I'm In Love

I'm Dixie, currently being fostered because my former adopter had a lifestyle change. I'm super-lovable, well-behaved, house-trained, and I love human snuggles. I lived in a home for nearly 5 years as a solo dog, but... I'm in love with other greyhounds! I'm currently residing with two other greyhounds and we get the zoomies together! Note: I love human snuggles. I'm also in love with my food. I eat it right up as soon as you put it down for me. Um, I love human snuggles. I love the couch and make myself at home there whenever possible. If you leave the crate door open for me, I love to lie in there with a blanket. Hey, have I mentioned that I LOVE HUMAN SNUGGLES??!! I'll sleep in bed with you if you let me. If not, I'm happy on a dog bed too. Tomorrow, I'm getting a manicure/pedicure and my teeth cleaned. I'll send you a photo after I'm done pampering. Oh, and I am quiet (I know a lot of people like to know if we bark. I CAN bark, but I don't. My foster parents haven't heard me make any noise, except for inhaling my food when it's put down). I don't bark at doorbells, new people coming in the house, or other dogs. Talk to you soon!

12/8/2013

This has been Dixie Lynn's best week.  She got to spend a lot of time walking and playing in the rec area, which she loves.  Dixie Lynn is very sweet and is a quiet and calm girl; her handler has only once heard her make a little barking noise. She does well around the greyhounds and labs and loves spending time with her handler, just relaxing in the dorm area with her head rested on her.  She has mastered all her commands except stay, on which she has not focused enough to hold.  She does the stairs and an extra command of bow.  Dixie loves her kibble and will do her commands effortlessly when there's a treat being offered. Though still showing her timid side in crowds or around loud noises, she has come such a long way in her confidence since she arrived. Her handler expects her to do great in the less hectic environment of her new forever home.

12/01/2013

Dixie has done a lot better this week. Not only is she doing well in nearly all her commands now, but she has also learned to shake this week  and is really good at it!  Only her stay command is slow in coming along. Off leash she is like a totally different dog . She loses that shyness and plays great, encouraging another hound to chase her!  Dinner time is another favorite.  That tail starts wagging when she knows she is about to be fed, and it is great to watch her enjoy the anticipation.  She is a good girl who is really coming along with lots of love and support.

11/24/2103

Dixie Lynn spent the weekend with an alternate handler and did really great.  She is by nature a timid girl who likes to stay within her comfort zone, but with each week and with this exchange of handlers to practice socialization, she is continuing to gradually be more comfortable with different environments.  She warmed up to her alternate, who found her a super sweet dog without an ounce of aggression in her.  Dixie Lynn also draws confidence from other dogs around her.  In her bed area she is so relaxed and will let people roll her on her back to pet her tummy.  Dixie loves to run off leash and really has a good time doing it.  Her commands are going well, better again this week, and she did great on her here command, running up and down the aisle for kibble treats!  She's a really sweet girl and is going to make her family fall in love with her.

11/17/2013

Dixie Lynn made a small breakthrough this week and had a really fun and enjoyable training session.  She was excited and ready to do her commands for some kibble in the aisle area, where she previously has not focused well for training.  This sweet girl is great with the other greyhounds and the young CCI labs. She will let her handler do anything with her.  Dixie Lynn is a sweet, gentle and lovable girl. She bonds well and really trusts her handler, who knows she will also enjoy bonding with her new forever family.

11/10/13

This week Dixie Lynn let go a little and had some good fun playing off leash at rec with another greyhound. She does great walking around the track with her handler or other handlers. This girl loves meal time and wags her tail and gets really excited when it’s time to eat!  She is a gentle girl and needs calm to focus on training. Her best commands are heel, bed, wait and bow. She can do sit and down but needs more practice. Stairs are fine. Dixie Lynn is a very sweet dog and has never once growled or shown any aggression. She still doesn’t like noise and overly busy environments, but she does well in a peaceful place. She is happy and trusting and will lie with her handler for hours in the bed area.

11/03/13

Dixie Lynn has learned the down command this week. She's done it a few times on her bed and also in the aisle in the dorm. She will sit well for meals, and is working on responding more quickly to sit in other places.  Her focus on commands is best when she's in her dorm or in a calm environment. She walked fine across the compound this past week;  there was a day they walked when it was very busy and active and she was nervous. She does a good heel and walks well at rec. Dixie is the sweetest dog and so gentle. When her handler is playful with her, this little girl wags her tail. She does so well when she focuses and is comfortable. Her handler continues to work on broadening that comfort zone.

10/27/13

Dixie has done so much better this week. She's more confident walking around the compound on her leash, with only occasional timid moments when there's a lot going on. She also goes up to people more freely. This girl is very sweet with a gentle, calm spirit. She's a first thing in the morning hound, and does get excited to take part in the 8am dog run in the day room. Mostly she prefers not to be in busy places such as the gym and the day room. She will happily lie in the bed area for hours. Dixie is progressing in her training. Her response to the bed command has really improved in the past week. She's also learning to sit and already does a side sit.  Her handler is going to introduce down this week and expects this sweet girl to pick it up quickly.

10/20/13

Dixie Lynn's handler is seeing more progress with her each week. This little girl has come out of her shell much more with her and has begun to show her affection. Dixie Lynn is a quiet girl who likes the quiet life. Her training has been coming along, and she knows stay, here, heel, bed, wait and bow. Her bow is very good! Stay, here and bed need a little more focus, but she follows through well when not distracted. When she was let off leash with the other greyhounds to play this past week, she had fun chasing Turbo and tried to play with him. Being around the other greyhounds helps build her confidence. She also does well around the labs or other small dogs, not really paying much attention to them.

10/13/13

Diane is being called Dixie Lynn. She's very gradually settling in, with her handler working in baby steps with her as she gets used to the busy prison environment. The laundry, where her handler works, is a really good place for them to focus on training. Dixie Lynn has a quiet spot there, where she likes to lie down while her handler is working.  This sweet, timid girl is getting the hang of heel, wait and bed and is fine being scooped to sit, but hasn't quite figured out yet how to get her legs stable when she's on the shiny floors!

First Impressions - 10/06/13

Diane wasn't much interested in eating at first, but soon came around. She's been getting used to coming in and out of her kennel, with a treat reward. Although only three days into her time at the prison, she is already working on wait, at the door, and getting the Good Hurry encouragement when she does her business, to get her familiar with the hurry command. Diane did a couple of circuits with her handler around the rec area on her second day and did well walking. She keeps her tail tucked in busy places and at the moment her comfort zone is the bed area, but her handler plans to bring her out of her shell with work and lots of love over the coming weeks.