Training and Enrichment Stories

Acadia the cat standing on his hind legs doing a high-five with a person

Cat goes from shy to showman

Acadia didn’t want anything to do with people when he first came to Best Friends, but special attention from a caregiver changed that.
Now he's a tour highlight
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Black and white dog licking lips after tasting a Frosty Paws from a white cup being held by a person's hand

Volunteers deliver cool treats to Dogtown pups

Get the canine-approved recipe that makes the dogs bark for joy, especially on hot days.
Make them yourself
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Equine trainer Christian Mathews putting a saddle on Byron the mustang

A mustang’s breakthrough

Byron was born in the wild, and today he’s learning the ropes to become a solid riding partner.
He's now a riding partner
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Smitty the pig walking down a ramp following the training ball on a stick

Fun and games for pigs

Did you know pigs are super smart? School’s in session at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, and pigs are star pupils.
Learning is easy ... with the right incentive
Best Friends Magazine
Pharaoh the dog on a sand dune with a toy in his mouth

Helping an anxious dog is all fun and games

A bored Pharaoh is a stressed Pharaoh, so his friends are always coming up with ways to entertain him.
See Pharaoh in action
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Tilly the sulfur-crested cockatoo with wings outspread and head cocked to the side

Wallflower cockatoo blossoms into dancing king

Tilly was shy when he arrived at the Sanctuary, and after trying everything to get him to open up, caregivers found his true love: ’80s women pop artists.
See him move to the groove
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Nancy sitting with Yogi and Tank the dogs and Pong the cat on a multi-colored blanket

Dreams come true for doggy duo with tricky behaviors

It took some extra time to find Yogi and Tank a home that stuck, but now they have a family who understands and loves them as they are.
See how they make it work
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Orange tabby cat licking the forehead of a person wearing an orange hoodie

You (yes, you) are a cat trainer

Samantha Bell, Best Friends’ cat expert, explains how if you’ve interacted with a feline, you’ve trained a cat.
Learn the power of positive reinforcement
Best Friends Magazine
Littles the cat lying in a kennel

Shy cat finds the confidence to climb higher

After being found scared and disheveled in a home with too many cats, Littles has become one courageous and happy cat.
How she overcame her fears
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Samara the black cat sitting on her caregiver's shoulders

Cat’s transformation from scary to sweet

Samara went from hissing and growling to cuddly and confident with help from his new friends at Cat World.
See how she's blossomed
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Hollywood the dog sitting on an orange chair next to a stuffed toy

Channeling a dog’s boundless energy into a new home

Hollywood was stressed out and struggling when he lost his home, but a team of people at Best Friends helped him find joy again, as well as an adopter.
Memories old and new
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Lulu the dog in her new home

Listening to Lulu

Adopters experience a master class in boundaries and communication, taught by a dog.
The importance of understanding our pets
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling dog standing on some colored tires

Wisconsin shelter helps troubled dogs into homes

Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County forms K9 task force to support dogs needing extra help getting adopted.
Their all-hands-on-deck approach works
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Person walking a senior dog on a leash

Ask Faith: The perils of declawing cats, easing a dog’s fear after bite trauma

Best Friends co-founder talks about legislation to stop cat declawing and offers advice to help a dog trust her fellow canines again.
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Odd-eyed dog on a red leash stepping out of a blue kiddie pool

8 ways to celebrate summer with pets

Here are some great ideas for having fun in the sun (and inside, too) and how you can help cats and dogs at your local shelter this season.
Beat the heat with a pal
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