Shelter Enrichment

Handsome Dan’s Rescue

Once a match has been made between a dog in need and an HDR Enrichment Specialist, that volunteer spends several hours each week of one-on-one time working with the dog.

They make that dog “his” or “her” dog. They visit in the shelter play yard, they go for walks, they train basic skills, and after each visit, they put them back in their kennel run with some sort of enrichment activity; a Nylabone, stuffed Kong, marrow bone, puzzle toy, etc.

Maybe the most important part of this program is weekly participation in Outbound Hounds’ Pits and Pals C.L.A.S.S. Program. Enrichment Specialists take their shelter dog to C.L.A.S.S. every Saturday morning to work on their skills in a formal setting. Pits and Pals C.L.A.S.S. is provided free-of-charge to the dogs in this program through a partnership between Outbound Hounds and Handsome Dan’s Rescue.

Our Enrichment Specialists go through a seven week training on dog handling, body language, behavior modification and more.

- HDR