In 2012, APA! set out to save the last group of pets who weren’t making it out of our city’s shelter alive — big dogs and dogs with behavior modification needs. To do that, we partnered with Dogs Playing for Life, an organization specializing in shelter dog playgroups and enrichment. Playgroup would soon become the foundation of our Dog Behavior program.
Too often, dogs are labeled as “behavior” dogs based on what they show in a kennel — a space where they spend most, if not all, of their time. When a dog is confined to a small area with little mental stimulation, no opportunity to socialize with other dogs, and minimal human interaction, it’s no surprise that undesirable behaviors emerge. Playgroup became the answer for giving these dogs a fair chance — not just at life, but at finding a home.
One of the things that sets APA! apart from traditional shelters is our commitment to getting dogs out of their kennels. At minimum, dogs leave their kennels twice a day, with a goal of four times daily.
These outings are critical. They:
Provide exercise
Allow dogs to relieve themselves away from where they eat and sleep
Build positive human interaction
Support mental stimulation through new sights, smells, and movement
There are many ways we make those outings meaningful:
A simple walk
Time in a play yard, where the dog chooses how to spend it — playing, seeking affection, exploring, or simply relaxing in the sun
Playgroup — an opportunity to interact with other dogs while allowing staff and volunteers to learn more about each dog’s personality, play style, and communication
Through playgroup, we see how dogs respond to corrections, how they set boundaries, and even what kind of dog they enjoy interacting with, if at all! This insight leads to better matches, stronger adoptions, and fewer returns.
Not everyone — individuals and organizations alike — supports the use of playgroup in shelters. Some worry about risk and the potential for injury. While scuffles can happen, the benefits far outweigh choosing to forego playgroup altogether.
“All animals deserve to interact with members of their own species. That’s one of the Five Freedoms,” says Ashley S., our Dog Behavior Team Manager.
“Playgroup is also what allows us to get dogs out multiple times a day. With one playgroup lead and three runners, we can get 100+ dogs out of their kennels and into meaningful, enriching activity in about three hours. In comparison, four people giving 100 dogs each a 15-minute walk would take over six hours — and most dogs spend longer than that in playgroup.”
We intake roughly 5,000 dogs each year, and the majority benefit from playgroup. Not every dog is a candidate — due to medical restrictions, age, or behavior assessments — but for many, it’s transformative.
Some dogs arrive completely shut down, only to gain confidence through social interaction, opening up an entirely new path forward.
Picasso came into our care in August of 2023 from Austin Animal Services. He was highly dog-selective, with a reputation for being dog-aggressive, and wasn’t receiving off-leash time with other dogs.
Our Dog Behavior team began working with him intentionally. Using a muzzle for safety and starting with carefully curated, smaller groups, they slowly introduced him to playgroup and expanded his social circle.
Today, Picasso successfully attends playgroup twice a day, every day — comfortably interacting with a variety of dogs. This act of offering him the opportunity to expand his circle in turn, expands his possibilities for adoption.
Alpine came to us from Austin Animal Services in early 2026, deeply fearful — of people, her environment, or perhaps everything. It was difficult to get her out of her kennel. But consistently, she was brought to playgroup.
Today, Alpine is adopted.
“We see this again and again,” Ashley explains. “Fearful dogs who don’t want to leave the kennel. But we bring them out, we let them interact with other dogs, and within days, they’re no longer hiding in the back. They’re waiting at the front, ready to go. Playgroup bridges that gap. People go from being something scary to being the pathway to what they want most — connection with other dogs.”
Without playgroup, a shelter dog’s world can become incredibly small. Progress slows. The path to adoption grows longer. And when adoptions slow, it creates a bottleneck — limiting our ability to bring new dogs to safety when their time is running out.
Playgroup doesn’t just enrich lives. It saves them.
