Colton Has His Forever Home!

O.K., O.K., we couldn't resist. After fostering Colton for 3 months he became such a big part of our family that we just had to adopt him! We are so glad we did. Our children who are going to college in California came home to visit us mid-August and they fell in love with him. He is a very goofy guy and they got a big kick out of how silly he can be. They said he is an awesome dog and were very upset at the thought of him going to live with someone else. Soooo... we did it and he's ours. We have a great guy and we know we'll have lots of happy years ahead of us with him. We were "Failed Fosters" but I really think we are a "Fantastic Forever Family".

Training Highlites

Colton has been attending dog training classes for the last three weeks. His progress is good.
One of the big things we have been working on is recall, if he gets out the front door or off his leash or out of his yard he needs to know a command to come back. Our command is "Colton, Front!!" He loves this exercise! He gets a treat or several treats when he responds and comes back to the person calling him. Last night my husband and I tried this off leash with him. We stood about 20 feet apart and when he was with my husband I would give him the command. He would run to me so fast that he couldn't stop in time, he would run a little past me with the brakes on and then make a quick turn around to get to me and the treats. We did this several times and he was worn out. Today my daughter and I tried it, we each had treats so I would give the command and he would run to me and then she would give the command and he would run to her. He is now laying on the floor panting. Great exercise for him! He is such a good boy.
The second thing we have been working on is laying down without a voice command, it is by signal. When he lays down I click the clicker and he gets a treat. Then I get him up again and repeat this. We have a hand signal we are using and he is getting it! This is very exciting because we couldn't train him the regular way because he is so big that he never lays in the Sphinx position like most greyhounds. He turns in a circle and finally goes down on his bottom/side and then lays all the way down on the floor. The next thing to work on is to get him to stay in the down position until he is released to stand up again. I am working on that a little at a time. I am just so happy that we made a break through on the "down" since it is more difficult for him. I think the next class we are going to work on the "sit". This should be interesting because I have never seen him sit. Wish us luck with this one!
He is one great dog that is going to be a wonderful addition to whoever adopts him. He now comes with extra equipment, the commands he has learned!

Colton's Latest Adventures

This is me and my foster kitty, Kitten. She likes to rub against me but I just ignore her and pretend she doesn't exist. I just don't know why she likes me so much! She even sniffs my tail, does it smell that good?

Yesterday I went to a clicker training class. It was my second one. I had a lot of fun! Everytime I do what I am supposed to do my foster mom makes a noise with a clicker and I get a treat! I will do almost anything for a treat. I am learning to lay down, come when called and some other stuff. I should be really smart when it's over. If I am adopted before it's over my new family can finish out the classes with me if they would like to.

After our class yesterday my foster mom took me to Petco to go shopping for my food. It was my first time in a store. It had all sorts of wonderful smells. People kept stopping us to ask about me and tell me how beautiful I am. Some little children got to pet me and I stood real still for them so they wouldn't be scared. I was very well behaved. I felt like a real VIP (or should I say VIG). Someone even thought I was a great dane! I do weigh about 84 pounds am I am very tall, but great dane?? My foster mom says maybe I should go on a diet, but I must say I look really great just the way I am. I got a treat at the check-out counter and the clerk just loved me. She said she grew up with a greyhound. I can't wait to go to the store again. Shopping sure is fun!! (I can't beleive I said that, guys aren't supposed to like shopping. :} )

Silver Comet Trail, Starbucks and Colton

Today I got to go for a walk on the Silver Comet Trail. I was in the lead from the getgo. Lots of humans on these things called bikes kept wizzing by, but I didn't even blink an eye at them, I was too busy watching to see what was ahead on the trail. After we were done with our walk we went to Starbucks. My foster family sat outside so Abby and I could be with them. They brought out a blanket so we could lay down since we were pretty tired from our walk. I even got a bite of zucchini bread, yum! They wouldn't let me have coffee, they told me I was such a laid back guy that they didn't want to hype me up with the coffee, darn, it looked so good. I got water instead. Speaking of being laid back, I just love to go to bed at night. Lots of evenings after my last walk outside I will sneak off and go to bed before anyone else. (Sometimes I will do this before my last walk for the day and I have to get up out of my nice comfy bed just to go out one more time.) I really enjoy my beauty rest and my nice soft bed.

Time to Brag About Colton

Colton has been on here talking most of the time so now it's time for me to speak up. (My brag time.) The picture is Colton on Father's Day, my son-in-law Sam petting him and my granddaughter Katie looking at him.
Colton has just been wonderful. He is a big guy that thinks he's not so big. He is a cuddler and leaner and lover. I think that at times he thinks he's a cat. He will rub his side from head to tail down my leg or front of me just like a cat rubs against you. Speaking of cats, he is totally oblivious of my cats. When my grey kitty tries to rub against him he steps back and just looks at her like he can't figure out why she would want to love him! He also loves other dogs. I have not seen him with a dog he doesn't like. He met Sharon (another greythound waiting for a forever home) and he just loved her. If you want to adopt two hounds, Colton and Sharon make a beautiful couple! When I took him to the dog park last week he was wonderful with all the other dogs there.
Colton is very social with people as well. When people come over he goes right up to them and waits to be petted or he will rub against them until they pet him. He has to be in the room where everyone is and be part of the social scene. Yesterday a family came to see him and he was very loving and attentive to them like he knew they were thinking of taking him to his forever home. They got lots of kisses from him and he came to them whenever they called his name. They took him out for a walk and he behaved very nicely on leash. They brought their niece with them, I think she is around 10 years old, and he has been very good with children.
I must brag about how handsome he looks. I gave him a bath yesterday, outside since it was so warm, and he was very good about having a bath. After he dried all the way his coat has a beautiful shine to it and he is so soft. The family that came to see him told him how handsome he is. (They still have one more greyhound to visit before they decide who will be their new greythound.)
He is going to make some family very happy. Will you be that family?? Come and see this handsome boy!

Party Time at the Dog Park

Wow! I got to go to a dog park today with Abby and my foster mom. It was so cool. Just one big doggie party. I met so many other cool dudes and hot chics. There was one other greyhound and two whippets there as well as lots of other different breeds. We all made freinds. I socialized with all the people there, too. The little dogs were in a fenced in area next to the big dog area and I walked along the fence and met them too. I was the biggest guy there until a Newfoundland came. We were the same height but he had much more girth to him! There were a lot of new smells there. I spent a lot of time with my nose to the ground checking out those good smells. After about an hour at this great party place my foster mom said we had to go home because it was getting too hot out. I can hardly wait to go back, I'll get to meet even more new friends! Cherry-0 for now :}

Fourth of July Prize

It's almost the Fourth of July and I am ready to celebrate! I'm even wearing a "Best Dog" ribbon. Bring me home so I can spend the 4th with you. I love to party and have lots of people around. This picture is of me enjoying Father's Day with my foster family. See the big grin on my face? I had a great time bar-b-queing out on the deck with the family. Hurry up and adopt me so I can party with you!