Graduation Is Here

Belle’s inmate trainer says that it has been an absolute pleasure working with Belle the last 10 weeks.  She is quick to learn and adjusts to changes well which has made training easy.  She is kind and gentle and loves attention.  Having Belle around equals a fantastic day!  

She has known all of her basic commands since the second week so they’ve been reviewing her commands and letting other trainers run through commands with her to make sure she will perform for anyone.  Her inmate trainer says that he is confident that Belle will bring years of happiness to her new forever family.  She’s a truly special dog and will be missed greatly.  

Guess What Week It Is? Swap Week!

Guess what week it is?  Swap week!  Time for the inmate trainers to trade dogs to see how they do following commands from new people and it also gives the dogs time away from their primary trainers.  Belle had a wonderful week!  Her alternate inmate trainer says that Belle is the most relaxed and laid back dog he has ever had a chance to work with.  She knows and performed all of her commands very well!  He didn’t see any signs of aggression with anything from toys to food.  He believes that her new forever family is in for a treat with this amazing girl! 

Becoming A Social Butterfly

Belle has become quite the social butterfly of late!  She absolutely loves getting attention from people!  Her inmate trainer says that she enjoys running in the yard, but only runs about half as much as the other dogs and would much rather be next to her human.  

With other dogs Belle is more submissive and a bit shy but seems to get along well with everyone.  Her inmate trainer says that she is one of the smartest and well-mannered dogs he has ever had the pleasure of working with. 

Happy and Playful

Belle is as happy as she can be!  She wakes up in happy playful moods and seems to be loving retirement.  Her inmate trainer has had other people giving commands to Belle and she doesn’t have any problems performing for anyone!  Her favorite command is sit!  Any time she is training she defaults to this position with high hopes that she’ll get a treat.  She knows all of her commands really well with verbal cues and many with hand signal cues. 

Belle’s inmate trainer says that this sweet girl is sure to steal her new family’s heart! 

Brillant

Hi, my name is Belle.  I’m at this prison place learning homemaking skills.  My inmate trainer says that this training is going to help me understand what my forever family is requesting.  I admit if they use the English words my inmate trainer uses I’ll be thankful for the training.  No one seems to speak Doglish except for my fellow four-legged friends.  Anyway I completely understand what my inmate trainer wants when he speaks or when he gives me verbal cues.  I think this means I’m brilliant.  

My inmate trainer says that I’m sweet and easy to work with.  He’s right, I am.  I’m looking forward to meeting my new forever family.  I think they’re going to love me!  I know I’m going to love them!  

Soaking Up The Love

Now the Belle has learned most of her commands and will perform them for anyone her inmate trainer has been working on two new areas this week.  She has been doing stairs very well and with a couple of more sessions she’ll be running up and down them ease.  They’ve also been working on the “jump” command.  She’s a little slower catching on to this command, but her inmate trainer has no doubt that she’ll have it figured out very soon.   

Belle’s inmate trainer has been trying to teach Belle how to play with toys, but she seems to be more comfortable lounging around or soaking up all the attention she can get.  Outside in the big yard Belle loves to run, most of the time it’s on her own rather than with the other dogs.  She is curious about everything and does really well with the “recall” command.  

Taking Retirement Seriously

Since Belle knows all of her commands really well this week training has been focused on her performance without treats as a reward.  She has been doing really well with praise rewards and her inmate trainer makes sure she gets her favorite treats after the training session is complete; Beef Lung Tips.  They also worked on stair training this week and she is catching on nicely.  She takes the steps slowly but as her confidence builds so will her speed.  Her inmate trainer says that she listens very well and does great with the recall command.  He hasn’t seen any signs of aggression over anything and she is very comfortable around the other dogs.  

Belle has been taking retirement seriously enjoying her downtime lounging around on her doggie bed.  She hasn’t shown any interest in toys yet.  She seems a little uncomfortable on the shiny floors but marches on.  Her inmate trainer is really enjoying his time with this sweet girl.  

Little Ms. Wonderful

Belle is doing exceptionally well throughout her training at the prison.  Her inmate trainer says that she is a pleasure to work with.  She is smart girl and is already performing commands as if she’s been there for 4 or 5 weeks!

Belle is a mild tempered girl with a slight playful side.  She’s comfortable sharing her bed space with other Greyhounds.  Outside she tends to run by herself, but her inmate trainer believes that this is due to her curiosity more than anything else.  

Belle’s inmate trainer says that Belle has become a dorm favorite and people ask him regularly if they can spend some time with Ms. Belle!  

Belle is responding really well to her training.  She gets excited when time to leave the kennel and she’s doing a wonderful job remaining calm before exiting!  She can also get a little excited at meals times so her inmate trainer is using the same techniques to keep Belle calm before allowing her to eat.  He’s very proud of the progress she’s made!

A Cute Little Sweetie

Belle has proven this past week to be a little sweetie. During down time she is content to rest her head in her inmate trainer’s lap soaking up all the attention she can get.  She has no problem sharing a bed with any of the other dogs.  

Training is coming right along!  Since Belle loves her treats training has been much easier.  Her inmate trainer is still working to perfect Belle’s commands but she already has the concept of “heel,” “sit,” and “stay.”  Her recall is excellent already.  She tends to get very excited when exiting the kennel so they have been working to make sure she is calm before leaving the kennel.  Her inmate trainer has her hold the “down” position until she is calm then gives the command “let’s go” when it’s time to come out.  This has been working and Belle is showing great improvement.  

Belle hasn’t shown any interest in toys or Nyla Bones yet, but she is curious.  Her inmate trainer believes that once she realizes how much fun toys are she’ll be finding a favorite.  

The Start of Something New!

It's been one week since Belle arrived at the prison.  Her inmate trainer says the first week generally is about getting the Greyhound acclimated to her new surroundings which, in Belle's case, is going very well.

She is definitely a morning person (er, I mean dog) because every morning she is eager to get her day started that when her inmate opens her kennel door, her tail seems to wag a hundred times a second.  Already, he says it seems that training Belle is going to be so easy that she will likely learn tons of extras to help fill in the time during her ten week tenure. 

He is excited to see what this session holds for her and for him.  Watch her blog for more training dates as the weeks pass!