On April 23rd, the Envision Success Project (ESP) brought two students, Carley A. and Zoey H., to visit NEADS Service Dogs training facility. Beginning as a student project at Holliston Junior College in 1976 and later moving to their own campus in Princeton, NEADS has since matched over 2,000 service dogs with compatible partners.
Along the guided tour, the group learned about the training process, who they're trained for, and how the dogs are matched with clients. "During early training, food is the primary reward that reinforces good behavior," their website reads. "As time goes on, the food is reduced or replaced with other incentives so that the dog will work even when there is no food reward. Whether it’s a scratch on the chest or a chance to play ball, the dog knows that something good is coming."
Students met an older trainee dog as well as a younger puppy as they learned about the different phases of training. After mastering a set of basic commands, NEADS then involves the client to develop a personalized relationship, accounting for their individual needs.
We thank the wonderful people at NEADS for providing this opportunity!