Managing Animals in Shelters and in Rescue with Foster Carers
Maddie's University was created to provide courses to enhance your knowledge of animal behaviour, animal welfare and animal care for animal shelter leadership, staff and volunteers (including rescue volunteers like Foster Carers). Maddie's University offers an extensive catalogue of classes and presentations to help you increase your animal care knowledge.
These FREE ONLINE courses are also excellent for pet owners, pet sitters and foster carers.
Maddie's University has an extensive catalogue of topics and courses.
- Self-paced, short lessons are free and provide a Certificate. After reading information and watching a video, you will be asked a few short questions.
- You will need to log in and create an account, which is FREE.
- Provide your Certificate to any Animal Rescue you wish to foster.
- Self-paced Online Courses
- On-Demand Presentations
- Learning Paths: for example, Foster Caring, Animal Behaviour, Feline Lifesaving.
https://university.maddiesfund.org/learning-paths
Cat Behaviour and Dog Behaviour Collections
Everything you wanted to know about behaviour! A series of collections with self-paced courses and resources on dog and cat behaviour, body language, training, shelter care, managing different or difficult behaviours, program management, foster care, and managing unwanted behaviour.
Cat Behaviour Collection
Choose from 18 topics related to everything cats; behaviour, stress, body language, shelter life, adoption and so much more.
https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/cat-behavior-collection
Dog Behaviour Collection
Choose from several topics on dog behaviour.
https://university.maddiesfund.org/behavior-collections
Assessing Dog Behaviour Through Everyday Interactions
When we assess dogs through everyday interactions, we can gather well-rounded information about the dog's personality, preferences and needs, leading to more informed decisions and better outcomes for the pets in our care. This course introduces an eight-step protocol for assessing dog behaviour through everyday interactions.
Learning objectives:
After successfully completing this course, you will be able to:
Explain why assessing dog behaviour through everyday interactions is preferred to traditional provocative methods. Practise an eight-step protocol for assessing dog behaviour through everyday interactions. Explain the importance of a mechanism for all staff, volunteers and fosterers to report their behavioural observations.
https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/assessing-dog-behavior-through-everyday-interactions
Course author
Kristen Brown is a certified dog trainer (CPDT-KA, VSA-CDT) dedicated to improving the lives of shelter dogs and helping others dive into the world of behaviour and training. What began in 2017 as a part-time job at a dog daycare and boarding facility quickly became a life-changing discovery of the fascinating world of canine behaviour.
Communication and Body Language
Body Language would have to be one of my favourite topics; this collection covers:
Assessing Dog Behaviour Through Everyday Interactions
What is an FASF scale? It's a scale based on fear, anxiety, stress or frustration to assess dogs in care or in kennels/shelter environment.
In the next video the handler shows the difference between:
- a direct front-on 'standing up' approach to a shy dog and
- a side approach, kneeling down, no eye contact, giving a treat to the dog.
Be mindful of your body language as you approach and interact through the kennels. Compare the following videos to see how simple changes to our body language can promote comfort in the pet.
From the course Assessing Dog Behavior Through Everyday Interactions, Maddie's University, Course FREE.
This is a helpful video on Petting consent test, it's a 8 minute video.
Is the dog wanting to approach you, or are they leaving some room between you and themselves?
What body language is the dog showing? Fearful, aggressive, submissive (shows you their stomach), tailed tucked under, stiff body, ears pinned back, brow furrowed, etc.
Brief consent test: pat the chest first, not on the top of the head, as many dogs don't like head pats.
Did the dog indicate they would like more pats, moving into your hand again? No?
No change, very still body language, is a No.
Moves away, moves the head away, or after being touched is not interested in sniffing your hand or moving closer.
Actively soliciting touch, moves closer when petting stops; a shy dog may put their nose under your hand or try to push or bump with their head or crane the neck to get closer to your hand.
Check with the dog again to see if they want to continue.
Are you considering becoming a foster carer?
CLICK HERE to complete the Expression of Interest form.
