12/08/2103

"Thank you so much, [Second Chance], for putting such a special dog in my life for these past 10 weeks.  I will treasure these moments all my life."  If Pepper's handler could have a dog forever, this boy would be it.  He has taken her whole heart and is the most amazing greyhound she has ever had the opportunity to work with on this team. The only thing he has a problem with is stairs,  She has to help him up them step by step by moving his legs!  Other than that, he does everything.  His fear of shiny floors has tremendously improved.  Pepper socializes well with people and with dogs. He's calm, laid-back, easy-going, well behaved, obedient, smart, happy, affectionate, loving and sweet!!  He will love you unconditionally. His handler is so happy for the family who will be getting Pepper and is sure he will be everything they hoped for and more. 

12/01/2013

Pepper is still the greatest dog ever. He is perfect, says his handler. The only thing they need to work on more are the stairs, but he will get it. He's very smart. Pepper gets along with staff, officers, inmates, other dogs and the different breeds. He is so calm and easy-going, loving and affectionate, happy and sweet. He loves his big fluffy blanket. His handler can put it down anywhere and he will lie there until she says "let's go!" She even walks away and he will stay there; one time it was for over 10 minutes, which earned him lots of praise.

11/24/2013

Pepper has had a great week. He's gotten lots of love from everyone. He's doing great with his training, even doing a stay on the shiny floors without his feet sliding from underneath him as they used to. He's still cautious with stairs. Pepper does several additional commands, including touch, hug, kennel and visit. He does visit, which is resting the head on someone's lap, a lot and in different ways! He spent a day with one of the handlers who works in the garden area and when she bent over to do something on the ground, he rested his head on her back!  He also does a standing visit, where he'll come up to someone who is standing and put his head on their stomach and look up at them with those eyes that make you want to give him the world. He also does visits when someone is sitting or lying down and he'll do a hug, with his paws up and put his head on your shoulder. He's an amazing dog.

11/17/2013

Pepper really likes to play catch with balls and is a very fast runner out on the field. He looks so happy! It's an amazing feeling for his handlers to know that they have a part in making these hounds happy. Some arrive looking so sad and scared and to know they leave there happy and loved makes everything worth it. Pepper has really been an amazing dog. He is so easy-going and laid-back. He is happy just to be near his handlers while they watch TV or are on the phone, and lies patiently on his little blanket the whole time until they get up. Pepper is a very well-behaved boy, has had no issues at all other than his fear of wet, shiny floors, which has gotten so much better. He's very smart and learns fast. His handler team has really enjoyed working together with him.

11/10/13

Pepper is doing very well. He does sit, down, wait, here, kennel, bed, touch, visit and he will hop up to give a “kiss” and does a hug. Stay is improving. He is such a calm, laid-back, sweet, gentle dog. He loves to play off leash and chases balls. He gets so goofy out there and is so cute! When he is on leash outside or in the dorm, he’s a perfectly calm boy. With the weather getting colder, he is a little friskier in the morning. He socializes very well with other dogs. He doesn’t really play with them, but is good around them. Sometimes it seems he wants to join them outside, but then inside he doesn’t. His handler thinks it may be the shiny floors. He walks fine on them but sometimes has to catch his grip on the floor. He is great with all people and is a wonderful dog. He makes his handlers laugh all the time and has turned many frowns upside down into a smile. Pepper is such a handsome boy and it’s not hard to love him. Even people who have been scared of dogs have gotten close to Pepper. It’s amazing the power love has.

11/03/13

Pepper is doing great with his training and this past week he's been doing a great sit on the shiny floors without his feet sliding from under him. He is a little stubborn sometimes, but he's a very good boy. He does Visit all the time. At the "Dog-o'ween" he was Superman and he was so good. He got so many treats! Pepper has not shown any issues at all: no aggressions, anxieties, fears or begging for food. He is a very gentle, sweet dog. He amazes his handlers sometimes how calm he is. He lays with them and stays until they get up. They can tell he's really  happy. He will make his new forever family very happy. Pepper gets along with other dogs, including other breeds such as labs, golden retrievers and poodles he has met at the compound. He has gone up to some of the small dogs and shown no aggression. "We are all getting along fine and having a great time together," say his handlers.

10/27/13

Pepper is such a good boy! He's a lover and so calm and gentle. He likes everyone and has no fears other than the shiny floors. He does well now on the floors, but won't run around - he just takes it nice and easy. Since he learned the visit command, he always puts his head in your lap! His commands are all very good, except shake and stay. He's a good boy on his leash. Stairs are still in progress. The weather has been a bit colder this week and Pepper has been frisky in the cooler temperatures. He's a little more playful than usual and it's so cute. He never gets out of control crazy, just a little fun. He's a happy little boy, so very sweet and affectionate and laid back most of the time. He's very easy going and didn't react while he was lying down and another dog stood over him. He's also easy to handle and lets you manipulate him without any resistance, such as when his handler has been cleaning his surgical site from his neutering. His handler says she is very proud to be a part of the greyhound training team: "we have good people on our team and great vet techs, and the guys who run the program are always making sure our dogs are being taken care of."

10/20/13

Pepper is doing so well. He's learning his commands and already knows sit, here, heel, bed, wait and kennel. He finds the floors slippery, though much less so than before. Sometimes, if the floor has been mopped, he will go into a split, but his handlers are working on that. He is so sweet. He loves to lay around with you and the other day he fell asleep on his handler's lap, tongue hanging out the side of his mouth and everything! It was so cute, she didn't want to move him. His handlers are so much enjoying working with him as a team and giving him lots of love. A lot of people there love Pepper. They ask about him all the time. He's one of the most beautiful dogs. His color on his face and his eye color are so pretty, his coat is soft and smooth, and he stands tall, with a lean and muscular body - he's very handsome! He has no issues and is a happy baby. His handlers love him.

10/13/13

Pepper is doing great with people and dogs alike. He's a very nice dog and has shown no aggression. He gets along well with other dogs and even had an opportunity to briefly meet and sniff a little Havanese and did so, then just walked away.  He loves people, and when someone starts to pet him, he leans into them. Pepper has bonded well, which really helps with his training. He's learning his commands and is making good progress, already responding to bed, wait and kennel and allowing his handlers to scoop him for sit. This boy is always very happy when he gets out of the kennel. He's going to be a pleasure to work with. One of his handlers has made him a Superman costume for Halloween and can't wait to show him in it. The inmates are always so happy to watch them do the Halloween dog parade and "it's nice," she says, "to make someone smile."

First Impressions - 10/06/13

Pepper (Lights Out Pepper) is a fantastic dog all round. When he first arrived, he was unsure only for about the first fifteen minutes. He opened up in no time and has been great ever since. He was bathed without a problem and began eating right away without hesitation. He even eats right out of your hand. He's extremely laid back, but not shy. He enjoys walking, and likes the shade best. You can rub him or touch him anywhere - feet, legs, ears, face and anywhere else. On day two he had his teeth brushed and after 30 seconds of resistance he ended up liking the idea! Pepper has no problem socializing with other greyhounds, inmates or staff. He is quiet as can be, with no whining or barking. Pepper is a very sweet and loving greyhound greyhound and has already brought joy to his handlers and many others at the prison.