College of Wooster class helps adopters train and keep their dogs

A College of Wooster class, K-9 Coach, trains students in working with dog behavioral issues to help individuals and families work with their newly adopted canine family member. Laura Sirot, professor and associate chair of biology at COW, developed and teaches the course, which grew out of COW’s investment in experiential learning.

Sirot said this type of learning helps students learn while working in real-world situations and, in some cases, helping others.

After participating in a workshop on creating courses that incorporate experiential learning, Sirot redesigned her animal behavior lab.

“I focused on service learning where the students would work to solve animal behavior-related problems in the local community,” she said. “I developed an approach where (we) would collaborate with local organizations to identify and understand animal behavior problems, use scientific literature to research potential approaches for addressing problems, and communicate this scientific information back to the partner organization.”

Initially, the lab worked with the Wayne County Shelter and Adoption Center on dog-bite prevention and an increase in the number of adopted dogs that were returned for relatively minor behavioral issues. The shelter staff did not always have time to give adopters detailed advice about addressing these issues.

“We thought,” Sirot said, “that having a post-adoption coach to help support adopters over the phone with the issues they were having would help dogs, adopters and the shelter.”

K-9 Coach was created to train these volunteers.

Any COW student, as well as community auditors, may take the credit/no-credit class. The curriculum includes visits from dogs and a range of speakers including veterinarians, dog behavior specialists, shelter and Humane Society staff, and former clients. Students receive training in basic dog behavioral issues that arise, especially with older dogs that have unknown or traumatic histories. They also learn about effective communication skills when working with clients.

Students practice simulation calls and go through an assessment to determine when they are ready to start working with clients.

The first clients they work with are from the college community. Then they move on to work directly with clients who contact the program through the dog shelter. Students have regular phone sessions with clients to discuss issues, potential solutions and progress. They then bring their cases to class to brainstorm ideas with the instructors and fellow students.

The program emphasizes positive reinforcement in addressing dog behavioral issues. Learning goals include understanding the goals and challenges faced by dog shelters, determining some common issues for shelter dogs, explaining and understanding the importance of positive reinforcement and animal welfare in dog training and therapy, recognizing the changes in dog behavior (overt and subtle) that reflect different conditions of the dog, recognizing and understanding dog body language such as ear position and tail wags, and recommending housing and enrichment techniques and behavioral training to remedy or prevent behavioral issues and promote the well-being of adopted dogs. Students also learn and practice phone etiquette, communication and record-keeping skills.

“Working with the class gives adopters hope and helps dogs be more successful in their new homes," Wayne County Dog Shelter manager Summer Foss said. "So many dogs get returned for things such as separation anxiety and pulling on a leash. Having training options at no cost to adopters helps some dogs to stay in the home instead of being returned.”

“I'm taking this class to help families and newly adopted dogs build a strong relationship with each other," said Brynne Snaguski, a K-9 Coach student. "After college I hope to continue working with dog shelters to find the right home for each dog.”

Habib Zakariah is another COW student in the class.

"I have always loved animals and that, coupled with my family’s history of community outreach, compelled me to seize the opportunity to help dog adopters,” he said. “This class teaches a lot of transferable skills such as patience, empathy, listening and quick thinking.”

For more information and to obtain assistance with dog behavioral issues, visit sites.google.com/view/wook9dogcoach/home.

Sirot also recommends the book "Love Has No Age Limit: Welcoming an Adopted Dog Into Your Home" by Karen London and Patricia McConnell.

“There are also great dog trainers in town,” she said. “Reach out for help early when you detect a problem to catch it before it escalates.”