How does our prison training program work?

Our programs are run by volunteer professional service dog trainers and volunteer professional therapy dog trainers. None of our staff is paid. The fee goes back into the every day running of the facility expenses. This is a, "pay it forward" program. Basically, what paying it forward means is, someone has paid for your service dog, and now you are paying it forward to help someone else get a service dog.

Our inmates are hand picked by us and must pass an interview with two of our professional trainers, plus be referred by their supervisors at the prison. We have very strict guidelines for them to be accepted into the program, and most have been with us for over 4+ years. We specifically look for inmate long-termers or lifers, which cuts down on us having to re-train new people constantly. We also have very strict guidelines for our inmate trainers to stay in our program. We will not accept anyone with a history of abuse towards animals, women or children. Most of our guys commit white collar crimes (bad checks, etc.). Most of our Inmate trainers are Veterans.

The Training Team

Our program is set up to teach the prison trainers how to be professional trainers when they enter the real world again. They will be able to get jobs as vet techs, groomers, kennel managers, dog trainers, service or therapy dog trainers, etc. Some of them have been with us long enough to earn a Professional Dog Trainers Certification and Professional Groomer Certification.

The guys live in a doggie dorm with 2 handlers assigned to your service dog. They work as a team. Whatever they are doing, the dog is doing. Wherever they go, the dog goes. If they are eating, the dog is on, "Go Place" learning to not beg for food and table manners with humans. The handlers are with the dog 24/7. The dogs are never unsupervised, even during doggie socialization time.

We have group classes daily, and then the rest of the day consist of one-on-one training with the dogs in real life situations. They get plenty of nap time, play time, socialization time and just be a dog time.

Fees:

Our base fee for our training program for a service dog is $5,500.00, and up depending on what your task work needs are.

This covers our operating cost, our vetting, our food bills, toys, treats, medical care (monthly wormer, heartguard, flea/tick protection), office supplies, janitorial supplies, grooming supplies, phone bills, transportation of dog(s) from prison to vet and to training center, water, sewage, electrical bills, rental facility for training you when you come, workbooks, and all operating expenses so we can continue to offer this program to others.

Good Faith Donation.

We require a, "Good Faith Deposit" of $1,000.00 to start training your dog, or you can pay in full. This holds a spot for your dog in our training program.

Training covers:

All dogs food, treats, toys, go place mat, etc., at prison program
Grooming Skills (Bathing, Blow Dry, Brushing, Nails clipped, Ears cleaned, etc.)
Husbandry Skills (Teaching the dog to be touched all over, teaching it's body parts, handling skills
Touch
Crate Training
House Training
Go Potty on Command
Proofing all commands
Sit
Down
Stand
Come
Watch Me
Wait
Walk on Leash (Let's Go and formal Heel)
Fix it (means Fix your own leash)
Go Place
Leave It
Manners
Self-Control
Workbooks
Your training when dog is ready

Taking your dog home:

Before you pick up your dog. It is important that the two of you work well together. We have several options on how to get the training that is required to be sucessful.

A 6 week group class (1 Class per week). This will allow you to learn to work your dog in a group setting, much like real life. You will have a private mentor trainer during the class. If you are local, or live in Ky we highly suggest you work with us for 6 months to a year after you receive your dog.
Another option is to come on a Saturday at 11:30, sit through our group class with a mentor trainer. This will allow you to see what type of distractions your dog should manage. You can video tape all the commands and work with us for a few hours after class. This is the most chosen option. We highly suggest you video all of the hand signals and verbal commands for reference.
Public Access Training with a private volunteer mentor to help you learn how to work with your dog in public. This Private Volunteer Mentor Trainer will work with you on what the dog knows and all the cues and commands when you arrive. If you are out-of-state, then you have the option of coming to us for a week or 3 day workshop (hotels, meals and transportation are not included in this contract).

If you wish a trainer to come to your home or facility to teach you/staff each week, that fee will be determined between you and the trainer. If the trainer has to travel out of state, then you will be responsible for the trainers airline fee, rental car, hotel, and trainer's rate. This would be determined between you and the trainer. We offer a year of group classes, e-mail help, zoom help and public access training with your dog