Residential Companion Dog Program

Comfort, companionship, and motivation, are provided by CPL residential companion dogs (application). Our residential companion dog program is designed to provide canine companionship to the individuals who live and work in retirement, assisted living, and group home environments.

Residential companion dogs live within the facility as a member of the community. Their love, companionship, and antics are shared by the residents, staff, and visitors.

The CPL residential companion dog program is very small due to the extensive follow up and ongoing training required by these types of placements. Residential companions are only provided to facilities located geographically within 150 miles of CPL.

The Canine Partners For Life residential companion dog program spends 1 1/2 - 2 years preparing each dog for its full time position as a pet therapist. Residential companion dogs must be physically sound, temperamentally stable, and happy working in an environment which is busy and active. They must enjoy meeting and greeting many different people and adapt easily to change. Great care is taken to select only the most appropriate dogs for this level of work.

1. The First Year
   During the first year puppies are placed in volunteer puppy homes. This may be a community volunteer or a volunteer inmate in our Prison Puppy Raising Program (PPRP). Puppy raising volunteers usually receive their puppy when it is seven to nine weeks old. The puppy will live, work, and play with this volunteer until it reaches the age of 12-16 months.
   
   During this year puppies are brought to puppy classes twice a month. Here they learn basic obedience skills, socialization skills, and have a fun time playing with the other pups. Puppy raisers learn the commands and techniques needed to raise and train a happy and confident puppy.
   
   Puppy raisers also socialize their pups in public daily, exposing them to environments such as restaurants, malls, city streets, and public transportation. Volunteers and prison staff help to socialize the pups in the PPRP, outside the prison walls.
   
   During the first year, all puppies are evaluated for physical, behavioral, and temperamental soundness. They are spayed/neutered and have a PennHip evaluation done to determine physical potential. At the end of the first year, those pups who will not be chosen to enter the service dog program will be evaluated for their suitability for our residential companion dog program.
   
   Those dogs who display physical or behavioral characteristics not suitable for any of the CPL programs enter our released dog program (application) to be adopted by loving homes or to find alternate work environments (rescue/search work, police work, etc.).
   
   
2. The Final Stages of Training
   Dogs selected for the residential companion dog program will spend additional time training with a CPL volunteer residential companion home. During this time, the volunteer will refine the skills needed most by this particular residential companion dog. The dog will often spend six months to a year in this second stage of training depending upon its maturity and skill levels.
   
   By the end of the second stage of training dogs in the residential companion dog program will be trained to behave in a manner which:
   
   • Allows an outlet for physical activity and positive relationships
   • Motivates participation in activities such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy
   • Promotes social interactions with othersv
   • Encourages self expression
   • Encourages responsibility and organizational skills
   • Brings comfort, joy, and companionship to many different people with varying needs and abilities
   • Makes it an easy and pleasant partner in a community environment
     
     
3. Residential Community Training
   While each dog has been going through its training, the staff from the residential community have completed an application and participated in interviews with the CPL staff. Tours of the facility are taken by CPL staff, and meetings are conducted with many of the residential community's employees.
   
   If the community is determined to be suitable for the placement of a residential companion dog, the CPL Volunteer/Companion Coordinator will conduct extensive and ongoing training with the staff and residents of the community. It is imperative that all staff have familiarity with the dog and its purpose and that a number of staff members be trained to care for and handle the dog.
   
   Therapists will be trained to incorporate the dog into their therapies as appropriate. Often, one department will be responsible for the primary care of the dog.
   
   
4. Graduation
   Completion of training is definitely a cause for celebration! The residential community staff and the dog will return for either summer or fall graduation along with service dogs and home companion dogs. On average 200 friends, family members, and supporters are invited to a moving ceremony to celebrate the teams' accomplishments, share their goals, and to usher them into a new and exciting world filled with opportunities and independence.
   
   
5. Follow Up
   Lifetime support and follow up ensure the success of CPL residential companion placements. It is imperative that the dog continues to meet goals of the community and that they always work in a manner which promotes the safety of everyone. Every six months the facility staff is required to complete a written follow up report which evaluates their progress and accomplishments. Included with this report are copies of all veterinary records, rabies licenses, and state/local licenses. Phone or email contact is made with all graduates daily for the first week, weekly for the first month, monthly for the first six months, and then twice a year thereafter. Counseling is available at all times and trainers will visit facilities who need more extensive follow up.