The Danville-Boyle County Humane Society was one of three Kentucky shelters selected to receive training through Dogs Playing for Life (DPFL), a nonprofit organization rooted in the notion that a dog’s natural instinct is to play. This week instructors were in town teaching shelter staff and volunteers how to involve shelter dogs — who otherwise are in individual or double kennels — into playgroups. The volunteers and staff were taught how to assess dog behaviors to create doggy playgroups, which bring out the best in the animals while minimizing the risk of injury or the spread of infection, according to a news release from DPFL.

The humane society received a grant from Petco Foundation and ASPCA to support training through DPFL.

Ramsey said all dogs play differently — “settled and dainty; rough and rowdy; and seek and chase.” 

Being able to take groups of dogs out of their kennels will help them to not only burn off energy, but will allow them to learn “dog-to-dog” social skills helping them post-adoption in developing positive relationships with dogs outside of the shelter.

Ramsey said they invited several area animal shelters to attend the training, but only one was able to send someone, she said, probably because staffing during the week can be tricky.