By Lisa Ellman ~
Having successfully passed the Canine Good Citizenship test, five dogs and 15 trainers graduated CMC’s pilot dog training program, Paws for Life or PFL. In addition, all the dogs in the program were adopted!!
It had been an incredible, eye opening, nerve wracking 12 weeks, with two incidents that had threatened to shut the program down.
Both the dogs and men had learned so much about each other during this time. From my perspective, for the men it was about learning patience, both with their dog and with their human teammates. It was also about learning how to communicate more clearly with each other.
They were learning and using new vocabulary that comes with trying to modify and or change behavior. Not only the dog’s, but also their own. They worked successfully to bring an emaciated, depressed great dane out of his shell.
They helped an adorable, rambunctious beagle/boxer puppy learn self control. They became acutely aware of how a medical issue hugely affected a boxer’s behavior.
About halfway through the 12 weeks, the teams and dogs were changed up. Trainers that had been working and bonding with a particular dog now had to accept that “their” dog was moving to another team.
The men had to deal with letting go, which was very difficult for them, and the dog had to now learn to respond to different people. Although commands and rewards remained consistent, the dog would learn to respond to the different tones and mannerisms of the new team.
This was an integral part of the training because, ultimately, the dog would be adopted by people that might do things differently, yet still be expected to respond efficiently.
Since 1981, dozens of inmate dog training programs have started up. Studies show that the rate of recidivism for the human participants is much lower compared to those that have not been part of the programs. But, there is one grievance that I’ve heard several times, and I will paraphrase here: “Those people are in prison to be punished for a crime. Why should they be able to do something that brings them happiness or pleasure?”
I totally get how that would be a conflict. But here’s my personal view: How well has our prison system successfully “rehabilitated” career criminals? We lock them up and leave them to sit idly for years. There are only some that may actually take the initiative to be pro active in their own rehabilitation.
With these canine programs, inmates have a chance to learn new behaviors that will help make them capable of living a more productive, crime free life — social sensitivity, communication, patience, compassion, empathy, responsibility, kindness and trust — characteristics and behaviors crucial to the world outside those razor wire fences.
Unfortunately, for reasons unknown and unexplained, the successful PFL program was cut by the rescue group that initiated it. But all is not lost! The service dog training organization, New Life K9s, has moved in, with those dogs now being trained by, among others, several members of PFL.
I recently had a chance to observe my former team members training these dogs. I beam with pride at having been able to help them find some solace, success and self worth.
Lisa Ellman has been working with a wide range of animals for over 20 years. Her passion, however, is dogs, and in 1996 she founded Good Dogma Obedience Training. With a foundation built on positive reinforcement, Good Dogma provides basic obedience training and behavior modification for the family dog and human members of the pack. Lisa’s comprehensive theory on training is a simple one: “Train the human, condition the dog.” Good Dogma is a monthly feature of Tolosa Press.
