Our Open Paw initiative teaches shelter dogs and cats manners and skills that prepare them for successful adoptions and lasting homes. Open Paw promotes friendly interactions and desensitization to unfamiliar people, ensuring each animal is ready for life in a new family.
What We Teach
Open Paw equips our animals with vital social skills, including how to greet people politely, what items are appropriate to chew or scratch, housetraining, and leash walking. Our staff also gains valuable insights into each animal’s personality and behaviors through the daily handling and training of shelter animals, which helps us match pets with their perfect homes.
Community Involvement
Every visitor to our shelter plays a crucial role in our training process. Staff, volunteers, and community members come together as a training team, helping teach our pets essential manners and skills.
Daily Care: Every dog enjoys three potty walks a day. Our hand-feeding protocols help them adjust to new people, while KONG food puzzles encourage appropriate chewing behaviors.
Cat Engagement: We aim for each cat to interact with at least 20 people daily. Visitors can engage with our resident felines using teaser toys for play and stimulation, as well as special treats to reward positive behaviors.
Volunteer Involvement
Volunteers are the backbone of the Open Paw Program. From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week, they walk dogs, prepare KONGs, cuddle cats, and provide basic grooming—like brushing and baths—for all shelter pets.
Skill Levels
Open Paw categorizes skills into four progressive levels for dogs:
Level 1: Foundations
Classical Conditioning: We focus on forming positive associations by tossing or hand-feeding kibble without expecting specific behaviors. Volunteers and the public will assist with this foundational training.
Level 2: Desensitization
Leash and Kennel Manners: Dogs learn to sit calmly when entering and exiting their kennels. This teaches appropriate behavior during transitions.
Level 3: Basic Obedience
Play-Based Training: We introduce basic commands like Watch, Sit, Down, Come, Stay, and Leave It, rewarding dogs with treats and play. We also focus on desensitizing them to handling their collar, paws, and other areas.
Level 4: Real-World Skills
Outdoor Training: Dogs engage in off-leash training and practice polite greetings and loose-leash walking in real-world environments.
Cat Training
Cats are equally included in Open Paw. They can learn tricks like high-fives and become friendly with strangers. Staff and volunteers will engage them frequently to help them adapt to interactions with new people. We’re also developing free-roam spaces for cats, where they can receive gentle handling and exposure to essential skills, such as entering carriers for vet visits.
Join Us
As we implement the Open Paw Program at the Halifax Humane Society, we appreciate your patience and involvement. This program is new to our organization and community, but with time, we anticipate celebrating the positive results: more well-adjusted dogs and cats finding loving homes. The success of Open Paw relies on the active participation of visitors, dedicated volunteers, and our inspired staff. Thank you for being a part of this journey!
