Behavior Wellness Program

The Behavior Wellness Program is an animal behavior training program at HSDC.

Team members meet once a month to discuss how to make the dogs and cats currently at the Humane Society more adoptable through behavior training.

Members of the Behavior Wellness program get the dogs out of their kennels and train them using positive reinforcement and if needed, Gentle Leaders TM. Team members work on the five basic obedience behaviors (sit, stay, come, walk/heel, and down) and may also work on more advanced training (e.g., Roll over, Sit up).

 About The Program

OUR MISSION

Photo Courtesy The Columbus Dispatch
Pip found learning tasty! (Story)

The mission of the behavior wellness program is threefold:
  1. To enrich the time the dogs spend at the Humane Society
  2. To help them get adopted quicker
  3. To increase the chances that their adoption is permanent.
Such training is very important. For example, the majority of dogs at HSDC are large breeds between 1-3 years old. Many are surrendered by owners who took them in as puppies, never taught them manners, then realized those puppy behaviors which were cute at 10 pounds aren't so cute at 50 pounds.

HOW TO JOIN

Members of the Behavior Wellness program consist of trained volunteers coming into HSDC on a pre-determined schedule to work with our 'Guests' to consistently reinforce what they've learned. This consistency will help them learn quickly and retain what they've learned, which will make it easier for the Humane Society staff to better match potential adopters to adoptable pets.

If you cannot commit to one scheduled hour at HSDC per week, please feel free to join us for the scheduled training sessions and come work with the animals whenever you are available during HSDC's regular hours of operation. For more information, please contact HSDC during regular business hours or email the Behavior Wellness Coordinator.

 Schedule