Increasing Owner Compliance (On Demand)
Recorded On: 10/14/2026
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This course is part of Maddie's Community Conversations, weekly webcasts for the animal welfare field supporting pets in our community and animal shelters.
Speaker:
Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Principal, Animal Welfare United
Everyone in the shelter, from adoptions staff to volunteer handlers, laments the difficulties of "owner compliance" when it comes to behavior and training plans. Getting every dog handler within the shelter on the same page poses a constant challenge that often feels as though it has no easy solution. In this workshop, we dive into daily practices that increase compliance and result in more satisfied dog owners and dog handlers. This presentation is for you if you are frustrated with how often you're saying, "If they had just listened to what we said, this wouldn't have happened!"
Learning objectives:
• Attendees will recognize active listening and open-ended questions frequently used in establishing training goals with clients.
• Attendees will identify specific places in their own outcome process where motivational interviewing strategies (like engaging from a place of curiosity versus judgement) can be applied.
• Attendees will recognize how their behavior and language is one of the biggest influences on the success of their behavior and training plans.
This webinar is for Adoptions and foster staff and volunteers, Return to home and intake prevention staff, Behavior staff and volunteers, and anyone who is interested in canine handling.
This webinar has been pre-approved for .75 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits by The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement and by the National Animal Care & Control Association (CAWA and NACA).
Visit Maddie's Pet Forum to comment, access the resources, follow a discussion or ask questions: https://maddies.fund/communityconversations101426
If you have any difficulties viewing or completing courses, please email [email protected]. Also check out the FAQs page for more info.
keywords Maddie's Community Conversations, Devan Amundsen, Animal Welfare United, dog behavior, owner compliance, canine training
Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Principal
Animal Welfare United
Devan Amundsen, CPDT-KA CBCC-KA, is a certified dog trainer and behavior consultant with over 10 years of experience working with not just dog owners, but dogs in shelters, assistance dogs, and other working dogs. Devan started as a volunteer training dogs at his local shelter, and since then has been a Kennel Technician, Dog Care Coordinator, Animal Control Officer, and Shelter Manager. Devan currently teaches college courses about dog training, dog behavior, kennel management, and animal sheltering at the Bachelor of Science and Associate of Science levels at Bergin College of Canine Studies in Sonoma County, California. Devan teaches approximately 25% of the Bachelor's degree program. Devan also helped modify the Bachelor of Science degree program, designing and instructing entirely new courses centered around animal sheltering and providing community support. Last year, Devan launched a pilot program at the university, assigning students to foster dogs pulled from shelters for the semester as part of their studies, then participating in placing those dogs into adoptive homes. The program continues to bring dogs from rescues into the program, specifically pregnant dogs who whelp and raise their puppies alongside the assistance dogs in training. In April of 2022, Devan joined the team at Oakland Animal Services as the Dog Behavior Coordinator. Beyond the day-to-day behavior work, the goal is to create programs and systems that can be replicated in other communities. This year, Animal Welfare United sponsored free group dog training classes in partnership with Bergin College. These goal is that these classes will serve as a pilot project for other communities to replicate.
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