Every dog who arrives at Dane County Humane Society brings a different story. Some are unsure and nervous in their new surroundings. Others settle in quickly, eager for attention and time in the yard with volunteers. No matter their needs, the Canine Behavior Team (CBT) is already thinking about each one of them from the moment they walk through our doors, planning how to help them feel safe, build confidence, and take the next steps toward a new home. 

Each morning before the shelter starts humming, CBT Supervisor Jessica Marchant walks through the kennels, checking in on every dog. A dog who just arrived from a transfer might hang back, taking in the new sights and sounds, while a more outgoing pup might greet her with a joyful tail wag. Every morning, she’s reading the room — and every dog in it.

As the rest of the team arrives, DCHS’s morning rounds officially begin. Clipboards in hand, a group of medical, care, and behavioral staff gather to review notes, discuss progress, and plan next steps. These rounds aren’t just administrative checkpoints. Each dog is treated as an individual and has different needs to be met. The team considers emotional wellbeing alongside behavior: a note about a dog who skipped meals might spark a discussion about stress, while a nervous or fearful dog might be moved somewhere quieter to decompress. 

Every dog has an individualized behavior plan, and CBT coordinates closely with veterinarians, caretakers, and volunteers to carry it out. Enrichment — mental and physical stimulation — is one of the team’s most powerful tools. For some dogs, that means a peaceful walk through the woods; for others, a puzzle toy, a play session, or a volunteer tossing them treats until fear gives way to trust.

Every exercise, game, and quiet moment helps build each dog’s confidence. Sometimes, that investment pays off in a life-changing moment, like when a dog who once trembled at the back of a kennel finally steps forward to greet a hand, ready for connection. 

Beyond the kennels, CBT’s collaborative spirit stretches across DCHS. Team members teach handling classes for staff and volunteers, organize outings and foster placements, and follow up after adoption for some dogs to ensure their continued success. They even flag specific dogs who might shine as Pet of the Week stars on TV or who would benefit from a day decompressing with a staff member in an office away from the kennels. They also keep learning themselves, engaging in ongoing education and mentoring to stay current on best practices. Each team member brings unique experience and knowledge, but they share one purpose: to help every dog thrive.

By late afternoon, with kennels tidy and dogs settled, the shelter grows calm again. That calm isn’t luck — it’s the product of hundreds of thoughtful decisions made each day to support emotional safety and trust. Tomorrow, the routine will begin again: morning rounds, walks, evaluations, volunteer coordination, outreach, and note-taking. Within that steady rhythm, every moment matters, and every interaction builds toward one goal: helping each dog find their confidence — and their home.
 

The Canine Behavior Team doesn’t just train dogs. They build bridges between behavior and hope, one wagging tail at a time.

When a community member finally caught a large stray dog that had been running loose in their neighborhood for two weeks, they brought him straight to DCHS. 

Tarzan was immediately, unmistakably friendly: big, lovable, and bursting with energy, but completely overwhelmed. He was jumpy and mouthy, very difficult to handle, and overly excited by just about everything—and he was big, over 70 pounds. For staff trying to take him outside for potty breaks,
his size and unpredictability posed a real challenge. Inside, he’d plant his feet and refuse to move, then panic at the kennel door when it was time for his handler to leave. 

This is exactly the kind of dog the Canine Behavior Team exists for. 

They quickly got to work, placing him in a quiet double kennel, limiting his handlers so he could build trust, and starting him on a predictable routine supported by stress medication. When those early steps weren’t enough, they went even further; they wrote a detailed handling plan, coached staff on every step, and scheduled enrichment activities— long hikes through our internal Outings & Overnights program, rotating food puzzles, and more — beyond those all DCHS dogs receive every day to channel his energy productively. 

The results were remarkable. About a month into his stay, a volunteer in DCHS’s Behavior Modification program took Tarzan in as a foster, giving him the chance to live in a home, play with other dogs, practice calm behaviors, and just be loved. That consistent care revealed who Tarzan truly was: a goofy, affectionate companion who was ready for adoption. 

Tarzan’s story is a perfect example of what the Canine Behavior Team does every day. They don’t just manage behavior — they build the conditions for a dog to show the world who they really are. For Tarzan, that meant medication, structure, consistency, enrichment, a volunteer who believed in him, and a foster who gave him space to bloom. Every piece mattered. Every person played a role. And in the end, Tarzan found his new home and is now enjoying a second chance with a loving family