Build Playgroups That Actually Work
Learn the welfare-first system for running safe, data-driven dog playgroups that improve outcomes for every dog in your care.
See Pricing & Enroll →
🐾 Only 12 spots available for the June 2026 cohort — secure yours before they're gone
Playgroups Shouldn't Feel Like a Crisis Waiting to Happen
Most shelter teams are doing their best with no real system. Here's what changes when you build one.
❌ Without a System
- 😰 Every playgroup feels like a gamble — you're reacting instead of reading
- 📋 No consistent data means every staff member is starting from scratch
- ⚠️ Fights happen and no one is fully confident in how to break them up safely
- 🔄 Dogs cycle through without their playgroup behavior informing adoption counseling
- 😓 Staff and volunteers burn out because the days feel chaotic and unmanageable
- 🤷 You know playgroups matter for welfare — but the "how" isn't clear
✅ With Pathways Playgroups
- 🧠 You can read a yard full of dogs and intervene before things escalate
- 📊 Real behavior data gets collected daily and shared across your whole team
- 💪 Every staff member knows their role, their safety protocols, and what to do
- 🏠 Playgroup observations directly improve adoption matches and counseling
- 😌 Calmer kennels, more consistent care, and a team that runs like a team
- 🐶 Dogs get more positive experiences — and better outcomes at the end of their stay
Four Weeks. One Complete System.
Each week builds on the last — from the first dog introduction all the way to advanced interventions and breed-specific strategies.
Introductions & Data Collection
- Low-stress dog-to-dog introduction protocols
- Intake history and the right questions to ask
- Social categories and tolerance levels
- Building playgroup lists that actually get used
- Using playgroup data for pathway planning
- Framing behavior observations for adoption counseling
Logistics, Roles & Safety
- Roles and responsibilities in the yard
- Setting intentions and welfare-focused goals
- Safety dos and don'ts — the non-negotiables
- How to break up a dog fight (and what not to do)
- Managing high-energy, mixed, and selective groups
- Building consistency across your whole team
Yard Setup & Body Language
- Play yard design for welfare and safety
- Flooring, fencing, and environmental factors
- Advanced canine body language in group settings
- Humping, bullying, and arousal — in context
- Same-sex aggression and resource guarding
- When (and how) to use toys in playgroup
Interventions & Advanced Cases
- Intervention strategies — when and how
- Remedial socialization for shy and fearful dogs
- Muzzle training and safe handling techniques
- Behavior modification in shelter settings
- Breed-informed play styles (Kim Brophey's model)
- Building long-term program sustainability
Everything You Need to Build the Program
This isn't a passive video course. You'll get expert instruction, live support, and a community to learn alongside.
4-Week Video Course
In-depth video lessons featuring real shelter dogs and real scenarios. Week 1 videos launch June 5th — watch at your own pace and revisit anytime.
Live Mentorship Sessions
Four live sessions with Laurie on June 11, 18, 25 and July 2 at 4 p.m. Bring your real cases, your tricky dogs, and your team challenges.
Case Study Reviews
Submit your own shelter scenarios for review. Get direct feedback on your playgroup decisions, documentation, and behavior assessments.
Playgroup Video Library
Access a curated library of real playgroup footage to sharpen your eye for body language, intervention timing, and group dynamics.
Alumni Community Group
Join a private community that's now three cohorts strong. Connect with shelter professionals across the country, share wins, ask questions, and keep learning long after the program ends.
Discussion Boards & Live Discussions
Ongoing discussion boards focused on playgroups and case studies, plus live discussion opportunities throughout the cohort to keep the learning active and collaborative.
For Shelter Professionals Who Want to Do This Right
Shelter Staff Without a Behavior Team
You're running playgroups but there's no dedicated behavior staff to guide you. This program gives you the structure, language, and confidence to build a program that's consistent even without a specialist on payroll.
Behavior Teams Ready to Level Up
You have some playgroup experience but want a more systematic, welfare-first approach. You're ready to move from reactive to proactive — and to get your whole team operating from the same playbook.
Program Managers and Shelter Leaders
You're building or rebuilding your dog behavior program and need a framework that will stick. You want playgroups that generate real data, reduce risk, and actually feed into adoption decisions.
Behavior Professionals in Shelter Settings
You have a behavior background but want to sharpen your shelter-specific skills. Playgroup data, pathway planning, and team training are areas where even experienced professionals find game-changing insights here.
Hi, I'm Laurie Lawless
I'm the founder of Shelter Behavior Integrations and I've spent the last 15+ years helping animal shelters across the U.S. build behavior programs that actually reduce euthanasia and improve outcomes — not by working harder, but by working smarter.
I've been in the yard. I've broken up fights, trained new staff, and rebuilt programs from the ground up at shelters that were struggling. The Pathways Playgroup system came directly from that experience — what works, what doesn't, and what makes the difference between a chaotic kennel and a calm one.
My approach is practical and judgment-free. I know the constraints you're working with, and I meet you there. My goal is to give you tools you can actually use — not theory that collects dust.
Everything You Need to Know
Not at all. This program was designed specifically for shelters with varying levels of behavior support. Whether you have a certified behaviorist on staff or a small team of dedicated care workers, the frameworks here are built to work with the people and resources you actually have.
Yes — and often even more so. Many shelters are running playgroups but without a consistent system behind them. This program helps you move from "we do playgroups" to "we have a welfare-first program that generates real behavioral data." That's a meaningful shift in outcomes.
Week 1 videos launch on June 5th at 8 a.m. Live mentorship sessions with Laurie are scheduled for June 11, 18, 25 and July 2 at 4 p.m. These are live working sessions — bring your real cases, your intake forms, your tricky dogs. Laurie digs into your specific shelter context, not just general Q&A.
You can pay in full at $647.97 or use the payment plan option at $323.98 — with the full balance due before the program start date. Shelters sending one or more staff also qualify for a 10% discount code and/or the option to be invoiced directly. This can be combined with early bird pricing. Contact Laurie directly to set that up.
There are only 12 spots in the June 2026 cohort. Keeping the group small is intentional — it means more direct access to Laurie during mentorship sessions and a better experience for everyone. Once they're gone, they're gone.
CEUs are available through IAABC (13.25), NACA (12), CPDT-KA (15), CPDT-KSA (10.5), and CBCC-KA (4.5). Details on how to claim your credits will be provided upon enrollment.
You keep access to the video content and join a private alumni community that's now three cohorts strong. It's an active group of shelter professionals across the country where you can continue sharing cases, ask questions, and stay connected to the work long after your four weeks are up.
Absolutely. Volunteers are often the ones running playgroups day-to-day, and having them trained in the same system as your staff creates the consistency that makes programs actually work. Some organizations choose to enroll their volunteer leads specifically for this reason.
Ready to Build a Playgroup Program That Actually Sticks?
Four weeks with Laurie and you'll have the system, the data skills, and the team frameworks to run welfare-first playgroups for years to come.
Two payments — full balance due by program start date