Graduation is Near!

It's time to say goodbyes this week since graduation is in a few days.  Cole's inmate trainer says this is a sad time but he knows Cole will be well taken care of.  He will miss him and so will all the guys in the pod who have been touched by Cole's unconditional love! 

Cole knows all of his basic commands without fail. He passed his test yesterday so will be graduating with his class on Thursday.  His inmate trainer is very proud of him, to say the least!  He has made such a difference in his life, he knows he will be a great pet!

Cole still struggles with the "jump" command but he has no problem jumping on YOU!  When he gets excited or you have a treat in your hand or maybe a toy he wants, just be cautious as Cole is a big dog who has big paws.  He can hurt or knock someone down when he jumps on you.  His inmate trainer has tried to break him of this behavior to no avail. He is just bursting with personality and he loves his people!

Cole is all puppy, too!  He will never fail to put a smile on your face.  He always kept his inmate trainer in good spirits.  He will be greatly missed!

Swap Week Is Here

Guess what time it is?  Swap week time!  Coal spent the week with a temporary inmate trainer to experience receiving commands from someone new and to have time away from his primary trainer. 

His temporary inmate trainer says that Coal did great with all of his commands except for the jump command.  He was a little slow responding to sit and stay, but he followed through.  Cole is an energetic young boy who loves to play with toys and run around in the yard having fun.  He did seem to miss his primary trainer and would whine for a few mins when first put in his crate, but did settle in before long. 

Coal’s temporary handler says that Cole is a very sweet and entertaining dog to watch.  He’s going to make his new family very happy and will surely to bring many smiles to those around him. 

Mr. Energy

Cole has had a wonderful week!  His inmate trainer says that he wishes he had Cole’s energy!  He is proud to report that Cole knows all of his commands!  Jump and stairs are the two commands that need a little more work. 

Cole’s inmate trainer says that he’s having a lot of fun working with Cole.  He says that Cole makes him feel like a child and makes him feel young at heart.  He believes that Cole is going to win over his new family in no time! 

Bundle of Joy

What a week this has been!  Cole is a bundle of joy!  His inmate trainer says that Cole may be receiving a IV drip of Red Bull in his kennel every night because he has so much energy in the mornings.  When the kennel door is open he flies out and grabs whatever is available, shoes, clothes, blankets, etc. and plays with it like it’s like a toy! 

Speaking of toys, Cole doesn’t like to share his toys so his inmate trainer has been working to trade toys for treats to discourage this possessiveness and encourage sharing. 

As far as his commands go, he’s doing much better with the sit command and has even learned a few extras!  He knows paws up, kiss, and bow really well.  The jump, shake, and lap commands are still works in progress, but he’ll have them figured out in no time! 

Cole is an energetic guy and his inmate trainer loves to see him run and play.  His trainer is having a lot of fun working with Cole and can’t wait to see what Cole learns next! 

Shared Birthdays!

This past Saturday, Cole and his inmate trainer shared a special day - their birthdays!!  Cole turned two (what a youngster) and his inmate trainer turned . . . well, he isn't spilling those beans!  He does state that this has been the best birthday, by far, that he has enjoyed inavery long time! Even the other inmate trainers were a bit jealous!

He said he believes someone who loves to bring Greyhounds and people together may have had a hand in pairing him with Cole, knowing they'd share this birthday! 

He is such a beautiful boy who is doing so much better with his sit command, however, he has become a bit possessive with toys.  It's best when trying to get a toy from him, to distract him with a yummy treat.  Extra commands he has learned include "paws up", "kiss", and "bow".

His inmate trainer states he has had the most fun training with Cole - more than any other Greyhound he has trained, thus far.  And he thinks it is because they shared that special birthday.  What a bond they both have! 

Or it could be that he just loves Greyhounds and that Second Chance Greyhounds has changed his life forever.  He hopes to be able to find a way to volunteer, to foster, or help with the program in any way he can when he is released.

The entire experience has had a very positive effect on his inmate handler, so much that he has difficulty putting it into words but suffice it to say, he is very appreciate and plans to be able to "pay it forward" when he can!

Cole is a lucky boy who will soon meet his forever family!  His inmate trainer says he will be ready!

Fun Days

This week marks the halfway point already!  Cole is doing great!  Cole is a very attentive happy boy.  He has been working on the sit command.  He’d rather lie down instead of sitting, but his inmate trainer is working to help him understand the difference. 

Cole is full of energy but tends to shut down when he figures out it’s time to work.  His trainer will walk him around a little before starting the training session because Cole likes to jump up when he’s excited.  His inmate trainer has been working to curb his jumping desire.  So far, using a firm voice and the OFF command is helping.  His inmate trainer always ends a training session on a positive note with play time and toys as he wants Cole to have fun when he learns.   

One Happy Guy

Cole and his inmate trainer have had a great week!  Cole is a happy guy who’s all smiles.  He gets a little over excited for toys and treats.  In his gleeful excitement he will jump up after the desired toy or treat.  His inmate trainer is working to correct this behavior so that Cole will understand that politeness wins the toy.  Once Cole has the toy in hand… errr, mouth he will shred it if allowed to play with it for too long.  His inmate trainer keeps play time short and supervised. 

Cole is doing great with all of his commands!  He needs a little more work with the stay command, but his inmate trainer has no doubt that Cole will have this worked out in no time!  He is also responding very well to bow, kiss, and paws up! 

Cole’s inmate trainer believes that his new forever family will fall in love with this great boy easily.  

Dish Out The Treats

Hi folks!  I’m Cole reporting in on my training exercises.  My inmate trainer says that all of this is so that I’m ready for my new forever home.  Forever and home…. Hum, not sure what those are, but they sound nice.  I hear that I have a new family waiting for me!  I’m so excited!  I plan to work really hard to make them proud! 

Speaking of working, I actually get treats for work!  Can you believe that?!!  So I’ve been learning how to sit, but my trainer says that I need a little more work on this one (which is okay by me because that means more treats).  I do really well with my down command and don’t mind performing the other basics.  My trainer says I delay a little too much responding to heel, here, stay, bed, bow,  and kiss but I’ve made a deal with him…. if he dishes out the treats I’ll master them all.  He seemed okay with that.  

Smiling And Tail Wagging

Cole has had a great week!  He’s very energetic and playful. This week his inmate trainer started working on the sit and down commands. So far Cole is not too sure about the sit command or having his teeth brushed. No worries though, he’ll get the hang of both in no time. 

Cole is always wagging his tail and smiling. He always wants to play so his inmate trainer takes time for play and training time so that Cole will understand the difference between the two. 

Cole’s inmate trainer says that Cole is fun to work with and no matter how bad he feels Cole always lifts his spirits. 

Reporting For Training

Cole has reported for training!  His inmate trainer says that he’s one beautiful boy who arrived with his tail wagging!  Cole has been loving, friendly, and playful since arriving!  On top of all this awesomeness Cole is a smiler!  His inmate trainer says that he’ll look at you with a big ole smile showing his teeth and filled with happiness.  His trainer says Cole’s smile is his way of saying he’s happy to see you! 

So far Cole has learned his name, wait, let’s go, and kennel! Cole is very content in his kennel and has no problems spending time there.  He's doing great walking on the leash and even walks with a loose leash!  

His trainer says that Cole is going to make a great addition to some lucky family!