P.A.T. PROGRAM ™

Among the many groundbreaking programs that we have put into place in recent times, we are most proud of our Post Adoptive Training Program (PAT Program™) . This program is designed to specifically target behaviour attributes of re-homed dogs that often inhibits their successful integration into their new home. History indicates that a proportion of the dogs in our adoption pens always have ‘emotional baggage’ from their previous lives. This can range from lack of socialisation to reinforced inappropriate behaviours.

Unfortunately, there are a large percentage of dogs in the community that never leave their own backyard; never get walked; never meet other dogs; they are not allowed in the house and are put out of the way when guests visit. As you can imagine, this is a very isolating existence for such a normally gregarious animal. It is often the cause of some very common anti-social behaviour, which stems from a lack of social skills due to the lack of exposure to a social environment.

If you came across an animal or object you have never seen before, then depending upon your personality, you would choose to react in one of several ways.

• The timid person may choose to run away, hide behind a bush and peek from a safe distance.

• The inquisitive person may choose to step back, pick up a stick, go in for a closer look and maybe even poke at it to see what it will do.

• Then there is the type of person who attacks first and asks questions later. They pick up the biggest rock, hurl it and another just for good measure, then makes sure it isn’t moving before finding out what it was.

Dogs are no different. The more they are exposed to the world the more they are at ease with it.

As for reinforced behaviours, what might seem fun and innocent when they are only a puppy, such as jumping up and mouthing (these behaviours are often encouraged), does not appeal so when ‘Junior’ becomes a 35 KG Labrador (or similar sized dog), and the children are ‘rugby- tackled’ every time they go into the backyard. Very quickly they won’t go out until Dad puts ‘Junior’ away. And so the cycle begins.

This ‘baggage’ is often the reason that many dogs come to us in the first place, and may prove a challenge to their new adoptive family. Of course, there are always behaviours that we have no way of anticipating in a shelter environment. They only become apparent in the home. Various ‘teething problems’ can usually be easily solved by the excellent trouble-shooting skills of our experienced staff, provided there is commitment from the new owner to listen and act on the advice.

In the trials that led to the implementation of this program, we gained solid evidence from several cases that this lifestyle training made the difference between the dog being successfully re-homed or returned to the shelter. We believe this specialized training to be a vital service that welfare shelters should provide. The Animal Aid is committed to every dog that we re-home. Far from just wanting them out of our kennels, we want them to have a permanent and well adjusted home for the rest of their life.

We will keep you updated as to the success of this program. Funds are always an issue and we would love to provide this service free of charge as we believe that it is so important. Maybe with community support we will be able to do so in the future. At the moment, first sessions are free, and subsequent sessions are $20 for 30 minutes. Usually four sessions in total are sufficient.

Please contact the shelter for further information, on 9739 0300, or email us at enquiries@vaat.org.au.

Our PAT Program™ is proudly supported by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.