For a project designed to fight recidivism among some of the worst young offenders in the United States, it has a somewhat unexpected title. Project Pooch is not the sort of name destined to make concerned citizens sleep easier in their beds at night.

Moreover, the theory behind Positive Opportunities, Obvious Change with Hounds does not, on the surface at least, inspire utmost confidence. Give juvenile murderers, rapists and armed robbers a badly behaved dog to look after and see if it improves their behaviour.