Goodbye is Never Easy

Well, well, Boris has passed his final exams!  His inmate trainer is proud to report that Boris passed the SCG basic command test and the K9 Good Citizenship practice test! 

When Boris saw the ladies from SCG he got really excited and transformed into a dog not seen before by his inmate trainer.  His trainer says that if you remember when you were a kid and how the Jack-In-The-Box toy shoots out of the box, well that was Boris!   He settled down and did great the rest of the day.

Boris’ inmate trainer is truly going to miss this boy!  He is thankful to SCG and to Jenkins Correctional Facility for allowing him the opportunity to train these beautiful dogs! 

Graduation is Coming!

Boris has come a long way since week one.  He comes up to everyone looking for a pet or scratch behind the ears.  He likes to run around the big yard for a quick sprint then walk around investigating.  He enjoys playing with toys but would much rather have a treat.  

His inmate trainer says that Boris has been fun to train.  He does really well with all of his commands especially with treats!  He enjoys interacting with the other dogs and will go up the steps like a champ and come down slow and easy.  

Boris is going to be missed by his inmate trainers, but they hope that he will have a wonderful new life with his forever family. 

Swap Week

So this week was swap week.  We hounds get to go hang out with other inmate trainers and go through our commands and stuff.  Really, I think it’s a test to see how the trainers are doing although they say it’s to see how we’re doing with taking commands from new people and being away from our primary trainers.  You readin’ through the lines too?  Yep, sounds a test for the inmate trainers!  

So here’s the deal, I went and hung out with this new guy and because I know it was a test for him I wasn’t gonna make it all roses and rainbows.  He’s a new dude and I gotta get used to his way of doin’ things so that took me a bit too.  I soon learned that he was pretty cool and decided that I should show off my skills a bit.  In truth the only things I was slow to respond to were “release” and “wait.”  No need to stand and applaud, I know I'm awesome.  

My temporary inmate trainer said that I’m a very friendly energetic guy who loves food.  I’ll admit that my natural curiosity makes leash walking a bit difficult for me.  I just want to see everything and give it a sniff!  This is a work in progress with my inmate trainer.  I’m thinking he can’t see and smell things the way I do so he doesn’t really understand what I’m trying to tell him.  I’m working on understanding his desire for me to walk next to him. 

Play Time and Training Time

Nothing seems to bother Boris.  He’s adjusted well to the prison environment and his favorite part seems to be the big yard where he can run and play with the other dogs.

His training is going very well!  He knows all of his basic commands and he has recently started learning the “pray” command.  He’s also working on “shake,” “lights off,” and “kiss”.  His inmate trainer is confident that Boris will be performing like a pro by graduation! He knows “paws up” and “bow” really well. 

Lights On - Lights Off

Boris seems to like his temporary home at the prison very well.  His inmate trainer says that Boris gets along with everyone and loves to run in the big yard with the other dogs. 

Training is going really well.  His inmate trainer says that Boris has gotten much better with the stay and heel commands.  He’s still learning to turn the lights on and off, but is catching on quickly.  He is currently learning shake, kiss, pray, and acting ashamed.  Boris is also doing really well on the leash.  His inmate trainer says that he believes that Boris is going to make a wonderful pet!

Attention Hound

This past week has been fairly laid back for Boris.  He has decided he loves stairs and playing with new toys.  He has also shown his inmate trainer that that he does not like going to play or going to potty in the rain.  He loves to run and act silly when it’s nice outside.

Boris is a very friendly and outgoing guy who absolutely loves attention from people. As a matter of fact, he’s taken to a lot of the other inmates during training! He is doing much better listening and responding to his commands!  

Boris is an energetic guy and after about 5 minutes of vigorous exercise in the big yard he’s ready to sleep the rest of the day away.  He loves to lay around and prop his head against you so he’s within easy reach for petting!  His inmate trainer says that Boris is a big ole teddy bear!

Smart Cookie!

Boris is a very smart Greyhound who is full of energy!  He loves to run on the big yard during turnout and absolutely loves to play with his new toys.

Boris has been in the program for three and a half weeks now.  The first week he spent acclimating to prison life, including time spent bonding with his training team.  The next couple of weeks they've worked diligently with Boris teaching him the basic commands, "sit", "down", "here", "wait", "kennel", "heel", and "stay".  Needless to say, it didn't take Boris long to pick up these commands.  He is one smart cookie.

This next week they will focus on fine tuning "stay" and "heel" plus they will work on the stairs which he is afraid to do at this point.  They will conquer them - all in good time.

While Boris has been here, his training team has been working to teach him a few extra commands.  He has learned "paws up" and "lap".  They introduced "lights out" and "belly" this week as well.

With Boris, there is no end to his learning!  Stay tuned . . . oh, here is Boris doing one of his tricks!

Class Valedictorian

Boris is one smart dog!  Because of his good attitude and motivation for treats, he understands everything pretty well.

His training is coming along great.  He has mastered "hurry", "let's go", "kennel", "release", "wait", "heel", "here", and "bed".  They are working on "sit", "down", and "jump".  Extras include "lap", "paws-up", "belly", and "show me love".  He is also learning how to turn the lights off! 

He is currently adjusting to the time change and his new schedule in the pod.  It's much different that his track schedule, as you can imagine!

Each day more progress is made. He is such a fast learner who continues to amaze everyone around him.  He loves to play with the other Greyhounds and also his trainers.  Dog toys are also a favorite of his.  He is just a joy!

Easy Going and Laid Back

Boris has been at the prison for a whole week now!  His inmate trainer says that Boris is an easy going boy who’s laid back until you get him excited and ready to play. 

Boris is learning his commands really well.  He is very treat motivated.  He’s doing well on the leash, but has a tendency to step in front of his trainer when he gets excited. No worries though, his inmate trainer is working to correct this behavior.  

Boris has not minded having anyone around his food bowl.  He enjoys running and playing with the other dogs in the big yard and is doing well learning is basic commands.

His inmate trainer says that Boris is a fun dog to be around.  He believes that Boris is going to make a wonderful pet!  He says that Boris is stout and could possibly plow a small garden so he needs someone who will help him remember his training when he gets excited.  His trainer says that Boris is a great dog who is going to make some lucky family very happy! 

Training Days Ahead

Boris has arrived for prison training!  His inmate trainer says that Boris came in excited and happy.  He is an energetic guy who loves people and has made time to love everyone at the prison!  He also enjoys exploring everything everywhere! 

Boris has been learning to go into his kennel on command and is doing well!  His leash skills are improving.  When he arrived he took the leash for a means of guiding his human from one new adventure to another, but now he’s walking beside his handler exploring his new world.  He has also started learning the “bed” command and has realized that he gets treats for going to bed and catching some sleep!

Boris’s inmate trainer says that he’s looking forward to working with this energetic guy!