All dogs may go to Heaven, but not all dogs can work as a service canine while here on earth.
It takes a lot of patience, time, training and funding to transform a candidate into a qualified service dog. One of those candidates currently in training is Buzz, a golden retriever, enrolled in the New Horizons Service Dogs program.
Buzz is completing phase 3 of 4 of the training. He has been with Cheryl Williams, of the Village of Dunedin, a puppy raiser with New Horizons Service Dogs, since last October.
The puppies are bred at New Horizons then released to volunteers at nine weeks, Williams said. These volunteers potty train, crate train and socialize the puppies with obedience classes and public outings. The puppies stay with the first trainer for about six months.
At that point the puppies are rotated into the Prison Pup Program within Florida State Prisons. The prison program benefits the inmates who participate by helping them acquire skills that can improve their chances of success when re-entering society and the puppies continue to receive training, Williams said.
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It takes a lot of patience, time, training and funding to transform a candidate into a qualified service dog. One of those candidates currently in training is Buzz, a golden retriever, enrolled in the New Horizons Service Dogs program.
Buzz is completing phase 3 of 4 of the training. He has been with Cheryl Williams, of the Village of Dunedin, a puppy raiser with New Horizons Service Dogs, since last October.
The puppies are bred at New Horizons then released to volunteers at nine weeks, Williams said. These volunteers potty train, crate train and socialize the puppies with obedience classes and public outings. The puppies stay with the first trainer for about six months.
At that point the puppies are rotated into the Prison Pup Program within Florida State Prisons. The prison program benefits the inmates who participate by helping them acquire skills that can improve their chances of success when re-entering society and the puppies continue to receive training, Williams said.
Service dog in training shows promise
All dogs may go to Heaven, but not all dogs can work as a service canine while here on earth.
