Maddie’s Insights: Benefits of Pair-Housing Dogs on Welfare Measures and Length of Stay
Date: Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 12n Pacific for 60 minutes
Recording now available to watch on-demand on Maddie's University: https://university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-benefits-of-pair-housing-dogs-on-welfare-measures-and-length-of-stay-on-demand
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:
1. Identify behavioral and physiological benefits of pair housing
2. Identify adoption benefits of pair housing
3. Understand the requirements to consider using pair housing safely
Register here https://maddies.fund/MIwebcastsRegister
Can't attend live? Register anyway and you will get a link to the recording after the webcast.
Guest Speaker:
Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, Associate Professor, School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech and Director, Applied Behavior & Welfare Lab
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.
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.
Engage with our guest speaker on Maddie's Pet Forum: https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast01092025
#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment
#EducationandTraining
#Maddie'sInsightsWebcast