"Description: Interactive shelter dogs and cats, who approach visitors in a friendly manner, are much preferred by potential adopters. In contrast, animals who demonstrate fear-related behaviors towards unfamiliar people have an increased shelter length of stay, much as three times longer than that of their interactive counterparts. Behavioral interventions for fearful shelter animals are often limited to environmental management and patience. Other behavior modification protocols lean heavily on respondent learning strategies. Rarely do shelter behavior teams focus on training fearful animals to present specific behaviors related to friendly greeting, though there is some evidence that more constructional approaches can be effective . This presentation introduces a novel, effective, and simple ritualized introduction method that trains shelter dogs and cats to routinely display friendly behaviors towards new people. This protocol has been successful as a component of a socialization program for fearful shelter animals and demonstrates a wider application for helping companion dogs and cats comfortably meet unfamiliar guests at home. Learning objectives: Describe how adoption programs can benefit from a structured approach towards socializing fearful shelter animals Outline a step by step process for training a ritualized greeting that results in the learner approaching and soliciting affection from new people in shelter and at home Identify components of a pre- and post- adoption support plan to ensure that fearful companion animal placements stick "

Sponsor:IAABC Foundation
Speaker(s):Melissa Taylor

Contact:
 Email: questions@iaabcfoundation.org
 Web: https://iaabcfoundation.org/animal-behavior-conference