Laid-back Hunk

Swap week! This week, one of the trainers hosted a guest greyhound named, you guessed it, Andy. That's why you're here, right? Gotta check up on how this hunk is doing!

Andy looks just like Quinn, his swap week trainer's primary dog. Both are black males with a little bit of salt and pepper gray on their snouts. It's not from age, though - they're both about 3 years old (maybe wiser than the average 3 year old, hmmm). The other trainer and him joked that they could switch them back and nobody would notice! But that wouldn't be any fun, because the trainers really love getting to know a brand new dog. 

Andy was so great to have for the week. He's very easy-going and sweet; he loves to be petted and scratched (ESPECIALLY on his hind quarters). Really, this guy just loves to chill out. 

There's no new training during swap week, just maintenance of what's already been learned. So it was a pretty laidback week! Andy didn't show any signs of separation anxiety, just chills and rolls with it, which is nice! Andy is going to make such a good friend to some lucky family.

Until next week! Andy's team signing out.

Squeaky Toy Shenanigans

Our man Andy is coming along great! He knows all thirteen commands with a scholar's dedication. He is so well-behaved, so loving and such a smart guy. His trainers discovered that he really enjoys his squeaking duck toy and gets so excited when it's time to play with it. He goes nuts over that guy!

Andy got his second bath of the session last week and he handled it like a champ, as usual. And he's going up and down stairs like an absolute pro. If you're the lucky duck who's gonna get to love Andy forever, I hope you've prepared your heart because it's gonna get stolen! 

Lovable Andy

Andy is walking on shiny floors!  Andy is going into his kennel all by himself!  Andy is walking up stairs!  What????  Yep.  That's correct!  You heard it first here at Second Chance Greyhounds Academy.  Andy has made major improvements this week!!  His trainer is so proud of him.  They will continue to work with him so he will get better and better .

Andy knows all of his basic commands, with verbal and hand signals.  Andy is a well behaved boy.  He is very sweet and loves to go up to anyone willing to pet and love on him.  So get ready to pet Andy to your heart's content.

Andy now enjoys playing with toys.  He seems to be comfortable now and is opening up more and more being the lovable Andy that he is.  Andy is going to make his forever home, forever happy!  Enjoy him!!

Everybody's Friend

Andy is doing so well. He is such a warm, loving dog who has truly never met a stranger. He loves everybody he meets and has learned all of his commands very easily. He is VERY treat/food-motivated which makes training a breeze. He loves playing with his squeaking duck toy - he will even jump really high to get it if you ask him to!

Andy is such a joy to be around and to train. He still has a little bit of work to do on going up and down stairs, but he is coming along nicely and should be the Stair Master by the time graduation rolls around!

Laid Back Boy

Andy also had another first this week… toys!!  He played with squeaky toys for the first time!! His pal Bodey joined in the play time and they had a great time together!  

Andy is halfway through training! Andy’s inmate trainer says that he is confident that if Andy was to leave today for his forever homes his owners would be very pleased at how well Andy knows his commands.  

He knows all of his commands very well. He can be a little slow responding to sit and down but he’s just making up his mind to follow through.  He started going into his kennel without a lure. He’s showing improvement on the shiny floors.  He still looks at certain areas of the floors like he’s unsure about them, but he will reach down into his confidence reserves and make it happen. 

They’ve worked on the stairs and he’s not too crazy about them.  His inmate worked at putting one paw at a time going up.  He did independently take his first steps on the way down which is a great improvement for sweet Andy!  His inmate plans to continue to work to help Andy grow his confidence on the stairs and believes that Andy will conquer the mountain!  

Andy’s inmate trainer says that Andy is a greyt Greyhound!  He’s a well behaved laid back guy.  His inmate trainer says that Andy is sure to make his forever family very happy!  

Sweet Smartypants

What a productive week for Mr. Andy! Andy has been sitting on a regular basis and has improved on all of his commands. His hurry, stay, bed, release, sit, let's go and here have all improved significantly. His trainer is still working on getting Andy into his kennel without having to bait him with a treat. He just stands at the door and won't go in without a treat or a little tug on the collar. He's showing less resistance with each passing day, though, and it'll be no time before he's going in there all on his own just to hang out. 

Andy does a great "heel" on the concrete floors, but is a little hesitant on the dreaded shiny floors. His trainer is working patiently with him to help him understand that the shiny floors, while slippery, are a friend and not a foe. 

Andy picked up so quickly on the down command, which is awesome! It isnt' a surprise, though, because Andy is a very smart greyhound. He also did his first jump! It took a few tries, but eventually he nailed it. He is also being trained to go up and down stairs (eeeeek!). He had to be assisted at first since the stairs are near the spooky shiny floors, but he's getting there. 

By the time Andy's ten weeks are up, he will be a well-trained friend and ready for his forever home. Andy is a fantastic dog. He loves to be petted and loved on, and all he wants is a loving family to show him lots of love. And in return, he will nestle into your hearts, returning that love a thousand-fold. Andy is a great guy, so get him before someone else does! Greyhounds this good go fast. 

You've got a friend in me!

What a productive week for Andy! Andy did his first sit during feeding time, then he did two more sits! And then (you won't believe it)... this guy did three more PERFECT SITS! Andy seems to be getting this one down pat, which is impressive not only since it's still early in the program, but because sitting is very hard for greyhounds. 

Andy has improved greatly on "wait," and his "hurry" is coming along well. "Let's go" has also improved. He has worked on "here" and "leave it," and he had no trouble with these. He did have a little trouble walking on the shiny floors (ahhh! the floor is lava!) but he has made so much progress compared to where he was when he first arrived. His trainer is working diligently on this issue, and making sure Andy knows that the floor is NOT lava. 

Andy still doesn't like to go into his kennel on command (there's too much to smell and explore!). He will go when treats are involved, so it may just be a matter of creating a Pavlovian expectation that a treat is imminent when it's kennel time. He has at least done very well with bed. Now, if we could just channel the bed enthusiasm for some kennel excitement... It's still very early in the session, and Andy and his trainer have ample time to work out any training kinks.

Andy is such an intelligent greyhound and has made major improvements just in these first three weeks. He has so much potential, maybe he'll even learn to drive, or how to use a calculator! So check back for more updates on Andy. Andy says "hello!!!" and sends his love posthaste to his soon to be forever family - so check your mailbox, cause you've got a friend in Andy!

Awesome Andy!

Last week Andy had a little trouble walking on the bright, shiny floors.  Well guess what?  This week he overcame his fear and walked like a champ with no trouble at all.  That's Awesome Andy!

This week his trainer worked with Andy on "sit", "bed", "wait", "heel" and "stay". Last week he was introduced to "hurry", "let's go", "kennel" and "release".  His training is coming along nicely.  Andy is a very calm, relaxed and laid back boy. He's a low energy greyhound, but is also super sweet and loves to be petted and loved on.  His trainer is enjoying his time with Andy and knows he will make a greyt addition to any family.   More to come next week... 

Easing Into Retirement

Andy has arrived for training!  His main question seems to be… WHAT are these shiny floor things??!  I need sunglasses and anti-slip boots!  Oh and get this when I arrived they used soap and water and washed me from head to toes!  They even cleaned out my ears and looked between my toes!  I just never thought retirement would be like this.  Now, I’ll tell you all the attention has not been bad and I’ve discovered treats which are pretty yummy.  

I’ve spent some time with my inmate trainer who says I should wait at doors.  I agree for treat payments it only seems fair after all. I’m relaxing into this new routine so the next few weeks should be a breeze.  My inmate trainer says I’m a laid back kinda guy who is sure to make some lucky family very happy.