Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
- Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
If you'd like to earn a certificate of attendance for continuing education credit for RACE, CAWA or NACA, please view this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-implications-of-weeklong-fostering-and-co-housing-on-shelter-dog-welfare-on-demand
Program host: Kelly Duer, Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist at Maddie's Fund
Presenter: Lisa Gunter, PhD, MA, CBCC-KA, Asst Professor, Animal Behavior & Welfare, Virginia Tech
Meeting both the physical and psychological needs of dogs living in animal shelters is a challenging proposition. Negative environmental inputs, such as excessive noise, restrictive kenneling, and social isolation, contribute to compromised canine welfare. Human-animal interaction, such as a temporary stay in a caregiver’s home, has been shown to reduce dogs’ cortisol levels and increase their rest. What is not well understood, though, is if longer durations of foster care could extend those benefits. In addition, co-housing in the animal shelter has been even less explored scientifically, but previous studies suggest that dogs’ behavior can be improved through living with another dog. In this webcast, I will present our findings from our recently published study about weeklong fostering and co-housing, place these results in context with our previous work investigating various durations of fostering, and discuss the implications of these findings for how we utilize foster care and co-housing in the animal shelter.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss previous research about field trips and sleepovers
- Describe new findings about weeklong fostering and co-housing
- Differentiate how to utilize field trips, sleepovers, and weeklong fostering to positively impact dogs’ proximate and distal welfare
- Recognize utility of co-housing on entry into the animal shelter
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/InsightsMay2026
- Maddie's® Insights are monthly webcasts with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
If you'd like to earn a certificate of attendance for continuing education credit for RACE, CAWA or NACA, please view this recording on Maddie's University: university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-implications-of-weeklong-fostering-and-co-housing-on-shelter-dog-welfare-on-demand
Program host: Kelly Duer, Senior Shelter Solutions Specialist at Maddie's Fund
Presenter: Lisa Gunter, PhD, MA, CBCC-KA, Asst Professor, Animal Behavior & Welfare, Virginia Tech
Meeting both the physical and psychological needs of dogs living in animal shelters is a challenging proposition. Negative environmental inputs, such as excessive noise, restrictive kenneling, and social isolation, contribute to compromised canine welfare. Human-animal interaction, such as a temporary stay in a caregiver’s home, has been shown to reduce dogs’ cortisol levels and increase their rest. What is not well understood, though, is if longer durations of foster care could extend those benefits. In addition, co-housing in the animal shelter has been even less explored scientifically, but previous studies suggest that dogs’ behavior can be improved through living with another dog. In this webcast, I will present our findings from our recently published study about weeklong fostering and co-housing, place these results in context with our previous work investigating various durations of fostering, and discuss the implications of these findings for how we utilize foster care and co-housing in the animal shelter.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss previous research about field trips and sleepovers
- Describe new findings about weeklong fostering and co-housing
- Differentiate how to utilize field trips, sleepovers, and weeklong fostering to positively impact dogs’ proximate and distal welfare
- Recognize utility of co-housing on entry into the animal shelter
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/InsightsMay2026
