The effects of exercise and calm interactions on in-kennel behavior of shelter dogs

Abstract Over-activity, or excessive locomotion and barking in the kennel, may be unattractive to adopters and an indicator of poor welfare of kenneled dogs. The study assessed the efficacy of two common enrichment strategies, providing calm interaction and additional exercise, on in-kennel behavior in 16 shelter dogs. Both interventions resulted in appropriate behavior just prior to the sessions (t = 2.10, df = 7, p = 0.03 and F [2216] = 7.58, p = 0.0007, respectively), but both also resulted in an increase of some undesirable behaviors immediately after the dogs were taken back to their kennels (F [3216] = 7.77, p = 0.0001 and F (5216) = 10.1, p