2. Welcome
This training is designed to teach basic animal
handling rules to the staff and volunteers of the
SPCA of Texas.
These rules are designed to help keep both
animals and people safe and to ensure the well-
being of the animals.
3. • Rabies Quarantine and the Law
• Behavior Evaluations, or BVALs
• What are they?
• How to do them
• When to do them
• Why you should do them
• How to deal with problem behavior
• How to train a few basic behaviors for dogs
• How to use management tools effectively for
dogs
4. Rabies Quarantine is the LAW
It is important to our organization to adhere to
local laws and ordinances with respect to
handling and care. As a result we quarantine
animals that bite or scratch and draw blood.
5. Rabies Quarantine is the LAW
Report all incidents to your supervisor.
Local law requires that if an animal scratches or bites and draws blood,
even if it is a small amount, it must enter Rabies Quarantine and
remain there for 10 days of isolation to ensure that it does not have
rabies. This is done for public safety. It does not matter if the animal
was aggressive or not, how old the animal was or whether the incident
happened during play or for some preventable reason.
During quarantine the animal cannot be touched beyond basic care.
This is very hard on these animals, so it is very important that we
prevent accidents of this type from happening through excellent
handling practices.
We have determined that by following the guidelines in this training
you can reduce the risk of quarantine for our shelter animals.
7. BVALs Save Lives
The SPCA of Texas uses a process we call Behavior Evaluations
(BVALs) to help maintain the wellbeing of animals in our care.
Every staff member or volunteer has the opportunity to have
input about any animal’s behavior. This process makes it
possible to communicate about an animal’s behavioral condition
and needs with everyone in the organization.
If you see any behavior that is interesting or concerning, whether
it’s good, bad or just different, write a BVAL and give it to you
supervisor.
8. BVALs Save Lives
Animal behavior can often be changed with training,
socialization, behavior modification, enrichment or foster care.
The sooner we know an about the behavior, the more likely we
are to save the animal
Don’t delay in filling out a BVAL.
10. About BVALs
• Blank copies are available at the
Adoption Desk in the BVAL
Book. You can also ask for a
blank BVAL from your supervisor.
11. About BVALs
• Blank copies are available at the
Adoption Desk in the BVAL
Book. You can also ask for a
blank BVAL from your supervisor.
• Fill one out as soon as you see
the behavior. Waiting to fill out
the BVAL may allow you to forget
important details.
12. About BVALs
• Blank copies are available at the
Adoption Desk in the BVAL
Book. You can also ask for a
blank BVAL from your supervisor.
• Fill one out as soon as you see
the behavior. Waiting to fill out
the BVAL may allow you to forget
important details.
• The person that saw the
behavior needs to write the
BVAL so all of the most accurate
information is provided.
13. Fill out the information
about the animal on the
top of the form such as
animal name, animal
number, age, breed,
size and location.
14. Fill out the information
about the animal on the
top of the form such as
animal name, animal
number, age, breed,
size and location.
Then, fill out a
description of the
behavior you observed.
Be as detailed as
possible.
15. Fill out the information
about the animal on the
top of the form such as
animal name, animal
number, age, breed,
size and location.
Then, fill out a
description of the
behavior you observed.
Be as detailed as
possible.
After you have completed the top
portion, give the form to your
supervisor.
The Animal Behavior Programs
Department visits with animals
each work day in response to
BVALs and to tend to other needs.
We will recommend a plan of
action.
18. Here is an example
of a completed BVAL
During our observation, the
Behavior Department may visit
with the animal, review the
animal’s history and speak with
people about the animal’s
behavior.
After recording our observations,
we will make a recommendation
on how best to proceed with the
animal. Recommendations can
include how volunteers and staff
should interact with the animal as
well as information for adopters to
know when considering adoption.
19. BVALs are written when an animal’s behavior
causes concern:
• Aggression
• Fear
• Depression
• Kennel Stress
• Changes in behavior (good or bad!)
• Any behavior the behavior department should be
aware of.
BVALs
20. The completed BVALs with our
recommendations are available
• At the adoptions desk in the BVAL
book
• In the Volunteer office
• On Shelter Buddy under Medical
History.
BVALs
21. BVAL QuickReferenceGuide
In order to streamline shelter work for volunteers we create a short version
of the BVALs called the BVAL Quick Reference Guide. This is a shortened
description of the BVAL recommendations for any animal that has had a
BVAL and can be carried with you while you’re here.
22. BVAL QuickReferenceGuide
Volunteers should pick up a copy in the Volunteer office at the beginning of
each shift and carry it with them. The animals on this list are in the greatest
need of attention. The specific kind of attention recommended on the BVAL
is very important, so check your list as you work with each animal.
Staff can print BVAL Quick Reference Guides from the L: Drive.
24. Corrections Backfire!
Punishments and corrections seem to
work well at the time they are
happening, but research shows that
animals trained with punishment or
corrections are more likely to behave
aggressively to the person that
punishes them. The scientific term for
this is counter-control.
They may also be aggressive towards
others that just happen to be around
when they are punished or people and
animals that are weaker than they are.
This is known as redirected aggression.
Animals that are not aggressive are
more likely to become aggressive if
they are handled with punishment
and corrections.
Link to ASVAB Punishment Position Statement
25. Animals are already
under stress when they
come into the shelter.
Although we have two
wonderful shelters, the
animals here do not
understand why they are
here, how long they will
be here, where their
family went or how they
will be treated. It is our
job to make sure they
know that they will
always be treated kindly
so they don’t feel like
they need to protect
themselves from us.
Punishments and corrections create more stress.
27. Do not hit, spank, spray with
water, drag by leash, kick,
knee in the chest or “pop”
the leash (when dog is
pulling on leash).
* Emergency exceptions will be covered.
28. Do not say “No”
or “Stop That”
Do not scold.
Even though these don’t sound problematic, dogs often act as if we are
just barking along with them. They don’t know what we mean nor what
to do instead of what they are already doing.
In addition, shouting at our animals sounds bad to our guests and the
public.
30. Positive reinforcement is a term we
hear a lot these days when talking
about dog training.
“Training a dog is no different from training
a whale,” says Marine Biologist and world-
renowned animal trainer Bob Bailey, “Give
them something they want in exchange for
playing your silly games.”
31. Always keep in
mind what you
want the animal
to do and
provide him
something that
he likes when he
does that
behavior.
We often think in terms of what we wish
animals would NOT do instead of what we
want them to do instead. Every time an
animal does something undesirable, ask
yourself, “What do I want him to do
instead?”
32. Always keep in
mind what you
want the animal
to do and
provide him
something that
he likes when he
does that
behavior.
Example:
If a dog is jumping on you he is most likely
asking for your attention.
Wait until he puts all four feet on the ground
and then give him the attention he wants.
33. Keep in mind that
if you reinforce
undesirable
behavior he’ll do
more of that, too,
so use the
techniques we
teach to help him
behave!
Example:
If you give a dog attention when he jumps
up on you he’s very likely to jump up on you
more often in the future.
34. You can distract
the dog from
problematic
behaviors by
redirecting to
something more
appropriate.
Example:
If a dog is biting at the leash or nipping
at your clothes, give him a toy or treat to
put in his mouth instead
35. You can distract
the dog from
problematic
behaviors by
redirecting to
something more
appropriate.
Make it fun! Get him to play
with the toy and keep him
tugging while you walk.
36. Every time you interact with an animal,
you are teaching them something.
Make sure you’re teaching something
good!
Following are some ways to deal with
common behavior problems.
37.
38. What do you want
him to do instead of
jumping up on you?
Put his feet on the
floor. In order to
get him to put his
feet on the floor,
follow “Four on the
Floor” with
something he likes a
lot.
If Fido jumps on you for attention, wait for his feet to
hit the floor, then give him lots of petting and
attention. Stop attending to him when he jumps up.
39. Friendly dogs will often jump up on you to get
your attention, the treats in your pocket or the
leash in your hand. Before providing the dog
with anything he wants, wait for his feet to be
on the floor. This makes standing on the floor
more rewarding than jumping up.
If you enter the kennel and leash the dog or
pet the dog while he is jumping on you, you
are reinforcing this behavior and he will
continue doing it.
40. Click the photo for YouTube Video to open in separate window.
41. Constructional Petting / Constructional Affection
Teach 4 on the Floor and other calm behaviors with petting!
Constructional Petting should only be used with friendly dogs. This should not be used for
dogs that are fearful or aggressive because petting would not be a reward for them.
1. When the dog has all feet on the floor put one hand on him to pet him.
― If his feet come off the floor, remove your hand but be ready to immediately put it back as
soon as he has all 4 feet on the floor again.
2. When the dog sits down or lays down put two hands on him to pet him.
― Continue petting him this way as long as he is sitting/laying.
― If he stands up go back to petting him with one hand.
3. Once he stays sitting or laying down, begin to take short breaks by removing
your hands.
― Remove you hands for a very short time, 1-2 seconds and then put them right back on him.
― If the dog moves when you move your hands away, he is not ready for this step.
― Gradually increase the amount of time that your hands stay off the dog as long as he is
staying in place when you stop petting him.
• If the dog is too rowdy or you cannot perform the procedure without being too rough,
put a leash on him and stand on it so he does not jump up on you or tether him to
something so you can walk away and return when he has all four feet on the floor.
42.
43. Often, teaching a dog something as simple as “sit”
can be the key to getting him adopted.
Also, if the dog is sitting he is unable to perform
unwanted behaviors such as jumping up.
44. Click the photo for YouTube Video to open in separate window.
45. Some troubleshooting tips for teaching
“sit”• If the dog backs up when you’re luring him:
• Move the treat slower
OR
• Back the dog into a wall so their butt will slide down the wall as their
head goes up
• If the dog jumps up for the treat, lower your treat closer to their
nose.
• If the dog is not interested in your treats try a different kind (the
stinkier the better) or move to a place with fewer distractions.
If a dog seems interested in your food but is not following your lure,
avoid repeating unsuccessful attempts over and over again. All this
shows him is that sometimes people tease him and withhold treats
from him over and over again. If a dog has never experienced a positive
training relationship with a person, we need to show him that there is
something in it for him first. Start with something easier to lure like eye
contact or pick out something the dog is already doing and start
rewarding for that until it seems to click and the dog starts to offer the
behavior again and again.
48. If you do not have
time to train an
alternative behavior
(such as standing on
the floor instead of
jumping up), you can
create a situation
where his behavior
can’t happen or
where it isn’t a
problem.
49. If you do not have
time to train an
alternative behavior
(such as standing on
the floor instead of
jumping up), you can
create a situation
where his behavior
can’t happen or
where it isn’t a
problem.
Example:
If a dog pulls on leash, use a Weiss Walkie or
Front Clip Harness
50. 1. Dog should be wearing a flat, buckle collar
2. Clip the leash to the collar
3. Put the end of the leash under the dog’s chest
just behind the dog’s front legs
4. Stick the handle through the metal O-Ring
and pull through.
Now, when the dog pulls, the Weiss Walkie will tighten around the chest creating a
squeezing sensation.
• Be sure to keep the leash around the chest, just behind the front legs. If the leash
slips down to the belly, when the dog pulls it will cause pain
• This type of leash is also works to keep a dog from backing out of their collars.
51. In most cases, front clip harnesses will be hanging
on the dog’s kennel. We do not leave them on
dogs because of the way it fits and they tend to
eat them if left on.
The Front Clip Harness has 2 buckles, one that
clips over the dog’s back and one that clips under
the dog’s chest.
1. Clip the one that is going to go on top of the dog’s back and leave the other
unclipped.
2. Put the closed portion over the dog’s head with the ring, to attach the leash, on
the front.
3. Clip the bottom buckle under the dog’s rib cage.
4. Clip the leash to the front of the harness.
• In addition, you can also clip the leash to the ring on the collar if the harness
rides low on the chest or if the dog is not used to wearing a harness.
Some Front-Clip Harnesses are red or blue and have a black strip that goes under the
rib cage (as in the photo above).
52. Some dogs wear a standard harness, as seen to
the left, or a variation of this called a “step-in
harness”. These are very common harnesses that
have a ring on the back to clip a leash to.
Using this type of harness prevents any pressure
on the dog’s throat.
When using this type of harness it can be difficult to have full control over the dog’s
head and front end. For this reason, you should consider how much control of the dog
you are going to need when using this type of equipment. This is a great piece of
equipment for dogs that do not pull on leash or are fearful of having a leash and collar
around their neck.
If the dog pulls on leash, a harness will only provide the dog with additional leverage
in which to pull because it places the pressure near the dog’s center of gravity.
Also, harnesses cannot be left on most dogs because they chew them up when left
alone. If the harness is fitted snuggly and the dog does not chew on it, it may be left
on him.
53. Crate
Puppy Pads Head Halter
Baby Gates
Exercise Pen
Management tools are used until the dog can be
completely trained and in some cases the tools will
actually help facilitate training. Some tools, such as
crates, can be used throughout an animal’s life.
Even if management tools help,
you should still write a BVAL.
