Graduation time!

This final week with Marlie has been very relaxed. She has spent more time playing and getting into forever-family-mode. She's got her commands down, so now it's time to coast until that graduation cap arrives on her sweet little head. She has spent a lot of time just watching television and hanging out, and also romping around. She relaxes and is playful in equal measure, which is super rare! She has brought so much joy to her trainer's life and he has enjoyed working with this sweet little girl. She is going to make a magical addition to her forever home! Just you wait and see!

She's A Catch!

This week was swap week with Marlie.  Swap week allows the dogs to go to another trainer for the week to see how they do commands, how they act and if there are any issues that need to be worked on before going to their forever home.  Marlie's swap week trainer said she did great the whole week!  She is an awesome leash walker.  No matter how slow or how fast you walk, she walks right by your side.  

Marlie knows all of her commands and does them with ease.  At feeding time she will "sit" or "down" on her own, before you ask.  She's always ready for breakfast or dinner.  Speaking of food...  This pretty gal likes all types of treats and will do anything for food.  She's very treat motivated.  Food is the way to this girls heart.  Teaching her extra commands or tricks should be easy-peasy.

Marlie also enjoys playing with toys that make noise.  She will toss it around and run after it.  She is so cute and funny to watch.  She loves to play and is very gentle when playing with her trainer.  One of her favorite things to do, is to lay in her kennel upside down on her back asleep.  Her mouth wide open and her tongue hanging out.

Marlie is a great dog and the trainers are sue you will enjoy having her in your home.  Best wishes and take care of sweet Marlie.  She's a catch!

Signed, sealed, delivered, she's yours!

This past week has been about par for the course for Marlie. Her personality is still very calm and she is exceptionally obedient. She has her moments when she wants it her way. Her training team normally tries to have her do a down or bed command before exiting her kennel to keep her from bolting out if she's excited, and sometimes she's like, "naaaah, I don't think that's necessary - lemme out!" So she just stands there, silently insisting with those big puppy eyes that you let her out this minute so she can lean up against you and give you that sweet greyhound hug you've heard all about. It's actually kind of cute, but her trainers are working on getting past this so that she does it on command no matter what. You never know when you're REALLY gonna need your greyhound to do that command right this very second!

Marlie has been wonderful and is fully ready and equipped to make an uplifting addition to her new forever home. The next two weeks of polishing will only make her exponentially more enjoyable until it's time to meet her forever family. And after that? The sky's the limit on how much you're gonna love Marlie!

Neck And Ear Scratches Please

Week seven is coming to a close, which only leaves three weeks left in this session.  Marlie’s inmate trainer says that he’s very proud of Marlie.  She’s adapted well in this new environment and follows through with her commands really well.  She loves to socialize with humans and the other dogs. 

Marlie’s inmate trainer says that Marlie loves to have her neck and the back of her ears rubbed and will position herself just so you can reach her.  Her trainer plans to continue working on basic commands to keep the responses second nature.  They will work on perfecting the “fetch” command in the time remaining. 

Marlie’s inmate trainer says that this has been a great experience.  He says that being a part of something positive in an otherwise negative place means more than he can put into words. 

Need Some Grey Therapy? Check Out Marlie...

Marlie knows her commands exceptionally well, so this week her trainers worked on fine-tuning her response times.  They would like her to do her commands when asked, with no hesitation.  Her comfort level at the facility has increased greatly.  She is quite content just being "out and about".  She loves to explore every inch of the dorm, but loves to chill out on a comfy bed near her trainer too.

Marlie's demeanor has made it a joy to work with and a breeze to train.  She isn't a high energy dog, but enjoys a good romp with a squeaky toy a few times a day.  She also likes her walks outside.  If you are looking for a calm and happy hound, then Marlie is your girl.

Your Girl

The halfway point for Marlie's 10-week training session has arrived, and Marlie continues to excel in each training session. Day by day, she is becoming more outgoing and playful. It's wonderful to watch these dogs blossom!

Marlie really loves her playtime after her training session. She has been polishing up all of her basic commands which she already knows very well. This week during show and tell, when all of the dogs are asked to perform the commands they have been taught by their diligent inmate trainers, she was almost perfect! But hey, practice doesn't make perfect - practice makes permanent. And she's on her way!

Marlie is super smart and will make a great pet for someone looking for a sweet friend and companion. So if you are reading her blog right now (yes, you! I'm talkin' to you!) and looking for a good pet to fit that bill, Marlie is for sure your girl!

Star Student!

Week 4 for miss Marlie has been outstanding! She has truly excelled in all of her basic commands and she is polishing up "heel" this week. She is a very apt pupil and her trainer is sure that she will master it in the coming week.

Marlie visited the small recreation yard yesterday where the inmate trainers play basketball and get to exercise. She took this new environment in stride, although she was definitely curious about the strange, orange orb being bounced and tossed between the humans. She was so well-mannered and stayed right at her trainer's side with her ears perked up watching the big game!

Her trainer took her back out there again, early in the morning before anyone got up, and let her play with her favorite toy - the blue dinosaur! She had a great time and she really loves to play now. She will also bring the toy back to you when called. Her trainer says he really looks forward to the next 6 weeks he'll get to spend with her, but is definitely going to miss her when graduation comes. Tune in next week to hear more about this sweet girl's progress!

Romping Around

During this past week, Marlie has learned to sit on command and is working on heel and stay. This is huge for week three! Sitting is so hard for greyhounds, which is part of what makes it so cute when they do a sit not on command. During week four, Marlie is going to learn the down command, another useful fixture in the compendium of greyhound commands. 

She has also started to take more of an interest in toys, and always ends her training session with some play time. Her trainer gets several different toys out for her to choose from, like balls, a chew bone, and a small blue dinosaur (which so far appears to be her favorite!). She will now play with the dinosaur and even give it back when asked to "give." 

Marlie's trainer absolutely adores watching her have fun playing and romping around with it. She is a great dog and in the three short weeks he has had her, she has undergone an amazing transformation. He is looking forward to the upcoming weeks and all the progress she will make, and he can't wait to give you all the updates! So check back next week for More with Marlie!

Darling Marlie

Marlie's second week here at the Second Chance Greyhound program has been an exciting and productive one for her. She continues to acclimate from her life away from the track and adjust to her new world, which must be a strange experience indeed! There is a lot to take in. 

She has taken an interest in the noisy "ice machine" that the trainers have in the hallway - she will perk her ears up and look at the strange contraption, then look back up at her trainer - "papa, what is that?!"

She had her first stair training exercise this week and after a little help went up and down stairs like a champ! Marlie is also progressing well with her basic command training. Her trainer often wonders if she's already been adopted, because she is just too sweet! She will make such a wonderful companion, friend and pet. So if you are looking for a greyhound, pick Marlie! As her trainer writes this, looking down into her kennel, she is roaching with all four legs in the air and her mouth wide open. If you could see her in this position, you would adopt this cutie on the spot!

She's A Heartbreaker!

Marlie is adjusting well to her new environment.  Her inmate trainer says that she lives up to her racing name “Heartbreaker”.  She has the most beautiful markings and she looks very regal when she perks her ears at new sounds.  

So far she has learned the “bed” command when coming out the kennel and at feeding time.  She walks really well on the leash.  The “heel,” “hurry,” “lets go,” and “wait” commands are works in progress and she’s doing really well with those too! 

Marlie’s inmate trainer says that he’s very excited about the upcoming weeks with this sweet girl.