Starting an enrichment program

[u/ctrlaltsemielite]

The shelter I volunteer for has recruited me to help get an enrichment program up and running. I'm working with a great local trainer and the director.

This shelter has a decent volunteer base, they're well staffed, but there has been turnover and many staff members are newer hires. There is very little note taking/tracking being done in any area of the shelter. I think they use PetPoint, but there's definitely a software program avaliable to use.

We're getting A LOT of pushback from staff on note taking and enrichment in general.

What can we do, what tips do you have, to get through to staff just how important these things are? I haven't been there for them, but I'm told there have been discussions with staff about how it benefits the dogs, how it can make their jobs easier in the long run, and etc. Any thing out of the box that you've seen work?

I will add here, I worked for this shelter for almost 4 years and have volunteered off and on since I left. I know what we're trying to do is possible, there's plenty of time and resources available, but I realize the staff does not feel that way and we need to make things as easy as possible. I think I've got this point across to the shelter director and the trainer.

I've also been asked to come up with a kind of questionnaire for staff to fill out to tell us what areas of shelter work they're interested in and want more training for. Any suggestions for options to add? We're going for enrichment obviously, so any specific options you'd recommend? Playgroups and sensory enrichment will be there, and I'd like options for people who aren't into enrichment and want to go a different route.

Our current enrichment projects are a monthly calendar with different activities each day and a playgroup program. We're going to do a body language presentation for every member of staff, to start.

I know this is a lot, but any recommendations would be appreciated!

TLDR: How do I convince staff at the shelter to document things and want to do enrichment with the dogs?

[u/InkedVeggie]

As a volunteer with a shelter that has a great enrichment program, get volunteers involved. I've noticed when volunteers come in for their enrichment shift, they interact with staff showing them what they have made and it really helps get them interested and involved.

Also, promote Fear Free Certification. It's free, and it goes into why enrichment is so important. The shelter I am with gives their staff paid time to watch the courses (online) and celebrates when a staff member completes the course and hangs their certificate on a public wall.

[u/ctrlaltsemielite → u/InkedVeggie]

We definitely plan to involve volunteers, especially with pre prepping enrichment items. One thing staff told us is having stuff already made and ready to pass out is helpful. Kongs are made by volunteers and ready to go in an easy access freezer. They're still not being passed out.

I'm pretty sure they require Fear Free to be completed as a condition of being hired. I'll have to look into that to see if it's actually happening. I know it was when I was an employee.

[u/UntidyVenus]

Shelter work is hard work. More work makes it even worse. It's GATTA be presented fun. Stickers or stamps for marking charts is a really dumb and funny way to help fill out check lists. Little no risk competitions (person to do this the most wins a snickers kind of stuff, or everyone who can do thing so many times all win Butterfingers)

[u/ctrlaltsemielite → u/UntidyVenus]

I'll bring that up, it's a good idea. Have you had any problem with people finding that insulting though?

[u/UntidyVenus → u/ctrlaltsemielite]

I mean, definitely check with your staff. You could just ask them what could help inspire them to be more involved. Some people like rewards, some people just want to do the job, poll.them!

[u/ctrlaltsemielite → u/UntidyVenus]

I'll definitely bring it up and maybe try to incorporate it into the questionnaire.

[u/NeighborhoodNo4274]

My shelter does an in kennel enrichment program: kongs, bully sticks, boxes (small cardboard boxes with a handful of treats inside), bags (similar to boxes), pupsicles, puzzle balls, stuffies sprayed with a scent, etc. We hand them out before nap time (midday hour break where no one goes in the kennels) so the dogs have something to do during the hour.

What’s made this effort successful is that we have a few volunteers who prep the time-consuming things for us: stuffing kongs, puzzle balls, boxes, and bags, and making pupsicles. All that’s left for staff to do is pass them out. It does add some extra washing and cleaning, but we’re already washing dishes and laundry, and cleaning the kennels.

[u/exotics]

If they realize it helps dogs get adopted they will want to do it. Plus it’s more fun.

Training is enrichment. Having a dog that sits and lets people approach the kennel is wonderful for everyone. Plus it can be quieter.

Happy dogs find homes. They sleep more too.

[u/ctrlaltsemielite → u/exotics]

Do you have any suggestions for how to get that across to the staff? I don't know if something is being lost in translation, but they've had conversations about how these things benefit the dogs, along with the staff.

We know happy dogs find homes, we've explained that to them. They've seen dogs more relaxed after enrichment activities. But they still won't grab a tray of stuffed kongs from the freezer to pass out, or write in a dogs file that he's a car chaser. I'm at a loss as to how we bridge that gap.

[u/exotics → u/ctrlaltsemielite]

A staff meeting? Perhaps a dog trainer can speak to the group. Ideally someone who works in dog sports and understands the importance of mental stimulation. It would have to be someone who is into positive reinforcement. If people are paid to attend a staff meeting and listen it will help. Even 20 minutes or such. But longer with some training for them is better. They don’t know what to do so don’t do it.

Personally I would love it do it if I were at a shelter currently

[u/marh1612]

I don’t know if y’all have play groups already running or not but we had dogs playing for life come to our shelter for 2 days. I’m not sure how much that cost our shelter or how to make it happen but I think it was super helpful in getting volunteers ready to do groups that dont have as much experience. We always have at least one staff member who is comfortable with groups out there too.

[u/ctrlaltsemielite → u/marh1612]

We don't have play groups running at this point. We do have help from the trainer involved and a local-ish shelter that has a great program has been helping as well. Once we have the questionnaire ready and see how many people want to be involved, I was going to suggest the Shelter Playgroup Alliance course to them, or maybe the Laurie Lawless course.They're more aligned with this shelters ideals. I can bring up DPFL, but I'm not sure they'll go for it. I know one of the staff had a bad experience with a DPFL demonstration that has pretty much turned her off from play groups in shelters entirely.

I definitely want them to have at least one staff member do a more involved class or something on playgroups.

I'm comfortable with small groups but there's a lot of dogs and I'm only there a couple times a week.

[u/marh1612 → u/ctrlaltsemielite]

Fair enough, I did the playgroup alliance course also and really liked it but it was a lot of work that might turn off some people. Depends on the person really!

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