restart dogs
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n providing modern, positive reinforcement based training to dogs on the
programme, the offenders promote responsible animal welfare and effective dog
training without violence and confrontation, leading to learners increased
empathy, self-regulation, social skills, compassion, responsibility and respect.
The people on the Restart Dog Project have, through attachment and interaction
with the dogs, gained insights into identifying their own behaviour and the
skills to change. Understanding the emotional capacity of the dogs and how this
affects their behaviour offers a greater insight into how prisoners/offenders
manage their own feelings of frustration and self-control. The skills learnt
during the programmes have been a key part of the graduates’ social
reintegration. At the same time, the prisoners/offenders have the opportunity to
become well trained professionals within the dog training industry gaining
qualifications up to a Level 6, which is a foundation degree. The programme is
not funded by the taxpayer, and instead is paid for by the Prisoners Fund, which
is raised by work that Prisoners undertake during their time in the custodial
system for other organisations. Prisoners/offenders who apply to participate in
the Restart Dogs program need be engaged in rehabilitation programs and be
engaging in the prison system. Our objectives are to develop selected prisoners
as dog trainers, to produce dogs suitable as assistance dogs for people in need.
As one of our participants eloquently said- “I have lost my freedom, but I can
actually help someone else to get theirs back” We work closely with charities
and community groups such as Moorlands Dog Rescue, by raising and training
potential assistance dogs or retraining rescue dogs.
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