12/08/2013

Kellin is very ready for her new family!  She has "got" all her commands and cannot wait to be in her new home. She has learned extras kennel, show me the belly, touch and visit and loves to shake paws with you!  Her sit/stay is good, but she won't yet let you go far without following you out of her down/stay!  She is a very sweet and gentle, still shy sometimes, little girl.  She wants to make you happy and always looks to you for security and trust.  Everyone will miss her very much - she has grown on several of the inmates there, shaking paws with them, leaning in on them for extra loving and enjoying their petting!   Kellin likes to walk and enjoys playing outside, especially with the other greyhounds.  She will bring a ray of light to her new family.  Enjoy this beautiful baby - may she brighten your path to happiness!

12/01/2013

Kellin continues to be a joy to be around.  Every morning she comes out of her kennel, does a big stretch, gives you a sweet look and hugs up to you.  She still loves to lean up against her handler and be rubbed, but is coming more out of her shell when she plays with the other greyhounds.  She especially enjoys playing with Turbo and Lucy, being off leash more and acting more playful than she used to.  She responds well to her commands and her sit/stay is improving.  She's now working on touch and on show me the belly!

11/24/2013

Kellin is the most sweet, gentle little girl.  She has this kindness about her that seeps out and covers you in a blanket.  She has beautiful eyes that close half way when you get that sweet spot and rub her.  She will only occasionally hide her head now - only when she is fully unsure ( large meeting with  a lot of loud applause last week, for example).  Though she has been shy with some of the (male) officers at the compound, she went up to a man in street clothes the other day and dropped the ball she was playing with at his feet. and he began petting her.  Other than occasionally barking when other dogs are playing and she can't join them because she is in her kennel, this girl is the perfect little lady.  She's currently working on stay and on a new command, touch.  She also mastered shake this week!  Her weekend handler for the dorm swap (extended socialization for the hounds) had a great time with her this week:  "She was like a little lady - very sweet.  We played with the ball a few times, she loved it.  We lay in the sun and relaxed.  She is so sweet, very gentle. I loved spending my time with her :-)."

11/17/2013

Kellin is coming along nicely and socializing well with the other greyhounds. She's a very sweet, lovable girl, though she can be shy at times.  She loves going up to other inmates to get attention and petting from them.  She has done well in many environments including the classroom, cosmetology class and walking around the compound.  In training this week she has begun to master the shake command.  She also goes up and down the stairs very well.  Her handlers are currently working with her on her stay by gradually walking further away while she holds her different commands.  They are also weaning her off the food rewards in favor of praise!  Kellin has gotten a lot of exercise this week. She gets tired fairly easily, so her handlers allow for about 30 minutes play time with breaks in between. She does enjoy playing with the other hounds!

11/10/13

What a sweet little girl! Always ready to share her sweet, sweet lovin’! Kellin loves to be rubbed, talked to or just cuddled with. She continues to come out of her shell and loves to run and play. Sometimes she is a little shy (doesn’t like the sudden loudness of the officers’ radios) but otherwise is a very happy baby. She is very willing to please and does her commands when asked by her handlers. Other dog trainers have reported that she does very well with them as well. Kellin loves to walk and gets excited to play with the other greyhounds.

11/03/13

Kellin's had a very good week and is mastering all of her commands. She is getting much better at her sit, down and stay commands, and has been practicing remaining in the stay position for longer periods. This week she's also worked on shake. Kellin especially enjoyed Halloween as she walked in a parade around the compound and in all the dorms as a kangaroo. She got lots of dog treats and enjoyed interacting with several staff members on the compound. Socially, she enjoys getting love from anyone and is very friendly and lovable. She is still a little shy in new places but becomes comfortable very quickly. 

10/27/13

Kellin has blossomed this week. She has mastered greeting everyone without her tail tucked. In addition, she is exploring on her own in the dorm, venturing away from her kennel area. She is learning fast and her handlers have been slowing her down a little to make sure she "gets" every command. They want to know she knows it and that she doesn't just do it on auto-pilot. She has no problems with the stairs, bed, kennel, heel and here. Sit, down and stay just need some perfecting. She has calmed down around the labs and small dogs, but still shows some excitement - no aggression. Kellin is a very warm, lovable baby who enjoys being rubbed on, massaged and brushed every day. She shows her playful side once in a while and will play with toys in the bed area. 

10/20/13

Kellin was cautious at first walking out and about but curiosity overcame her and she now loves walking the track and being around all the other dogs. She enjoys the fresh air but gets tired quickly in the heat. She spent a lot of time running outside this past week and she walks well on leash. Kellin plays well with other greyhounds. Around the labs and smaller dogs she gets very excited, but not aggressive. This girl is extremely lovable and enjoys showing affection. She loves to be stroked and cuddled and puts her head on your lap when she's tired. Her handler has really enjoyed helping her overcome her fears of crowds and new places, "as in life," she says, "we are afraid of new things and change." Kellin even accompanied her to class one day and walked around the compound. She's currently learning to perfect her sit and down commands and already does bed very well. She also does here, heel, stairs, wait and kennel.

10/13/13

Kellin's handler says this beautiful little girl's shyness and anxiety when they first met reminded her of how she herself felt when she first came there. Kellin immediately stole her heart. She is settling in more and is eating better now and getting more social with people a little at a time. She loves other dogs. She will rub her whole body along the side of other boy dogs - "she is a flirt" is what they say! As for the CCI dogs, she is quite vocal when they play and she wants to play with them. She has met several of the little dogs and has just sniffed them, then has lost interest until the next time she's seen them. She has only wanted to smell them and there has been no sign of aggression at all.  She's really coming along with her training. Her wait and heel are great, and sit training has begun. Her handler has been working on her pulling on leash and she's seen real improvement with redirection. Kellin has also mastered going up and down stairs this week.

First Impressions - 10/06/13

Kellin has been great, very sweet and gentle. She's extremely curious about the whole facility and a little shy, but once she explores and sniffs stuff out, she's fine. When she's nervous or shy, she tries to put her head between your legs for security.  Kellin was really cooperative with her first bath. When introduced to the kiddie pool, she was a little unsure until her handlers got her in over the sides. They have been working on her going into her kennel and she's getting better and now goes in on her own. She's been a picky eater so far and not too interested in kibble. Overall, she's been great!