for the next three months, pranaDOGS is involved in a pilot program to train homeless dogs to perform service work once they’re adopted. We’re fostering and training dogs specifically for psychiatric service work for individuals who suffer from ptsd – esp military and sexual trauma. Once 80% trained, these dogs will be adopted to their new families, where the training will continue in tandem with their human counterparts.

We’ll be blogging and videotaping much of the training and progress of the dogs so you can follow along. The first dog we’ve taken on is Gordy, a 2 ½ yr old Shorthaired Pointer/Boxer mix. Originally from Gallup, NM, Gordy has been fostered by Rezdawg Rescue who also arranged his transportation to Durango.

After spending the weekend with Gordy, I’m excited that he seems to be a perfect candidate for this program. He’s eager and friendly and teachable. He has some impulse control issues but that’s actually better than not going after stuff (in this program). He loves love, which is so great both for training but also because the people that need dogs like Gordy also need that love.

Currently we’re working on the basic’s. Sit, Down, Leave it and Heel left and Heel right. Like I said, he just got here on Friday and already he’s doing much better on leash….at first anytime we got to a tight spot on the walk (between two bushes) he would plow me over to try to get through first, now he’s hanging back and letting me pass through ahead of him, Hooray!

His foster mom said he has a terrible recall and I noticed that to be true as well. When I call his name and he’s onto a smell, he ignores me completely, the same is true when I say Come. Will need to determine if I’ll need to change out the word come or just use his name in place of it.

Much more to come!