AI Generated Summary

Summary (Shortened + Bulleted)

Understanding High-Arousal Dogs

• Defined what “high arousal” looks like in a shelter context.

• Discussed adolescent dogs’ impulsivity and emotional reactivity.

• Noted increasing prevalence of high-energy, under-socialized dogs.

Challenges in Rural & Transported Dogs

• Stress from transport and limited early socialization.

• Need for decompression before assessments.

• Use of in-kennel enrichment to reduce initial anxiety.

Enrichment Strategies

• Tools: food puzzles, frozen toys, shredded boxes, frozen water balloons, treat scatters, lick sticks.

• Emphasis on tailoring enrichment to individual dog preferences.

• Processed foods may increase energy slightly, but benefits outweigh drawbacks.

Energy Management & Decompression

• Introduced the inverted triangle approach for balancing:

  • Aerobic exercise

  • Training + pattern games

  • Decompression strategies

• Importance of varied routines to prevent anticipation stress.

• Reinforced the need to manage arousal before training.

Reducing Kennel Anxiety & Reactivity

• Techniques: short decompression walks, scent games, treat scatters, classical music, diffusers.

• Strategic kennel placement and calm kennel transitions.

• Rewards for settling, click-to-calm, and co-housing puppies where appropriate.

Managing Aggression & Difficult Behaviors

• Staff trained in defensive handling and de-escalation.

• Tools: treat trails, calling for help early, structured behavior modification plans.

• Role of behavior medication when appropriate, guided by a veterinary behaviorist.

Shelter-Wide Collaboration & Systems

• Gigi’s uses:

  • Daily behavior rounds at 11am

  • Slack channels

  • Whiteboards, binders, and cross-team communication

• Weekly pathway planning for medical, behavioral, and placement decisions.

• Use of fosters and temporary staff foster placements to evaluate dogs struggling in-kennel.

• Shelter processes ~3,000 dogs/year across multiple intake streams.