Training Temporary Pets to Help the Disabled
The Otisville Correctional Center in New York has a new program that teaches inmates responsibility while helping them perform a service for others. Qualifying inmates can help train puppies for people with disabilities. The puppies live with the inmates for approximately 20 months. During that time, inmates are responsible for feeding, grooming, and teaching the dogs the necessary commands for them to help the disabled.
Once the dogs are sufficiently trained, they are picked up by a non-profit agency that unites the dogs with a disabled person. The dog and the special needs individual work together until the dog can satisfy their needs.
When raising guide dogs, puppy raisers will need leashes, pet bowls, and toys to care for the dogs and train them.
The trainers use tugs, balls, and other toys to teach commands and how to socialize. Leashes are instrumental when training and caring for the dogs because the dogs must be constantly exposed to people. Furthermore, owners rely on their guide dogs because they are unable to see, so the dogs must be very well-trained.
Although using inmates to train dogs is a new program, law-abiding civilians can also enjoy the experience of training dogs for the disabled. Guiding Eyes for Blind and the Eye Dog Foundation are two non-profit organizations that provide puppies and support for people who are willing to raise guide dogs.
Most non-profit organizations that supply and oversee the training of guide dogs require participants to live a reasonable distance from the organization, but there are organizations in many geographic locations.
Training a guide dog can be a wonderful way to contribute to the community. Nevertheless, it is also important to remember that caring for a guide dog is a temporary job and returning the dog to the organization can be traumatic when you have developed a strong bond.
Essenti Enterprises, LLC offers products, has a full line of sturdy pet bowls, retractable leashes, and floating rubber dog toys that are well-suited for training guide dogs. Our online selection is readily accessible and perfect for your training needs.