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Thank you for your interest in learning more about animal behavior. Under the tabs above, you will find information of general interest about dog behavior, access to our free Animal Behavior Helpline, information on private consultations for adopters and a listing of workshops and classes.
Click on the “Behavior Handouts” tab to find helpful advice on 80 different topics. That’s a good place to start.
The Dumb Friends League Animal Behavior department is staffed by experienced counselors who offer assistance with cats, dogs, rabbits and other small mammals. The department has been in existence since 1991 and has served as a model for the national Pets for Life program, a training curriculum for shelter professionals offered through The Humane Society of the United States.
As of July 2008, we have reduced our dog training class offerings to the public, so that our behavior team can focus on working with the dogs in our care, to improve their potential for adoption. Through our internal Head Start, Canine Courage and enrichment programs, we provide dogs with behavioral guidance, training and confidence-boosting attention to help prepare them for their new homes. Last year, 1,236 dogs were assisted through these programs. We are looking to significantly increase this number.
Often, animals brought to our shelters are kittens and puppies that didn’t receive proper training as infants. To help keep young animals in their homes, we offer Kitten Kindergarten and Puppy Preschool to ensure that they start off on the right paw. Our classes focus on building relationships through positive training and teaching them the basic skills needed to be well-mannered family members.
We also offer several workshops for those wanting to learn more about animal behavior, and periodically, we bring in guest speakers to address special topics of interest.
Our programs are offered at both our Quebec Street shelter in Denver and our Buddy Center in Castle Rock.
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