Inmates Train Dogs In Some Federal Prison Locations

The Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery and the Federal Prison Camp in Bryan Texas are just some of the federal prisons that offer the IMPACT Dog Training Program.

The Impact Dog Training Program pairs a dog with an inmate trainer companion for 24 hour a day training. This is the inmate’s job. The Federal Prison inmate teaches the dog basic commands, provides companionship and takes care of the dog on the housing unit and typically in a special part of the institution for the program however the trainer and the dog live in general population on a regular federal prison housing unit.

Since the dogs are living on regular housing units they have to adhere to similar rules as inmates, they can’t be unruly or barking during count time and when it’s lights out it’s lights out. Now trainers can get permission to take the dogs to the bathroom and in some camps just take the dog outside in the middle of the night, which offers an extra sense of freedom.

However these skills translate in the freeworld to real employable skills for inmates to start their own training businesses, or in my case, train my dog, Liberty to live in a large, mix used condominium with hundreds of other dogs. In fact, here at the Federal Prison Tips offices and the 700 ReEntry Center Liberty’s job every single day is greeter and people are astounded that she asks for permission to break planes, get on the elevator or go outside if the front door is open. All these were taught to her when she was a puppy that I rescued from the doggie prison (humane society).

Check out this story on the official BOP website about the dog training program at Florence.