What Dogs Want
Enhancing the lives of dogs (and their people!) by providing positive, constructive, educational experiences in our new enrichment center.
Project Description
What Dogs Want was created after I adopted Indy, a young corgi mix scheduled for euthanasia at a high-kill shelter in Phoenix, Arizona. I am a dog behavior counselor with a degree in Psychology and was looking for dogs to take into our foster-based rescue. This charming, short-legged dog had been turned in by his owner with the reason listed as 'not enough time'. After a few minutes with this dog it was evident that he was incredibly intelligent and social. I suspected his "problem" was he was under-stimulated in his former home which meant he probably got into a lot of trouble.
I have always felt a huge sense of responsibility to advocate for dogs, making their lives happy and as enriched as possible. In our 12 years together, Indy and I learned a lot from each other, looking for ways to communicate with each other and meet in the middle on many issues.
Indy taught me the importance of dog enrichment, including how crucial it is to keep your dogs' minds as well as bodies busy and engaged and to provide that interaction in order to develop the strong bond we all want to have with our canine companions. As owners, we have almost completely removed the element of choice in our dog's lives. We do not give them purpose, the ability to succeed or fail and learn constructively from their failing. Humans have not done this with malicious intent but from a lack of understanding a dog's needs, how their brains work and what factors in their lives shape who they are as beings. What they require to be happy.
What Dogs Want aims to fill in this gap between loving our dogs and providing the best life we can for them. We operate on an understanding of canine science, a respect and appreciation for dogs as sentient beings, and a huge desire to help people understand their dogs better in order to provide happier and healthier environments for their canine companions. The beauty is that through doing this, human lives are also enhanced as they will develop stronger bonds with the dogs they love, will be safer by having a greater understanding of dog behavior, and dogs' lives will be spared as we gain an understanding of what dogs truly need and are not "bad" dogs with no hope for changing their behavior.
We are looking for funding as we have the opportunity to move into a larger, permanent facility which would allow us to expand our services and help more dogs live a fully enriched life. We will be able to hold workshops, start an outreach program, provide resources to local rescues, design a safe, members only indoor dog park, have classes for children....the possibilities are endless. But we need your help!
There are several problems we can solve immediately through expansion of our program and having a larger, permanent facility to operate in.
PROBLEM: While people love their dogs and will do anything for them, they also have busy lives and proper care and meeting enrichment needs of a dog takes time. The options for busy dog parents are currently limited to pet sitters, dog walkers, daycares or dog parks. Most of these options do not approach dog care or dog needs in a holistic manner. They often have a limited understanding of dog behavior and body language, understanding individual needs, proper socialization or proper training techniques. Staff often lack training themselves and in daycare environments, are often left to manage large groups of dogs which is not in the best interest of human or dog. Dogs seem excited to arrive and do go home tired which seems positive and makes dog parents happy. However, dog daycares are often stressful and mentally exhausting for dogs and dogs can easily develop maladaptive behaviors from being in environments like this. I have worked for several large daycares, helped start several others and have colleagues with extensive experience working in dog daycares and the stories are unfortunately the same in regard to daycares often ending up being “managed chaos”.
OUR SOLUTION: What Dogs Want provides engaging, positive, fun, science-based enrichment and learning based on our understanding of dog behavior, psychology, 20+ years professional experience working with dogs in various capacities and a life-long feeling of responsibility to enhance every dog’s quality of life in a human-centric world. We are not a dog daycare or “boot camp”, our unique enrichment center is often compared to a Montessori school in that dogs are given choices in their day, class sizes are kept small (no more than 8 in one group at a time) to minimize stress and maximize learning. Our mission is to provide positive, constructive, educational experiences for dogs and puppies and share "homework" with their families to continue the fun and learning at home.
Our staff is comprised of behavior and enrichment specialists with professional dog experience. These people not only love dogs, but they also RESPECT dogs. There is continued learning as the science of dog behavior is ongoing and changing every day. We have the knowledge, experience (backed by science), and space at our facility to group dogs appropriately based on individual needs, temperament, and activities of the day. This is a service most daycares do not and cannot provide that makes us truly What Dogs Want.
PROBLEM: Puppies are bought or adopted every day into well-meaning, loving families. Most grow up happy and healthy but many people do not realize the time and energy it takes to properly raise a young pup. Without proper socialization (and many people do not understand what this really means), creating of clear but fair boundaries, exposure to novelty, opportunity to explore the world with guidance and feedback (all which build a pup’s confidence), these puppies can develop undesirable behaviors including aggression towards other species or unfamiliar people, reactive behavior in new environments, or conflict within their family. Best case scenario these dogs may have a lower quality of life than what it could have been. Worst case scenario these dogs may eventually be rehomed, taken to a shelter, or euthanized if the behaviors become dangerous or more difficult to manage.
OUR SOLUTION: We have exclusive puppy classes (including 2-week puppy ‘boarding school’) working with puppies of any age to build their confidence and give them the foundations they need to have the highest quality of life possible. We provide opportunities to engage in and explore their world in safe and appropriate ways, tailoring the program to the age, developmental stage, and personality of each individual pup. Puppies are exposed to and play with appropriate adult dogs because it is important youngsters learn from and learn to respect their elders. We provide families with insights on their puppy’s behavior and personality and suggest activities to have fun with their pups in the future to continue building confidence and building strong bonds between dog and human.
PROBLEM: Many dogs who are living in shelters or rescues suffer from stress and are unable to receive much stimulation or enrichment due to budget, staff, time or facility restraints. While most shelters and rescues have some enrichment protocols in place, these often fall short of meeting a dog’s needs while living in confinement. These dogs can be difficult to adopt out because they are stressed out and in an unnatural environment. They may exhibit poor manners or have little impulse control.
OUR SOLUTION: Rescue dogs can visit our center (we will also foster dog-friendly dogs and litters of puppies), participate in activities, meet new people and new dogs to help them build confidence, learn focus and impulse control, learn problem solving and body awareness and practice manners.
This will greatly reduce their stress while in transition between homes and give them valuable skills to take with them to their new home. Since we learn more about the dogs while they are in our care, we can help the adoption team find the most compatible person or family for this dog and send an enrichment plan with them to get them started off right in their new home.
PROBLEM: We all love dogs. Most of us have a dog in our home or are friends with a dog. We do not always know what dogs want; we know what we THINK they want. We do not always understand a dog’s needs, understand the relationship between their genetic influences, experiences and individual personality and how that shapes who they are and what they require to have a happy, enriched life. Not because people do not care but the education is not there, and there are conflicting theories (many outdated or based on inaccuracies) on how to raise, train, or live with a dog.
Because of this lack of knowledge, understanding of dog behavior and applied ethology (behavior of animals under human management) people sometimes think dogs are behaving “badly." They are surprised when a dog shows aggression, people can be bitten or even killed by dogs (in 2019 more than 400,000 people were bitten, and 48 people were killed by dogs in the US. Most dog bite victims are young children usually due to a lack of understanding basic dog behavior and body language). Dogs are abused, turned in to shelters, dumped on the streets, and many times euthanized.
OUR SOLUTION: Learning more about dog behavior and body language, developing respect and appreciation for these intelligent, sensitive beings we invited into our homes and learning about meeting their needs as a species can elevate the status of dogs and strengthen our bond with them. What Dogs Want is committed to being an advocate for all dogs and helping dogs and their people live happier, healthier lives together. Through programs that encourage dogs and humans to play together, work together and appreciate each other we can be a part of a revolution and an understanding of What Dogs Want. A large part of these human-centered programs will include dog bite prevention programs for children aged 4-12, holding summer kids' camps to teach basic body language and behavior to children in order to help them become dog advocates and learn how to interact with dogs in safe, healthy ways that are still fun for all.
Our market size is virtually unlimited as more than 76 million dogs live with people in the U.S. and everyone knows at least one dog. We cater to dogs and their people, seeking to improve the communication, understanding and respect between them. We encourage everyone to discover What Dogs Want!
With funding, we can create a facility that can provide all of these services, programs and more. We currently operate out of a 250 sf space so are limited to working with 7-8 dogs each day. We have a waiting list but it is a rare thing to have a space open up in our program (a great problem to have yet still a problem!) so the wait list is almost pointless.
Having a larger facility not only allows us to have more class space to help more dogs, we can do more for their humans too. We will gain the ability to work with an even larger population of dogs-introverts who do not always enjoy working alongside other dogs, providing "private tutoring" class for litters of puppies who are not ready to join a group of adult dogs, dogs that are dog aggressive, particularly shy or under-socialized. Space = more staff = more opportunity to help more dogs than we can service now, help more people and increase the services which are so needed and widely lacking. We will be able to hold more human-centric events as well: workshops on enrichment, host guest trainers, veterinarians and behaviorists, and special events for people and their dogs to attend together to further foster a community of dogs and their people. There are also rooms for dog owners/parents/guardians to come for DIY enrichment. We provide the tools, props and instruction and you can work with your dog on fun problem solving activities, participate in some scent work, cater to natural instincts by using our lure course.... so many opportunities to have fun and bond with your dog!
Consider being part of our "dog revolution" by helping to fund our dream facility. We want it to be the best, most bad-ass resource/facility whose sole purpose is to improve the quality of life for dogs and their people. A place that is truly WHAT DOGS WANT.
Updates
The Campaign FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How long has What Dogs Want been in business?
What Dogs Want began in 2007 providing in-home enrichment services for dogs. We brought games and activities into dogs' homes to provide mental and physical enrichment for dogs left alone all day or dogs who needed help working on specific skills. In 2010 we partnered with a dog trainer and began our first center, holding classes 3 days each week.
In 2018 we started our own facility in the very dog-friendly city of Phoenix, AZ after one of our clients asked if we had any interest in expanding our services in this area (and offering one of her rental homes to get started in!). We could not pass up this incredible opportunity and here we are! Our classes are filled and the need for more programs is evident so we are looking to acquire a larger facility to do even more great things for dogs and their people.
2. What is your experience and what are your qualifications?
I began working with dogs professionally in 2004 as an adoptions ambassador working for Maddie's Projects in Maricopa County. That evolved into becoming the project manager, helping local rescues and shelters to work together to increase adoptions and spay/neuter programs. I became interested in learning more about canine behavior working so closely with shelters so I left Maddie's Projects to see if I could be of more help working with dogs who had behavior challenges and providing enrichment for those dogs living in a shelter environment. It was at that time I began my own rescue and met Indy. The rest is history.
I continued learning all I could about dog behavior, enrichment, working with aggressive dogs, fearful dogs, and any dogs who needed special advocacy to help them find and keep a home with knowledgeable, committed people. The longer I lived with Indy the more the need to provide enrichment for dog became obvious and this was virtually an un explored science at the time.
I started What Dogs Want to provide enrichment opportunities for dogs as a way to keep them mentally and physically healthy, meet their needs and keep them in their homes. I believe that most (if not all) maladaptive behavior comes from needs not being met so if we could meet those needs most dogs would be better suited to living in a human-centric world, thus reducing the number of dogs being rehomed or being turned into shelters.
I continue my education in canine behavior, enrichment, training and counseling and am in the process of becoming a certified dog behavior counselor.
3. Can all dogs participate in classes at the What Dogs Want Enrichment Center?
Currently we work with dogs who enjoy being in the presence of other dogs as we do have a classroom format with 6-10 dog in a class. The new facility will allow us to have several separate "classrooms." Once we start classes in our new facility, we can configure each classroom to best suit any dog (we will cap classes at 6-7 dogs per class as we think that is the best environment for learning and having fun) and with the ability to create private tutoring areas, we will even be able to work with dogs who do not enjoy being in the presence of other dogs. After all, we believe strongly that ALL dogs can benefit from activities that challenge their minds and bodies and build their confidence.
4. How is your enrichment center different than a dog daycare?
Our center is staffed with dog professionals who specialize in dog behavior, training, or enrichment. Dogs are supervised 100% of the time they are with us and receive continual feedback during the day about their behavior. We believe strongly in giving a lot of positive reinforcement and finding replacement behaviors for unwanted behavior.
Groups are kept small; no more than 7 in a classroom at one time. Play groups are also kept small ( 8 dogs maximum). We believe keeping small groups maximizes fun and learning for all dogs and minimizes stress. There is one staff person for every 7 dogs at the center (1 teacher per class), relatively unheard of in the daycare industry.
During the day the dogs participate in activities that are fun but also foster various skills such as problem solving, creative thinking, or improving focus. Our mission is to provide dogs with positive, constructive, educational experiences that are fun for your dog and encourage them to explore and engage in their world.
5. How many dogs are in each class?
We do not have more than 7 dogs in any classroom at any given time. We may allow 8 dogs into a play group (a.k.a. recess) if there are sibling dogs in different classrooms or a guest visiting our center for the day.
6. When will your new facility be open for business?
We are hoping to start holding classes in the new facility after the first of the year, no later than February 2021.
7. How will your business support the community?
We are excited to be a community resource for all dog lovers and will host events, workshops, trainings and such to bring the community together on all things dog.
We currently volunteer with a local rescue, #LovePup and will be able to do so in a much larger capacity once we have a larger facility. We will be able to host more rescue dogs for a 'dogs day out', giving them a break from the shelter but also working with them on learning skills to ready them for life in their new home. We will be able to foster litters of puppies and adult dogs to work with them on learning or strengthening their skills and setting adoptive families up for success by giving them the tools they need to continue providing the best life possible for their new canine companion. We will hold regular adoption events as well to provide even more opportunity for dogs to find a loving family to call their own.
We will be supporting local artists, having them create the murals that will adorn and beautify our center and we will be inviting local, businesses to share space with us whether it is to have extra dog training space, an extra space to sell gourmet dog treats or sell products that benefit dogs and the dog-loving community. Stay tuned!
8. What is the best way to get in touch with you if I want my dog to attend class or if I have more questions?
You can visit our website: www.whatdogswant.dog or our Instagram page: @whatdogswant to learn more about current enrollment requirements. We are also happy to talk with you if you would like to reach out: [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!
We think this is one of the coolest ways to honor your dog bff. His or her image will be included in one of our wall murals (filling a 3 ft. x 3 ft. space) becoming part of the beautification of our incredible new facility!
One of several local artists will capture your dog's likeness in a permanent tribute to their love and loyalty. Included in the mural will be your dog's name and if you wish, we would love to include one line of text where you can share with everyone your favorite thing about your beloved dog!
For our international friends and followers, we have a space reserved just for you- the 'International Dogs' mural. Along with your dog's likeness and name we will include one line of text where you can tell everyone what you love most about your wonderful dog! You may send text in your native language if you like. We will also include your country's flag near your dog's image.
We will send you video of your dog's painting as it is being created and of course photos of the finished masterpiece.
Thank you in advance for your incredible support and sharing your dog's uniqueness to make our facility exactly WHAT DOGS WANT!
Just Because I Care
Each month you'll receive a new activity, game or dog behavior tip to work on and/or play with your dog! Detailed instructions included with all games along with ideas on how to change the challenge to keep the activity fun and novel for your dog. You will also receive email access to a dog behavior counselor and enrichment expert in case you need help or have questions about how to work with your dog's unique skills, drives, or personality. Activities chosen are appropriate for all breeds, ages, and skill levels!
The lucky recipient will receive one of several enrichment activities or games along with detailed instructions on how to use the game, what skills it will help your dog build, and how to play the game in various ways to change or increase the challenge for your dog! Activities we are rewarding donors with include Snuffle Mats, Licki Mats, Twirly Tube problem solving puzzles or Impossi-ball puzzles. You may specify if you have a preference and we will do our best to accommodate! All activities are appropriate for all ages, sizes, breeds and skill levels.
We love cute dog pics so we'd love to have your dog's mug in our greeting/reception area! This reward includes a 3 x 5 photo of your dog creatively hung in our reception area along with their name, your name and acknowledgement of your generous gift. We will send you a picture of your dog's photo on our wall along with an enrichment toy and enrollment in our Enrichment Tip of the Month Club.
Help us have the MOST adorable reception area of any pet service (at least this side of the Mississippi) and consider a gift at this level. We will contact you after receipt of your gift and ask for a digital pic of your best canine companion!
Thank you in advance for your support!
This reward allows your dog to be a VIP at the center with thirty enrichment classes to be used as you wish, and admittance for two to all monthly yappy hours at the center for one year.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft. x 3 ft. space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Your dog's beautiful face will be seen by hundreds of people each day as we travel through Phoenix and surrounding cities picking up What Dogs Want students on the Dawg Bus!
This reward features a digital photo of your dog in one of the windows of the bus with their name tag shown as they happily ride to and from the What Dogs Want Enrichment & Learning Center.
If you choose this reward, we will contact you for several digital photos of your pup so our designer can choose the one that fits best into the artwork that will make the wrap for one of our two busses. For best results, we would like a photo of your dog facing either left or right and one straight forward photo. If you live in the Phoenix area, we would be happy to provide a photo shoot if that is more convenient for you!
Thank you in advance for your generous support and helping us beautify our dog busses by showcasing your precious pups!
This reward allows your dog to be a VIP at the center with six enrichment classes to be used as you wish, and admittance for two to three monthly yappy hours at the center.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft x 3 ft space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of our program and allowing your precious pup to be a permanent part of our new enrichment center!
This reward allows your dog to be a Top Dog VIP at the center with six months unlimited enrichment classes to be used as you wish, as well as admittance for two to all monthly yappy hours and special events at the center for one full year.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft x 3 ft space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Thank you in advance for your incredibly generous support of our program, your belief in dogs, and allowing your precious pup to be a permanent part of our new enrichment center!
Rewards
We think this is one of the coolest ways to honor your dog bff. His or her image will be included in one of our wall murals (filling a 3 ft. x 3 ft. space) becoming part of the beautification of our incredible new facility!
One of several local artists will capture your dog's likeness in a permanent tribute to their love and loyalty. Included in the mural will be your dog's name and if you wish, we would love to include one line of text where you can share with everyone your favorite thing about your beloved dog!
For our international friends and followers, we have a space reserved just for you- the 'International Dogs' mural. Along with your dog's likeness and name we will include one line of text where you can tell everyone what you love most about your wonderful dog! You may send text in your native language if you like. We will also include your country's flag near your dog's image.
We will send you video of your dog's painting as it is being created and of course photos of the finished masterpiece.
Thank you in advance for your incredible support and sharing your dog's uniqueness to make our facility exactly WHAT DOGS WANT!
Just Because I Care
Each month you'll receive a new activity, game or dog behavior tip to work on and/or play with your dog! Detailed instructions included with all games along with ideas on how to change the challenge to keep the activity fun and novel for your dog. You will also receive email access to a dog behavior counselor and enrichment expert in case you need help or have questions about how to work with your dog's unique skills, drives, or personality. Activities chosen are appropriate for all breeds, ages, and skill levels!
The lucky recipient will receive one of several enrichment activities or games along with detailed instructions on how to use the game, what skills it will help your dog build, and how to play the game in various ways to change or increase the challenge for your dog! Activities we are rewarding donors with include Snuffle Mats, Licki Mats, Twirly Tube problem solving puzzles or Impossi-ball puzzles. You may specify if you have a preference and we will do our best to accommodate! All activities are appropriate for all ages, sizes, breeds and skill levels.
We love cute dog pics so we'd love to have your dog's mug in our greeting/reception area! This reward includes a 3 x 5 photo of your dog creatively hung in our reception area along with their name, your name and acknowledgement of your generous gift. We will send you a picture of your dog's photo on our wall along with an enrichment toy and enrollment in our Enrichment Tip of the Month Club.
Help us have the MOST adorable reception area of any pet service (at least this side of the Mississippi) and consider a gift at this level. We will contact you after receipt of your gift and ask for a digital pic of your best canine companion!
Thank you in advance for your support!
This reward allows your dog to be a VIP at the center with thirty enrichment classes to be used as you wish, and admittance for two to all monthly yappy hours at the center for one year.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft. x 3 ft. space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Your dog's beautiful face will be seen by hundreds of people each day as we travel through Phoenix and surrounding cities picking up What Dogs Want students on the Dawg Bus!
This reward features a digital photo of your dog in one of the windows of the bus with their name tag shown as they happily ride to and from the What Dogs Want Enrichment & Learning Center.
If you choose this reward, we will contact you for several digital photos of your pup so our designer can choose the one that fits best into the artwork that will make the wrap for one of our two busses. For best results, we would like a photo of your dog facing either left or right and one straight forward photo. If you live in the Phoenix area, we would be happy to provide a photo shoot if that is more convenient for you!
Thank you in advance for your generous support and helping us beautify our dog busses by showcasing your precious pups!
This reward allows your dog to be a VIP at the center with six enrichment classes to be used as you wish, and admittance for two to three monthly yappy hours at the center.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft x 3 ft space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Thank you in advance for your generous support of our program and allowing your precious pup to be a permanent part of our new enrichment center!
This reward allows your dog to be a Top Dog VIP at the center with six months unlimited enrichment classes to be used as you wish, as well as admittance for two to all monthly yappy hours and special events at the center for one full year.
Your dog will also be part of the beautification of our center by having his or her likeness painted into one of our custom murals (filling a 3 ft x 3 ft space) on either an indoor classroom our outdoor play yard. Your dog's name and one line of text describing what you love most about your dog will be included in their painting.
You will also receive our monthly newsletter and enrichment tips, and our choice of enrichment game for you to enjoy with your dog.
Thank you in advance for your incredibly generous support of our program, your belief in dogs, and allowing your precious pup to be a permanent part of our new enrichment center!