The meeting emphasized that aggression in shelter dogs is a contextual, emotion-driven behavior, most often fear-based, but sometimes rooted in frustration, rather than a fixed label. Key strategies included reducing stress, observing behavior instead of using labels, managing distance, intensity, and duration. Safe handling, environmental management, and assessing dogs outside kennels were highlighted as critical to welfare and prognosis.
This session explored the unique needs, vulnerabilities, and care considerations for senior dogs entering shelter environments, including intake protocols, environment design, behavioral considerations, quality-of-life monitoring, senior-to-senior adoption programs, and medical/behavioral intersections.
This session focused on practical, welfare-driven strategies for understanding and supporting high-arousal dogs in shelter environments. Laurie and guest speaker Aditi (Director of Behavior & Training at Gigi’s Shelter for Dogs) explored how stress, adolescent development, and limited early socialization contribute to heightened arousal, and what shelter teams can do to help these dogs succeed.
In this session, we unpacked what it really takes to build and sustain effective behavior teams in today’s shelter world. Guest expert Christina Lee shared her approach to smart hiring, intentional onboarding, and creating team structures that actually work.
In this session, Laurie Lawless and Sue unpacked how shelter behavior assessments have evolved and what truly helps teams make sound, welfare-driven decisions. Together, they examined the limitations of rigid, one-size-fits-all tests and the power of observational data collected over time.
Caitlin and Laurie will explore what puppies need to thrive in a shelter setting, even when resources are tight. From developmental milestones to daily enrichment strategies, you’ll walk away with a clearer plan for raising confident, healthy pups who are ready for adoption.