Animal Welfare Professionals

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hi Shelby,

The Petfinder Foundation has foster dog/field trip grants to help you get the program off the ground. 

Dogs Play for Life has some videos and educational materials.

These are the only resources I have for you on videos, I hope this helps at least a little bit. 

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

I can't help with your question about videos, as we have none at our shelter. However, if you are planning to use some tool to manage the list of dogs allowed to do a field trip (doggy day out, shelter skip day, etc.) along with which dogs are out, what person took them, when they came back, etc. we at BVSPCA have Google based apps (spreadsheets, slides, etc.) that are all integrated with each other. These could be adapted by any other shelter. You'd need someone with medium Google apps skills, but I'd be happy to help you kick start.

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

I would love those resources! I do have some Google drive/form experience. Our initial application to to do a field trip is via Google forms. 

------------------------------
Shelby Brandes
Board member
Logan county humane society
CO

Original Message:
Sent: 08-12-2025 10:24 AM
From: Peter Isakson
Subject: Starting a Field Trip Program, Need orientation assistance

I can't help with your question about videos, as we have none at our shelter. However, if you are planning to use some tool to manage the list of dogs allowed to do a field trip (doggy day out, shelter skip day, etc.) along with which dogs are out, what person took them, when they came back, etc. we at BVSPCA have Google based apps (spreadsheets, slides, etc.) that are all integrated with each other. These could be adapted by any other shelter. You'd need someone with medium Google apps skills, but I'd be happy to help you kick start.

------------------------------
Peter Isakson
Volunteer
Brandywine Valley SPCA
PA

Original Message:
Sent: 08-06-2025 04:16 PM
From: Shelby Brandes
Subject: Starting a Field Trip Program, Need orientation assistance

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#FosterPrograms

------------------------------
Shelby Brandes
Board member
Logan County Humane Society
CO
------------------------------

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

@Shelby Brandes bravo to you for all you do for Logan County HS!   And thank you for researching videos in our library.   You may have come across this video collection on foster care training which includes information your doggy day out volunteers could use when taking a pup out of the shelter into new environments:

Bringing a New Dog Home
Helping a New Dog Adjust
Introducing a Foster Dog to New Dogs

Here's a self-paced course on Fundamentals of Canine Communication and Safe Dog Handling with Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA, a certified dog trainer with over 15 years of experience working with not just dog owners, but dogs in shelters, assistance dogs and other working dogs.  Viewers can learn the basics of reading dog body language and communicating effectively with dogs to keep your fosters and the dog safe.  

I hope this helps and that your program has tremendous success!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!

Hello!

This is my first post to the forum so I hope my topic selection was appropriate.

I'm on the board of my local shelter and mainly focus on grant writing but am working towards starting a pilot program for Doggy Field Trips. I've been going through all the great resources on Maddie's sites but I'm struggling with seeing larger shelters using orientation videos and classes for their volunteers and participants and feel so out of my depth creating something like that. Are there any resources for orientation videos I could include in our google form application that we could use?

Most videos I'm seeing used are tailored to the specific shelter that made the content. We are in a rural area of Colorado and I'm already working essentially a full time job for the shelter on grant writing and assisting with photographing the animals going up for adoption, starting this program etc etc. 

Ideally I want something that goes over dog behavior basics, walking on a leash and things of that nature. Has anyone done this? What does everyone do for their field trip day programs for ensuring volunteers have a basic understanding of dogs and their behavior to increase safety?

Thanks for any guidance or tips you can give!