Animal Welfare Professionals

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

I wondered when one of the pairs was rehomed was the remaining dog paired with another dog or did they remain singly housed until they also found a home?
Also what impact it had on the dogs when their housing friend was rehomed and they were then in the kennel on their own?

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

@Erica Feuerbacher: 
One of the attendees asked if you looked at adopter information. Were pair-housed more likely to be adopted by people with another dog already in the home?

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

@Erica Feuerbacher: 
One of the attendees asked if you looked at adopter information. Were pair-housed more likely to be adopted by people with another dog already in the home?

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund

Original Message:
Sent: 12-05-2024 12:44 PM
From: Alison Gibson
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast January 9, 2025: Benefits of Pair-Housing Dogs on Welfare Measures and Length of Stay

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

@Erica Feuerbacher: 
One of the attendees asked if you looked at adopter information. Were pair-housed more likely to be adopted by people with another dog already in the home?

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

@Erica Feuerbacher: 
One of the attendees asked if you looked at adopter information. Were pair-housed more likely to be adopted by people with another dog already in the home?

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund

Original Message:
Sent: 12-05-2024 12:44 PM
From: Alison Gibson
Subject: Maddie's Insights webcast January 9, 2025: Benefits of Pair-Housing Dogs on Welfare Measures and Length of Stay

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------

Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people. Our guest speaker for the January program is @Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab.

This webcast was recorded on January 9, 2025

WATCH HERE

Dogs are often housed alone in shelter settings to reduce injury and disease spread. However, social isolation can be a stressor for dogs. Most prior studies have focused on laboratory dogs or shelter dogs that have been kenneled for several months. Thus, those results might not necessarily generalize to shelter dogs, many of which have shorter lengths of stay than those dogs studied to date and might be cohoused soon after intake.

Dr. Feuerbacher and her team investigated the behavioral and physiological effects of single- or pair-housing shelter dogs, most of which had recently entered the shelter, as well as the impact of pair-housing on length of stay. In this talk, Dr. Feuerbacher will review the literature on cohousing dogs, go into detail on her study methods and results, and discuss the benefits and practical considerations of pair-housing dogs.

Attendees will learn to:

•       Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
•       Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
•      Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely

This webinar has been pre-approved for 1.0 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association. It has also been approved for 1 hour of continuing education credit in jurisdictions which recognize the Registry of Approved Continuing Education (RACE) approval.

About our speaker, Dr. Erica Feuerbacher

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters degree program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

#Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts
#EducationandTraining

------------------------------
Alison Gibson
Media Projects Manager
Maddie's Fund
------------------------------