My First Two Months at the CSD

I started my Northeastern Co-op with the Center for Shelter Dogs at the Animal Rescue League of Boston two months ago and have already learned so much in the short time that I have been here. I am interested in veterinary medicine but also want to learn about behavior.

So far, this internship has been great and I didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on me until I met Gatsby.

Gatsby was the first dog assigned to me to work with and I immediately fell in love with him. At first we just got to know each other and soon I started training him basic manners. He was a very smart dog and learned very quickly. It didn’t take long for him to learn sit, down, look, crate, and to automatically sit when I entered his kennel, put on his leash, and before we leave the kennel. He quickly learned not to jump up on people. I was only able to work with Gatsby for a few weeks because he was adopted quickly. Although I loved working with him, I am so glad he went to a good home and he still comes by the Animal Rescue League to visit periodically!

Working at the Center for Shelter Dogs, I have learned about the C.L.A.S.S. program and how it is used as to train the dogs here.

I have been given the opportunity to work with many different dogs using this training program and have had one dog so far, come very close, to earning her Bachelor’s degree! Tammy and I have been practicing the C.L.A.S.S. lesson plans and evaluation test and we are so close to passing! It is so exciting to see the training that I am doing on a daily basis pay off on the evaluation test!

My time with Tammy has really shown me that quiet time, as well as the C.L.A.S.S. program, is extremely important and beneficial for shelter dogs. A lot of the dogs can’t really relax in loud kennels, so it is nice for them to have a chance to relax with a person in a quiet and comfortable room.

Working at the Center for Shelter Dogs has definitely given me another perspective on animal behavior and has shown me how important the work they are doing here is helping to save lives at the Animal Rescue League of Boston and elsewhere. I love coming into work to not only spend time with the shelter dogs, but to train them so they can hopefully find their forever home even faster. I know that we are greatly impacting their lives and that is what makes this internship so great. I am really looking forward to the rest of my co-op here and am so excited to learn more and more each day!

– Taylor Goslin, Northeastern University Co-op Student