The Washington Humane Society is the only the only "open-access shelter" in Washington, DC, meaning that no animal is ever turned away. The shelter now relies on clicker training [0] to help their animals become more adoptable.

"Over the past 3 years, a growing group of volunteers have learned to clicker [0]-train rescued dogs for obedience, agility and other skills. The goal is to make them better candidates for adoption, as well as reduce stress by providing much-needed stimulation."

The move to clicker training is part of the Shelter In-House Training (SIT) Program, which assists shelter dogs in finding permanent homes and decreases the stress of living in the shelter.

"A group of dedicated trainers and volunteers teach dogs skills that foster good manners. Dogs enrolled in the Canine Training Program are taught, using humane methods, the basics of general obedience: sit, down, stay and come. While some are learning new skills, others are sharpening skills they already have. No matter what their current skill level, all of the dogs are bright and eager to learn and their skills will continue to improve with a little consistent guidance in their new home. "

Read more about the clicker training program at the Washington Humane Society's blog [1].