Lisa Gunter Ph.D MA CBCC-KA is the Maddie's Fund Research Fellow at Arizona State University in the Department of Psychology and conducts her research in the Canine Science Collaboratory. She currently leads the Maddie’s Fund Nationwide Fostering Study. The goal of Dr. Gunter’s research is to better the lives of dogs and, to this aim, she has investigated the breed labeling of shelter dogs, their breed heritage, post-adoption interventions focused on owner retention, various types of fostering, enrichment, and behavioral indicators of welfare for kenneled dogs. She has published her research in scientific journals, presented her findings at numerous conferences, and received national and international media attention for her work.
Prior to her graduate school, she worked as a behavior consultant and trainer in San Francisco where she taught group classes and consulted with owners experiencing issues of fear, anxiety, and aggression with their dogs. Her interest in canine behavior began in 2002 as an animal shelter volunteer, training dogs in basic skills and assisting in shelter dog playgroups. That interest grew into a career where she managed the behavior programs of several shelters throughout the West. During graduate school, Dr. Gunter co-founded Wagfield Academy, an online dog training and behavior resource for owners, and the Institute for Shelter Dogs with Dr. Erica Feuerbacher, where they combine the latest in shelter research with the current best practices in workshops and consultations for staff and volunteers.
Sessions
Fostering in the Animal Shelter
Canine Welfare: How Do We Measure It and What Can We Learn
Enrichment in the Shelter: Using Science to Guide Us to the Most Efficacious Practices