Main Goal: Reintegrating into Home Environment & Society

It is important to follow these steps to help the dog reintegrate into the world from prison life and routine. They are used to experiencing the same noises, people, and environment. It is important to start slow and create a bond with each dog.

Days 1-7: Integrate the dog into your home and routines.

1. Set yourself up for success.
   1. Knowing what behaviors to expect as the puppy develops is important to understand.
      1. Follow our Canine Development Guide.
   2. Understand how the dog trains and learns.
      1. Training Guidelines
      2. Animal Learning Theory
   3. Review program standards.
      1. Program Standards
2. Introduce the dog to you, your household, children, and any pets.
   1. Take time to introduce every member of the family slowly and at the dog’s pace.
      1. Supervise these interactions. Dogs may need to learn appropriate interactions. Follow the guides below for proper introductions.
         1. Introducing Can Do Canines to Your Pets
         2. Introducing Can Do Canines to Your Children
   2. It takes most dogs at least 24-48 hours to settle into a new home environment.
3. Let the dog decompress; lay low and go slow.
   1. Take some time to let the dog settle in and get used to the house and routine.
      1. This is a new and different experience for them so be patient.
         1. Make sure to watch where they go in your house. You may need to close doors and block access.
      2. The dog is still learning and may not know what you are asking at times.
   2. Refrain from going on any public outings until day 7.
   3. Refrain from having the dog be a part of puppy play dates including with other Can Do Canine dogs for the first seven days.
      1. The dog needs to settle into your household before interacting with dogs outside the home. Interacting with other dogs outside the home can be very stressful for them as they are adjusting to the change of environment.
      2. They can only interact with dogs that have been approved by staff or other Can Do Canine dogs.
   4. Walks are okay as long as the dog is successful.
      1. Start with short walks.
      2. Remember: Walks are a privilege, not a right.
         1. See the section Loose-Leash Walking under Main Objectives for information.
   5. Offer outside playtime in a fenced yard or on a long line.
      1. Playtime is useful to get out energy, especially if the dog struggled with a walk.
      2. This gives the dog more freedom to explore their new surroundings.
4. Perform the Level Assessments starting with Level 1.
   1. This will help you to understand what the dog knows.
   2. It can take a while for the dog to understand the cues and behaviors in your home. Click here to understand why the dog “doesn’t know” what you are saying.
   3. If the dog performs all of the skills in Level 1, move to the Level 2 assessment.
   4. Have the dog perform the Common Cues and Key Behaviors they know in the home.
      1. This will help continue to create a bond between you and the dog.
5. Practice your bedtime routine.
   1. You may notice it will take some time for them to adjust to your sleep schedule.
   2. It is best to have the kennel in your bedroom, but it is not required.
      1. Prison dogs are used to sleeping in the same room as their person.
      2. This should help prevent whining/barking at bedtime.

Days 7-14: Work with the dog in public.

1. Familiarize yourself with the Outing Guide before the outing.
   1. Start on Module 1 and progress at the dog’s pace.
   2. Go on a short outing.

Main Objectives for you and the dog

See Key Behaviors for further description

1. Crate Time
   1. They should spend time in the kennel alone when you are home.
   2. They should spend time in the kennel alone when you are gone.
      1. At the prison, the dogs are never truly in a dark, quiet place alone so this is extremely important for them to practice so it isn’t stressful.
2. Down Time
   1. The dog learns an “off switch.”
   2. Follow our Dealing With Downtime Guide for tips and tricks.
3. Novel Stimuli Response
   1. The dog needs to learn appropriate reactions to the world (sudden noises, movements, etc.).
   2. Look at the Exposure Checklist to get some ideas of things that might be novel to a dog raised in prison.
4. Loose-Leash Walking
   1. It is crucial for the dog to know how to walk appropriately with a handler.
      1. The dog is used to walking in a sterile environment in prison. You will need lots of cookie reinforcements while on walks and in public to help them learn.
      2. For reference, you can view:
         1. Walking is Working Handout
            1. For expectations of walking ability at certain ages
         2. Loose-Leash Walking Seminar
            1. How to teach and reinforce loose leash walking
         3. Loose-Leash Walking Troubleshooting Handout
            1. Tips for problem-solving certain walking behaviors
5. Four on the floor
   1. In a new environment, dogs may jump up due to the excitement of the new people, surroundings, etc.
      1. Prison has the same people most of the time so jumping mostly occurs when outside of prison, with new people.
   2. They may test boundaries by putting their feet on furniture or counters.