PY120 Canine Program

An animal behavior laboratory, taught by Dr. Ruth Colwill, is currently being offered in the Psychology Department at Brown University. As part of the course, students are required to participate in one of three projects that address animal behavior. Katenna Jones is a Teaching Assistant for the course who developed this program as an option for one of the required projects and the Providence Animal Control Center (PACC) generously allowed the students to work in their shelter.

Students participating in the canine program come to the PACC every week for the semester to work with dogs on various commands. One goal of the program is to allow the students to gain hands-on experience in animal learning. The main goal however is to perhaps increase the adoptability of the dogs by providing them with exercise, training, and lots of love, in addition to that which they already receive from the dedicated staff at the PACC.

The dogs love the attention and in the following pictures, Megan Feeney (left) gets a big “thank you” from the puppy she is working with while Michele Jonas and Julia Barron (right) give another dog a belly rub.

The students work with dogs of various breeds and ages on a variety of basic commands. For example, as shown in the pictures below, Megan works with a young female American Staffordshire Terrier on “sit” (left) and immediately rewards the correct response by the puppy with a food treat, as well as physical and verbal praise (right). At the same time, Cynthia Manzano records all behaviors she and her partner observed and any training they provided in a notebook.

Carlos Vargas works on “sit” in a situation that’s a little different, but it’s still effective!

Another basic command the students train the dogs with is “down,” which Julie Cakert and Carlos Vargas take turns teaching to an adult female boxer in the following pictures.

Students also walk the dogs around the PACC for exercise and to get the dogs used to leash walking and to learn “heel.” For example, in the photo below Michele Jonas and Julia Barron leash walk a young adult male shepherd mix.

Two other commands that the students try to teach the dogs are “stay” and “come.” In these pictures, Nicole Fischler restrains a young female American Staffordshire Terrier as Maureen Delany gives the “stay” command while backing away (left). She then gives the “come” command (right), as Nicole allows the dog to go to forward.

Next time you are at the PACC visiting the dogs, look on the kennel cards for a “Canine Program” sticker. You will be looking at a dog that has been part of this training program. If you are interested in adopting the dog, ask the staff to see the notebook that describes what the dog has worked on! If you are interested in finding out more about the program, please contact Katenna_Jones@Brown.edu.