Behavioral Health: Playgroups

PLAYGROUPS

Rescue Village implemented its behavioral health program as part of its clinical department in 2022.

Rescue Village is committed to encouraging positive interactions and playgroups to provide mental and physical enrichment through physical activity. Dogs are highly social and emotional animals.

To best meet our shelter dog’s needs, the Dog Behavioral Health Manager collaborates with Shelter staff to implement playgroups on a daily basis. Shelter staff interacts with dogs’ multiple times throughout the day and are best positioned to provide regular updates to animals’ behavioral medical charts for the clinical team.

Playgroup Goals:

• A standardized dog behavior training program for staff to facilitate dog playgroups and training sessions.
• A behavioral health resource library accessible to adopters and general community members.
• Increase the amount of time every dog spends outside of its kennel each day (the current amount of time is approximately 30-60 each day and the goal is to increase the amount of time to 60-90 minutes per day).