Training and Enrichment Stories

Person walking white husky dog at the Sanctuary

A howling good time at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

For the dogs of the Sanctuary’s Dogtown, nothing beats a trail walk filled with wa...
Footsteps toward the future
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Grog the cat's head, backlit by the sun

The cat who climbed down for friendship

Grog watched from the security of a high perch for quite a while at Best Friends A...
Trust, one spoonful at a time
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Hilo the husky running outside in the snow

Faces of No-Kill: Dog’s journey from guarded to goofy

Hilo’s big personality and bigger heart are proof that with time and trust, even t...
He's even become a role model
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Gray and white cat looking intently at a Christmas tree

Why cats love Christmas trees and how to keep them safe

Learn from Best Friends cat behavior expert Samantha Bell why many cats are obsess...
Set your cat up for success
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Dog licking a whisk

Baked goods for some good dogs

A spoonful of kindness, a handful of treats, and a whole lot of wagging tails are ...
Tasty new volunteer opportunity is for the dogs
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Two yellow, orange and green parrots, with one holding a nugget of food in her foot

Happy hour gives parrots a taste of the wild

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, parrot happy hour serves up choice — and a treat...
Making foraging fun
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Keala Richter sitting on the ground beside Phoenix and Thumbelina the rabbits

Skittish bunny goes from panic to peace

Phoenix came to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary scared of pretty much everything. Bu...
And now he's helping another bunny buddy
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Multiple horses in a grassy field with red rock formations in the background

When horses are the teachers

Working with horses at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary fosters trust, healing, and c...
Demonstrations are as much for the animals as the visitors
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Garcon the parrot with wings outstretched taking a shower

Rescued parrots find joy in the great outdoors

At Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, parrots step into the sunshine for a summertime ...
They soak up sunshine and showers
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Dog standing in a pool of water with his tongue out

Dogs cool off at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

From cannonballs to cautious dips, the pups at Dogtown are soaking up summer — one...
See a video of them in action
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Person shaking hands with a brown dog behind a sign that says, Summer Skool

Meet Dogtown’s canine summer school stars

Dogs are sliding, splashing, and climbing their way to confidence during summer sc...
Learning can be fun
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Didgeri and Didgeridoo the dogs lying next to each other on a couch

Faces of No-Kill: ‘Twin’ bestie helps dog heal

Twinning in looks and now in spirit, two dogs at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary pro...
A remarkable coincidence when everything changed
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Rydell the German shepherd mix with his tongue out being scratched on the hind end by a person

Faces of No-Kill: Water-loving pooch finds his flow

Rydell made a splash during training sessions at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary — a...
He just needed structure and patience
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Boo the dog wearing a red bow tie collar with a winter background

How training one dog inspired shelter-wide change

Boo’s successful training plan sparked a shift in a rural Arkansas shelter that wi...
All interactions with animals are learning opportunities
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Annie the dog on a large cushion with two children who are smiling and holding tablets

Faces of No-Kill: Shelter dog now living on easy street

Annie overcame her challenges with time, support, and lots of broccoli....
She continues to make amazing progress
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