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Get IN. with Nate Spangle · August 3 · 1 hr 1 min

How Inmate Handlers Train Service Dogs That Change Lives | Jillian Ashton, Indiana Canine Assistant Network

On today's show I sat down with Jillian Ashton, president and CEO of the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), Indiana's only accredited service dog organization through Assistance Dogs International, during International Assistance Dog Week. Ashton explains how ICAN trains service dogs to support children, adults, and veterans with mobility and psychiatric needs, and how dogs can serve as a social bridge in public. She details ICAN's unique model of training dogs primarily in Indiana correctional facilities, including two-week in-prison team training where inmate handlers transfer skills to clients. ICAN places about 20 dogs per year, with roughly a 50% graduation rate, and it costs about $30,000 to train a dog over two years; veterans receive dogs at no charge. The episode also covers dog breeding, puppy development timelines, volunteer roles, and how to get involved via icandog.org. If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast. You are going to learn about: - The Indiana Canine Assistant Network - ICAN Dog Training and Puppy Training - How to Volunteer with ICAN Thank you to our partners: Bloomrank Discover Boone County Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Purposeful Partnership 01:16 Meet ICAN and the Dogs 02:49 Why Service Dogs Matter 04:14 Accreditation and Origins 07:22 Jillian's Path to ICAN 11:18 Training Dogs in Prison 15:25 Team Training Inside Prison 17:23 Other Training Models 19:25 Costs and Funding Reality 21:02 Why Some Dogs Don't Graduate 22:20 Career Changes and Scent Work 25:49 Breeds and Tiny Service Dogs 29:32 Puppy to Placement 32:09 Puppy Birth Basics 32:39 Early Sensory Handling 33:37 Volunteer Vetting 35:27 Prison Whelp Program 38:07 Training Rotation Cycle 38:46 Volunteer Roles Explained 39:32 Service vs Therapy Dogs 40:40 Training The Trainers 44:12 Puppy Training Advice 45:35 Career Change Adoptions 47:09 Building Composure 49:09 Get Involved With ICAN 51:16 Indiana Rapid Fire 55:03 Hidden Gems Spotlight 56:55 Hoosier To Watch 59:07 Favorite Indiana Memory 01:00:31 Final Plug And Wrap Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

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On today's show I sat down with Jillian Ashton, president and CEO of the Indiana Canine Assistant Network (ICAN), Indiana's only accredited service dog organization through Assistance Dogs International, during International Assistance Dog Week.

Ashton explains how ICAN trains service dogs to support children, adults, and veterans with mobility and psychiatric needs, and how dogs can serve as a social bridge in public. She details ICAN's unique model of training dogs primarily in Indiana correctional facilities, including two-week in-prison team training where inmate handlers transfer skills to clients. ICAN places about 20 dogs per year, with roughly a 50% graduation rate, and it costs about $30,000 to train a dog over two years; veterans receive dogs at no charge.

The episode also covers dog breeding, puppy development timelines, volunteer roles, and how to get involved via icandog.org.

If you like this episode and want to hear more Get IN. episodes where I interview Hoosiers making a difference, visit getindiana.com/podcast.

You are going to learn about: - The Indiana Canine Assistant Network - ICAN Dog Training and Puppy Training - How to Volunteer with ICAN

Thank you to our partners: Bloomrank Discover Boone County

Check out these great clips from the show: 00:00 Purposeful Partnership 01:16 Meet ICAN and the Dogs 02:49 Why Service Dogs Matter 04:14 Accreditation and Origins 07:22 Jillian's Path to ICAN 11:18 Training Dogs in Prison 15:25 Team Training Inside Prison 17:23 Other Training Models 19:25 Costs and Funding Reality 21:02 Why Some Dogs Don't Graduate 22:20 Career Changes and Scent Work 25:49 Breeds and Tiny Service Dogs 29:32 Puppy to Placement 32:09 Puppy Birth Basics 32:39 Early Sensory Handling 33:37 Volunteer Vetting 35:27 Prison Whelp Program 38:07 Training Rotation Cycle 38:46 Volunteer Roles Explained 39:32 Service vs Therapy Dogs 40:40 Training The Trainers 44:12 Puppy Training Advice 45:35 Career Change Adoptions 47:09 Building Composure 49:09 Get Involved With ICAN 51:16 Indiana Rapid Fire 55:03 Hidden Gems Spotlight 56:55 Hoosier To Watch 59:07 Favorite Indiana Memory 01:00:31 Final Plug And Wrap

Get IN. is brought to you by our friends at Sweetwater. Whether you are looking to start a podcast or level up your current show you need to hit them up.

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