Here I come, world!

After 10 weeks of training, rehabilitation, and lots of fun, Atlas has completed his time at Second Chance Academy. Mr Atlas has met all of the requirements, and he is proud to inform you that we are here by granting Mr. Atlas parole as of November 16th, 2017. In order for Mr. Atlas to maintain his parole status, he must meet our one and only requirement, and that is to continue being the gentle giant that we all know him to be. Mr. Atlas has got everything you could want in a dog. He's pound-for-pound one of the most amazing dogs his trainer has ever known, and it's been nothing short of a blessing to have been a part of his life, even for such a short time. He's really going to be missed and he will never be forgotten. So open your arms and hearts cuz here comes love at first sight, and its name is Atlas!

Love and best of luck, 

Team Atlas

Showin' Off on Swap Week

Hello, Atlas here! This week started off a strange way. I had a different trainer for a week that the humans called swap week. I was a little nervous until my new trainer gave me my bowl full of food. He became my best friend from that moment. Nothing really special happened this week; I did all my commands for him so he wouldn't look bad in front of his human friends. My other trainer always walked away from me when I ran up to him. I was sad for a little bit, but I saw the "I miss you" in his eyes, so I know he still loves me. Well, that was my week. Tune in to find out how I'm doing next week!

Perfect Leash Walking Partner

Another fun filled week with your ole boy Atlas!  He is one of the most humble and loving dogs his trainer has ever seen.  He is always eager to please and loves to entertain.  His trainer truly loves this guy!  Not only does he know and perform all of his commands really well, but he is the best at leash walking. He stays right by his trainer's side, step for step, just as calm and well-behaved as he can be.

Atlas is also well behaved when it comes to toys.  When his trainer grabs a toy, Atlas will automatically sit or down, give him a cute look and wait patiently until he gets the toy.  What a good boy!

On another note, Atlas loves to be brushed.  His trainer can brush him until his arm gives out and he will still get a look from Atlas like, "hey man!"  "Why did you stop?"   Atlas gives his hugs and love.  Until next time...

Counter Surfing. No Way!

This week Atlas' trainers decided to address counter surfing.  There at the SCG center for higher learning, they do promote and encourage all sorts of fun extracurricular activities, but counter surfing is not one of them.  Oh sure, surfing and "hanging ten" off of some beautiful beach in Hawaii will make you "ooo" and "ahhh" in admiration.  When the surfing means your furry best friend has helped himself to your Thanksgiving dinner, it's an entirely different sounding "ooo" and "ahhh" you will be making.  In order to make sure that day never comes, the trainers worked on teaching Atlas that counters are no place for his big handsome self.  This usually takes a few sessions, but the big guy picked it up pretty quick.  Now when he spies food on a counter top, he eyes it with caution.

As for surfing on that beautiful beach in Hawaii . . . his trainer would not be surprised to see a clip on "You Tube" one day of Atlas riding some waves amid cheers from a crowd of onlookers, who only wished they could live life half as much as Atlas does.  Aloha from team Atlas.

#HangTenAtlas

Ladies' Man

Another wonderful week has come and gone with Atlas.  If his trainer could describe Atlas in just one word, it would be "Amazing".  He says his is nothing short of that.  Going through Atlas' commands this week, his trainer couldn't help but notice that he is becoming quite the little show-off.  LOL. 

Atlas has made his trainers very proud with his much improved "stay" command.  Besides the best dog hugs ever, Atlas now has these looks he gives you.  It's like he is trying to tell you what's on his mind, or better yet, what he is wanting.  His trainer likes to call them his "too cute looks".

AT-LAS but not least (ha, ha), his trainers have discovered that old Atlas is quite the ladies' man.  The other day when Atlas and his trainer were in the training room playing with some of his favorite toys, along came little Lea strutting her stuff.  Lea can be a little shy, but when she got in the room with Atlas, she lit up like the fourth of July.  She and Atlas shared toys, chased each other around and even shared a bed for a little while.  Atlas being the absolute gentleman that he is, welcomed little Lea with open paws.  It was a true Kodak moment.  Looks like Atlas might be in love...

Until next time.....Atlas sends his hugs!

Certified Sweet Boy

If Atlas was a guy of the two-legged variety, he would be that seriously handsome carefree guy in college who spends his days under a tree playing his guitar and singing about peace and love. Meanwhile, all the girls would swoon over him and all the guys would want to be just like him. As for he and his trainer, they have struck up a serious Bromance - one so strong that when his trainer's away at lunch or dinner, he finds himself eagerly looking forward to coming back to him where he knows a warm Greyhound hug is waiting. Plus, you never know what surprises Atlas has in store for you! He doles out his cuteness like a favorite uncle does at Christmas time. For instance, the other day while sleeping in his kennel, he somehow managed to roll himself up in his blanket and had his nose covered up with his paws. Love instantly gripped everyone's hearts as cartoon heart bubbles popped above their heads.

On the training side of life, he is getting the hang of doing commands for others. His stays are improving daily and his trainer swells with pride at his growing progress. It has only been 5 weeks, but he knows that he has made a new best friend for life. He will miss him so much but is so excited for him to go to his forever family!

Man's Best Friend

Atlas is the very reason someone started calling dogs "man's best friend".  With his sweet disposition and loyal persona, you can't help but fall in love with him.  As for his trainer, he tries to keep the high standards they have at the SCG Center for Higher Learning at a professional level, but Atlas has sneaked up on him and grabbed his heart. 

They are a dynamic duo destined to go down in history as one of the greatest teams of all time, such as Hall and Oats, Sunny and Cher.  You get the picture.  This close relationship has allowed training to go a little smoother this week.  Atlas' trainer has added "jump" and "bow" to his growing list of achievements.  Both Atlas and his trainer agree, the greatest lesson in life is, "it's short and make sure you live every moment to the max.  Above all else, always have fun doing it."

Good Morning Hugs All Around

Atlas is by far one of the most charming Greyhounds his trainer has ever known, with a sweet disposition to match.  He is referred to around the prison as a "gentle giant" and his trainer couldn't agree more.

Atlas starts off each day by burying his handsome face into his trainer's arms for a good morning hug.  It leaves him feeling all warm and fuzzy inside for being special enough to receive a hug from Atlas with such enthusiasm.  Well, that was until he realized that he spreads his love equally to everyone he comes in contact with... special Atlas hugs all around!  That's ok though, they both know who owns the can opener around there,  so he knows he's Atlas' favorite.

Training is still going great!  Atlas is a daydreamer at heart, so his trainer keeps the sessions short and fun.  They are filled not only with tasty treats but squeaky dinosaurs too.  Who wouldn't want to learn with rewards like that??  The formula for success appears to be working its magic, because he knows "sit", "down", "heel" and "bed".  The "stay" command is a work in progress, but his trainer feels confident this big guy will have it down pat in no time.  Gotta go.  Atlas is late for class.  Today's lesson is entitled "Stay."  Explore your mind not your surroundings.

Cheers from team Atlas!                             #DreambigAtlas

It's Me! Atlas!

What's up Ya'll?  This is Atlas, but I'm sure you already knew that.  I'm only the most handsome,  most extraordinary greyhound ever born!  Oh yeah, and the most humble.  It shows, right?

I decided to give up racing, because let's be honest, when I was racing no one else even stood a chance.  It sure was nice of me to give others a shot at glory.  Is my humility showing again?  Anyways, I am now learning how to live life, post racing God. To help me, there is this super cool dude, AKA my trainer, who tells me my biggest challenge is something called boundaries.  Whatever the heck that is.  I have tried to explain to him that I get to do as I please, but so far he seems unimpressed with my lofty station in life.  Instead, he is teaching me that by practicing patience and by doing a "sit" or a "down", I can get most of the things I desire in life.  For instance, this blue dinosaur that squeaks when I bite him.  I don't know what it is about the squeaky blue dude, but he drives me crazy.  I just want to cuddle up with him every time I see  him...oh and bite his face of course. Duh!  It's probably the same feeling you all get when you look at my handsome face... minus the biting.  

Well, that's it for now.  My trainer is calling my name.  He probably needs some life advice or something.  After all I am as wise as I am humble.  Til next week my two legged friends!

                                                                   xoxo  Atlas

Greyt Spirit

When Atlas's trainer first saw him, he thought to himself, this is no Greyhound - he is a small horse! After taking hold of his leash, he revised his original observation from horse to plow mule. Leash training quickly move to the top of the to-do list, but surprisingly enough, it didn't take him long to realize that he he would just patiently wait by his trainer's side, they would indeed move forward! His trainer's arm is eternally grateful that he picked up on this lesson so quickly.

Next, he took Atlas on a tour of the Second Chance Greyhounds Center for Higher Learning. He is very curious about anything and everything. They have a large painting of a greyhound on the wall and as soon as he saw it, he froze and then jumped up to sniff it. Disappointed that the dog on the wall didn't want to play, he moved on. Since Atlas seemed interested in playing, they broke out a squeaky squirrel toy. It was love at first sight! But more of an obsession than love. His trainer is six feet tall and held the toy up as high as he could thinking that Atlas could not possibly reach it, but boy was he wrong. The big guy jumped up and snatched it right out of his hand! So, new priority - we can't have a 76 lb dog snatching toys out of our hands. A proper gentleman sits and waits for the toy. Usually it takes a few days for the dog to grasp, but not Atlas. He figured it out in about 2 minutes that sitting equals his trainer throwing the toy for him.

They say first impressions are everything. Well, his trainer says he has to admit that Atlas made one heck of a first impression on him, not just in his mind but in his heart as well. His gentle, fun-loving spirit has him falling in love with this guy more and more everyday.