Final Goodbyes

Caitie has completed her final exam with the ladies from Second Chance Greyhounds, passing with flying colors.  She has responded well in the care of others and dealt with separation perfectly. 

The weeks with Caitie have just flow by. It's hard to believe she'll be gone in a few days.  Her inmate trainer thinks when she leaves that he'll be the one having separation anxiety.  She's such a sweet and playful companion once you learn her behaviors.  She's very well mannered and well behaved and will do anything for treats now. Initially, she wouldn't even take treats or eat but she soon settled and became comfortable with her surroundings and all was right in her world.

Her inmate trainer knows that her new family will absolutely adore her from the first minute they meet.  Merry Christmas Caitie!

Swap Week. No Problem.

The much anticipated swap week is here!  Each primary handler trades Greyhounds for one week in order to test and observe.  From time to time, this can be a very stressful for the hounds, but this was not so for Caitie.  She was just as calm and sweet as ever!

Caitie even responded very well with new people giving her commands, other than her training team.  It should be a smooth transition from the inmate training program to her new forever home.  Caitie, being a sweet Greyhound paired with her easy going personality, says that she will have no problem forming that close bond with her new family from day one.  She loves being around people.  She loves to lay on her bed next to her trainer during the day, but also has no issues being in her kennel for a prolonged period of time, if necessary.

Caitie is a great all-around greyhound that will fit well with a family of any type.  Her trainer said it has been a pleasure getting the chance to work with Caitie.  He will definitely miss her.

Play and Enjoy Life

Caitie took her pre-graduation test this week!  Her inmate trainer said that she did great on every command!  He does plan to work with her on her reaction time in distracting situations.  He says that since arriving at the prison she’ s made a complete 180 degree turn around.  She now gets very playful when excited and loves for her inmate trainer to join in.  Since it’s pretty hard to resist he gives in and plays like nobody’s watching.  

Swap week is coming up next week which means it’ll be time for the inmates to exchange dogs to go over training commands.  Caitie’s trainer believes that she’ll do really well although he knows he’s gonna miss her!.  

Playful And Pretty

Caitie has emerged from her shell and has shown a very excited, playful side when it's coaxed out of her.  She is also performing her commands without needing treats!  Her trainer will focus on her response time and extending her "stay" and "wait" times. 

This week is pre-testing to see how well the dogs are doing in their training.  Her inmate trainer has no doubt Caitie will do great.  She knows her commands with verbal and hand cues.

Caitie is such a sweet and loving greyhound!  Her trainer hopes she finds her forever home that is as special as she is. 

Attention and Toys

Guess what happened this week?!  Caitie has started playing with toys!  Her inmate trainer says that they were having playtime and when the toy was introduced she grabbed it with happiness!  

While lounging around this week Caitie’s inmate trainer laid down with her on the bed.  She was fine with space sharing until he tried to use her as a pillow.  She barked to let him know that she is a beautiful princess NOT a pillow.  Her inmate trainer says that she’s still welcome to use him as a pillow but he’ll respect her wishes.  

Caitie does really well with the other dogs and enjoys her interactions with the humans.  They can’t resist paying her attention which fits her schedule just fine.  

Making Progress

Guess who is sitting without assistance these days???!!!  Caitie!!!  She’s performing all of her basic commands now! She’s still a little slow responding to a few of them, but her inmate trainer knows that she’ll have everything figured out in no time.  She beginning to adjust to the new environment, but can still be a little shy around some of the officers with their loud ole keys.  

Her inmate trainer is excited to see Caitie coming out of her shell and can’t wait to watch more of her personality emerge.  

Bed Seeker

Caitie is doing great with her basic commands.  She is a little hesitant performing them in certain places and situations, so her trainer is working to build her confidence.  She also performs the best with special treats.  She feels that's a good trade.  She shows the tricks, if her trainer shows the treats!

Over the past week, Caitie is showing her playful side that her trainer has not seen before.  He tried to introduce her to different toys to channel her energy, but she still shows no interest in them.  Maybe next week...

She enjoys laying on the cushy beds out in the day room beside her trainer, and even when he's not there.  It's her go-to spot now.  She will run over and look for a bed when she is off leash.  She wants to find that perfect bed to lay her head on.  She's hoping her new forever home has plenty of beds to chose from.

Sweet Rewards

Caitie has been teaching her inmate trainer about stubbornness.  She’s decided that he needs to work a little harder getting her attention; besides it’s only fair that he goes through a training routine too.  She knows what he’s asking but he just wasn’t making the tradeoff sweet enough.  Finally a breakthrough and her inmate trainer finally learned that a Kong stuffed with peanut butter was proper payment! 

Caitie is a cautious girl who likes to become comfortable with the idea of something new.  She’s come a long way since arriving at the prison and is warming up to her new environment.  She does great with the stairs and the jump commands.  Her inmate trainer can’t wait to see Caitie come out of shell and show her true colors! 

Settling In Slowly But Surely

Caitie is starting to get used to prison life.  She's getting accustomed to the sounds and people.  Prison life and people can be very loud.  Caitie is now eating her food, instead of trying to bury it, and she is letting her trainer know which treats are her favorite.

Caitie and her trainer have spent most of the time getting to know each other and her to her new surroundings.  They worked on "sit", "down""heel", "wait" and she's figuring out what her trainer is asking of her.  When she is not around her trainer she likes to spend her time in her kennel.

She loves to run.  She really gets friendly when she is running with the other dogs.  She will run up to everyone just to say "hi" and then she takes off again.  Caitie seems to open up when outside on the big yard.

Her inmate trainer is sure she is going to make great progress over the next few weeks as she grasps the concept of the commands.  He's excited to see how much she can learn.

Adjusting To A New Life

This week Caitie and her trainer have been bonding.  She has been shy and nervous in the dorm, but she is adjusting.  Her trainer has been working on "lets go", "wait" and "hurry".  She seems to understand the concepts well.  They have also been working on "heel" and "bed", but won't make a lot of progress until she gets more comfortable.

Caitie still wants to be in her kennel rather than out in the open, so she and her trainer take a lot of walks to get her out and about.  She seems like she wants to run, but they are waiting  until her stitches are healed. Patience Caitie.

Her inmate trainer is excited to be working with her and is eager to see how well she adapts and progresses over the next nine weeks.