Advertise on podcast: Simplifying Shelter Behaviour

This week Tom is joined by Amy Fitzsimmons from Dog Possible Austin for a really practical chat about life for dogs in shelters. Amy brings along plenty of real dogs she has worked with, and it's their stories that shape the whole conversation, showing how small, simple changes can make a big difference to how a dog copes in kennels. Tom and Amy talk about getting more out of the time dogs spend with staff and volunteers, why every dog doesn't need the same thing, and how slowing down can actually be better for both the dog and the person holding the lead. They also chat about the social side of shelter dogs, and why there is so much more to it than whether or not a dog can go to playgroup. Along the way they touch on shelter culture, being open to change, and why trying the easy things first often makes the most sense. If you've ever felt there just isn't enough time in the day, this episode is full of ideas you can try tomorrow. To find out more about Amy's work, visit dogpossibleaustin.com or follow @dogpossible on Instagram. About Amy Amy is a Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC-KA) through the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers and a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC) and Certified in Shelter Behavior (CSB-D) through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. She is also a Fear Free Certified Trainer (FFCT), a Pet Professional Guild Canine Training Professional, and holds several certificates in ethology, animal learning, and behavior from the Ethology Institute. Prior to transitioning to dog training and behavior modification full-time, Amy was a long time public educator, working in at-risk early childhood education and serving as a teen and family crisis mentor. Her passion for providing humane, effective behavior modification and improving quality of life for dogs in homes and in shelters has only grown during well over a decade in the field. She also loves getting to work with the amazing humans who share that passion, whether for their own dogs or dogs they’re trying to help find their way home. Amy is dog mom to elder muppet/luckdragon mix Monkey and honorary house coyote Socks!

In this episode, we're joined by researcher Lauren Powell, whose work looks at why people get pets, what they expect from them, and why so many end up back in shelters. The conversation moves through four threads: the genuine benefits pets bring to our lives, the gap between what new owners expect and what actually happens, how that gap drives relinquishment, and the specific behaviour problems that push cat owners to give up their pets. A recurring theme in Powell's research is that people go into pet ownership more optimistic than the evidence supports. Her 2018 study of nearly 3,500 prospective dog adopters in Australia found that almost everyone expected big upsides: 89% expected more happiness, 89% expected more walking, and 74% expected less stress. Fewer people anticipated the costs, with only half expecting behaviour problems and just 64% expecting more responsibility. The counterintuitive finding is that experience didn't make people more realistic, it made them more optimistic. Current owners were less than half as likely as people who'd never owned a dog to expect increased responsibility or training difficulty. Ironically, the group with no ownership history at all turned out to have the most accurate expectations of anyone. This matters because that gap between expectation and reality is one of the quiet drivers behind relinquishment. Powell's paper opens by citing relinquishment and euthanasia figures to make the stakes clear, and a related Dogs Trust study by Holland and colleagues backs this up: potential owners consistently reported more aspirational motivations for getting a dog than current owners did, describing companionship, health benefits and helping a dog in need at far higher rates than people already living with the reality. The takeaway Powell and her colleagues push for is straightforward: prospective owners need honest education about the day-to-day demands of pet ownership, regardless of how much prior experience they have, because that experience doesn't appear to inoculate people against unrealistic expectations. Taken together, Powell's research paints a picture of relinquishment less as a story about difficult animals and more as a story about mismatched expectations set long before the pet arrives home, and the practical, unglamorous fix is better information given earlier. About Dr. Lauren Powell Dr. Lauren Powell is an Assistant Professor in Animal Welfare & Behavior and the Director of the Powell laboratory. She also serves as a faculty member for the Master of Science in Animal Welfare & Behavior program and an elected board member for the International Society for Anthrozoology. Dr. Powell received a Bachelor of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience (First Class Honors) and a PhD of Public Health from the University of Sydney. https://www.vet.upenn.edu/research/research-laboratories/powell-laboratory/https://www.vet.upenn.edu/directory/lauren-powell/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-powell-a29448142/

About This Episode In this episode, we're chatting with Dr. Ly about animal welfare and how research into one welfare, is changing how we think about supporting animals. We dig into the reasons why animals end up needing care, what affects whether owners can reclaim them, and the real challenges faced by caregivers looking after them. Understanding how we support owners over and above relinquishment is, in my opinion, essential to the future of our industry and I loved getting Dr Ly's view on things! About Dr Ly Lexis’ research focuses on ways we can use data to support One Welfare principles in animal shelters and multispecies communities. Her work supports efforts to support vulnerable human-animal bonds, help animal shelter services provide equitable services, and reduce intake to shelters. Current areas of research interest include owner relinquishment, self-rehoming, pet adoption processes, links between human and animal vulnerability, community-based support services, and access to pet care. Lexis also has a strong interest in teaching and pedagogy. She has been a teaching assistant or co-instructor for numerous classes in the program and facilitated workshops about pedagogy for graduate students. She was honoured with the Killam Graduate Teaching Assistant Award in 2025.

In this episode, Lorenzo JW Fox and I explore coregulation, how a calm human nervous system can help a stressed dog settle and why it matters so much for shelter dogs. We talk about the quiet power of presence and touch, how Constructional Affection builds a fearful dog's comfort with people by handing them control of the interaction, and why Leslie McDevitt's Control Unleashed pairs so well with a coregulation approach through predictability, rhythm, and choice. The throughline is agency: helping dogs feel safe enough to regulate, then handing that skill back to them.   About Lorenzo JW Fox   He/They Lorenzo’s childhood on a Kentucky petting zoo and cattle farm meant he was always surrounded by animals—from camels and coatimundis, to arctic foxes and water buffalo. After earning his BA, Lorenzo spent nearly a decade working with people in challenging situations like juvenile incarceration and crisis centers. Eventually, he turned his skills toward animals, specializing in resolving tough behavior issues like aggression and anxiety. When he’s not busy working with pets, you’ll likely find Lorenzo hiking, climbing, or doing dog sports like agility, tracking, nose work, and dock diving. He’s also dedicated to caring for his diverse animal family, which includes a cockatiel, a boa, and baby tarantulas!     Me-tiktok: @lorenzojw_xig:  @lorenzojw_x @summer_and_yoshi_and_rufioSynergy Veterinary Behavior-www.synergybehavior.comig & facebook:@synergybehavior

This episode really got my brain turning! The amazing Adrian Ray-Avalani brought their linguistic background to the table and spoke to us about a parent-child communication framework that helps us support owners in our conversations, and helps owners in the conversations they have with their dogs! You can nearly hear the cogs in my brain turning as Adrian talks us through how to build good communication across a dog team, and how we can improve the way we communicate with our clients through understanding, expectation, and conversation. About Adrian Ray-Avalani Adrian Ray-Avalani has always been fascinated by systems of communication. As a computational linguist, Adrian's training is in human behavior and language use, but to their surprise, humans started to make more sense once they got their first dog. Adrian currently helps manage Control Unleashed's online presence and assists in in-person CU classes, as well as volunteering at the PAWS animal shelter, where they introduce shelter dogs to pattern games. Outside of the dog world, Adrian enjoys science fiction books and media, adaptive rock climbing, wheelchair hikes, and training their cat, Coriander (who can now roll over and meow on cue!). Adrian lives in Philadelphia with their partner Leslie, two part-time spawn, and a fluctuating number of beasts at any given time. They are probably training one of them right now. Links • Conference Unleashed! (virtual and in person): https://www.conferenceunleashed.com/ • Control Unleashed with Leslie (episode): https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pgxfbWoN9OxGS3jDsXVOm?si=bJd6nXwITu2KfxgddRWtPQ • Control Unleashed with Cats: https://open.spotify.com/episode/665UfqdozqOFdGy1FRtObM?si=Fhd_pUVHSE2lajUnGK4qIg • Grisha Stewart Academy, Ask Me Anything: Problem Solving for Control Unleashed with Leslie and Adrian: https://school.grishastewart.com/courses/troubleshootingpatterngames?ref=352ff9 • Animal Training Academy Episode- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXsVrUAV9Mo

Episode Summary In this episode, Tom Candy and Kelly Dunbar to talk about Open Paw, the training and enrichment programme reshaping how rescue centres care for dogs and cats. Co-developed in the US in 2000 by behaviourist Kelly Gorman Dunbar and, British behaviourist and author Dr Ian Dunbar, Open Paw has spent over two decades proving that shelter animals don’t have to be “unlucky inmates” waiting out their stay, they can be active “students” building the social and life skills that make them irresistible to adopters. •     What Open Paw is, a structured enrichment and training programme for shelter dogs and cats, designed to maintain good habits from previous homes and teach new ones that help animals settle into new families faster. •     The shift in shelter philosophy, moving away from viewing animals as inmates serving time, toward treating them as students at a “university of life skills.” •     Minimum Mental Health Requirements, how the programme sets enrichment standards to keep animals calm, stimulated, and ready to learn while in care. •     The four-level training programme: ◦     Level 1 – Hand-feeding kibble at the kennel front, regardless of the dog’s reaction, so dogs learn to enjoy people approaching ◦     Level 2 – Calm behaviour when people enter and exit the kennel, including lead handling ◦     Level 3 – Basic commands, manners, handling, and play ◦     Level 4 – Calm, loose-lead walking, even around people and other dogs •     Why first impressions matter, research shows potential adopters spend roughly a minute at each kennel deciding whether to meet a dog based on calm, front-facing behaviour, then make a final decision within about eight minutes of meeting them. •     Ditching the food bowl, how feeding meals through Kongs, treat balls, and dog mazes turns mealtime into mental stimulation instead of a five-second event. •     Toilet training and spot cleaning, how scheduled toileting breaks let kennels be spot-cleaned daily rather than fully hosed out, preserving familiar scents and freeing up staff time for training. •     The early results, calmer, quieter dogs within 24 hours of the pilot, most clean in kennels within days, and happier staff and dogs Kelly Dunbar is a respected behaviourist who co-founded the Open Paw programme in the United States in 2000 alongside her husband, Dr Ian Dunbar. Open Paw has since become a proven model for shelter enrichment and training, now adapted for both dogs and cats. With 30+ years in professional dog training, and deep roots in puppy development and shelter dog programs, I now focus primarily on dog trainer mentorship, plus a limited amount of highly personalized work with dogs and households.  ​ I teach dog training as a craft, not a doctrine. I’m pro-dog, anti-dogma, and I’m here for trainers who want clear standards, practical skill, better judgment, and a broader view of the work.    My work helps dog trainers bridge the space between education and real-world practice, where handling skills, training methods, client communication, program design, and professional judgment all have to come together.   •     Open Paw at NAWT: https://www.nawt.org.uk/open-paw/ •     Before & After video — Open Paw for Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fs5jmGEstyQ •     Before & After video — Open Paw for Cats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e342PUjhX74 •     Kelly Dunbar https://www.kellydunbardogtraining.com In This Episode, We CoverGuest BiosResources & Links

In this episode Tom is joined by Dr. Karen Griffin to discuss quality of life in shelter dogs and how her current research project is exploring this topic. Focusing on adapting Maslow's Hierarchy the research group aims to better understand QoL in dogs pre and post adoption

Here's a focused episode summary based on those two core ideas: In this episode, Jo Middleton introduces the idea of an animal's emotional bank account — a framework for understanding how every interaction with a shelter or rescue animal either deposits trust, safety, and positive association, or withdraws it. For animals arriving from neglect, abuse, or prolonged kennel stress, the account is often deeply overdrawn. Jo explores how carers and new adopters can shift the balance through consistent, low-pressure positive experiences: predictable routines, choice and agency, calm handling, and simply being a reliable presence. The emphasis is on understanding that even well-intentioned interactions can constitute withdrawals — rushed handling, forced contact, or unpredictable environments all cost the animal something — and that genuine recovery requires a sustained surplus of deposits before real trust can take root. The second half of the conversation turns to what Jo calls the stages of cognitive freedom— the progression an animal moves through as their emotional account moves from deficit into credit. In the earliest stage, cognitive bandwidth is almost entirely consumed by threat-monitoring and survival responses, leaving little room for learning, play, or connection. As the account builds, animals begin to show curiosity, engage with their environment, and tolerate uncertainty without shutting down. Jo describes the later stages as a kind of mental spaciousness — where the animal is no longer spending its cognitive currency just on staying safe, and can instead invest it in relationships and new experiences. It's a quietly profound reframe: recovery isn't just the absence of fear, but the gradual emergence of the freedom to think. About Jo Meet Jo, a leading expert in ethical dog rehab and Canine Principles Director. With years of experience working alongside rescues, trainers, and behaviourists, Jo has developed a unique cognitive-led approach that goes beyond traditional obedience or training or behaviour modification. She focuses on giving dogs the freedom to think, make choices, and regain control of their lives, fostering lasting behavioural change through empowerment, not enforcement. Links https://www.canineethics.org https://www.donoharmdogtraining.com/hierarchy-of-dog-needs-english-download https://www.canineprinciples.com

In this episode, Karen Deeds discusses box feeding (the "Dopamine Box"), a technique originally developed in the bite sport world that she has adapted for pet dogs, shelter animals, and behaviour modification. The method is simple in concept — teaching a dog to eat out of a box — but powerfully effective: the box becomes a contextual cue that triggers dopamine release through eating, building confidence, reducing anxiety, and creating positive associations with stressful environments. Karen has modified the approach for worried or reactive dogs by varying box types (opaque for sound-sensitive dogs, translucent or transparent for those working through visual triggers), and she highlights its practical value in shelters, where a cardboard box and some food can quickly help an overstimulated dog regulate. She also sees strong applications at the vet clinic and in apartments where owners can't control distance or trigger intensity. Real-world results include a dog that stopped hiding in a closet from bin lorries, a barn hunt dog managing arousal, and a shelter dog settling within minutes. About Karen Deeds Karen Deeds (CDBC) is a Certified Dog Behavior Consultant through the IAABC and co-owner of Canine Connection. She has worked with thousands of pet dog owners, shelters, and rescue organisations, specialising in fear, anxiety, and aggression with a particular focus on reactive dogs. Links https://www.fenzidogsportsacademy.com/index.php/courses/48710

In this episode we discuss community interventions to support owners and animals in need as an alternative to traditional animal control models

In this thoughtful and compassionate episode, Helen St. Pierre explore one of the most meaningful, and often avoided, conversations in veterinary and pet care: what does a good death look like for an animal in hospice? Drawing from their experience, they walk listeners through a practical yet humane framework built around three core considerations: Function, Purpose, and Joy. Tom and Helen open by addressing the most observable measure of an animal's quality of life, physical function. They discuss how caregivers and veterinary teams should assess whether an animal can still eat, drink, breathe, and move without significant pain or distress. When an animal can no longer maintain baseline physical function, or when doing so causes suffering, it becomes a meaningful signal in end-of-life planning. The episode then moves into perhaps its most emotionally resonant segment: purpose. Tom and Helen explore the idea that animals often live with a sense of relational purpose, does the dog still greet its owner at the door, does the cat still seek companionship? When that spark of connection begins to fade and the animal withdraws from the relationships and routines that once gave its days meaning, this shift deserves careful attention. Tom and Helen close the framework with the most personal measure of all: joy. Can the animal still experience moments of pleasure, a favorite treat, a patch of warm sunlight, a gentle pat? They remind listeners that joy doesn't have to be constant to be meaningful, but when an animal can no longer access the small pleasures that once defined its daily life, caregivers are gently invited to consider whether continued life is a gift or a burden. Tom and Helen close by reminding listeners that choosing a good death for an animal in hospice is not an act of giving up, it is an act of profound love and advocacy. By returning to these three questions, can they function, do they have purpose, can they still feel joy, families and care teams are given a compassionate compass to guide one of the hardest decisions they will ever face. Links https://olddogsgotohelen.com

In this episode, we're joined by Jessica Wheatcraft, who shares her honest reflections on years spent working with reactive shelter dogs, those that lunge, bark, and snap at the world around them. Jessica talks through how her approach has evolved over time, what she wishes she'd known earlier, and why so many well-intentioned training efforts fall flat in the shelter environment. She offers a thoughtful look at what actually moves the needle for these dogs, and how the people around them play a bigger role than most realise. Whether you work in a shelter, volunteer on weekends, or have recently adopted a reactive dog, this is a conversation full of practical wisdom and hard-won insight. About Jessica Wheatcraft Jessica Wheatcraft is a canine behaviour specialist with years of hands-on experience working with reactive and hard-to-place shelter dogs. Passionate about bridging the gap between behaviour science and real-world shelter practice, she has dedicated much of her career to helping dogs that are often overlooked find and keep their forever homes. Jessica is known for her compassionate, honest approach and her commitment to supporting the people who work alongside these dogs every day.

This episode explores the multidimensional concept of quality of life (QoL) within animal shelters, emphasising its impact not only on dogs, but also on staff and adopters. Framed through a behavioural welfare lens, the discussion highlights the interdependence between canine wellbeing, human experience, and organisational outcomes. For dogs, QoL is positioned as more than the absence of distress, encompassing the presence of agency, predictability, social choice, and opportunities to engage in species-typical behaviours. The episode also addresses staff wellbeing as a critical, often overlooked component of shelter QoL. High workloads, emotional labour, and ethical stressors, particularly around euthanasia and capacity pressures, are identified as key contributors to burnout and empathic strain. The importance of psychologically informed workplace practices is emphasised, including training in behaviour, clear decision-making frameworks, and fostering a culture of support, autonomy, and reflective practice. Adopters are considered the third pillar of QoL, with a focus on setting realistic expectations and supporting successful human–dog relationships post-adoption. The discussion highlights the role of transparent communication, behavioural matchmaking, and post-adoption support in reducing returns and improving long-term welfare outcomes. Across all groups, the episode advocates for a shift from throughput-driven models to welfare-centred decision-making. Data-informed approaches, interdisciplinary collaboration, and continuous evaluation are presented as essential to sustaining improvements. About Kelly  As the principal consultant for Kelley Bollen Consulting, LLC, Kelley works with animal welfare organizations to educate staff and volunteers about all things behavior to improve the quality of life for cats and dogs in shelters..     Kelley has a Master's Degree in Animal Behavior, is a Certified Animal Behavior Consultant (CABC) and a professional member of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).    Kelley is a nationally recognized expert in the field of shelter behavioral care and has worked with animal welfare organizations for over 20 years.   Links https://www.kelleybollen.com/about https://www.humanenetwork.org/animal-shelter-behavior-course

In this episode we discuss the importance of integrating behaviour into all of our shelter practices, including how we can do this successfully, what some of the challenges are and what structures look like in a range of shelter operations with and without behaviour teams. About Dr. Herron Dr. Meghan Herron serves as the senior director of behavior, research and education at Gigi’s, a shelter organization dedicated to improving the lives of shelter dogs. Prior to this role, she spent over a decade as an associate professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at the Ohio State University and currently holds an adjunct position with the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. She also holds adjunct teaching positions at the University of Florida, St. Matthews University, Lincoln Memorial University and Virginia PolyTech University. With extensive experience working with shelter and rescue animals in both the Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia areas, Dr. Herron has a deep commitment to behavior problem prevention and improving the quality of life and adoptability of shelter animals. As a published author and international speaker, she has delivered engaging, educational and evidence-based presentations to veterinarians, animal care professionals and pet owners across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia. Dr. Herron is the lead editor on the book “Decoding Your Cat” and a contributor to “Decoding Your Dog.” Her most recent work, “Introduction to Animal Behavior and Veterinary Behavioral Medicine,” a textbook designed to provide a strong foundation in animal behavior concepts, as well as an introduction to clinical behavioral medicine, is available now from Amazon and other major retailers. Dr. Herron graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in zoology and obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She then went on to complete a three-year residency program in behavioral medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine and is now board certified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behavior. Links Gigi’s rescue - https://gigis.org

In this episode, we explore how dog shelter and rescue professionals can reshape public perception of muzzles, using one of the most powerful tools available: photography. While muzzles are often misunderstood as symbols of aggression, they are valuable tools for safety, training, enrichment, and responsible handling. The challenge isn’t the muzzle itself it’s the story the image tells. We’ll discuss how intentional, positive imagery can transform that narrative. From capturing relaxed body language and soft facial expressions to showcasing bright, well-fitted basket muzzles during enrichment walks or training sessions, the right photos can normalize muzzle use and build adopter confidence.  By reframing muzzles through thoughtful visual storytelling, Daine has created the amazing book, Muzzled and Misunderstood.  About Diane Gollowitzer  Diane is an award-winning dog photographer based in Winchester, UK. She specialises in high-end wall art and provides a highly personalised service where everything is tailored to the dog's and the owner's needs.  Her sessions are stress-free and a lot of fun, where the dogs are allowed to be dogs. Her philosophy is that everyone deserves artwork of their dog no matter if they are trained or not if they are allowed off lead or not, or if they are nervous, anxious, or reactive. Diane started a personal project where she photographs dogs who are wearing muzzles. The inspiration was her terrier, Deedee, who can be reactive and wears a muzzle on our walks. I want to break the stigma around muzzles and muzzled dogs. Diane then invited the guardians of the dogs to write letters to them about their relationship and experiences  Links  Diane’s Website- https://www.dogsinfocusphotography.com Muzzled and Misunderstood Book- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Muzzled-Misunderstood-Diane-Gollowitzer/dp/1910488747 Muzzle Movement Discount Code- https://themuzzlemovement.com/?ref=fofhKIPajXn36l