The Effectiveness of Dog-Training Programs in Prison

To date, there are more than 290 correctional facilities across the United States that have implemented dog-training programs. To better understand the effects of dog-training programs on their human participants, this article conducts a systematic review and two meta-analyses of 10 studies that met the criteria for inclusion. The data from these 10 studies were obtained from 310 program participants and 514 controls. Conducting two meta-analyses on externalizing and internalizing outcomes of dog-training program participation, we found significant mean effect sizes for both sets of outcomes, suggesting that dog-training programs have a desirable effect on offenders.