Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
If you'd like to earn CAWA and NACA continuing eductation credit, please watch this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/behavior-plans-to-reduce-hyperarousal-in-shelter-dogs-the-impact-of-setup-and-choice
Canine hyperarousal behaviors like rapid jumping and grabbing are common challenges in animal shelters, impacting dog welfare, adoption prospects, and the safety of both shelter personnel and animals. Without effective intervention, these behaviors can escalate, reducing a dog's chances of finding and keeping a forever home. Learn how to identify triggers, create tailored behavior modification plans, and implement practical strategies that support the well-being of shelter dogs while enhancing safety and adoption success.
Speaker: Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is an animal trainer and ecologist who founded Sits & Wiggles Dog Training in New York City in 2009. He specializes in treating complex canine behavior problems and consults with animal shelters nationwide. He is the Staff Trainer at the Humane Society of Westchester and lead workshop instructor for CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. Before working with dogs, Ferdie trained cooperative care behaviors with dozens of species at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York and developed the behavior and enrichment plan to treat stereotypies in the Central Park Zoo polar bears. He holds a BS in Ecology from the University of Michigan and an MA in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. His experience includes working in environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, jaguar research and conservation, and restoring heavily disturbed forest and aquatic ecosystems. In his free time, Ferdie studies the lives of urban coyotes living in the New York City Metropolitan area.
To access the resources from this webcast or to ask questions of our speaker, visit Maddie's Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/BehaviorConnectionMarch2025
About Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection:
Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats.
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection group on Maddie's Pet Forum - https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF
If you'd like to earn CAWA and NACA continuing eductation credit, please watch this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/behavior-plans-to-reduce-hyperarousal-in-shelter-dogs-the-impact-of-setup-and-choice
Canine hyperarousal behaviors like rapid jumping and grabbing are common challenges in animal shelters, impacting dog welfare, adoption prospects, and the safety of both shelter personnel and animals. Without effective intervention, these behaviors can escalate, reducing a dog's chances of finding and keeping a forever home. Learn how to identify triggers, create tailored behavior modification plans, and implement practical strategies that support the well-being of shelter dogs while enhancing safety and adoption success.
Speaker: Ferdie Yau (MA, CPDT-KA) is an animal trainer and ecologist who founded Sits & Wiggles Dog Training in New York City in 2009. He specializes in treating complex canine behavior problems and consults with animal shelters nationwide. He is the Staff Trainer at the Humane Society of Westchester and lead workshop instructor for CATCH Canine Trainers Academy. Before working with dogs, Ferdie trained cooperative care behaviors with dozens of species at the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York and developed the behavior and enrichment plan to treat stereotypies in the Central Park Zoo polar bears. He holds a BS in Ecology from the University of Michigan and an MA in Conservation Biology from Columbia University. His experience includes working in environmental education, wildlife rehabilitation, jaguar research and conservation, and restoring heavily disturbed forest and aquatic ecosystems. In his free time, Ferdie studies the lives of urban coyotes living in the New York City Metropolitan area.
To access the resources from this webcast or to ask questions of our speaker, visit Maddie's Pet Forum https://maddies.fund/BehaviorConnectionMarch2025
About Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection:
Join us on the fourth Thursday of every month as we talk about dog and cat behavior - supporting pets in our community and animal shelters. Each month, we hear from speakers about topics of interest to our group, such as behavior medications, modifying animal behavior, assessing and improving animal welfare, and how organizations successfully provide behavior support to dogs and cats.
All recordings and resources shared during the webcast will also be available in the Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection group on Maddie's Pet Forum - https://maddies.fund/monthlybehaviorconnectionMPF










