Retired racing dogs Blaze and Trigger have recently been released from Bunbury Regional Prison, where they have spent several weeks learning how to be pets.

It was part of the Greyhounds as Pets prison program where a select group of prisoners care for the dogs around the clock.

The program has been so successful at the prison pre-release centre that it is set to be expanded into the medium security prison in the coming weeks.

At the Bunbury facility inmates live in shared houses and are required to cook, clean and shop for themselves.

Greyhounds as Pets team leader Lauren Savage said it was a great place for the dogs to learn house rules because it was so similar to a home environment.

The dogs learn house rules to help prepare them for life as pets. ( ABC South West: Roxanne Taylor )

"They learn the sights and sounds of kitchens and cooking, they learn how to walk on leash," she said.

"They're really just learning from being a working dog to what's expected of them when they move into living as a pet."

Ms Savage said it was not unusual for inmates to fall in love with the breed.

"I'd say maybe five or six have actually been prisoners who've come back to actually want to adopt their dogs," she said.

Dogs are a big part of prisoner's life

Prisoner Keith, not his real name, has formed a strong bond with Blaze and Trigger while training them over the past few weeks.

Greyhound Trigger helped to lead inmate Keith towards life on the outside. ( ABC South West: Roxanne Taylor )

On the wall of his house are pictures of greyhounds that have been trained and he has taken pictures of Blaze and Trigger to add to the collection.

He said the dogs had been a big part of his life since he joined the program in February.

"I walk them and then I clean out their pens and wash them all out and then I come back and give them their breakfast," he said.

Keith said he had never taken on a responsibility like this before.

"At night I start cooking their food for three days. They don't get canned stuff, they get proper steak and everything," he said.

Like others before him, Keith is also intending to adopt a greyhound when he is released from jail.

"It gives me interest for when I get back out too, you know, because I lost my dog when I was inside."

Bunbury Regional Prison Assistant Superintendent Shane Dowell said it was about entrusting the prisoners with responsibility, which prepared them for life on the outside.

"We've had a number of prisoners being involved who had very limited social skills, life skills," he said, adding it taught them how to care for an animal and to be responsible.

Almost 40 greyhounds have been rehomed since the program began four years ago.