At-Risk Youth-Canine

I. The Pawsibilities Program (for Academically and Behaviorally Challenged Students)

Through this particular Youth-Canine program, the youths learn how to communicate, nurture, motivate and reward (vs. punish) their dogs’ behavior. Many of the principles the youths transfer to their own lives. They see the benefits for the dogs…without extensive lectures and homework. We just catch them doing something right!

The personalities of the youths and dogs are matched so that more individualized goals can be achieved.

For example:

High-spirited dogs are paired with high-spirited youths or youths who are easily distracted (e.g. learning disabilities, developmental delays), students learn to focus and follow-through. Even when the youth are not always able to make good choices for themselves (e.g. because of fear of failure or criticism), they will respond to the challenge to benefit their dog.

Matched with shy dogs, shy, reserved youths…or students with low self-esteem… learn confidence when they stretch their comfort zone and motivate by getting excited and even “goofy”.

II. The Pregnant Paws Program (for Single Teen Parents)

Single parents learn positive parenting skills to break cycles of child abuse and neglect. The program is modeled from the Pawsibilities Program described above with additional emphasis on effective parenting skills (e.g. effective communication, identification of needs, consistency, parenting vs. friendship, depersonalizing behavior, progressive discipline).

Click here to watch a video from a Pregnant Paws Program.

III. The Pawsitive Corrections Program

Incarcerated juvenile offenders often express a “tough exterior” to their peers and adults, but they spontaneously drop this demeanor when working with their dogs. They see how their dogs respond to the positive instruction they are providing and affirming comments from their peers serve as an added incentive for the youths to manage their behavior and participate in the program. The youths may also serve their community during their probation, training additional shelter dogs.

IV. Special Needs Programs for At-Risk Youths

Graduates of the above youth programs may teach special education/special needs students through one-to-one or group instruction (e.g. students with learning disabilities, developmental delays such as autism, or behavioral problems).

V. Programs for Youths not considered At-Risk

We involve well-adjusted, non-risk youths in service learning projects, the training of service dogs, and our animal assisted activity/therapy programs. They may also make presentations to service clubs/organizations for additional positive attention.

All the above programs are not just about youths. As the dogs interact with the youths in positive ways and are taught appropriate service behaviors (e.g. how to greet people and other dogs, how to wait at doorways until their youth says it is alright to proceed, how to wait patiently under a table in a restaurant), they are socialized to the expectations of the human world.

The ultimate benefit for the dog: It minimizes their chance of euthanasia, and makes youths see the impact of their efforts. So much so that the youth-canine programs have been used successfully as an intervention for teen suicide, too.

VI. After School Programs

Group presentations and programs are available for groups of students e.g. school programs for disability awareness, afterschool programs, and summer camps.

Content centers around service dogs and public access; responsible pet ownership; positive training; and bite prevention.