Training Policies and Procedures

Greyhounds live and train in a safe environment

Greyhounds are housed with the inmates.  Correctional officers are present during training and throughout the day.  An air conditioned area is available for training during the hot weather.  An isolated outdoor area is available for the training circles and exercising.  No more than 2 greyhounds are allowed to run at one time and are closely monitored by the inmate trainers.

All candidates under consideration for the program are reviewed and approved by the Greyhound Advancement Center as well as prison management and staff.

Trainers have resources and support

The Greyhound Advancement Center provides professional training to the inmate trainers. Each inmate receives information on the care and training of greyhounds. Each facility has accumulated a library of books and videos focused on dog training and canine care for trainers to reference. We also provide professional development resources.

The Greyhound Advancement Center trainer evaluates each greyhound entering into the program to provide an initial assessment and suggested direction to the inmate trainers.

Ideally, greyhounds are enrolled for at least 10 weeks of training. This ensures greyhounds have a solid grasp of their commands and adequate time to work through behavioral modifications.  Adoption partners and owners of participating hounds are invited to attend a graduation to demonstrate abilities of the dogs and accomplishments of trainers. Background checks must be conducted prior to being approved to attend graduation. In-person graduations have been cancelled until further notice due to COVID-19.

Trainers work as a team to train dogs

Each program has an internal organization of trainers, with more experienced trainers teaching/mentoring less experienced. A lead trainer coordinates training teams and communicates updates with GAC. There may be a primary and backup trainer. An on-call inmate trainer may step in when necessary,depending on their level of expertise. Trainers allow their greyhound to socialize with other trainers so they learn to interact and accept commands from a variety of people.

Trainers submit weekly status reports on the progress of the greyhound.  Reports may be shared with sponsoring adoption groups at periodic intervals.

A vet-tech oversees greyhound healthcare

All greyhounds are examined upon entering the correctional institution.   An inmate vet tech and a back-up vet tech monitor the health of the greyhounds, provide medical assistance, and keep records of medication schedules. They are also responsible for the storage and monitoring of food.  Concerns are reported to the on-call Program Coordinator Staff .  The vet tech and back-up are responsible for ensuring greyhounds receive emergency treatment if/when necessary.

Greyhounds entering/exiting the prison

Each greyhound graduate leaves the facility with trainer notes, including personality traits, likes/dislikes and commands known, and medical records.  Under special circumstances, greyhounds can be held in prison until they have a suitable foster home or forever home.

We coordinate intake of new greyhounds at the same time as exiting graduates to ensure inmate trainers always have dogs to work with. This ensures our program can continue without interruption. It is especially important to keep the program going during the holidays when the inmate trainers tend to feel most isolated.

All details of entering/exiting prison have been modified due to COVID-19. For more information contact GAC directly.