An Evaluation of Training Procedures for Animal Shelter Volunteers

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of 3 training procedures on the correct implementation of a dog walking and enrichment protocol (DWEP). During the shelter’s typical training, volunteers correctly implemented just over half of all DWEP steps (M = 55.2%). Correct implementation of the DWEP procedure improved when participants completed a video-based self-training package (M = 75.3%) but did not reach the preestablished mastery criterion of 85% fidelity with 0 safety errors. Correct implementation improved during coaching (M = 90.6%), which consisted of modeling and positive and corrective feedback, and was maintained during 1-week and 1-month follow-up probes. Criterion performance was demonstrated by 2 of 3 participants at the conclusion of the study.

KEYWORDS:

• animal shelter
• treatment integrity
• video modeling
• volunteer performance
• volunteer training

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study was conducted by the first author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a doctorate in behavioral psychology at the University of Kansas. We wish to thank the student participants, research assistants, and staff of the humane society for their assistance with this study.