Mister Mac

Working with Mac has been an absolute joy. His trainer has learned so much about dog handling and training, and Mac was a blast to work with. He even gave his trainer the experience and confidence to work with and learn from other greyhounds going forward! How cool is that?!

A few words from Mac’s trainer directly: “Second Chance Greyhounds is a wonderful program for us inmates. It gives us a chance to give something back to the community and allows us to focus our energy on more positive projects instead of on ourselves and our own problems. It is very therapeutic as well. If you were to tell me when I got convicted that I would be working, living in a dorm and playing with dogs in prison, I would have said, what, no way! This gives us a chance to express love toward someone - and believe me, these dogs receive a LOT of love from us!”

Doesn’t that just melt your heart?! Be sure to check back for the next class of adoptables - it makes such a difference to everyone!

Big Mac with a Big Heart

Week 9 is SWAP WEEK! This is when trainers get to swap greyhounds with each other. The trainers are not allowed to have any contact with their hound until swap week is over. It helps them see where their greyhounds are at, test for separation anxiety, how they handle being in a new kennel, and see how well they perform their commands for a new person. They even check for food and toy aggression. Swap week is a great week for the trainers to get to spend time with a new hound. And all the hounds this time did a great job with their new trainers.

For swap week, Mac’s trainer got to hang out with Big Mac, an 83-pound boy soft as a pillow. He did so well! He performed all of his commands very well and loved all the treats he got. He also loves attention and getting loved on. He can be a big baby sometimes, too! He LOVES toys and especially squeaky toys.

Mac has so many qualities that are going to steal your heart. Once you give this guy a chance, you’ll never get that heart back!

Full-Time Sweetie Pie

Week eight!!! The time is just flying by. Mac continues to be a sweetie pie which is not always the case with animals - but this guy is just on non-stop sweetie mode 100% of the time! Around this time in the session, some of the hounds get a little bit complacent and start goofing off like seniors in the home stretch of their last year of high school. But Mac just keeps on doing what he is supposed to and is so comfortable in his surroundings.

Mac is a morning dog and that is the time of day when he is up, alert and anxious to come out of his kennel and seize the day. So, that’s when his trainer gets him out and runs through his commands, plays with him in the training room, and just walks around spending quality time with him. And he LOVES to run in the yard! Just look at those toothpick legs go!

Once the afternoon rolls around, Mac is a lot calmer and ready to chill. Mornings are great for training because he is alert and focused; afternoons are good for contemplation and napping.

Next week is swap week (gasp!) and Mac’s trainer is going to miss the dickens out of this guy. He can’t even acknowledge Mac all week! He has to help prepare him not to experience separation anxiety when it’s time to go to his forever home. He’s sure Mac will be fine - so check back next week and see how Mac handles the switch!

The Power of Love

Mac is entering his final three weeks of his training. Boy is he ready to graduate! His trainer is sure he will pass his final test with flying colors. I bet you are ready for graduation too. Only three loooong weeks to go.

Mac is quite the lady’s man. He is extra friendly with the women when they come to visit. He’s also very polite and gentle with everyone he comes in contact with. Not to mention he’s very smart and a comical boy. Sure to put a smile on your face. His trainer said he thinks he has learned as much from Mac as Mac has from him. That’s why we say it’s a Win, Win for all involved. Unconditional love is a powerful thing.

Sweet Boy Alert!

Mac is such a sweet dog! He loves to come up to his trainer and put his head right in his lap. He does this to everybody he meets; he is just such a friendly boy. It’s a shameless ploy to get petted, of course, but it works every time. How could it not work? Just look at that face! Who could resist loving on that cute face, floppy ears and pillow-soft fur? Not me, that’s for sure.

What makes those relaxing times so special is that he works so hard on learning his commands during training. He is so smart and you can tell he has come a long way since his first day here. He has come so far with his leash walking, heeling, being calm in the midst of excitement - it’s a struggle because he is so naturally curious but he is so disciplined and getting better with each passing day. He is smart enough to learn all types of things, and sweet enough to want to try when it is tough because he is a people-pleaser. His trainer hopes his new family loves him as much as he has, because Mac is one special guy!!!

Zoomies with Mac

Mac is progressing right along and has learned all of his commands! There are a few wrinkles to iron out, but he is making strides daily because he is so smart and eager to please. He has even learned to pay attention more to his trainers and ignore distractions! His trainer is going to try to get this guy to play with toys soon, and keep working on his leash walking skills.

Mac enjoys running and would probably run until the cows came home, and perhaps a little after that, too. He loves being brushed and is just so laid-back; you can't help but fall in love with him!

Can't Resist Big Mac

Here we are at week 4 and come to find out my trainers have been writing weekly blogs about me. When I found out, I said “hey!” this is all about me, so I should get to write about my life at least once. Don’t you think? Ok. Here goes. Mac here telling you how it is, straight from the horse’s…er… dog’s mouth. I’ve gotta say I like it here. I think I was made for this retirement life! I’m a social butterfly, I love greeting people and people seem to like that. And there are ALOT of people here. The food’s pretty good, although I think I could stand to get a little more of it. I’m going to school and the classes are easy peasy. I pretty much know them all (my commands), but my trainer insists on going over them again and again and again. Fine with me. I get more treats!

I’ve met some friends and a couple of cute girls that can’t resist the “Big Mac!” I’m very handsome, if I do say so myself. Seriously though, I mostly chill all day. I like to hang out in my kennel. It’s very comfy. I’m always up for some action. I like to hang out and talk to peeps and pups. Oh, and that big yard thing where we get to run free for a few minutes. Love it! Need more of that.

All in all it’s pretty cool here. Gotta go. I think I hear a squeaky toy calling my name. I wanna check that out. See ya later.

Curious Cutie

Mac’s secondary trainer reported in for week 3 to tell you that Mac is one friendly guy! He loves people, getting attention, giving attention, and nuzzling! He is very smart, eager and curious about what’s going on around him to the point of being NOSY! Especially nosy about what’s behind a closed door (“surely there is room to stick my long pointy nose in there and see what all the fuss is about!”).

Mac being eager, is a positive for his training. For example, when he started working on stairs, he went up and down them like a champ after a few tries! He had a little bit of shaking in his hind legs which is normal because just look at those long toothpick legs! Now picture them on stairs. You see? Those goofy long legs are not used to moving that way at all! The more he works on stairs, the more confident he will be and the shaking will be a thing of the past. This happy hunk is off to a great start!

Overall, he is adjusting so easily to his new environment and getting along with the other greyhounds here absolutely famously. Mac is a real joy to work with and he is going to make your family, next level, bonkers happy!

MacDreamy

Mac is hands down, the sweetest dog his trainer has ever worked with.  Mac absolutely loves people and especially loves to be petted and rubbed on.  He will walk up to anybody as if to say, "Hey!  How are you?  Do you want to be my friend and give me some loving?"  The petting and rubbing goes both ways.  Mac's fur is so soft, that you can't help but pet him.  Once you start, you can't stop!

Mac is also very smart.  He already knows "sit" and is well on his way to mastering "down".  He loves treats, toys and attention.  He's a dream dog to train.  Better snag him up, because he's a dream boy to adopt!

Mac Attack!

Well, it's week one of a brand new session! And a beautiful white and brindle three year old named Mac has walked into his trainer's life, ready to take on the world. Mac is getting used to things around the dorm and he and his trainer are getting used to each other. He is very alert and eager for new things, but also quiet and calm. He has been working on leash walking for the first few days, practicing with not walking too far behind or ahead, pulling, and the wait and heel commands. It takes some getting used to when you're used to running around, but Mac does a killer job at it! It's the wait and heel commands that are the most difficult to master. 

One thing his trainer really loves about Mac: his fur is so soft! It's like rubbing a chinchilla.  He is so calm about touching and petting, it just makes you want to rub him to heaven and back!  He loves to nuzzle.

Another fun fact about Mac is... Surprise!  He loves food. He is definitely a treat-motivated hound which makes training so much easier. His trainer is so excited to spend the next few months with Mac and get to know him better. It's always fun with a smart dog who is ready to learn! Training in earnest starts next week, and Mac is ready to roll!