Carroll students learn dog enrichment at HAWS Schallock Center

 

DELAFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) — Students and dogs from Carroll University's animal behavior program had some fun off campus Tuesday, Sept. 24.

Nine students are training six foster dogs through HAWS this semester.

They went on a field trip to the HAWS Schallock Center for Animals Tuesday to learn Animal Centered Education free work.

"It's basically a bunch of different enrichment stations that the dogs choose to go to at their leisure," explained lab instructor Leann Boucha.

The students take their foster dogs into rooms filled with exciting things, and let the dogs work at their own pace.

"Some of the stations are food based, some are scent-based, some are texture-based, they're different heights, so it helps the students see what their dogs are interested in," Boucha said.

This is something any dog owner can do at home, even inside on a rainy day. Try hiding treats in pool noodles or snuffle mats, and let your dog lead the way to find them.

"They're going to go home and they're going to be ready for a nap after all this thinking and exploring," she explained. "Using their nose, sniffing, licking - all these activities are very calming to the nervous system."

"It's definitely opened my eyes to a lot of different things I can use," said Lauren Wells, a senior in Carroll University's Animal Behavior program.

She is currently training Bear, a 6-year-old yellow lab, who set a perfect example Tuesday.

"I'm so proud of him. He went in immediately, he just started sniffing and searching through everything," Wells said. "I'm a little surprised he didn't try to eat some of the sticks that were in there, because he loves sticks."

Trips like this are important to expose the dogs to new environments.

"Seeing how they cope with those new environmental stimuli and pressures, and all the dogs so far have shown that they're absolutely enjoying these spots," Boucha said.

It can be a good lesson for the students, too.

"He's taught me a lot so far," Wells said.

Click here to learn more about Carroll University's dog training program.