Enjoying Life on the Outside

Rigby has been in his new foster home for almost a week and he is right at home.  His foster family is impressed at how easily Rigby adapted to his new environment. Rigby has also greeted each new person in his life with a smile (literally) and a wagging tail.  After people get over how beautiful he is, the first thing they say is "wow, he's a happy dog".  And he is!

During a recent outing, Rigby was well mannered and friendly with all sizes and types of dogs.  His favorite treats are Beggin' Bacon Strips. He also loves to be outside laying in the sun (as demonstrated here).  He loves to take naps in the sun! He is quite adorable! He can be both playful and calm, depending on his mood. In the morning he is most active and can't wait for his walk around the neighborhood. 

Rigby's training is still in use and he is very proficient in all commands. He learns and respects the boundaries of the house well. 

"It has been a true joy to have Rigby stay with us", his foster family states, "and the whole family is smitten with his charm".  The best adjective used so far to describe Rigby would have to be REGAL! 

He is happy and safe and just waiting to meet his new family!

Graduating to a New Life

Rigby had a great week!  He did excellent on the final test and made his inmate trainer very proud, but then again he usually does!  Rigby gets very happy and excited to meet new people. His personality is becoming more pronounced.  When it’s time to play he jumps in paws and head first!

Rigby likes to smile!  He shows his upper teeth when he gets really excited.  His inmate trainer wants his new family to know that this is happiness and not an aggressive behavior.  Rigby’s tail is usually wagging like crazy so it’s easy to know that it’s just one of his adorable ways to greet people.  

Rigby isn’t a very vocal dog, but he has started to bark a little during play time.  After playtime he’s cool, calm, and sweet as usual.  He continues to maintain positive eye contact.  He’s a true sweetie and whoever welcomes him to their home after graduation is in for a real treat with this boy!  His inmate trainer has been making Christmas cards of a Greyhound that looks just like Rigby wearing a Santa hat!  He called them “Santa Paws”! 

Approaching Graduation

Mr. Rigby is continuing to do well in his training.  His inmate trainer has been working on the recall command with Rigby.  Rigby can be a little slow responding when he’s out making his social rounds.  They’ve also been working on placing him in a “down” position on a shiny floors without a mat, this is not his favorite thing to do, but he will follow through.  

Rigby is learning to really enjoy playing and does jumping play bows when he’s excited.  He’s also become more vocal letting his inmate trainer know that he’s happy and wants to play.  

During command testing Rigby made his inmate trainer proud by demonstrating a perfect “sit-stay”.  He also showed off his “leave it” skills when his trainer put him in a “down” then placed treats three inches from him on the mat!  He has recently learned to “sit pretty" with his paws up in the air, but they’re working on the difference between “sit” and “sit-pretty”.  Rigby is doing a great job with training!  His inmate trainer believes that Rigby is going to become a dearly loved member of his new family very quickly.  

Mr. Fantastic

Rigby spent some time with an alternate inmate trainer this week!  His alternate trainer says that Rigby adjusted well and was a pleasure to work with! 

Rigby knows all of his basic commands and responds really well.  He is friendly and outgoing with the other inmates and staff and associates with the other dogs without aggression or apprehension.  He had no problems being away from his primary inmate trainer.  He has a playful side, but calms easily.  His temporary trainer believes that Rigby is going to be a fantastic addition to some lucky family out there! 

Prepare to Lose Your Heart

Rigby has had a playful and enjoyable week!  He is becoming quite the sociable radiant boy!  He smiles and does a play bow when he’s let out of his kennel.  His inmate trainer is proud to report that Rigby has all of his basic commands down pat!  He’s a little hesitant to come on his recall command when he’s in the middle of one of his jubilant dashes in the big yard.  His inmate trainer is focusing on the recall command and making it fun.  Rigby enjoys playing with toys and his favorites are the ones that squeak.  He doesn’t have any toy aggression and “gives” on command like a true gentleman.  He’s adapting well and seems to love retirement.  

Rigby’s understanding of extras is improving.  This week he learned: belly, sit-up, and sit-pretty! He continues to learn and make his inmate trainer proud.  Rigby has a calm yet playful personality with an affectionate side that’s sure to steal your heart! 

A Fine Gentleman

This week was a good with for Mr. Rigby!  He has continued to improve on the basic commands.  He’s doing really good with the “stay” command if he’s in a down position. During a training session his inmate trainer had him “stay” while he walked around the entire dorm, went into another room grabbed a toy then threw the toy onto Rigby’s training pad and he didn’t break the “stay” through all of that!  

When walking on the leash he will “wait” like a gentleman at the door threshold until his inmate trainer continues with the “let’s go” command.  They are in their second week of learning some extras like “shake” and “belly”.   Rigby is becoming more playful and has started to run around more outside at playtime.  He also seems to enjoy jogging by his inmate trainer on the track around the yard.  

Rigby had some minor abrasions on his two front paws from bolting into a playtime sprint while in the big yard.  His paws were treated and are almost completely healed.  

Rigby has become much more observant of the humans surrounding him and watches his inmate trainer with good eye contact.  He’s a very friendly dog that seems to bond easily.  He gets excited and smiles when he meets new people.  His inmate trainer can’t wait to watch Rigby’s personality continue to grow! 

Paw Stomping and Smiles

Rigby has started learning extra commands this week!  His first training session of the day still starts with all the basics but his inmate trainer is throwing in kiss, shake, belly, drop, give, and bow throughout the other daily sessions.  Rigby also had the opportunity to work on stairs this week and did great!  His inmate trainer said that at first Rigby looked at him like “you’re crazy if you think I’m going up those things”, but Rigby trusted his trainer and gave it a try!  His inmate trainer gave him a nice big treat when he got to the top to seal the deal!  He wanted to jump down the steps instead of walking so they’re working on descending one step at a time. 

Rigby is the kind of dog that does enjoy doing his own thing at times, but he also seems to form a strong bond with those he trusts.   When Rigby sees some of his training team his tail goes crazy and he’ll lay his head in their lap for attention.  When he gets really happy and excited he’ll stomp his front paws and smile!  His inmate trainer says that seeing Rigby so happy and watching him making so much progress is very fulfilling. 

Hard Work Pays Off

Rigby here, reporting in as directed. It has been a busy week due to the fact that my instructor has stepped up my training to the next level.  Each day we cover all the basics to hone my skills to perfection.  I know all the basic commands but now we are working on my reaction time and form. 

My two basic commands are "heel" and "sit.  "Stay" isn't too shabby either.  Feeding time is very strict now as I have to wait in my kennel, then "heel", "sit", and "stay" while the instructor puts my bowl in my kennel.  If I break position we start all over.  Seeing as how I love food and love to eat, I learned real quick to master this new routine.

Not to brag, but I tend to perform at a much higher level than the others.  The daily medical inspections have become routine for me and I have no problems with having my feet, eyes, ears, and nose checked.  Its just when they lean over the top of me to do all that where I feel a bit uneasy.

One nice thing is that as strict and demanding as my training instructor is, he is just as loving and caring.  I am finally able to accept that its really nice to be scratched and petted at the end of a long day.

As much as I enjoy doing my own thing, the new friendships are growing.  My toys give me a good stress relief and I love to throw them in the air and chase them down.  But shortly after such antics, I just lay around and relax. 

My new life is good but I look so forward to meeting my new family on graduation day!

Progressing by Leaps and Bounds!

Rigby has made his greatest leap of improvement this week.  His inmate trainer is so proud of how he performed during their end of week testing.  The first accomplishment was that he learned "stay" and "here" in the standing, sit, and down positions. All with a range of about 20 feet.  The second accomplishment is that Rigby began performing all of his commands without the useof any lures (treat or toy).  This is huge because that shows he really knows what his inmate trainer expects him to do and when he gives the command.  He will work to improve his reaction time and the ability to overcome distractions. 

Rigby's final achievement was that he will now do his commands off leash.  This is huge!  They've been working on this and Rigby pulled through this week during weekend testing.  Whoo hoo!

Rigby is this inmate trainer's fourth Greyhound to train and he can honestly say he has picked up on learning faster than any of the others.  His expectations are also higher for him than any of the others he has trained.  He is truly "gifted"!

His personality is so friendly and outgoing that everyone can't help but love him.  This week they were watching training videos and Rigby thoroughly enjoyed watching all the different dogs on TV.  His ears were perked and head cocked as he watched and listened!

The weather has been beautiful and Rigby loves to be outside when they can.  He is very lazy, too, when he wants to be!  He just walks and trots on the big yard, soaking up the sun rays.  He is sure enjoying the retired life!

Smart Boy!

Week two in the books and Rigby is doing great!  He takes everything in stride and is becoming more friendly and playful as he adjusts to his new environment.  He is still very curious with all the new smells and sounds.  He enjoys receiving attention and his inmate trainer is truly enjoying watching him come alive and be himself. 

Training is going great!  He responds really well to his name which makes training much easier.  Even as curious as he is his inmate trainer can call his name and he responds.  He waits really well at his kennel door and thresholds.  He has a fairly good grasp on the heel, sit, and down commands.  His inmate trainer plans to start working on the stay and here commands with him very soon.  He has the most trouble staying in the down position, but hey, he can’t be perfect at everything. 

Rigby’s inmate trainer is proud to report that Rigby is learning very well and understanding what learning really is.  (treat time!)  His inmate trainer hopes to be teaching extras by week four!

Detective Rigby Reporting For Training

Detective Rigby reporting in… My Mission:  To be a well-trained, obedient, and loving Greyhound that will make my forever family very happy.  Just four days ago I arrived at my new training facility and let me say WOW, it is a whole new world.  I met my inmate trainer right away and he is firm, but kind.  My first lesson began right away with leash etiquette.  I did very well and learned to fall in step with my inmate trainer. The loud noises and shiny floors in this place do not really bother me.  I’m pretty brave and courageous. 

As soon as I arrived here at the prison I put my natural detective senses to use by sniffing and investigating everything. My trainer has been discouraging me from marking my territory in this new place.  I’m working on understanding his way of thinking because in my world marking is natural.  He’s got these treat things that are helping me understand that he has some yummy, er, good ideas.  I’ve been learning to “wait,” “hurry,” and “kennel.”  My inmate trainer says I’m responding well to my commands.  He says it could have something to do with the amount of treats I receive while training; hey, a guy’s gotta do what a guy’s gotta do.  

In addition to my training I’ve received a full makeover!  Now, I was handsome before but look out world I’m rocking it now!  I have to admit the bath was not my favorite part, but only because it was cold!  I did enjoy having my ears being cleaned and my teeth brushed.  I also received a manicure, which I didn’t mind at all.  Everything is going smoothly here in this new world.  Let’s be honest, treats, makeovers, and attention is making this mission pretty awesome.  Stay posted for future mission reports.  Detective Rigby out.