Canine-Assisted Therapy Program

Come, no, jump, and stay are basic commands for any young or untrained dog, just as be respectful, don’t talk back, and remember your curfew are basic rules for any teenager. Through Ironwood’s Animal-Assisted Therapy Canine Program, under the direction of nationally known labrador breeder and dog trainer Frances Plessner, who owns and runs Puddleduck Retrievers, kids at Ironwood learn the basics in training dogs.

These young or untrained dogs have a lot of the same personality traits, behavior issues, and temperaments that many teenagers do. On any given day, one of these dogs can be doing really well with heel, off, and down, for example, and suddenly, a look, an attitude comes over him and he quickly reverts back to old behavior. He’s lunging on leash, jumping when he shouldn’t, and sitting when he’s been told to lie down. In a flash, he has become a stubborn teenager daring the trainer to make him behave.

Usually, the kids in this canine therapy program see themselves rather quickly in these dogs. If a teenager is working with a dog that lays down and refuses to come, shuts down like teenagers can or becomes extremely stubborn, what does the teenager as trainer do? Scream at the dog, yell at somebody else out of frustration, shut down, or give up? With Frances Plessner’s guidance, the teenager learns to work through the problem so the dog clearly understands and follows through with a positive attitude.

Frances Plessner has the innate ability and insight to gently but firmly get a dog to do anything she wants him to do. She also has a gift for quickly and efficiently showing what someone needs to know for correcting the behavior of any given dog. She is high energy and means business. Ironwood teenagers participating in this canine therapy program learn tools to teach and reinforce basic to advanced obedience commands, and also learn to work with dogs that have various behavior issues just as they do. They see how they can help a dog actually become a better dog, and in so doing, see how they’re a better person because of it. They feel a sense of accomplishment. They feel acknowledged. They feel listened to. They feel downright good. They find it rewarding when they work through their own frustration and a dog’s unwillingness to obey, and they feel great when they realize that because of them, through their patience, tone of voice, enthusiasm, and skill - this is happening.

Through Ironwood, Frances also provides a canine program that takes place off campus on the premises of Puddleduck Retrievers for any Level Four teenager who wants to further their dog training abilities and learn the ins and outs of caring for dogs of all ages. This program provides the opportunity to work on one’s own with added responsibility. If deserved, Frances would be happy to provide a letter of recommendation for your teenager that states how well they performed, that they have a good work ethic, follow direction well, work well on their own, and would be an asset, etcetera. In addition, if your teenager has bonded with a particular dog or expresses a keen interest in having a dog, and you would like this kind of addition to your family that provides a responsible and valuable outlet for your child.

The Ironwood Animal-Assisted Therapy Canine Program under Frances Plessner’s tutelage is a positive, challenging, goal-oriented, and successful dog therapy program that gives Ironwood teens many opportunities to cope with frustration, work through provocative behavior, and be responsible while working independently.

Read more in our Animal Therapy Blog