Training and Enrichment Stories

Pharaoh the dog on a sand dune with a toy in his mouth

Helping an anxious dog is all fun and games

A bored Pharaoh is a stressed Pharaoh, so his friends are always coming up with ways to entertain him.
See Pharaoh in action
Video
Tilly the sulfur-crested cockatoo with wings outspread and head cocked to the side

Wallflower cockatoo blossoms into dancing king

Tilly was shy when he arrived at the Sanctuary, and after trying everything to get him to open up, caregivers found his true love: ’80s women pop artists.
See him move to the groove
Video
Nancy sitting with Yogi and Tank the dogs and Pong the cat on a multi-colored blanket

Dreams come true for doggy duo with tricky behaviors

It took some extra time to find Yogi and Tank a home that stuck, but now they have a family who understands and loves them as they are.
See how they make it work
Feature
Orange tabby cat licking the forehead of a person wearing an orange hoodie

You (yes, you) are a cat trainer

Samantha Bell, Best Friends’ cat expert, explains how if you’ve interacted with a feline, you’ve trained a cat.
Learn the power of positive reinforcement
Best Friends Magazine
Littles the cat lying in a kennel

Shy cat finds the confidence to climb higher

After being found scared and disheveled in a home with too many cats, Littles has become one courageous and happy cat.
How she overcame her fears
Feature
Samara the black cat sitting on her caregiver's shoulders

Cat’s transformation from scary to sweet

Samara went from hissing and growling to cuddly and confident with help from his new friends at Cat World.
See how she's blossomed
Feature
Hollywood the dog sitting on an orange chair next to a stuffed toy

Channeling a dog’s boundless energy into a new home

Hollywood was stressed out and struggling when he lost his home, but a team of people at Best Friends helped him find joy again, as well as an adopter.
Memories old and new
Feature
Lulu the dog in her new home

Listening to Lulu

Adopters experience a master class in boundaries and communication, taught by a dog.
The importance of understanding our pets
Best Friends Magazine
Smiling dog standing on some colored tires

Wisconsin shelter helps troubled dogs into homes

Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County forms K9 task force to support dogs needing extra help getting adopted.
Their all-hands-on-deck approach works
Feature
Person walking a senior dog on a leash

Ask Faith: The perils of declawing cats, easing a dog’s fear after bite trauma

Best Friends co-founder talks about legislation to stop cat declawing and offers advice to help a dog trust her fellow canines again.
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Odd-eyed dog on a red leash stepping out of a blue kiddie pool

8 ways to celebrate summer with pets

Here are some great ideas for having fun in the sun (and inside, too) and how you can help cats and dogs at your local shelter this season.
Beat the heat with a pal
Feature
Orange tabby and white cat on an orange blanket-covered piece of furniture

Ask Faith: Advice on dogs around toddlers, and on cats who need to knead

Best Friends co-founder shares tips on how to help dogs be more comfortable near toddlers and on cats who won’t stop kneading.
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Brown dog looking out the open window of a red truck

Ask Faith: Help for a pasta-loving parrot and a dog afraid of the car

Best Friends co-founder offers advice on how to help an Amazon parrot lose weight and a dog feel more confident on car rides.
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Orange tabby cat standing on a county

Ask Faith: Advice to help stop cats from counter surfing, dogs from digging

Best Friends co-founder answers questions about how to keep a curious, food-obsessed cat off the counter and a dog from digging where she shouldn’t.
Follow Faith's advice
Best Friends Magazine
Legion the dog smiling and wearing sunglasses

Hero dog with traumatic past gets his own party at Dogtown

It's a 'just because' party and no one deserves it more than this heroic senior dog.
Join in the celebration
Feature