So many of our shelter dogs come from situations of neglect. They have not had training and do not have polished manners, which leads us to the task of teaching them. Dogs thrive on learning and pleasing us. Sometimes though, they have a hard time focusing in a shelter environment. Some feed off the barking of others, some cower in the corner. The treadmill has been an incredible tool to help both types of dog.
For a scared dog or a shy dog, the motion of walking on the treadmill helps them relax. As they walk, they loosen up and start to focus on us while we praise them and encourage them. I was a huge skeptic when we started using this method. But then I saw many soothed and relaxed by this exercise tool. Dogs that were petrified, dogs that we had to carry to the treadmill, only days later were wagging their tails and trusting us!
Take adoptable dog Lars. He came to us with a dirty ring around his neck and a large scar under his chin, evidence of being tied up or chained. We think the only human touch he received was when he was hit. This poor dog closes his eyes and ducks when you raise your hand.
After five days at the shelter, Lars was acting like a puppy! So happy, so excited to have people love him. However, he also started to get mouthy, jumpy and wanted to wrestle with his walkers. This is typical puppy behavior except Lars is no pup. He is 2 years old and 62 pounds. He shows no aggression but when you are a bully breed and full of muscle, those behaviors can really turn off an adopter. Therefore, we started Lars on the treadmill. Fifteen minutes of walking on the treadmill wore him out enough that he could then focus on learning good behavior. Now, after more training and socializing with staff and volunteers, Lars is ready for adoption and longing for a home of his own.
Thanks to donations from our supporters, we are able to continuously invest in tools to help our shelter pets. We want the best for them and work hard to make them adoptable and to be successful in their new homes.
In 2020, from January until July, the shelter adopted out 1,395 animals! Our treadmill training is a key program that helps make this possible by keeping our dogs mentally and physically active.
Their lives are in our hands.
— By Kathy Jacobs, FOTAS Programs Coordinator
