Promoting justice through the use of courthouse dogs to provide emotional support for everyone in our criminal justice system
What Kind of Courthouse Dog do You Need?
dane+dane studio
Professionally Trained Courthouse Dogs - the clear choice
The best choice of dog to work in a criminal justice facility is a courthouse dog professionally trained by a service dog organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) . Only the very best dogs are selected to become assistance dogs. These dogs spend about 16 months being raised by a volunteer puppy raiser with weekly obedience classes, have six months or more training with a professional dog trainer, and after graduating from the program are placed with a criminal justice professional as a completely trained assistance dog.
ADI accredited organizations also provide extensive training and ongoing support to the person who receives the dog so that the quality of the dog's performance remains high.
In short, courthouse dogs :
- Are full time members of your professional staff
- Are handled by a professional staff member and go home at night with this person
- Have been trained for many months by a dedicated professional dog trainer.
- Have been socialized to a wide variety of conditions – public spaces, crowded restaurants, screaming sports fans, children of all ages, elevators and open stairways, cats, office work spaces, public transportation. This wide socialization from an early age produces a dog that is not stressed by public life as an adult.
- Have been extensively evaluated over the months of training for safety by experienced animal handlers and trainers.
- Usually carry liability insurance provided by the training organization.