What is the Givens Hall PAWS Program?

Paroling Animals With Skills (PAWS) is a dog training program located at Idaho Correctional Institution- Orofino (ICIO). Givens Hall is the minimum-security section of ICIO and home to the Givens Hall PAWS Program. Members of this program are screened and interviewed before being accepted into the program and must complete 40 hours of apprenticeship dog training. Givens Hall PAWS and BBBR have developed a partnership where we are training bully breeds for an (8) week training cycle. Each dog will be assigned to a primary and secondary trainer, this training team will provide at a minimum 140 hours of training. During this training the dogs will receive basic obedience and social skills that will lead to a drastic change in behavior. At the end of the (8) week training cycle the dogs will return to the BBBR facility where they will be available for adoption.

GIVENS HALL PAWS HANDLER MANUAL

CURRENT PAWS DOGS
NOW ACCEPTING
PRE-ADOPTION APPLICATIONS
GET THEM IN EARLY TO MEET THE DOGS UPON RETURN!

Get your applications in EARLY!

GRADUATION DATE AND ESTIMATED RETURN 6/19/25

LINK TO PAWS WISHLIST

You’ve asked us HOW you can help support our PAWS dogs and their trainers! Here is it!

Every 9 weeks BBBR sends a new round of dogs to PAWS! PAWS is the Orofino Prison training program, location ICIO, where each rescue dog is assigned a team of trainers for 8 weeks of training, companionship and CGC certification!

We have put together a PAWS Amazon Wish List of items that are needed for this awesome program. Whether it is training gear, health related or just plain fun items, BBBR, the rescue dogs, and their handlers appreciate your generosity and support!

All items ship directly to the PAWS program administrators located at ICIO.

"Paroling Animals With Skills (PAWS) is a dog training program located at the Idaho Correctional Institution- Orofino (ICIO). Givens Hall PAWS and BBBR have developed a partnership, training bully breeds for an (8) week training cycle. Please help support our BBBR dogs and their PAWS handlers by purchasing and donating toys, gear, food, and other essentials needed during their 8 weeks of training. We appreciate your support!"

APPLY FOR DOC

DOC IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

4/23/25: Arrived at the Givens Hall PAWS Program in Orofino.

Week Summary: Training week 4

Date:5/18/25

This week we have been doing a lots of work on keeping his focus, his engagement, and learning his new commands. There is still times that he likes to pull to go see someone so he can get loved on. He is doing great on all of his commands that we have taught him. The team still has a lot of work to do on his pulling.

Journal:

Date:5/12/25

Doc is progressing in the areas we have been working on. He still needs some work on his pulling.

For all weekly progress reports please check back here or visit the PAWS Facebook page!

FOR MORE INFO ON DOC? CLICK HERE.

APPLY FOR ACHILLES

ACHILLES IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

4/23/25: Arrived at the Givens Hall PAWS Program in Orofino.

WEEKLY SUMMARY – Week 4

Achilles is still struggling with his fear and anxiety while he is in the building. We have been making a lot of progress, but it is a slow process. When he is outside, he does so great. We have been focusing on his confidence lately, helping him find positive experiences when he is unsure about situations. He is such a great dog, he is so smart and fun-loving we all just adore him.

DAILY ENTRY: 5-14-25

Today we worked on Achilles getting used to the hallway. Because the hall is so long with lots of different sounds echoing and people moving about, he becomes very scared and unsure. We gave him a corner that he can find safety in, and have been working on getting him more comfortable there.

For all of weekly progress reports please check back here or visit the PAWS Facebook page!

FOR MORE INFO ON ACHILLES? CLICK HERE.

APPLY FOR BOULDER

BOULDER IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

4/23/25: Arrived at the Givens Hall PAWS Program in Orofino.

Week Summary: Four

Date: 5/17/25

Boulder is finally starting to get back to playing in groups with the other dogs. This week he’s been playing with his two best friends, Brock and Achilles. You’d never know by watching them that just last week Boulder was incredibly shy at playtimes. He’s a tireless ball of energy and wants to keep playing long after the other dogs appear to be worn out.

Journal:

Date: 5/13/25

Boulder played in a group setting for the first time in weeks. It took some coaxing, but once he got involved it was like he’d never stopped. He’s very play driven and always wants to hang out with his friends. He’s doing well with his training and learns quickly.

For all of weekly progress reports please check back here or visit the PAWS Facebook page!

FOR MORE INFO ON BOULDER? CLICK HERE.

APPLY FOR BROCK

ARROW IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

4/23/25: Arrived at the Givens Hall PAWS Program in Orofino.

Week Summary: 4

Date: 5/18/25

Brock has been progressing quite well this week. We focused on maintaining CGC’s and associating people with rewards. When people hover over him or stare him in the eyes, he tend to react by lunging towards them. He is extremely reactive to the turkeys out back and when he hears other dogs barking he losses all focus on the handler. With that being said, his recall is much better and I am able to call him back 95% of the time. Sometimes he will stare off into the distance for a moment before returning, but he always comes back. I’ve also walked him off lead to see how he does, and he always stays within sight and always checks in by trotting next to me. He is a curious dog and wants to see what’s in the world.

Journal:

Date: 5/11/25

Recalls have been coming along extremely well this week. Playtime with other dogs is always successful and Brock gets along with all the dogs here. He loses focus when he hears certain noises but he can be called to attention.

For all of weekly progress reports please check back here or visit the PAWS Facebook page!

FOR MORE INFO ON BROCK? CLICK HERE.

APPLY FOR ARROW

ARROW IS AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

4/23/25: At the Givens Hall PAWS Program in Orofino for round two!

WEEKLY SUMMARY: WEEK FOUR

Arrow has done such an amazing job in his obedience this week! Each day his behaviors are becoming greater and greater and his reactivity is less and less. For over a week now we haven’t had any issues with staff walking past Arrow while his is with me or in his kennel. We have worked lots this week on duration, impulse control, and continuing to shape tricks to keep his mind occupied and always learning! Arrow is such a smart dog, eager to learn, and needs to always be doing something to please himself or his handlers. He is most definitely not a porch dog! We have made progress again with Arrow playing with other dogs. He does great with Boulder and keeps a pretty fair playing match with him! Brock has been reacting to Arrow in close proximity, so for right now that is what we are focusing on as far as those two go. We hope to have them playing again within the next week or so!

DAILY JOURNAL: 5/16/25

The weather has been ugly outside, so we have spent a ton of time indoors where it’s not raining and Arrow can work. When he went out into the rain today he wasn’t having it and kept going for the door. We spent most of today working on new commands like center, back, roll over, and bow! Arrow has caught on to each trick pretty quickly and offers the behaviors at random times for food and praise!

For all of weekly progress reports please check back here or visit the PAWS Facebook page!

FOR MORE INFO ON ARROW? CLICK HERE.

What is the Givens Hall PAWS Program?

CURRENT PAWS DOGS NOW ACCEPTING PRE-ADOPTION APPLICATIONS GET THEM IN EARLY TO MEET THE DOGS UPON RETURN!

CURRENT PAWS DOGS
NOW ACCEPTING
PRE-ADOPTION APPLICATIONS
GET THEM IN EARLY TO MEET THE DOGS UPON RETURN!