Companion Animal, Facility Management 1.5

Dog Daycare Considerations

• A dog's enjoyment of social contact with other dogs is crucial in a daycare setting.
• Enrichment activities beyond mere dog-dog interactions are essential to prevent boredom and stimulate dogs' mental and physical well-being.
• Providing quiet areas for dogs to retreat to when feeling tired or overwhelmed is vital to prevent stress and anxiety.
• Regular rest periods are necessary to mitigate overstimulation and noise levels.
• Grouping dogs by size, play style, and temperament is essential to ensure harmony and prevent conflicts.
• Maintaining a clean and well-ventilated environment is critical, with immediate cleanup of urine and feces in the absence of an outside toilet area.
• Regulations for daycares emphasize the need for constant, hands-on supervision to prevent accidents and ensure dog safety.
• The importance of proper supervision is underscored by incidents like the 2017 dog death in New Zealand.

Dog Daycare Considerations

• A dog's enjoyment of social contact with other dogs is crucial in a daycare setting.
• Enrichment activities beyond mere dog-dog interactions are essential to prevent boredom and stimulate dogs' mental and physical well-being.
• Providing quiet areas for dogs to retreat to when feeling tired or overwhelmed is vital to prevent stress and anxiety.
• Regular rest periods are necessary to mitigate overstimulation and noise levels.
• Grouping dogs by size, play style, and temperament is essential to ensure harmony and prevent conflicts.
• Maintaining a clean and well-ventilated environment is critical, with immediate cleanup of urine and feces in the absence of an outside toilet area.
• Regulations for daycares emphasize the need for constant, hands-on supervision to prevent accidents and ensure dog safety.
• The importance of proper supervision is underscored by incidents like the 2017 dog death in New Zealand.

Dog Daycare Considerations

• A dog's enjoyment of social contact with other dogs is crucial in a daycare setting.
• Enrichment activities beyond mere dog-dog interactions are essential to prevent boredom and stimulate dogs' mental and physical well-being.
• Providing quiet areas for dogs to retreat to when feeling tired or overwhelmed is vital to prevent stress and anxiety.
• Regular rest periods are necessary to mitigate overstimulation and noise levels.
• Grouping dogs by size, play style, and temperament is essential to ensure harmony and prevent conflicts.
• Maintaining a clean and well-ventilated environment is critical, with immediate cleanup of urine and feces in the absence of an outside toilet area.
• Regulations for daycares emphasize the need for constant, hands-on supervision to prevent accidents and ensure dog safety.
• The importance of proper supervision is underscored by incidents like the 2017 dog death in New Zealand.

Managing Dogs in Boarding Kennels

• Stress levels of dogs in boarding kennels must be carefully managed, particularly for rescue dogs that are already in an unfamiliar environment.
• Daily social contact with humans and dogs is essential, with careful consideration required when matching dogs for playtime to ensure compatibility.
• Dogs must have daily access to a safe and secure outdoor area.
• Toileting areas should be located away from sleeping and eating areas to maintain hygiene and reduce stress.
• Noise levels should be kept to a minimum, and sound insulation should be considered to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Kennels should allow dogs to see out, but also provide an option to avoid visual contact, such as using opaque barriers to block direct line of sight into other kennels.

Stress in Shelter Dogs

• Stress experienced by dogs in animal shelters impacts their welfare and can lead to behavior that threatens successful adoptions.
• Reducing stress in shelter dogs is crucial for their well-being and adoption chances.

Reducing Stress through Human Interaction

• 15 minutes of human interaction can moderate cortisol levels and lead to positive behavioral changes in shelter dogs.
• Volunteers can play a role in reducing stress through human interaction (e.g., at SPCAs).

Group Housing and Social Behavior

• Housing dogs in groups enables them to engage in normal, social behaviors.
• Matching dogs to reduce stress is essential when housing them in groups.
• Behavior problems in dogs housed in groups are 20% lower than those housed individually.

Increasing Adoptability

• Daily training sessions can increase the adoptability of shelter dogs.

Olfactory Stimulation and Welfare

• Exposure to certain forms of olfactory stimulation, particularly lavender and chamomile, appears beneficial to the welfare of shelter dogs.

Music and Stress Reduction

• Playing classical music may decrease stress in kenneled dogs.

Stress in Shelter Dogs

• Stress experienced by dogs in shelters impacts their welfare and may lead to behaviors that threaten successful adoptions.

Reducing Stress in Shelter Dogs

• 15 minutes of human interaction can moderate cortisol levels and is associated with positive behavioral change.
• Human interaction can be part of a volunteer's job (e.g., SPCA).

Group Housing vs. Individual Housing

• Housing dogs in groups enables them to engage in normal, social behaviors.
• Group housing reduces stress: behavior problems are 20% lower in group-housed dogs compared to individually housed dogs.

Increasing Adoptability

• Multiple sessions of human interaction increase adoptability.

Olfactory Stimulation

• Exposure to lavender and chamomile scents appears beneficial to the welfare of shelter dogs.

Music and Stress

• Playing classical music may decrease stress in kenneled dogs.

Reducing Stress in Shelter Dogs

• Stress experienced by dogs in shelters can impact welfare and lead to behavior that threatens successful adoptions.
• 15 minutes of human interaction can moderate cortisol levels and is associated with positive behavioral change.
• Human interaction can be part of a volunteer's job (e.g., SPCA).

Housing and Socialization

• Housing dogs in groups enables them to engage in normal, social behaviors.
• Group housing can reduce stress, with 20% lower behavior problems compared to individually housed dogs.
• Dogs need to be matched to reduce stress.

Olfactory Stimulation

• Exposure to lavender and chamomile appears beneficial to the welfare of shelter dogs.
• Olfactory stimulation can reduce stress.

Music and Stress

• Playing classical music may decrease stress in kenneled dogs.

Basic Requirements for Shelter Dogs

• Basic requirements must be met according to the Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010.
• Kennels must be:
  • Warm and dry, with cleaning followed by squeegee use.
  • Raised bed area provided.
  • Shaded from the sun, with protection from rain and cold.
  • Large enough for dogs to stand up, turn around, and lie down.

Reducing Stress in Shelter Dogs

• 15 minutes of human interaction can moderate cortisol levels and is associated with positive behavioral change, making it a valuable task for volunteers.
• Housing dogs in groups enables them to engage in normal, social behaviors, but requires matching to reduce stress.

Benefits of Group Housing

• Behavior problems in dogs housed in groups are 20% lower than those housed individually.
• Group housing sessions increase adoptability.

Olfactory Stimulation

• Exposure to lavender and chamomile appears beneficial to the welfare of shelter dogs.
• Olfactory stimulation can reduce stress in shelter dogs.

Music Therapy

• Playing classical music may decrease stress in kenneled dogs.

Basic Requirements for Shelter Dogs

• Animal Welfare (Dogs) Code of Welfare 2010 dictates basic requirements for shelter dogs.
• Kennels must be warm, dry, and provide shade from sun, protection from rain and cold.
• Kennels must be big enough for dogs to stand up, turn around, and lie down.
• Raised bed areas and squeegeeing after cleaning are essential.

Additional Factors to Consider

• Social isolation for long periods can be detrimental to shelter dogs.
• Small kennels can prevent dogs from escaping fearful stimuli.
• Boredom and lack of exercise can lead to problem behaviors.
• Problem behaviors include barking, frustration, stress, jumping, guarding gates, and pulling on leads.

Dogs in Shelters: Important Considerations

• Maintaining good hygiene is crucial in shelters due to the unknown vaccination status and health of the dogs.
• A quarantine period is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the dogs.
• Kennel materials should be durable, non-porous, and easy to clean and disinfect to prevent the spread of diseases.
• Hosing out kennels should not be done while dogs are present, as it can be a stressful experience for them; instead, a space to isolate while cleaning should be provided.

Reducing Stress in Shelters

• Research has shown that managed social contact is essential for the well-being of dogs in shelters.
• High levels of stress can be alleviated through the use of various types of enrichment.
• Enrichment and training activities can add value to the adoption process, with some types potentially increasing adoption rates.

Dogs in Shelters: Important Considerations

• Good hygiene is essential in shelters due to uncertainty about a dog's vaccination status and overall health.
• A quarantine period is necessary to prevent the spread of diseases.
• Kennel materials must be durable, non-porous, easy to clean, and disinfect to maintain a sanitary environment.

Managing Stress and Enrichment

• Research highlights the importance of managed social contact to reduce stress levels.
• High levels of stress can be mitigated by providing various types of enrichment activities.
• Certain types of enrichment and training activities may increase adoption rates, adding value to the rehabilitation process.