By On Monday, Jan. 20, Carroll College held its first Collar Scholars Training Circle.
Training Circles require all Canine Companion “puppy raisers” and potential “puppy raisers” to attend.
Canine Companions is a service dog program on campus. The puppy raisers attend training with their future service dogs. Puppy sitters go to watch the puppy for when the raisers need them.
“The training circles give a sense of community and support,” said club President Isabella Fields, a senior anthrozoology major from Boise, Idaho. “Their purpose is to bring everyone together and check in on how all pups and raisers are doing.”
Canine Companions provides service dogs for people with disabilities. These volunteers have a crucial role in training these service dogs.
The rasiers take the puppy from 10 weeks old until about a year and a half, training them with basics until they are sent to specialized training.
The training circles for Carroll College’s puppy raisers take place in the anthrozooology building. The training circles are conducted in groups, consisting of puppy sitters, potential puppy raisers, and current raisers and their puppy.
In these circles, new skills are introduced, and old skills are reinforced.
Currently, there are two puppy raisers, two previous puppy raisers, and a group of puppy sitters, as well as the club president.
Carroll College’s Training Circles are held at least twice every month. They are a great way to make new friends, enjoy time with puppies, and, in turn, socialize the puppies with different people.
Anyone is welcome to come and enjoy. For more information about when this club is holding circles or other events, check out the Carroll Scholars Instagram page, carroll.collarscholars.
