Nov. 10, 2009 - By: Admin

Millions of dogs are housed in shelters during any given year, and diligent, compassionate rescue organizations and volunteers do everything they can to find permanent homes for these dogs. A new research study has confirmed that training dogs may be the best way shelters can get their guests adopted. Even a moderate amount of basic dog training can increase the chances of adoption.

The study, “The effects of training and environmental alterations on adoption success of shelter dogs” had the dogs in the trained group trained once a day, during which they were desensitized to wearing a head halter, taught to come forward in the cage when approached, to walk on a leash, to sit on command and not jump up on people. Those trained dogs were adopted about 1.5 times as frequently as the dogs without basic training.