Selection of a service dog

Hello,
wanted to talk about service dogs and how we pick ours, some trainers get their dogs from breeders, some get from shelters and there is always a debate about it that some say only service dogs should come from breeders that breed for the traits  and i say yes on that if you are a big name training center. we for one are not we do live to help save dogs from the shelter if we can save a dog from death row and he/she shows the traits that we are looking for if it be for mobility, ptsd, hearing alert dogs. we assess the dogs on many different behaviors using the safer method, plus taking them out away from the shelter to see how they act in public, than we bring them home to test with our animals if they pass all these tests than they are welcome into our pack and start there training. and we spend 1-2 months just on basic training why so much on basic its to make sure the dog is really solid in all their basic behaviors and while we do this they are also doing public access training. the next 2-4 months is getting the dog out more and getting him/her out on as many different types of settings. in different types of weather. by this time we know for sure if the dog is going to make it as a service dog he/she has been though a thunder storms, high winds, other animals etc by that time we start working on task training this is where the dog learns to pick up items, turn lights on, brace , help their human with living life. and when the year - two years is up and hading the leash over is the best thing in the world sure its sad to see that dog leave but you know part of you is in the dog your heart and soul. so the next time you see a service dog in the store know the owner may have trained it or a professional did.and know that dog was /is loved. yes it does cost thousands of dollars to train one service  dog. thank you
k9 paws behavior dog training

Dog training 101

Hello,
I want to write about dog training 101 what is that you ask? Well to any professional trainer it is many different things, different methods. You have your all positive trainers who only use treats and praise yes that will work on some dogs but not all dogs. Then you have your trainers that are force trainers they don't use treats they force the dog into a sit by forcing them into it. Some say that is outdated some say it's the only way to train. I use my own methods I do what's best for the dog and the owners. I feel that a dog will learn from treats and praise and sometimes you need to tell them where they need to be not by forcing them but by showing them dogs will learn by watching others they only follow a strong leader how would you like it if you were at work and your boss was all over the place acting. Crazy you would want to get away from them right that's how your dog is they don't speak English you can tell a dog red and that could be a cue to sit or down. But if you treat that dog with respect it will show you the respect. I will say if you want to use different types of training equipment and the trainer says they only use this or that I would say find a new trainer. A trainer that knows how to use a wide range of equipment. I for one love to help both human and dog bond and become a good working team.

My Journey to Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training

My Journey to Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training 1 Course

Jillian Dunn

Early February, I received an email from Jillian Dunn, who is the executive director of the Cesar Millan Foundation for the Dog Psychology Center in Southern California. For over a year and half, Jillian has been a supporter of the North Central Unit Paws in Prison Program.  The foundation has donated books, DVDs, and training aids. She asked me to call her. When I called, I was offered the new Cesar Millan Foundation “Train to Rescue Scholarship” that was created for deserving rescue organizations. Creating balance between people and dogs is at the core of everything Cesar teaches and an essential part of the mission of the Cesar Millan Foundation. The Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training I course is a major, hands-on way in which Cesar can help people learn how to achieve that balance. Lynn and I were in total shock. A Go Fund Me web page was created to help with travel and hotel expenses for the week-long class. We are very thankful for all the support from family and friends, we just love them all.

Cesar & Marsha

We drove 3,232 total miles over a three-day drive to California and back again. The dog I brought for training is Jasper, a black lab mix that was trained in our Paws in Prison Program to be a mobility service dog. We are currently working with Jasper on some PTSD commands for a veteran.  Lynn went with me to California and he met Jillian and Cesar on graduation night.

Our Training Cesar’s Way Fundamentals of Dog Behavior and Training 1 started on Monday, February 20th, and lasted four full days from 9:30 am 5 PM. The shorter fifth day was sad for us as we said our goodbyes. We covered so many different training topics. Each student had the opportunity to walk Cesar's pack during a one-mile pack walk every day and received one on one time with Cesar as we walked. Cesar Milan is awesome in person, a very sweet, caring man. As an instructor, he is extraordinary; he will cover each topic until everyone understands it completely.

I made so many new friends at the center, other dog trainers, veterinarians, and some were dog owners wanting to learn how to better themselves and their dogs through training. We are all Facebook Friends and are keeping in touch.

I had brought back many new concepts and skills to our Paws in Prison program, “to be calm - have calm energy” is by far the most important.

Marsha Tonkinson

K9 Paws Dog Behavior Training

North Central Unit Paws in Prison Program

Does a Therapy Dog Have Public Access Rights?

Hi All,
Wanted to talk about therapy dogs as pets, that are trained as a therapy dog to go visit schools, hospice houses etc, do these dogs have the same public access rights as a service dog? The answer is no they don't if they are your pet and have passed the CGC and passed the therapy test with pet partners or TDI you can't slap a service dog vest on him/her and take them shopping with you or out to eat on,y if you ask the store if you can bring the TDIT (therapy dog in training) into there business would say some will say yes some will say no. Cause these dogs are not a service dog and under ADA law they cannot and do not have the same rights as a service dog. People are putting service dogs at risk by slapping a vest on there pet or TDIT just to bring them with, we foresee it coming down the line that all service dogs will have to soon carry paperwork from the group/school or trainer who trained that dog and in what type of tasks it was trained to do.
Thank you

Hank paws in prison

Hello,
Wanted to write a blog about a special dog in our paws in prison program, his name is hank a 1 year old mix breed that was homeless and left to run free on the streets in mountain home ar in the middle of winter, he was under weight running on the bypass trying not to get hit by passing cars going 50-55 mph. When a lady saw him stopped her truck got out and stopped traffic and tried to get this dog to jump into the back of the truck but he wouldn't she then went to get a rope once the door was open he jump in and sat there looking at her like he was saying I'm ready lets go. She then took him to a local vets office where they took this cold wet skinny dog in and checked him over making sure he was ok once given food and a dry blanket he was happy to be safe for now but his faith was still not sure he stayed at the office for three weeks where another lady Dena Sparks came to visit him and he would chatter at her as if he was saying please help me as I know I have a job to do I need to help someone . The vet told her if she couldn't find a place they wouldn't have a choice but to put him down. She then contacted ark paws in prison where we went to look at this dog as we were looking for a dog to train as a service dog for a United States veteran with PTSD who was also in a wheelchair hank had passed every test he was going to become a pip dog. Hank is now in his 7th week of training he has learned how to walk next to a wheelchair, back up, go under tables, paws up, plus many more commands. So the next time you see a dog trying not to get hit by a car, in the middle of winter remember hank that dog you see and didn't try to help could/ have been a service dog for someone.
Thank you

Paws in prison 1year

Hello,
It's been awhile since our last post thought we would touch base on our paws in prison program at calico rock unit it's been almost 1 year since we have started going out and working with inmate handlers and rescues to help save dogs lives and we have just done that and what a great felling knowing that you helped saved this dog from being put down to going to its new home :-) even though you wish you could save every dog it just can't happen for reasons we can't help if it be Heath behavior issues since these dogs live in the unit 24/7 so if you want a great dog look at a pip dog.
Thanks

Paws in prison program

Hello,
Been a long time since we posted on here been really busy. Wanted to talk about a great program we have been part of for almost a year called paws in prison, we work with kill shelters and no-kill we take dogs who are going on a list to be put down and assess them if they pass the group/shelter gets them to there vet to get a check up and fixed, then they go into the prison where the dogs are placed with a two man team. For eight weeks we go out once a week and work with the inmates and dogs working on basic, Akc cgc and tricks the dogs photos are placed online and on Facebook where you can look and adopt these great dogs on the 8th week the handlers put on a demo for everyone who has come out to pick up there dogs. It's a happy/sad day as these dogs live with the inmate handlers 24/7 plus 54 other inmates. You can say the dogs are very well loved. Yes these inmates love these dogs so much and it shows in the hard work they do. Your asking the state pays for this no it's all done by donations this program needs to be in every unit in every state!!! The impact is so great. So if anyone reading this wants to donate please contact us we take food treats toys blankets etc even money. Thank you