when they see "four on the floor" - and yet some dogs are not treat motivated, and others pause their barking for only a moment with the visitor, then resume. They ignite each other, as you know. We do not have kennels that face each other, but instead just a wall in front of the kennel. And we cover the bottom half of most doors.
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Kendra Wagner
Volunteer
Whatcom Humane Society
WA
Original Message:
Sent: 04-11-2024 10:09 AM
From: Alison Gibson
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast May 9, 2024: Impact of Classical Counterconditioning (Quiet Kennel Exercise) on Barking in Shelter Dogs
Maddie's Insights are a series of webinars about the latest research in animal well-being and how you can use the findings in your shelter and community.
This webcast was recorded on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 12n Pacific/3p Eastern (43 minutes)
WATCH THE RECORDING ON MADDIE'S UNIVERSITY: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-impact-of-classical-counterconditioning-quiet-kennel-exercise-on-barking-in-shelter-dogs-ondemand
A major welfare concern in animal shelters is excessive barking from kenneled dogs. This contributes to noise pollution, can cause hearing damage, and has a negative impact on all animals within earshot. This study demonstrated that by implementing a simple classical counterconditioning exercise, consisting of instructing all ward passers-through to toss treats to each dog regardless of behavior exhibited, could change the emotional state of dogs from negative to more positive, thus reducing fear and frustration that often leads to excessive barking.
Data analysis showed that implementation of this simple exercise did reduce barking at clinically relevant levels even with a changing shelter population. Additionally, for each percent increase in compliance rate, there was an average decrease of 17.3 dB in the maximum decibel reading. Moreover, an overall positive change in attitude from most dogs towards visitors further showed the positive effects of the study.
Learning Objectives:
1. Attendees will learn to identify and apply basic learning theory, specifically focusing on Classical (Pavlovian) Conditioning, to dogs in a kennel setting.
2. Attendees will learn to identify risks and consequences of noise pollution in shelters, and also ways to reduce it to improve welfare of all species in the shelter.
This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approval for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.
About the presenters
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#DataandTechnology
#EducationandTraining
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Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
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