Animal Rehabilitative Training - A.R.T. Program™
The Animal Rehabilitative Training or A.R.T. Program™ was established in April 2003 in conjunction with research carried out by Monash University's Dr Linda Marston PhD. The shelter kennel attendants at Animal Aid were constantly struggling with feelings of helplessness and frustration while trying to help dogs cope with the shelter environment. They also found that the task of trying to convince the public that the dog that was jumping and barking behind the gate was quite different once outside his/her pen and would make an ideal choice for adoption is easier said than done.

Studies indicate that a shelter dog has roughly three seconds to catch the eye of a prospective adoptive family as they walk along the kennel run. Behaviours such as jumping and barking can represent the coping mechanisms that dogs use to deal with the highly stimulating shelter environment. Some dogs choose to withdraw while others choose to join the throng. The quiet ones may appear more attractive, but it could just as easily mean they not as well socialized as the more vocal or outgoing neighbour.  

All training and behaviour modification undertaken by Animal Aid uses positive reinforcement and reward based techniques and aims to require basic good manners from our shelter dogs. Simple requirements such not jumping up, not pulling on the lead and calm kennel behaviour. Allowing staff to enter and exit their pen with out being monstered and sitting or standing whilst making soft eye contact with people passing can greatly improve a dog's chance of being selected.     

One of the key elements of A.R.T is environmental enrichment and giving dogs the tools to enable them to feel that they have some level of control, in what would otherwise seem like a completely vulnerable situation. They are offered heavy duty toys that require them to think and spend extended periods of time to enjoy. But more importantly they are given the opportunity to make choices about how they behave, in choosing to do the 'right' thing, (what we want them to do) they get to do what they want to do. Go for a walk or spend time in the yard or eat a special treat.

Our A.R.T Program has many benefits; first and foremost it aims to help the dogs cope with their stay at the shelter through environmental enrichment, empowerment and time out to de-stress. But just as importantly, it increases their chances of finding and staying in a new home endeavours by making them seem more appealing to the public. It requires a real commitment on behalf of all the staff and volunteers at Animal Aid, and relies on patience, persistence and consistency to succeed.

Post Adoptive Training - P.A.T. Program™
Among the many groundbreaking programs that we have put into place at Animal Aid, we are extremely proud of our Post Adoptive Training (PAT) Program. This program is designed specifically for dogs adopted from, not just Animal Aid, but from any shelter or rescue service. It looks at and aims to modify the behaviour traits of rehomed dogs that often inhibit their successful integration into their new home.  History dictates that there are always a proportion of the dogs in our adoption pens that have ‘emotional baggage’ from their previous homes. This can range from a simple lack of socialisation to unintentionally reinforced inappropriate behaviours.

Unfortunately there are a large percentage of dogs in the community that never leave their own backyard. They never get walked, and therefore never or rarely meet another dog or people outside the family. They are not allowed in the house and are put away when guests come over. As you can imagine, this would be a very isolating existence for such a gregarious animal. It is often the cause of some very common anti-social behaviour, which stem from a lack of necessary social skills due to a lack of exposure.

The more a dog is exposed to the world the more they are at ease with it.

As for reinforced behaviours, what might seem like innocent fun when a dog is only a puppy, such as jumping up and rough housing (these behaviors are often encouraged), doesn't seem so appealing when Junior becomes a 35 KG Labrador (or similar sized dog). Subsequently the children get ‘rugby- tackled’ every time they go into the backyard and after a while they won’t go out to play until Dad puts Junior away. So the cycle begins.

This ‘baggage’ is the reason that many dogs come to us in the first place, and may prove a challenge to their new adoptive family. Of course, there are always behaviours that, in the shelter environment, we have no way of anticipating. They only become apparent in the home environment. Various teething problems can usually, with the correct advice and commitment from the new owner, be easily solved by the excellent trouble-shooting skills of our experienced staff.

In the trials that led up to the implementation of this program, we have solid evidence that this lifestyle training proved to be the difference between the dog being successfully rehomed or returned to the shelter. We believe that this specialized training is a vital service for welfare shelters to provide. Animal Aid is committed to every dog that we rehome. We don’t just want them out of our kennels; we want them all to have a permanent and well adjusted home for the rest of their life. The P.A.T. Program™ helps us to achieve this by intergrating new shelter dogs into their families and addressing such issues as toilet training, loose lead walking, basic manners, jumping up and children and dogs. The program involves 4 x 40 minute sessions working one-on-one with a professional dog trainer.

Please contact Animal Aid for more information by calling 03 9739 0300 or email enquiries@animalaid.org.au.