What the Dog Training Program Means to Me

by Dan in K-unit at Airway Heights Corrections Center

My name is Dan and I am currently a Dog Handler in the Pawsitive Dog Training Program here at AHCC.  I have been in the program now for almost 1 year.  Before I became a dog handler in the program, I had never had any dog training experience.  I had several dogs when I was growing up, and I also played with my brother's dogs as well as my friend's dogs.  When I interacted with these dogs in the past, I can't say that a whole lot of training occurred.  When I think about what I know now versus what I knew then about dog training, let's just say our dogs and my friend's dogs could have used some of the training that I am using today in the dog program.

I have been incarcerated now since 2003 and I have had a variety of jobs here at the prison, but I would have to say that being a dog handler and working with these dogs has been the best job ever.  Most of the jobs here in prison are tedious and boring, but we are required to program and staying busy is a must or else your time here just drags by slowly.  I have worked hard on myself in the last 12 years to be a better man and I feel that I need to be able to make amends for the people that I have hurt because of my negative actions in the past.  I feel being a dog handler and giving these dogs a second chance at life, helps me to make amends and give back to the community in some small way.

Being a dog handler allows me and my training partner to take a dog that comes to us with a variety of behaviors both good and bad, then over and 11 week period through observation, trial, and error, shape the dog into one that is obedient and the type of dog anyone would be proud to have.

Working with the dogs teaches you to be responsible, compassionate, caring, dedicated, organized, and have good listening and communication skills.  When I get a new dog to work with I always wonder about what kind of life the dog had before it came to me.  Was it happy?  Did someone love it and take care of it?  Why did they give up on it?  How can I shape him into the type of dog that no one would want to give up?

The dog's welfare is of great concern to me and I really want them to succeed.  In order to achieve this, my partner and I will formulate a training schedule based on the dog's strengths and weaknesses, and we will also incorporate the training tat will be expected so that the dog will pass his collar and graduation tests.  This is where the good listening, communication, and organization skills come into play.

Here in K-unit, we have 4-5 dogs and several handlers who all live together and work together to achieve the common goal of getting the dog trained and up to speed on what he needs to know.  So it actually feels like a small community of people with the same common goals and interest.  We have a mentor, as well as each other, to help out when we need a helping hand or some advice on some area of training that might need work.  It takes a community to train our dogs and also a little help from our friends.

We also have excellent support here from the outside staff.  We have a professional training staff who take time out of their busy lives to come into the prison once a week to train us on new techniques, answer questions, test the dogs, and give us and the dogs whatever support we need.  The outside staff are wonderful people who inspire us week after week to want to be better trainers, and men who can be trusted and looked up to in life.  The outside staff has always been diligent, dedicated, and they give us lots of encouragement to let us know we have what it takes to get the job done.  They really show that they care because it isn't easy coming into a prison week after week to work with people that society looks down on.  We never get the impression that when these ladies are here that they would rather be some place else.  They are always upbeat, pleasant and professional, and they always treat us with dignity and respect.  All of these same statements hold true for the prison staff as well, and we applaud all of these people for their support and encouragement.

These dogs mean a lot to the other inmates here at the prison, who live and interact with the dogs on a daily basis in the units.  They are a constant source of delight and fun.  They make a dark place a lot brighter.  As much as we love these dogs and enjoy what we are doing, there are many inmates who also love and care about these dogs' welfare as much as we do.  A dog doesn't care about what you have done or who you are.  They will accept you unconditionally and love you no matter what you're about.  That's very appealing to people here in prison because love and acceptance are a rare commodity in a prison setting.  Many of the men's faces light up when the dogs arrive in the prison for the first time.  There is an atmosphere of joy and excitement in the air.  When it is time for the dogs to go, there is also a lot of emotion.  But most are glad to see them go on to their next step in their lives and get the good home they deserve.  We also know that somewhere in the dog's memory we will be there.  There will remember their time with us, and they will know that they were loved and that we did our best for them.  Each dog presents a new challenge.  Each dog has their own personality and each dog brings laughter and joy into our hearts.

It is extremely rewarding when a dog that you are working with learns a new behavior that you have been working on and is able to reliably show you that he knows that behavior when cued, either during testing or just day-to-day normal routine.  At the end of the training session it is bittersweet to see the dogs go, but getting them ready for their new owners and new homes is what this program is all about.

At the end of the session, we are proud of our accomplishments; we are proud of the dogs; we are thankful for the support and encouragement.  We all feel al little bit better about ourselves, because we cared enough about a living creature to love it, teach it new skills, possibly save its life and then let it go on to a new home to be loved by someone else.  This program makes me want to be a better human being and these dogs and the people who support us help make that happen.  Thank you for caring!