Puppy Training!

Expert advice to help you understand and mold your puppy into a life-long family friend. The first weeks are a fleeting, precious time during which you establish pack order and shape puppy's behavior and habits. Puppies too young for formal obedience training are still learning every day! They need formal house training, housebreaking, guidance and house manners. What you teach him now will insure that his natural behavior fits into your lifestyle, schedules, and house rules.

A NEW LEASH ON LIFE

Expert and insightful advice to help you understand and modify your dog's behavior.

We were invited to cover the graduation ceremony for the New Leash On Life Prison Dog Training Program in NC. It was an emotional event as each inmate stepped to the podium and spoke to the local families whose dog they had trained.

One older gentleman moved everyone to tears as he struggled to convey what the opportunity meant to him and how much he would miss the little dog. He ended by saying “I’ve always heard you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and then choked up, he paused, lowered his head and softly said, “but this young dog sure taught an old man new tricks.”

Each trainer gave a heel-sit-stay exhibition with his dog, ending with a special trick. Then, to appreciative applause, they presented the dog to its new owner.

Myra Crabtree, Volunteer Assistant Director, explain how she became involved with the program. “About three years ago received a call from the local Human Society who said they had received a call from the Director of the prison of Rutherford County about starting "A New Leash on Life" program. At the time, Cherie McAlister and I were doing agility training so I knew she had done obedience training and had titled several of her dogs, which I hadn't. I have been involved in obedience but never titled a dog.

“We agreed this would be a great opportunity. We then contacted the Superintendent and coordinated it from there. We got Tim Greene involved, had several meetings at the facility to work out all the details, and Tim got the community to donate the materials.”

Myra provided the following background, most of which would be applicable to any area or state. In July of 2004 the state of North Carolina initiated, on a very limited basis, a prison dog training program called A New Leash on Life in which dogs slated for destruction in local pounds were paired with minimum security prisoners.

Two prisons were selected to conduct the pilot program one of which was the Marion Correctional facility. The program proved to be so successful that the State granted six more facilities the New Leash program in 2006 with Rutherford Correctional Center being one of the six. There are eight inmate/handlers as each dog has a primary and a secondary handler.

The Rutherford Correctional Center is minimum security with a male population of 243, many of whom are awaiting release into the general population in the near future. Through this pairing of pound dogs with inmates, 52 dogs have been re-homed into loving adoptive families.

Inmates who want to participate in the program must submit an extensive written application and then go through an interview conducted by the liaison officer. The candidate is then placed on a 2-week probationary period to see if they will fit into the program. During this time the inmate is taught to use the positive reinforcement training method, which rewards wanted behaviors by providing something the dog enjoys i.e.; treats, hugs or verbal praise as opposed to harsh physical punishment.

The RCC facility does not have cells, it is a dormitory facility; therefore the dogs have a state-of-the-art kennel that was built of donated material. During periods of severe weather the dogs stay in crates in the dorm. This is a plus in that all the dogs go to new homes not only with the basic obedience skills, house broken, and socialized but crate trained as well.

The New Leash on Life program instills a sense of pride; well being and self-esteem in the involved inmates and teaches them a marketable skill. It also teaches them patience and compassion and for many, how to love and accept love. It has changed the environment at the Correctional facility in positive ways as it gives the inmates a new purpose in life.

The New Leash on Life program receives no state funding. A local veterinarian, Dr. Michelle Toms-Greene, donates all the medical care for the dogs. Dog food is supplied by Science Diet and there is a volunteer training director, Cherie McAlister.

The dogs in the program were headed for destruction at the Pound. The basic obedience skills they have gained ensure they will become welcome additions to any family. It is a win/win project for all involved.

The program helps public offenders become productive members of society. TheDogPlace is confident that some of our readers will contact local authorities to volunteer or initiate the program in your state.

The good people at Otto Step 1-888-311-6886 donated their ingenious product to this program and they donate a portion of their sales to the dog charity of your choice. We hope other caring dog owners will come forward with donations or offers to help in similar programs. It is a tangible way of giving back to the dogs that give us so much, and as Myra said, it is a win-win for all concerned.

Cherie McAlister, Volunteer Training Director

Myra Crabtree, Volunteer Assistant Director

Ed Hughes - Director of Programs at Rutherford Correctional Center

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