Canine Good Citizen Class Gets Two Paws Up
WHS shelter dog training program teaches pups & volunteers lifelong skills
It’s mid-afternoon on a Friday and the sun is shining on WHS’s green space as shelter dogs and their volunteer handlers line up for this week’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) class. Everyone seems grateful for the good weather, which is fair considering that the hour-long training session takes place year-round, rain or shine.
Volunteer program dog trainer Kerry Mitchell greets everyone from the center of the space as pairs of volunteers and dogs find a spot on the field. A 35-year dog trainer and 20-year shelter volunteer, Mitchell started CGC classes at the shelter in May of 2023 following a visit from the “Dogs Playing For Life” organization, a nonprofit whose mission is to enhance the quality of life of shelter dogs by helping shelters build successful playgroup programs.
“With so many of the dogs interacting in a positive way off leash, it opened the door for the dogs to work together in a class setting,” Mitchell said.
"I started teaching CGC at WHS because I felt it covered the basics and we could work on desensitizing the dogs slowly to things they were wary of, such as being approached by strangers; having their paws, ears, and eyes touched by strangers; and gradually exposing them to loud noises and strange objects such as bicycles, crutches, and wheelbarrows to build their confidence,” she went on to say. “Many of the dogs have benefitted by learning basic skills such as sit, down, and hopping in the car with confidence. These are skills that will help them stay in their new homes. The class also helps with their comfort around other dogs on leash. And because they are in class each week [and] have a card on their kennel showing what skills they're working on, they are more likely to be adopted.”
Due to the varying timeline for each dog from intake to adoption, not everyone who begins the Canine Good Citizen program completes the full slate of classes or takes the final test. Still, there is value for the dogs in participating in even just one class, as many have had little to no training when they arrive at the shelter.
The class is a boon to shelter volunteers, too, since it provides them with the opportunity to practice their training skills in a supervised setting and with a variety of dogs.
“I am able to give them direction and feedback, which not only helps them as volunteers, but with their dogs at home,” Mitchell said. “Many volunteers have told me how much [the class] has helped them understand and assist the dogs they work with and adore.”
For volunteers interested in handling dogs with more complex behaviors, Mitchell also teaches two advanced level classes and provides one-on-one coaching to equip volunteers with the skills they need.
“I love teaching [the CGC] class and watching the dogs and volunteers change and gain confidence over time,” she said. “Just like the dogs, volunteers come for weeks or months, then move on to other programs in the shelter, [so] we always need new volunteers to help with CGC.”
From Mitchell’s reflections on the past year, it’s clear what a transformational addition both playgroups and the Canine Good Citizen program have been for everyone involved.
“The first summer was remarkable because we had a group of dogs in class who enjoyed being with each other in playgroup every day,” she said. “One of the dogs, Pancake, was terrified of the car and new people. Over time, he became more and more confident with the strangers he was introduced to in class and eventually learned that the car was the best thing in the world. The day after he jumped into [a volunteer’s] car without hesitation for an outing on a trail, he was adopted, jumped into his new parents' car, and was driven all the way home with his head on his new mom's lap.”
Interested in volunteering to help WHS shelter dogs? Learn more about this and other volunteer roles at whatcomhumane.org/services, and reach out to our Volunteer Manager at volunteer@whatcomhumane.org.