paws4people_tm DOG Training Process

Stage 1 ‘Whelping’

Week 1-12

We literally begin training from Day1! First is neurological stimulation and stress control conditioning.

Neurological stimulation and stress control conditioning involves exposing the puppies to a series of different stimuli, postures, physical restrictions, physical stimulation, and so on for the first three weeks.

By week three, the puppies’ eyes have been open and they are much more ambulatory and exploratory, and aware of their environment. At this point, the “rule of sevens,” which we extend greatly in our own system, takes place.

The ‘rule of sevens’ involves exposing the puppies to as many different sensory experiences and textures as possible to avoid the age-old ‘dog scared of the white tile floor at the vet’, for example.

Also by week three, the puppies begin more “formal” training sessions, using puppy mush food as treats to teach them the theory of food motivation and to begin their associations with certain body postures, especially “sit.” Many people who came to visit the last puppies were amazed that at 4 weeks old, the puppies were mostly living during the day outside of their whelping box, playing with toys and obstacles, not requiring much supervision and not creating any destruction.

These puppies are trained to potty pad areas, even at 4 weeks old. When feeding, or giving them attention, they are able to sit in a semi-circle…without a puppy jumping up or biting.

These are all things they are capable of learning at such a young age – things that many puppies don’t even begin to learn until they go home at age 8 weeks or so. Our puppies are already 4 weeks ahead of most training curves and this is one reason we have such an affinity for our internal breeding program.

The last aspect of the whelping process that is very different about paws4people_TM is that we allow 100% natural weaning process.

We have found over much time and trial that the very fascinating process of the mother creating the boundaries of allowing the puppies to eat or not eat from her as they age is irreplaceable.

This process teaches:

• social skills
• dog body language
• proper play postures and behaviors
• proper assertion/submission tactics

It reduces inter-litter dominance behaviors and leaves us with litters that are almost evenly beta, without the alpha puppy and the picked-on “runt”.

Puppies finish weaning around 8-10 weeks, depending on mom, and go into the prison training programs around 10-12 weeks, depending on logistics.

Stage 2 ‘Training’

12 Weeks – 24 Months (Depending)

Puppies enter our paws4prisons training program and remain there until about the age of 16-24 months. Inside prison, they are assigned to an inmate or inmate team who are responsible for their care and training 24/7 until its completion.

Specially trained inmates at federal prisons are chosen to train dogs in basic and advanced obedience skills. (The extremely powerful rehabilitation forces at work while training DOGS is too long a story to be told here.)

Around the age of 6-12 months, the dogs become considered for bumps to find their match with a potential client needing a dog. After a successful bump, where a dog has ‘chosen’ where he/she are going, the rest of their training is completely customized for this person, family, or job.

At many of our training facilities, the dogs are taken off-site at different times to different locations such as school classrooms, hospices, nursing homes, or just a downtown area. This allows them to continue to see the “real world” and not be accustomed only to the limited and somewhat sterile correctional environments.

Towards the end of their training, paws4people trainers who are certified in Public Access Training rotate the dogs in and out of the facilities to increase this public access training in environments such as restaurants, retail stores, movie theaters, public transportation, etc. Programs are also set up for the inmates to begin training in these capacities as well to widen and speed up this portion of the training.

The dog’s graduation date and age at graduation depends completely on their maturation rate. Once the dog is deemed ready to graduate, customized transfer training programs are set up for the client.

Transfer training means training the client how to interact with their new dog as well as giving the dog an opportunity to get to know his new family. These programs could range from intensive 3-day sessions (for non-public access dogs) to small, short sessions over a few months (most effective for our clients with PTSD/TBI) to anywhere in between.

Environments unique to that dog’s new life will be practiced under the supervision of paws4people trainers to ensure that there is very little the client must take on on their own.

Once the client and dog start their new life, we strive to remain involved and available so the client never feels they must “train” the dogs to do something themselves.

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