STOP Walking the Dog!
There are some really great enrichment/training programs in shelters around the country—from positive reinforcement training and replacing food bowls with food-dispensing enrichment devices to read-and-relax programs and more. Goodness—Kansas Humane Society and Asheville Humane Society built dedicated enrichment prep spaces in their new facilities…it gives me chills!!
Dog walking is a growing area of enrichment. I am all for shelter dogs getting several potty walks a day—the opportunity to train a dog to urinate and defecate on cue is huge! If we can train the dogs in our shelters to do one thing, I say let’s teach them to pee and poo on cue—no better way to help strengthen the bond than to provide the adopter with a tool to avoid a “surprise” on the carpet.
However, I am not for marathon walks for shelter dogs that are designed to “tire the dog out” or to “help get rid of energy.” Why, you ask? Our goal is to get the dogs adopted—not train them to run marathons. Frankly, we are setting the dog up for failure in many ways:
1. He is getting fitter. And because he’s quickly getting in better shape, he will not be tired out by the walk, but actually better able to go longer and longer (think of how one trains for a marathon);
2. He is learning that long walks are part of the routine—which may or may not be the case in his new home;
3. If the dog is on a long walk, he is not on the adoption floor for adopters to see, and
4. Getting out becomes the most enriching part of the day—meaning the dog is much more likely to jump and get over aroused when someone comes to his kennel door… not the best way for him to market himself to potential adopters.
So, in this Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist’s opinion, we should keep walks to very short tours out to teach the dogs to urinate and defecate on cue. This is a simple Pavlovian response: Assign a word for each action (in this case, urination and defecation); ‘Park’ and ‘Hurry’ are used in the service dog field, but you can use anything you want. When the dog begins to assume the position, calmly say and repeat the word until the act is complete. Quickly the dog will associate the sound with the action (just as running water does for many of us humans).
And let’s keep the majority of the enrichment in the dog’s kennel—read-and-relax programs, stuffed enrichment devices and the like. For out-of-kennel enrichment, time to socialize with other dogs in controlled play groups that occur where potential adopters can watch are fabulous ways to market and enrich at the same time.
What kind of kennel enrichment are you doing?
Related links:
Enrichment for Shelter Dogs: Read and Relax
Enrichment for Shelter Dogs: Go Dogs, Go!
Canine Enrichment Glossary
Tags: Behavior & Enrichment, Saving Lives
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Susan Says:
I always love posts that question conventional wisdom–and this one is no exception! I think many shelter dogs get long walks simply because volunteers like long walks. I used to think that parading dogs around the city increased their chances of adoption–or if it didn’t help that particular dog get adopted, it at least raised awareness of the shelter as a legitimate place to adopt an “active” companion. But the “walking billboard” idea doesn’t really seem to work. Branded jackets for the dogs can be uncomfortable and downright inappropriate in the warmer weather. I had never thought about the other downsides noted in Dr. Weiss’ informative post. It sounds like “quality” is a much better goal for enrichment rather than “quantity.”
Susan Ruderman
Consultant
Susan Britt Says:
This post brings back great memories of beginning the program at the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland several years ago. It was odd but very cool to see volunteers in the kennels and not getting ready to go walking every visit! We observed dogs quietly sqeaking a toy, or snoozing, or simply not barking as a volunter sat with them – for the retired racing Greyhounds & undersocialized dogs in residence, for example, this was an entirely new world of enrichment! Our big ah-ha came when we as a staff realized that adopters rarely asked how far or fast a dog could walk, but they did want to know if the dog could settle down. Thanks to the R & R program we could provide accurate information.
–Susan Britt, ASPCA Senior Director, Shelter Training
Tammy Hartwig Says:
Having fostered and rehabilitated dogs for the local Humane Society for 7 years, volunteering in many other ways and, sitting on the BOD for 3 years, I must respectfully disagree with your thinking/reasoning regarding this issue.
While I agree that when adopting a dog, its energy level must match your own, I believe that when ANY dog is brought into your home, you are agreeing to meet ALL of the dogs needs. This to me, includes more than the bare minimum of food, water and, shelter; every dog deserves better than this.
Dogs need structure, routine, exercise, discipline and, affection. They need to see more of the world than just the small bit of yard you are speaking of in which they are allowed to relieve themselves. It is hard for me to believe that anyone would not appreciate a dog that is trained to walk well on a leash. Is this not a big part of what basic obedience training teaches?
It has been my experience that the walking of a dog is one of the best ways to bond with a dog, to build trust and respect and, to teach them the joy of the world outside of a kennel.
When potential adopters come to my home to meet a dog, after the initial meet and greet, their first question is, “Can we take him/her outside for a walk?”. The same is true if the meet & greet takes place at the shelter; they want to get them out of the shelter setting.
It’s also hard for me to believe that the ASPCA agrees with this. I must say that I am disappointed to see such an article in an ASPCA publication. I feel bad that many people reading this who truly believe in the ASPCA may now no longer fulfill all the needs of a dog.
Tammy Hartwig
Jill Benassi Says:
I have volunteered and worked at a shelter for 4 years and have seen what not walking a dog much can do. The dog will bark loudly and repeatedly and will jump up on the fencing of his cage. The adopter sees this aggressive and excited behavior and quickly MOVES ON!!
Is this really fair to the dog to deny him different sights and smells to stimulate his mind, the feel of grass under his feet and exercise? Is it fair to the dog’s petential adopter that the dog not know how to walk well on a leash? Is it fair to the volunteer to tell them they can only walk around the block and don’t even think of walking by the stream or the field or anywhere else the dog may enjoy? Is it fair to anyone? Really?
One of your points is that if the dog isn’t there he can’t be seen by a potential adopter. The person can read about the dog on Petfinder or Adopt-A-Pet or what have you and can talk to the shelter employees about him. If the adopter likes what he hears, he’ll wait 10-15 minutes till the dog returns and if the person won’t wait he’s not the right person, is he?
I would think an organization charged with the care of those dogs unfortunate enough to be in a shelter would have more compassion for their charges.
Kathy Says:
Fish swim, birds fly, dogs walk.
I have always walked my dogs as a #1 priority, it’s good for them, and it’s good for the human too. Dogs aren’t meant to be stuck in “four walls”. Maybe the author is envisioning spacious shelters where the dogs can lounge around and have free rein of the place. My experience with most shelters I’ve seen is that the dogs are confined in a relatively small space and need to get out and move around.
Walks aren’t just for potty breaks.
And, of all the dogs I’ve had in my life, I’ve never been able to teach anyone to potty on cue! LOL That’s just silly. The reason for a walk is exercise and bonding with the human.
Fish swim, birds fly, dogs walk.
Sylvia Says:
It seems to me that there is not much appreciation in this article of what the dog actually needs. Walking and/or other forms of excercise are essential to a dogs mental wellbeing as well as to physical health.
If we are going to follow the reasoning of this article, should we then ignore our doctors advice to get out and excercise in case we end up too healthy or too fit to meet the criteria laid down by a prospective employer or life partner? Shouldn’t we be focusing on improving the overall health of the dog and also informing would-be adopters that walking and excercise are an essential part of owning a dog? Part of rescuing and rehoming a dog is meeting it’s physical and mental needs and making sure the prospective owners know that this is part of responsible pet ownership.
I am very uncomfortable with the idea that we should somehow reprogram a dogs natural instincts and needs to conform to an unreasonable idea of what the owners may want. How is this any different than brainwashing? Or how wild animals are still kept in zoos in some places in the world?
I do hope that this dangerous (IMO) idea does not take hold in other shelters or rescue organisations. I hope that we are humane enough to remember that these facilities are there for the animals not to produce ‘designer’ dogs.
Emily Weiss Says:
Jill and Tammy –
I am sorry if you misunderstood that I was suggesting dogs in shelters should not be taken on walks – what I had written was that long walks were not the ideal enrichment option – and that there were other options that would help the dog get out of the shelter and into a home. Thank you for all you both do for shelter dogs!
Rose Cardinale Says:
I have never commented on a blog before but can’t miss the chance to participate this time. I was excited to see Dr. Weiss’ blog, and shared the link with many local shelter managers in hopes they would share it with staff and volunteers. A few years ago the shelter where I volunteer in CA adopted the “Potty Walk/enrichment in kennel” plan and it has been a major ‘win’ for the dogs. They get potty-trained, they get 3-4/day short changes of scenery and scents, and they get time with people in THEIR space that want nothing from them. Dropping the ‘training walks” was a good — I often wonder how the dogs ever ‘get it’ (our training cues when we don’t all use the same words or body language) as well as they do!
I appreciate Jill’s dedication and comments, but seems like the dog behavior at that shelter (jumping on the kennel wall/gate) just further endorses Dr. Weiss’ recommendation that human actions to reinforce what we want the dog to do again should be done inside the dog’s kennel, not outside and not when you are walking by the kennel. Don’t give treats and ‘ooos and ahhs’ from the other side of the gate — that is really setting up the dog to react in ways you might perceive as aggressive. Get in the kennel and spend quiet time doing nothing with those dogs and they will get used to the idea (and show it) that people outside of their space don’t warrant reaction, but people in my space…. very cool.
Gotta add that while I admire Tammy for fostering and advocating for her fosters, the dogs in her home are just not in the same learning ‘stage’ or situation so her protocols in a foster home (vs. shelter) are not relevant for the dogs’ ultimate success in their next home.
Thanks for the chance to speak out, Dr. Weiss, and thanks for writing your blogs.
Heather Mohan-Gibbons Says:
What a great post Dr. Weiss! I am an animal behaviorist that has an in-home training business and works with a variety of animal shelters. On a weekly basis I see how dogs transfer from shelter to home. I think one of your points is powerful in that many people do not take their dog for daily long walks. I think it is better to set up the dogs expectations to better match what the typical adopter can do on a typical work day. In my experience, many volunteers at the shelter take those dogs for longer walks than they do their own at home.
Although your title is attention getting, you have a whole paragraph in the beginning saying how valuable a walk can be for shelter dogs, and then proceed to raise attention to the use and the quality of walks. I think the blog is a call for all of us to brainstorm options for mental health and wellness for the dogs in our care. I think walking a dog is the obvious choice but building an enrichment room or designing a Read-to-Rover Program takes a lot more effort and resources. I wish more shelters would make efforts like those you mentioned to think outside the “walk the dog” box.
Obviously dogs needs to go outside and need some type of walk, but there is so much more that shelters can provide. I send people to your own website to get a creative spark: http://www.aspcapro.org/enrichment-for-shelter-dogs.php
I make it a focal point in my business to educate how crucial daily enrichment is for or canines (really any of our captive animals). Plenty of research has been done on a wide variety of animals to show the positive effects of mental stimulation and often times it far surpasses the physical effects of just moving one’s body. I have my clients imagine walking in the park for 15 minutes or to do 15 minutes of calculus, Sudoku or equivalent brain work. It helps them to realize how tiring brain work can be compared to many physical activities. I tell my clients that offering enrichment/mental engagement is a non-negotiable issue, really it is basic responsibility of bringing a dog into your home. For shelter animals who usually only have interaction when a human enters their kennel or suite, this is even more crucial.
Teaching simple manners such as sit, down, wait at the door, four on the floor greetings, etc are simple ways to give them mental enrichment that directly increase the chance of that individual getting adopted. It is my personal experience that teaching these behaviors or even a cute trick such as a “high five” often result in that animal getting adopted quicker or even that same day. Long walks are not needed but rather a few of these short sessions done 2-3 times a day can be very effective in behavior change to create a calm adoptable dog that the public finds a pleasure to walk into their kennel.
These behaviors can also be life saving. This month I had a client who called me who adopted their dog from the shelter only a few hours before he door dashed around their legs and ran away. He was out missing for 3 weeks in an urban area before he could be captured. I can’t help but wonder if he had been taught a wait doors in the shelter or other cues if this could have been avoided. Training builds an immediate bond and dogs that understand our verbal language or body language have more freedoms.
I agree with you in that walks are useful but we do need to really think about our resources of our shelter and what opportunities can be offered to these dogs (or cats, rabbits, birds, etc). We need a counterpoint…some mental enrichment to balance out the brief walks. So if you have X number of dogs and X volunteers, what is the best distribution of those volunteers to serve your population of dogs for that day? I think these are the kinds of questions and challenges we can propose to ourselves to keep us striving to be better and moving to the next level.
Collected Wisdom Animal Behavior
Heather Mohan-Gibbons, MS
Certified Pet Dog Trainer
Registered Veterinary Technician
Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Traci Says:
Are you serious? As a shelter volunteer, I look at each dog as an individual and try to assess what will help that one dog get adopted. As a lab and golden girl, the question I get asked most is, “Do they walk well on a leash?” Frankly, here in south Louisiana I don’t know of any shelters whose dogs are taken on marathon walks. At my local shelter they are lucky to run in the yard for a few minutes a day. At a no kill shelter they are taken on walks because they don’t have a yard. Their dogs are much calmer and the atmosphere at the shelter is much better.
I agree about mental exercises. I try to teach the staff “four on the floor” (I thought I made that phrase up!), but it is much easier for them to let the dog jump up. But I can only imagine trying to teach that to the dog that is so crazy with pent up energy! I wish I had a video of letting that black lab mix out in the yard. Everyone stands by something because he runs around jumping on everyone and everything the whole time he is in the yard! Teaching him anything would be impossible without a really long walk.
Stephanie Collingsworth, CPDT-KA Says:
I will jump right in and say that I understand all of the concerns raised. However, the bottom line is that we have a responsibility to improve and/or maintain skills in our dogs that help them become adopted and keep them in their adoptive homes. Being a good leash walker is certainly important. Pottying on leash is really important. And giving dogs a physical outlet during their shelter stay is also important. BUT, long walks and out of kennel time may not be the best use of your volunteers. In our shelter, we make IN KENNEL enrichment and training the first priority. In most shelters, a dog is in their kennel for what, 20+ hours a day? In the kennels they are exposed to lots of trigger stimuli that affect how they behave IN the KENNEL. Studies show that 3 seconds is the average length of time a dog in a kennel has to “hook” an adopter enough for them to stop and read the kennel card or ask to meet the dog. Is your dog barking and spinning because people=getting out of the kennel? Or is your dog sitting because your volunteers have trained them that people=sit? Which behavior is most likely to hook an adopter? I am not arguing the benefits of dogs being walked or spending time out of their kennels. But teaching dogs how to present themselves and stay settled in their kennels hould not be sacrificed for walks. The first priority for our dog volunteers is to get the whole kennel quieted down. Breakfast packed kongs are handed out 10 minutes before opening to the public and volunteers work in the kennels throughout the day to train dogs on kennel presentation, re-stuffing kongs, training dogs on putting on equipment (front clip harnesses), training dogs to not bolt out doors when entering and exiting their kennels, lure/reward training for sit and down, and more kong stuffing. THEN we can address the select dogs that need something more. We use crate time/office time for dogs that are overstimulated in the kennels and cannot be satisfied with the above. Volunteers can take dogs on walks before putting a dog in an office or crate. I agree with Dr. Weiss’s statment that by not focusing on in-kennel settling and enrichment, the best part of a dog’s day is the walk and OUT of kennel time. Having said that, we recognize that the above schedule is just not enough for our LONG TERM residents. The average length of stay for some of our dogs (mainly pitbulls) is 3 weeks to 3 months. We are working to add small play groups and multi-dog walks to the program, but this would only be a SUPPLEMENT to the in-kennel enrichment program. If you have a noisy and over-stimulated dog kennel, and the only enrichment being used is out of kennel time, then the in-kennel enrichment should be first priority. The training done by your volunteers should be giving your dogs skills that keep them in their homes. A dog that sits at doors, quietly accepts equipment, and is kong/chew toy trained, is better prepared and better appreciated in their new home.
Sharon Wirant Says:
Terrific post Dr. Weiss! Heather also wrote a great response. I will come at this from a different angle.
While innately we would think that long, vigorous walks would be best for dogs in the shelter, the opposite of shorter walks combined with mental enrichment and relaxation is much more effective. Why, you ask? Well, stress manifests itself in many ways, such as excess energy, lethargy, anxiety, etc. Depends on the individual. Our priority as a shelter must be quality of life-based and reduce stress the best and most humane way possible.
Regardless of how much enrichment you do, the shelter is a stressful place, period. In order for us to bring down a dogs stress level (i.e. cortisol) is not through long, vigorous exercise but by teaching the dogs to relax and turn ‘off’. We have volunteers from the local massage school that earn credit for massaging our dogs and cats. We also have TTouch and Reiki Practioners work with the animals. Volunteers also sit with the dogs in their kennels to pet by stroking and calm these animals down.
Massage is a fabulous tool for the animals in a shelter environment. In my past life I was a Licensed Massage Therapist who worked not only on people but also on dogs, horses and cats. The relief I gave to the animals was so rewarding to the owners, me and, of course, the animal. Since my tenure here at MHS, we have successfully employed the knowledge I gained as a Massage Therapist to benefit the animals in our care.
If we have a dog arrive that has high energy we evaluate the dog to see if s/he is an appropriate prospect for Search and Rescue, Scent Detection Work or dog sport programs. However, even those dogs need to learn to have an ‘off’ switch. To always be ‘on’ is physiologically exhausting. Disease and other medical issues can arise out of a dog that is always ‘high’. Exhausting a dog physically only, in my mind, is not behavioral wellness nor enrichment. Even humans suffer ill effects of constantly being under stress – like diarrhea, headaches, stomach pain, heart palpitations, etc. Vigorous exercise is not going to make that go away. Moderate exercise, diet and relaxation is the best plan.
Behavioral and medical wellness go hand-in-hand. Short walks for potty breaks are perfect, basic training with positive, reward-based methods, brain toys, and calming, soothing enrichment are key for quality of life in a shelter environment.
We also need to consider what the average adopter wants in a canine companion. They don’t want to go for 10 miles runs every day. Some do, yes, but the majority do not. They want to take a dog for an occasional walk and hang out.
In our shelter we have found that dogs that display calm behaviors are more likely to be adopted by day two of becoming available. We use click & treat methods to encourage dogs to come to the front of the kennel, sit, down, and walk nicely, while they’re here. Fortunately, they are not here long and often do not return except for classes and a reunion.
I am a very active person who exercises and plays daily. Yet, everyday I jump in the hot tub, get massaged regularly and have an occasional spa day. My job is stressful and I exercise and relax so I can be my best everyday. We should give every animal a chance to humanely and safely de-stress and be their best while in our care. Oh, and by the way, my hardworking dogs (sheep herding, agility, running) daily get massages and quiet time with me. It’s untrue that Jack Russell Terriers and Border Collies don’t have an off switch – they do if you help them along.
We often have visitors to the shelter (including the State Vet) say that the animals all look happy, are quiet and relaxed. As I sit here at my desk, I hear no dogs barking and it’s a busy Sunday afternoon – how nice is that!
I highly recommend implementing a relaxation program for all shelter animals. In fact, I challenge you to implement relaxation in your enrichment program. The changes you discover will not only positively affect the dogs but also your visitors AND your shelter workers.
Sharon Wirant, MS
Monadnock Humane Society
Chief Operating Officer
Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
Certified Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed
Karen Pryor Academy – Certified Training Partner
Cindy Small Says:
While everything else in our world is being oversized we are now being advised to under-size one of our responsibilities to the dogs that we decided to bring into our care. Psychiatrists deem “a healthy walk” to be one of the best activities to deal with stress and anxiety . Yes these published studies have been for humans but why would it be any different for any other thinking creature? It would be inhumane to keep a goldfish in a teaspoon, a kitten confined to a shoebox – extreme examples yes, but for dogs it could be denying them the best part of every day to connect with those they so want to please. I agree that they may jump and get excited but that provides us with the perfect way to tie in a new cue -”Wait”. This is a great command for any dog to learn in conjunction with the suggestion of cueing their bladder and bowel functions. For adoption purposes we are then presented with a great tool to observe the connection between a dog and a potential home to see if their energy levels match. A “good walk” for a Jack Russell is different that a “good walk” for a Retriever and does not have to be a preparation for the Boston Marathon. A walk is a way for the members of a household to maintain healthy, consistent energy levels. It would be wonderful to see an entire family taking a moment to slow down and find pleasure in things we enjoyed thirty years ago ; to unplug the electronics and to reconnect with nature ; to see the simpler side of life again and while doing so give the best life possible to a dog that you decided to take responsibility for.
Tammy Hartwig Says:
Emily ~
First, thank you for acknowledging what Jill & I do and that it’s appreciated. What I do is way more than just working with the dogs I foster, I spend a lot of time there and at events as well. I also work in tandem per say, with the obedience trainer; I refer to her if only OT is needed and she refers to me if OT alone is not working on behavioral problems and, sometimes we “tag team” and work with the same dog at the same time.
You state in your comment, “I am sorry if you misunderstood that I was suggesting dogs in shelters should not be taken on walks” yet does not the title of this blog alone, “STOP Walking the Dog!” (with all caps on STOP and an exclamation point at the end!) suggest exactly this? Then you state, “Dog walking is a growing area of enrichment. I am all for shelter dogs getting several potty walks a day”; seems a bit contradictory to me; do you disagree with the growing trend of walking as a good area for enrichment then?
Walking dogs IS great enrichment (for the owners as well as the dog) but then you advocate just short potty breaks? Dogs need so much more than the occasional trip outside to potty. They need routine, boundaries, rules, basic obedience training and, exercise; all of which can be worked during a walk as well as stimulating the mind, or “enrichment”. There HAS to be exercise of BOTH mind & body. Personally, I’d much rather have a dog that behaves well on a walk than one that can get a treat out of a kong. I’ve never heard a potential adopter ask “what form/s of enrichment are you using?” but, they always ask how well they walk on a leash and if they can take them for walk.
I just must respectfully disagree with stopping walks for enrichment. There is a time and place for both, dogs enjoy both and, it is my hope that adopters appreciate both.
Rose, while I appreciate you admiring what I do, you may have formed a preconceived notion of my fostering and advocating for my fosters. First you are right that my fosters are not in the same ‘learning stage’ as those in the shelter. I am not the average foster home and ‘my’ dogs are not your average shelter dogs. I take all those that no one else will; puppy mill survivors who don’t even know how to be a dog (talk about being well below the learning curve), biters that no one else can get near, chained dogs who’ve never seen the inside of a home and, abused & fearful dogs. I also take all the ‘messy’ major medical dogs; amputations, open wounds, gun shots, cruciate tears, etc…as well as orphaned litters and pregnant females. Other than the last 2 mentioned, I take the ones that would be euthanized if I can’t get them out and I have spent as long as 4 hours to get them out. I don’t give up and I don’t leave without the dog I was called about.
I also don’t just take one at a time, I take as many as are in need at any given time so there have been many in 7 years, and all have gone on to lead good lives in good homes. I know that all shelter dogs can benefit from proper foster care but the ones I take…their lives depend on it and are dogs that no one is going to sit in a kennel enriching.
So while I do appreciate the acknowledgment, that is not why I do it. I do it to save lives and I only stated it here to make the point that I do have a lot of experience with shelter dogs. I hope that by explaining this further it’s plain to see that what you’re suggesting is not right for all dogs and that if all shelters adopted this practice I fear many more dogs will lose their lives because they do not conform to this or some specific ‘learning curve’; they ALL deserve a chance and walking them,with or without my own dogs, has helped me achieve that for those who’ve been temporary guests.
Tiffany Says:
This article makes it sound like the whole point of a shelter is to move dogs out (get adopted) as quickly as possible. What does this do for the dog? How many of these dogs get returned? The shelter spent more time focused on presenting the dogs as highly adoptable rather than focusing on the dogs and what the dog needs. This blog makes it sound like it’s all about the people. I believe that is a big reason why so many dogs are turned into shelters and returned after being adopted.
I also find it very irresponsible to tell people to stop walking the dogs when we live in a country where majority of people AND dogs are now overweight. A child can sit in school all day and exercise his/her mind, but you’re going to have problems if she isn’t geting the physical exercise as well. Same with dogs. You think 3-4 potty breaks a day is enough physical exercise for a dog? We’re talking about an animal here! Imagine taking those kids at school, giving them 3-4 recesses a day but that’s it. The rest of the time they’re in a classroom or their bedroom at home. Talk about pent up energy!
I don’t think people realize just how much a walk can teach a dog. You can get physical and mental stimulation out of the walk, which is what every dog needs. It’s not either or, it’s both and; one can’t go without the other. A walk can teach the dog not to pull on the leash-whether the dog is walked or not, majority of dogs are going to be on a leash at some point whether it’s to go to the vet, to walk from the house to the car, to go to the mailbox at the end of the driveway, etc. If a dog doesn’t pull, the owner is much more likely to actually walk the dog, which is what the dog needs and I’m sure every owner could use! Second, the walk can include obedience-stop every so often and work on the sit or down command. A dog may be stellar at these commands in the home, but it takes a lot more self control and focus to be able to do these outside with lots of distractions. Third, the walk can teach the dog to stay focused on you, putting him in a submissive state of mind, making him open to listening to other directives you have for him (“wait” instead of barging out the door, “leave it” towards chicken bones thrown on the street, “off” for the kids who want to say hi without being jumped on, “nevermind” towards the dogs loose in the yard up ahead as their owner screams at them to stay in the yard, etc.). And yes, you can even teach your dog to pee/poop on command during the walk.
So, now you have a shelter dog who has gotten some physical exercise after being kept in a 10′x6′ kennel (or smaller) at least 20 hours a day and has learned some real life obedience commands/behaviors that will help it transition into a home. Peeing/pooping on command will only get a dog so far. It’s going to take much more than that to keep the dog in the home.
Katie Says:
Great article.
Heather- nice reply.
Some argue that people expect a dog to walk well on a leash. While this is true, I think what Dr. Weiss points out is of much greater importance. If we can get a dog to remain calm in an exciting setting, teaching the dog “four on the floor,” sit, down, etc. inside the kennel, would greatly advantage them. In one way, they are getting mental stimulation, and they are getting it inside their kennel. If a dog spends so many hours in a kennel at the shelter, shouldn’t it have a positive association with that kennel, instead of being stressed overnight wondering when the next walk will be? In another way, the dogs have a much better demeanor in the kennel setting when adopters come to look at them. They are more apt to get adopted quicker, than a dog who can’t settle down and is jumping all over the place waiting for their walk. As far as the question about a turn-around rate?- I think that having a well-mannered dog, who is taught to go to the bathroom outside of their living space, is set up for a much higher success. Every owner is going to have to do some type of training with their dog, and if they don’t expect that, they shouldn’t have a dog. With that said, I think owners will find it easier to train a dog to walk loosely on leash, or heel, than a dog who exhibits separation anxiety in the home, tearing things apart, a dog who escapes out the door, a dog who jumps on people, and urinates on their carpet/furniture. If a person brings back a dog, solely for the fact that leash walking proved to be a challenge, I think that proves that the owner isn’t ready for a dog in the first place.
The advantages of mental stimulation benefit both the well-being of the dog, and the adopter.
Thank you Dr. Weiss.
Jeanne Says:
I also have many years of fostering, volunteering and now WORKING at a shelter and I agree COMPLETELY w/ Dr. Emily Weiss!
As a volunteer I went into a group of walkers that were into the walk ‘em hard and tire them out crowd (like a certain TV trainer constantly encouraged). What I saw were dogs that quickly showed signs of kennel stress, dogs that blew off potential adopters in Meet and Greet areas because they were watching other dogs getting walked past to the exercise yards, and dogs that often fought w/ kennel mates after being returned to their kennels. Of course, when dogs were pulled from the adoption floor for some of these behaviors volunteers blamed staff for “having it in” for certain dogs. Yes, the same staff that processed the animal on intake, often watched it in the stray kennels and would work w/ the dogs there in hopes it would pass an eval, later to see the dog fail in the adoption runs because volunteers REFUSED to practice CALMING behaviors with the dogs! Those decisions are not made lightly and now, as a member of that staff, I can assure you it doesn’t come w/out tears or mental turmoil (the “if only” game is sheer torture).
I fought a lonely battle when trying to stop what I called “forced marches” and the “exercise” in our exercise yards which consisted mostly of fence line running and fighting w/ the dog in the yard next door. I saw dogs that would duck to avoid having leashes put on. I saw dogs that had a huge adrenalin build up get deposited in a kennel and start barrier aggressive behavior or fight w/ a kennel mate (great way to keep that adrenalin high going).
After much struggle we at least have a Good Manners program now – but we still have poor follow through and people who come w/ their own ideas of how dogs should be trained – and too many people are just into repetitive walking of the dog!
Over the last three months I have been looking for methods and ideas from other shelters to reduce kennel stress and I’m thankful to have found this article! I would also like to mention another idea I heard about where dog volunteers were restricted to taking the dogs out between 10:30 AM and 3 PM. The dogs could be taken bout prior to 10:30 and after 3PM but the middle of the day was “quiet time.” What happened was a quieter adoption building. Dogs adapted to the walking schedule and weren’t in constant anticipation of being taken out by the next person who came by the run. Just another idea to consider.
Thomas Aaron Says:
I appreciate the thought you put into your article. I find that walks give me opportunity to work on other obedience with the dog while we’re out. At our shelter, a dog may get walked once a week — if he’s lucky. So, I don’t think they are getting accustomed to strenuous exercise.
But I can see how it might be different at other shelters. Just my $0.02.
sue Says:
@Tammy….Thank you for saving me the time to compose the response you so eloquently wrote. In theory it’s great advice, but honestly, how many volunteers who “pop” in now and then, sometimes with kids in tow, are able to understand the concept? Most shelters are in such dire need of potty walkers that this concept of kennel training is like trying to get a 1st grader to understand quantum physics.
If a shelter has a dedicated team of dog savvy walkers, and mine does, this is already a normal practice. But, it includes LONG walks off site for real life experience, like the dog who’s never been in a car, been in a house, had to navigate a busy street, pass strange dogs, politely settle in a kennel during meal time. Well, that’s the reality of a shelter dog. Give me the dog who can handle real life over the slightly reactive kenneled dog any day!
s.malis Says:
A very interesting article. Talk about “think outside the box”. What happens if a new dog owner can’t handle a superfit dog? Right, it gets brought back to the shelters. But there is another potential problems:
What about people who are doing community service in animal shelters? Should the be forbidden to walk dogs? Or just regular folks who want to do something good – what can they do instead? Would it be favourable to have volunteers cuddle with the dogs ?
Perhaps they could be trained to be dog trainers. I know that this might take a lot of time, but wouldn’T it be worth it?
Meaghan Edwards Says:
GREAT article; this is posted in the volunteer room at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA here in Ontario, where I volunteer. I will take dogs out for short walks and afterwards, settle down with them in what is called the real life room, where a room is set up to give the animal the feeling of being a home. It has a great thing that should be implemented in more and more shelters.
KJ Says:
As for dogs not being out on the adoption floor, I have found more people are interested in the dog that’s just coming in from it’s walk or when they see him/her leaving for the walk.
1. They think the dog is already taken, they ask if you just adopted him, then they find out the dog is available and I think they want them even more
2. They see the dog in action (when driving past) or when you’re returning the dog and they see how lovable the dog is. They see themselves with the dog.
And I like the fact that kids can do this with their parents and learn early how volunteering is fulfilling!