The subversiveness of dog training prison programs
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2026
Abstract
Prison Dog Programs (PDPs) have quickly grown as rehabilitative opportunities across the United States; estimates project between 230 and 290 currently active programs. These programs pair up incarcerated individuals with dogs from local shelters for 8–12 weeks and either train them as service dogs or work on basic obedience in preparation for adoption. In this paper, we propose that these programs subversively undermine prison logic in three main ways: (1) by allowing for ontological expansion–of the self, with other humans, and with other nonhumans–(2) by rearranging masculine socialization, and (3) by providing incarcerated individuals to participate in caretaking. We argue this with various supporting interviews from participants in two programs: the Madison Correctional Facility for Women in Indiana, USA and the North Central Unit in Arkansas, USA. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Recommended Citation
Humbert, Emily and Owens, Peter, "The subversiveness of dog training prison programs" (2026). College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 481.
https://digitalcommons.uncfsu.edu/college_humanities_social_sciences/481