Training and Enrichment Stories

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 ri...
He's now a riding partner
Best Friends Magazine
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 Sanc...
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 wa...
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...
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...
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 ...
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 ...
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 n...
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 peo...
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 do...
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 do...
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 a...
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 ...
Beat the heat with a pal
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Orange tabby and white cat on an orange blanket-covered piece of furniture

Ask Faith: Advice on dogs around toddlers, and on cats who need to knead

Best Friends co-founder shares tips on how to help dogs be more comfortable near t...
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Brown dog looking out the open window of a red truck

Ask Faith: Help for a pasta-loving parrot and a dog afraid of the car

Best Friends co-founder offers advice on how to help an Amazon parrot lose weight ...
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine