Mental Health Requirements for Shelter Dogs

• A comfortable bed or den.
• At least three daily opportunities to use a dog toilet area (outside of their kennel) and be rewarded for using it.
• Sufficient entertainment (environmental enrichment) and stuffed chew toys such as Kongs.
• Some hand feeding.
• Interaction with new people each day.
• Daily education (basic manners training) and mental stimulation(walks).
• At least 20 minutes out of their kennel run each day, used either for training, socialization, playtime, exercise or in somebody's office.
• Canine companionship—either housing with other dogs or daily play/training sessions.
• Puppies under four months must be housed together in a self-training,
long-term confinement area, with constant access to a puppy toilet area.
Puppies require daily handling, grooming, and manners training by
multiple people.

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