Penny Update

It's really hard to believe it's been 2 months since this wonderful little lady entered my life. I will never forget the day they arrived. Stan met us at 7-11 and he loaded the girls in to crates in my truck. We drove home and after settling our boys in the house I went outside to bring the girls in. Penny came out of the crate like a bat out of hell. Thank goodness she had a chain attached or she would have been gone. Then it was 5 minutes of allowing her to crocodile death roll, trying to get away from me, the leash, the collar, everything. In to the yard and then in one leap she was over the safety fence and a second later the perimeter fence. I panicked, ran out and fortunatly Willow started to cry so Penny decide to come back. I finally got her calm, upstairs and stuffed back in the safety of another crate. I sat down and cried!

Over the next few days I wondered if I had bit off more then I could chew. Should I send one or both of them back? Did I have the time, the ability, the strength to work these girls to adoption? I decided YES! A month later Willow headed home and I was beaming from ear to ear. I couldn't have been happier to see my little girl go from life on a chain in the bush to a family where she attends doggie daycare, obedience and is the center of her mom's world!

A foster placement was attempted with Penny and she came back for her high energy and anxieties after leaving me. When she came back I vowed it was time for Penny's next step in training. No longer was she the timid dog who had been brought to me. She was outgoing, loving, a cuddle bug and in need of some basic obedience. Almost 3 weeks have past since I made this promise to myself and Penny. I haven't had much time to work with her, but I have been consistant and done my best. Penny is now enjoying life off leash! She heals, comes, runs and plays! Again she is a different dog from 4 weeks ago!

These dogs can accomplish so much! They are so smart, so loving, so trusting and so forgiving! I'm very excited to be able to video Penny playing and working off leash and hope to have it posted shortly for everyone to see!

She is no longer the timid girl who arrived but a well adjusted, well behaved, loyal companion!

Leia WBBR/Idaho Update

Hi Chantelle,

I thought I would send you an email to give you an update on Leia. She has really been settling in well. We moved last week to our new house and we can't believe she is the same timid little dog that came into our home almost 5 months ago.

We have been working with a personal trainer with her and she is really coming along. There is still some work to be done but eventually we will get there. She loves her brother Luke and they get along wonderfully. They now have a big yard to play and run around in. Her favourite thing to do is to run around in circles through the house with a squeaky toy in her mouth right after she finishes eating her food. She likes to entice Luke to chase her. Luke only chased her a few times and figured out that if he stayed in one spot she will eventually run by him and he can get her then. They love to play tug of war with the fluffy toys. We have had a few fatalities, but its nothing that a needle and thread can't fix! (the toys that is!)

The Christmas tree is up and the dogs have written their letters to Santa. I think the tree is going to be full of presents just for Luke & Leia this year as they have been such good puppies!

Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and we wish you luck, joy & love in the new year.

Jen, Matt, Luke & Leia

WILLOW CAME TO VISIT

I'm very excited to say my Willow girl came home to visit yesterday! I can't believe it's been a month since she left, it honestly feels like yesterday! At first she was a little timid as the dogs all started their barking etc. but in no time she was running around. Penny was so excited to see her and the two of them wrestled and played like they had never been apart. It was wonderful to see just how much Willow has bonded with her new momma. She looks so good and is only getting better!!!! She's such a lucky girl to have found such a wonderful family!

Penny Update

Hi Everyone!

Penny wanted me to thank everyone who has been watching her blog and keeping up to date with her progress. She's greatful for everyone who has helped her along her path and now would really like to ask peoples help to find her a home for Christmas. She says it's all she wants, she won't ask for anything else, just a family to call her own!

Penny is progressing very well and today we started working on Sit. She's so eager to please and tries very hard to complete all tasks that are asked of her. With her training program she is now working off leash outside in the cul de sac and is allowed in the yard (under supervision). Off leash she is working on heal, come and an area command and doing very well. She loves to play and tonight our friend's brought their Boston Terrier over for a play date. Penny doesn't care what size the dog is, as long as they will play with her they are her new best friend. She would love a home with another canine companion (who loves to play, run and wrestle)! She is a very sweet dog who loves to cuddle at my feet but at the same time is high energy and needs mental and physical activities to tire her out. We would be happy to talk to prospective adopters in regards to her current training program. It does not take much to mentally tire Penny out but it does have to be a mental challenge or it will not stimulate her. Physically if you love to walk, hike, bike (once she learns to run with a bike), roller blade etc. this is the girl for you! She would also love dog sports, agility, Rally O etc.

Penny is very bonded to me and at this time I am doing independance work with her to help her with some of the anxieties that will come with her leaving us. We are looking for a patient, caring, loving, energetic, fun loving family who is looking for an active, sweet, cuddle bug!!!!

Penny Update

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!!!! I wish my camera was working because Penny had such a blast today out in the snow. She loved to just run laps of the yard, around and around and around she would go. She would stop quickly to take a mouthful of snow and then off she would go again! She is such a happy girl, she's so smart and so eager to please. We would love to see her continue in her training program.

Although she is doing so well here with us we have our fingers crossed that she can spend her first Christmas with her very own family!

Maggie Update

Hi Chantelle, I'm sorry to hear that you and your family miss Maggie so much but she is doing great here. Kele's been taking her to work with him everyday and she sure knows how to work it. Her precious paws have never touch the floor because everyone takes turns holding her in their lap! She loves all the attention. Although she looks like a JR, she has a lot of chihuahua traits for sure. She barks at anyone that goes near Kele's desk and she's always cold and shivering all the time. She's constantly looking for a warm lap or burrowing herself in the blankets. She'll only play indoors or under the sun. She's got everyone all wrapped around her little paws. Frosty seems quite indifferent to Maggie except when there's treats involved, then Frosty tries to boss Maggie around. Frosty shares all the toys with Maggie, no problem there. They cuddle together when napping, very cute. We got her a BuddyBelt and she's walking fine on a leash. She just have to learn to walk in a straight line. There's a few times where we almost stepped on her because of all the zigzagging. Crate training is going pretty good, as long as Frosty's in the crate with her. The housetraining is quite troublesome because she won't go outside when it's raining. We bought her a warm sweater and raincoat and we still have to drag her outside. As long as there's a bush for her to hide in while she poops, she's fine (she's shy) but she won't pee in the rain! She would squat and thinking she's done her business, only to find her peeing when we get inside! So we would spend more time outside just to make sure she's done but then she would do this heartwrenching crying/wailing and try to hide between our legs. Not sure what to do there. Any tips?Selina

Penny's training and update

Penny has been back for 4 days and we have seen a whole new Penny. Since coming back we have decided it's time to bog down and work hard with this little girl. She was bred for speed and endurance so no long walk with ever tire this girl out. She needs a mix of physical and mental work to tire her out. Penny's training started the second day she was home and we instantly began to see a new side of Penny, she was tired. Mentally the obedience work was exhausting for her and she was happy to just settle down on the dog bed and go to sleep. Each day we are taking her out and working her for 20 minutes or so to bring her energy level down and then continue working with her through out our day. She's a much happier dog, more settled and calm. She's learning she can stay away from me and survive, she can be found sleeping in the dog bed while I'm in another room. She will look up and check for me but doesn't have to follow from room to room. I hope to take Penny to class in the near future if and when I can find the time. Her obedience work will continue till her new home is found. We can only hope her new family will continue as it is benefiting Penny more then anyone could know.

Penny has come back

Penny has come back to us due to no fault of her own. She was very excited to return and fit right back in to her pack and schedule. She is very bonded with our home and family and her new family will need to be able to work through the first couple of days, weeks with some anxiety and stress from Penny as she learns to trust and settle in. She is a very high energy girl. Remember she has been bred for speed and endurance. She is not easily physically exhausted. Penny can be tired out with 30 minutes of strong mental stimulation. She is very smart and eager to please so obedience training is a must for this girl. Not only so she can learn basic commands but also to help mentally tire her out as physically is almost impossible.

She has started obedience training and is doing well on "come", "off", walk with me, and has just started an area command. Each night we are trying to work with her for 30 minutes or so of solid mental work so she is tired and ready for her crate.

Her new bio will soon be posted under our available boxers page. She can already be found with an updated bio on Craigslist and Petfinder. If you would like to know more about Penny please email us or post a comment to the blog.

Maggie went home today

It is with a very happy heart that I can tell everyone that our little Maggie May headed home with her new parents and sister today! I know she's going to be very well cared for and loved. She will give her parents lots of fun and excitment and cuddle time too!

Thank you!!!

Hi Chantelle, Just to let you know that Maggie has settled in just fine. She was a star everywhere we went today. At the dog store and at the park. Everyone just had to stop to say hi to Maggie. She was unsure of other dogs in the beginning but soon learned to chase and play. She's a smart cookie too. Kele has already taught her how to fetch and she sits most of the time we asked her to. We also left her in the crate with Frosty twice today for short periods and they did fine. No crying for anything. She does her business when we take her outside, no problems yet. But she's a real cuddlebug when we're home. She's watching the Canucks game with Kele right now!Selina

I Got To Visit With Willow!!

I was lucky enough yesterday to receive a kiss on the nose from my sweet Willow. I stopped by the store her mom works at to pick up some needed supplies and found out she was next door at the daycare. I quickly went over to visit. I was in a rush as I was late for work but it was wonderful to see her so happy and healthy. She was happy to see me which made me happy but I could see she was no longer my girl. She was happy to go back and do what she was doing, she wasn't upset she couldn't get to me, she was waiting for mom! I couldn't be happier!!!! She's such a lucky girl!!! She's now settled in at home and is attending obedience classes. She's as smart as a whip and is learning quickly. She loves going for rides with her mom in the van and is just soaking up all the love and attention that her owner can give her!

I just love happy endings! Especially when the story started out so sadly.

The Bad Days in Rescue

I received an email the other day about "No Name" who was in a rural Idaho shelter. He had been there for some time and it was time for him to move on. The shelter asked for rescues help and with no boxer rescue in Idaho the all breed rescue contacted us. We have helped a few Idaho boxers now and they have found wonderful families here in BC. I asked the shelter to have him dog tested and as long as he passed he would make the trip to BC. "No Name" who I have now nicknamed Freedom has had an uncertain past. He arrived as a stray and no one came to claim him. He enjoyed the shelter staffs attention but was indifferent to whether they gave it to him or not. It's pretty evident that this boy has not had the best start to his life. Freedom did not do well with his dog test and showed signs of severe dog aggression. We were this boys last hope and I had to make the decission to say no. I'm left now feeling like the bad guy, Freedom past from this world with only the care of the shelter staff. He had no family to love him, no one to hold him, no one to tell him he was a good boy and it was all going to be okay and why? Because I said NO. Why do I have to feel bad, someone failed this poor boy. Who knows, maybe someone bought him as a cute puppy and had the best of intentions, amybe he was thrown out in the yard right away, maybe no one ever cared. Who ever owned this boy though should feel the guilt that I currently feel. They should know that Freedom died because of what they made him. Doge are pack animals, their instinct is to live in a pack not to be aggressive. Someone has made him this way, whether on purpose or due to lack of socialization and training. I wish we had the resources and the place to have taken this boy in to rescue. Unfortunatly we don't, our own families and dogs must be our first priority and everyone must be kept safe. Dogs like Freedom can be managed around other dogs and slowly trained. It takes a very special owner though to make the decission to adopt a dog like Freedom. There are far more "Freedom's" out there then their are adopters willing to adopt them.

My heart breaks at my decission but it's one that I have to live with. Some days I hate rescue.

PENNY HAS GONE HOME!!!!

I'm very excited to day that Penny just left with her new mom! Of course my house was quiet and nothign had happened all morning and then while I was trying to talk to her mom I had 2 different people at the door, the kids were fussy and someone had an accident on the livingroom, MURPHY'S LAW!!! Back to how excited I am though! Penny was all over her new mom and she brought a male friend with her who Penny was quick to jump all over as well. My goodness this little lady is not the dog who first arrived! She loaded up in her crate and off she headed for a new life. It was so hard to see her go and I had to hold back the tears. Fortunatly for me my little guy was crying so it made it easier for me to turn away and let her go.

Good luck Penny girl! I know you will make a good city girl!

Maggie our Chi/Jack Russell Foster

Maggie is settling in to life with lots of other dogs very well! She's not intimidated in the least by our busy and hectic family life. She's getting along with everyone, big and small. She likes to bark at the cats but at her age will easily integrate in to a family with a cat as long as boundaries are taught to her as she grows up. She's started her crate training, sleeps in it at night and in the car for trips. She's okay but does kick up a bit of a fuss before settling for the night. She loves to cuddle on your lap so is a true little lap dog but is also very high energy. She would love to go to an active home who will give her lots of cuddle time but equal amounts of excerise. If you are looking for a small dog who would probably enjoy agility, walks, obedience etc. this is the girl for you!!!

Pixie (Maggie's sister) Update

Well today Pixie joined the big boys at Rolley Lake for her first adventure. She did very well. It's very weird to walk with such a small dog. I'd turn around and look for her, panic because I couldn't see her, then Peter would tell me to look down and she'd be right at my feet. She's getting braver with playing with Ben and Max. Going outside for pee brakes is fun, because she chases all the leaves rather than doing her business. I put her bed under the computer table and that's her safe zone. She is happily curled up sleeping as I type. She does scream like you are murdering her when you put her in her house which is a little interesting. Thank God our room is at the opposite end of the house, I sleep with a fan and earplugs! She's only eating the wetfood out of her dish, little brat, so we will be slowly weaning her off that. Other than that she seems to be settling in very well.

Willow Update

Hi Chantelle,

Willow is doing great. She has found a safe haven in our dining room to watch people but not have to use her crate if she does not want to. She only uses it if someone suddenly comes into the room or someone she is not sure of. She was great with my grandson, even came up and sniffed him. Not sure of my husband yet, but has not had the opportunity to get to know him yet.

As for me, she has totally glues herself to my side. Paces if I go to the washroom without her, has started to jump up on me when we are out and loves to be cuddled. We went for a 2 hour walk yesterday, up to Bosley's and back, and used me for her safe zone. She just seems to know who her caregiver is. Should I be concerned about the attachment issue? I went to pick up my daughter from Tim Hortons yersterday morning and apparantley shse paced the whole time I was gone. I love it and she gets lots of hugs and kisses.

Food wise she has not been eating the deli fresh very well, but I made her some chicken and vegies and she gobbles that up last night.

Bathroom issues, she seems to be able to hold her urine for a long time and does not seem to of found a comfortable spot to go yet. Will it just take time? I have started to go to the side of the driveway to try and get her comfortable with one area {an area she has already chosen}.
Right now she is laying down by my feet while I type this, and is very relaxed.

thanks Lilian

WILLOW HAS GONE HOME!!!!

Our sweet Willow headed home tonight! She was shy when her new mom came to pick her up but once in the van went straight to checking everything out. While we stood outside and talked Willow was sitting on the passenger seat looking so proud. She knew she was off to bigger and better things and I couldn't be happier!!!

These girls have proved to be challenging, wonderful and sweet. Tonight though I realized as my Willow baby drove away just how attached I had become to these girls. I welled up thinking about the stress my little girl was going to go through as she transitions to a new home. I know it's for the best and she will be loved more then anything but I couldn't help but think what if she had one more day with us. These baby girls really are taking a little piece of my heart with them.

We all wish Willow a speedy and easy transition to her new life with her new family!

PENNY AND WILLOW UPDATE

Willow is heading home today on a foster to adopt basis!!!! We are very excited for Willow. She is the more timid girl of the two but has come out of her shell so much here. She is heading home with a wonderful family! She's a very lucky little girl and we wish a smooth and easy transition for her!

Penny had a visitor the other day and she did great! She was full of spunk and energy and showed off all her bad skills such as jumping up, surfing the counters etc. Penny's visitor though didn't care and was quickly taken by her wonderful personality! We're very excited to say that Penny will be heading home on a foster to adopt basis next Saturday! She is going from one extreme to the other! She's a bush girl who has spent the first part of her life in a quiet and secluded setting. Now she's off to be a big city girl! Penny is moving downtown Vancouver to become a yuppy city condo girl! She was born to do it! She's all set!!!

Sudden On set of Aggression

I'm a little suprised by the fact that I have received a few of these calls lately. Vecause of this I thought I would post some information to the blog to maybe help others who may be experiencing this problem.

The first thing that needs to be done if your dog shows signs of sudden on set aggression is take them to the vet. The first thing you want to do is rule out any medical reasons for the aggression. Dogs are unable to talk to us and tell us what's wrong so if they don't feel well or are in pain it could manifest itself as aggression. There's many medical issues that could cause your dog to lash out but some are:
-allergies (itchy, painful skin, ears)
-thyroid conditions
-arthritis
-pancreatitis
-and many more

If your vet finds something wrong with your dog then a change in food, medication etc. might be all that's needed to correct the aggressive bahaviour. If your vet doesn't find anything wrong with your dog then it's time to call a trainer. Please ask for advice on finding a trainer in your area. Your vet, rescue agency, boarding kennel etc. might be able to refer a trainer who has worked with aggression before. This is not something for your local Petcetera training class, you need to find a trainer who has worked successfully with this before.

Once you find a trainer who you are comfortable working with they are going to have questions for you so try and think about these before hand:
-Has anything changed in your life? (new job, away from home for longer periods of time, unable to get the dog out as much for walks, baby arrived or on the way etc)
-Has anything changed in your dog's life? (ie new food, new home, new companion etc.)
-What sets your dog off? (ie. new visitors to the house, when someone tries to take their toy, when they see another dog etc.)
-What do you do when this happens?

Some things to start as soon as this behaviour starts even before heading to the vet or calling in a professional;
-Your dog needs to start working for everything. If you want to give them love, food etc. call them to you, make them come, sit, lay down etc. before you give them love, a cookie, dinner etc.
-Your dog must stay off all furniture and if possible sleep in a crate so as not to get up on the furniture at night or when you are away
-Don't allow your dog to lead anything, ie. bark and you give them a cookie, nudge your hand and you stroke them, bring you their leash and you walk them etc. If your dog does this just ignore them until the behaviour stops.

The reason these steps should be started right away is aggression can sometimes be caused when a dog has been allowed to take over as pack leader. This can happen slowly and without anyone really realizing it until it's to late. Dogs that have been allowed to take over as pack leader will try and control their pack and their surroundings, sometimes manifesting this as aggression. A trainer would be able to help you with this if it is the case.

In no way is this to be used in place of advice from your vet or a professional trainer/behaviourist. This has only been written to give you some insight and somewhere to start if you do find yourself with a dog that shows signs of sudden on set aggression.

Willow and Penny and a very embarrassing moment!

Okay so I can't believe I'm about to put this on the blog but everyone has had a moment like this, well maybe some of you have! Well we can all laugh at the situation! Tonight I took the girls out for their regular bathroom break. They walked me all up and down the street until we ended up at the little park area at the end of our street. They were running around in circles, sniffing, jumping, checking out the edge of the ravine. All of a sudden Willow came charging back to me, no problem she does this all the time. She caught me off guard though and jumped up on me, as she came down her paw caught my pajama bottoms (yes I snuck out in my pj's) and down they came. Okay now my winter coat is long enough to cover everything and it all lasted about 10 seconds. We live on a quiet, dark street so no problem accept in the split second that it happened the neighbourhood pizza delivery boy was heading off the street so it all happened in the glow of his headlights!!! I was so embarrassed!!!!! I'm positive I'm still glowing a bright shade of red from the whole incident.

The good times, the bad times and in this case the UGLY times, hehe!

Willow and Penny

I took the girls out for the evening bathroom break and off we went and I mean off we went. I take the girls out on flexi's so both girls can have a chance to get some distance from me and sniff the world around them. I am becoming very proficient in the art of flexi dancing, the girls love to criss cross each other. I've been saying for ages that I should start walking them seperatly but with so many dogs who need to go out for bathroom duties it's just my laziness taking them out together. To do it all in an hour I need to take them out 2 or 3 at a time. Well tonight I learned my lesson as my sled dogs have turned in to well....sled dogs! They are no longer timid with me when I have them out and instead of sticking close to me will run to the end of their leash. Tonight the two of them worked together to drag me down the road. It was great to see them from behind pulling like little sled dogs but it also proved to me that it's time for these girls to start obedience classes!

Penny and Willow

We're very excited to say there's an approved application for Penny! The family will be coming out to meet Penny in the next couple of days and fingers crossed she will be heading home for a trial weekend soon!

Willow met her potential new owner the other day and although timid they will be filling out an application for her. So as soon as a home visit can be completed and approved Willow can also head home!

A Dog's Poem

A Dog's Poem Do I Go Home Today?

My family brought me home, cradled in their arms,
They cuddled me and smiled at me, said I was full of charm.
They played with me and laughed with me, they showered me with toys,
I sure do love my family, especially the girls and boys.
The children loved to feed me, they gave me special treats,
They even let me sleep with them, all snuggled in their sheets.
I used to go for many walks, often several times a day,
They even fought to hold the leash, I'm very proud to say.
They used to laugh and praise me, when I played with that old shoe,
But I didn't know the difference between the old ones and the new.
The kids and I would grab a rag, and for hours we would tug,
So I thought I did the right thing when I chewed the bedroom rug.
They said I was out of control and would have to live outside,
This I did not understand, although I tried and tried.
The walks stopped, one by one; they said they hadn't time,
I wish that I could change things, I wish I knew my crime.
My life became so lonely in the backyard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long to keep from going insane.
So they brought me to a shelter, but were embarrassed to say why,
They said I caused an allergy, and then kissed me good-bye.
If I'd only had some classes when I was just a pup,
I wouldn't have been so hard to handle, when I was all grown up.
"You only have one day left," I heard a worker say.
Does this mean a second chance? Do I go home today?

Author Unknown

Another TG girls update!

We are pretty excited! Willow had a visitor today, not just any visitor but a potential adopter. She was quite timid and wasn't ready to approach but she did run around the house with her tail up and show off just how beautiful she is. She is coming out of her shell slowly but what's coming out is just a sweet, loving and wonderful personality. She is starting to show signs of being very athletic (like her sister) and would love to attend dog sports. Just like Penny she's now jumping our baby gate to be with us or head back to her crate if she feels scared. She's very smart and eager to please and once bonded to a new owner is going to continue to improve by leaps and bounds. Willow is taking her medication like a trooper and hopefully in no time this little girl will feel as good as new. Once she feels better it should help her socialization as well. Feeling under the weather never helps anything.

Penny did wonderful and was all over Willow's visitor. She was a little timid if she moved quickly but she brought peperoni and that's more then enough to win Penny over!!! Penny is feeling much better today since her spay. You honestly today wouldn't know she was spayed a few days ago. Today I have to keep her quiet, she's not willing to keep herself rested, hehe!

Out on our walks these girls are becoming far more adventurous. They are no longer staying close and prefer to head to the end of their Flexi's (often at full speed) to explore the world around them. They love walking up and down our street as we are on a ravine and they sniff and rustle through the leaves. I know they would love to run but it will be some time before they are ready to go off a leash anywhere. I often try and run back and forth with them but I can tell they are barely at a trot. I can only imagine how beautiful and fast they would be at full speed. The girls do often come back to me to check in and if someone starts walking past they are quick to run back and hide behind my legs.

There's an Application in for Penny and updates

We're very excited to say there's an application in for our Penny girl. Hopefully we can organize a home visit this weekend and then potentially Penny can head home! I know it's premature to post this but we're so excited for our little girl and just had to share! We know the transition will be difficult for her. She has bonded very strongly with me and then to loose her sister as well but we know she's going to do great! It only took the vet tech half an hour to start winning her over the other day in the vet clinic (it's easier if I'm out of the picture) so we know with a little patience, love and care her new owners would be able to do the same.

Penny is healing nicely after her spay. She was feeling pretty sorry for herself but this morning came out of her crate tail up and wagging and was all bounce on her walk so I think she's forgiven me, hehe! She continues to do great sleeping in her crate and on housebreaking. She's such a sweet girl and so eager to please. Feeding has become much better and she is now eating two full meals a day so hopefully will put some much needed wait on soon!

Willow started antibiotics yesterday for a terrible bladder infection. She is such a strong girl we would never have known she had one since she has never had an accident in the house or her crate. Hopefully 10 days of strong antibiotics will be enough to clear it all up. Willow is really coming out of her shell on our walks. She loves to bounce around and when on the flexi will run to the end of it and do laps around me bouncing like a gazelle. She's such a beautiful girl!

Penny and Willow

Willow went to Bosley's today for some socialization time around new people, noises, smells etc. It was a great time to go as the store was busy and the staff were restocking shelves. Willow did wonderful! I was pleasantly surprised by her response. She slowly approached several people. She was not ready to receive attention but was willing to come up and take a small piece of food. Willow is coming along in leaps and bounds!!!! Hopefully she will feel better when we get her urinary tract infection all cleared up.

Penny did well a the vet. She was quite stressed being away from her home, her people and her pack. She was very happy to see me when I arrived and quickly rested her head in my lap. She has been home resting and should be back to herself in no time at all.

Penny and Willow

I just got back from dropping Penny off for her spay. She was pretty excited to be back at the vet for all the love and attention. She was quick though to change her mind when I took her back to her run. Within minutes of me leaving her in her run she scaled the chain link and came over the top. So we have now learned that chain link fencing will not keep this little girl in. She was happy though to go off with the vet tech and this time be put in a kennel and not a run. She was quiet when I left.

Willow went in to have her shots today and she suprised me. She was timid with everyone but did approach one of the vet techs and the vet for lots of cookies. Although not as outgoing as her sister she is coming around to strangers. Willow was startled while in the clinic and peed a little on the floor. Totally understandable but a good thing as well. There was a little blood in her urine and it also appeared cloudy. A sample has been sent away for testing as it's believed she probably has a bladder infection. Willow has never had an accident inside so I have never noticed anything with her urine. So her accident in the clinic turned out to be a little bit of a blessing in disguise for us.

These two girls are becoming so bonded to me it's going to be harder and harder to part with them. They are so ready to head off to their forever homes and would do better going sooner rather then later so they can break their bond with me and start forming new ones with their new owners.

Willow and Penny

Today was the big outing and so out we went!!! I decided to leave Willow at home today so that the girls could work independantly from each other and we could see how they would do solo.

Willow did really well at home without Penny. She cried for a couple of times and did a house search for her but all in all was comfortable with her not being here.

Penny's trip started with an outing to Bosley's. Although a little leery she approached all the staff who had wonderful peperoni for her. She was slow to approach the first staff member but then became quicker and quicker each piece of peperoni she received. By the end of our visit she was even approaching shoppers incase they had a piece of peperoni for her! She did very well at the vet. She allowed all the techs to come out and give her some love and attention. She wasn't so keen on the vet cookies, hehe! All to be expected after a trip to the petstore where she was given peperoni!!! She allowed the vet to give her a full physical without any protest. She will be going back on Thursday to be spayed and receive the remainder of her vaccines. She did meet the vet cat and was interested in saying hi. He wasn't so interested and told her off which was enough for her to decide he wasn't worth dealing with.

Both girls met our cat tonight and Penny got quite up close and personal. Sylvie hissed and swatted at her. Penny tucked tail and ran and hid behind the bed. Willow then had to see what had caused such a fuss with Penny and Willow only minutes later did the same as Penny. I would be comfortable to say that both these girls could be placed in a home with a cat.

Willow is off to the vet on Thursday to receive the rest of her vaccines. She will be alone all day since Penny is in being spayed. Willow will have her turn to visit the pet store that day.

Penny and Willow

Penny and Willow continue to improve daily. Penny is off to the vet tomorrow for a check to see if she's ready for her spay. Her heat cycle ended a few days ago and we want to give her a chance to recover a little from it before spaying her. She will also be checked for what we believe might be a bladder infection.

Check back tomorrow to see how the girls did on their outing to the pet store. We have decided tomorrow will be the girls first really big adventure into the world. Both girls will be taken in to the pet store independantly to help socialize them around new sounds, people, actions etc. It should be a fun filled adventure and maybe we'll even come home with some new treats!!!

Penny is coming out of her shell very nicely. She has started approaching strangers for love and attention. She is slow to approach but is deciding it's well worth it. Once spayed she is ready to go to her new home. She would do well in a quiet or busy house as she is good with other dogs, kids and even cats. She does need some time to adjust though and her new family would need the time to continue to socialize her with the outside world. Formal obedience classes would be very beneficial.

Willow continues to be a very sweet and loving dog with me. Unlike Penny she is still very hesitant with other people and has not made the decission to approach strangers yet. Once bonded with someone she will be your best and loyal companion for all of time. Willow will need more time to come around to strangers and her world around her. She is not spooked by loud noises and is doing well out on her walks etc. She is interested in people from across the street just not ready to approach them yet. She does great in a busy house but would be happy in a quieter home where she could be the center of attention. Formal obedience classes would be very beneficial!

Deli Fresh Food Donation

We'd like to thank Deli Fresh Food for donating a large amount of food for Penny and Willow. The food donated will be mixed with the dry kibble that has already been donated to help motivate the girls to eat up to 3 meals a day.

Thank you so much!

You can visit Deli Fresh's website at:
http://www.delifreshpet.com/
and can find it ay many local pet stores.

Willow and Penny still looking for Foster Home

Hi Everyone,

Willow and Penny are still in need of foster homes. They are here with us for now but would love a foster home of their own. We would like to split the girls up as they are very bonded and we need them to start learning new skills independantly.

The girls are wormed, fully vaccinated, good with other dogs both big and small
Willow is spayed and Penny soon will be
All food will be supplied for the girls and a crate if needed.

WIllow and Penny playing with Riley

Both these girls have been doing wonderful with big dogs but I have not given them full access to our little Riley as he's only 8 lbs. This morning I decided to go ahead and let them meet Riley. Well not only did they get along with him they had a rip roaring play session (on our bed of course!!!) So I'm happy to say that both girls have passed both big and small dog 101 and would place well in a home with a dog of any size. Willow needs more time to adjust to new dogs and is a fairly dominant female so would place best in a home with a submissive male (not another dominant female). Penny is fairly submissive and would place well with just about anyone!

Wilow and Penny Updates

The girls continue to improve and come out of their shells daily. With each passing day we see more and more of their true personalities.

Penny is just a love and wants to be with everyone and everything. She doesn't care what's going on. The other dogs are running around, the kids are throwing toys, I'm vaccuming etc. and she just wants to be in the middle of all of it! She doesn't care if another dog growls at her, she just shrugs it off and heads off to do something else. She loves her cookies and her treats and is doing better about eating now that we are adding canned food to her meals. She's becoming more adventureous out on her walks and is now going to the end of the flexi leash although quickly coming back to my side. Yesterday she went walking with my husband and although checking in with me she was walking with him tail wagging. Penny would be happy in a busier home after a settling in period. She would love to attend obedience, agility and other dog sports. Obedience is a must for her but dog sports are not. SHe would be happy with an active family who will take her for walks, hikes, camping etc. She's just one great dog who is learning how wonderful life really can be.

Willow is more of the mellow quiet girl. She would prefer a home that has a slower pace of life, maybe older children or a couple without kids. She gets along with other dogs but would love a home where she might be the only dog or a 2nd dog. She loves lots of cuddles and attention and would prefer to have more of it then less. She is very smart and thinks hard about what is asked of her. She is eager to please and would love to attend obedience classes to help her learn her obedience skills, continue her socialization with the outside world and bond with her new owners. She is more tentative when outside then Penny with strangers but is the first one at the end of her flexi to explore the world around her. When feeling overwhelmed she retreats to her crate for some quiet time.

Both girls continue to do well in their crates and are doing all their bathroom duties outside. Penny is doing much better about pottying on leash (due to her fence jumping, our fence is only 4.5 feet high. We feel she would be safe and secure in a 6 foot fence).

CANNED FOOD DESPERATLY NEEDED

We are in desperate need of canned food for Willow and Penny. We have received a wonderful donation of 3 large bags of kibble for the girls but we now need canned food to mix in. These girls are very skinny and need to gain a far amount of weight. Neither is very food motivated or interested and can pick at a meal all day long. We would like to feed them 3 times a day but so far we are only able to feed them approx. 1 meal just because they are not interested. We received a donation of canned food a couple of months ago and had a few cans left. With canned food mixed in with thekibble the girls will eat their food till it's empty! We have now used up the cans we have been given and are in need of more. Please consider donating some cans or a gift certificate to a petstore so we can pick some cans up.

THANK YOU!

Willow and Penny Update

It's been 4 days since the girls arrived and they are already night and day from day 1. We're really starting to see their true personalities emerge and they are both so different.

Penny is our eager beaver! She will do anything to please but so much she often misses what's being asked of her. She is very athletic and loves to run and play. She's figured out what the toys are and can often be found throwing or carrying on around. She's getting better and better with her jumping now she's starting to settle. She would love a family who is interested in dog sports or at least lots of walks, hikes, camping etc. Penny the other night actually went up to my neighbours mom for love. I was in the middle of telling her how timid the girls are and Penny just to prove me wrong walked right up and pushed herself up against her for strokes and love.

Willow is our sweet natured girl. She is the smart one of the two. She is happy to please and takes the time to think about what has been asked of her. She's more adventurous when we go out for walks and will go to the end of the flexi to explore. She is always checking over her shoulder though to make sure I'm in site and comes back frequently to check in. Willow is not as athletic as Penny (although it's only been a week since she went through a vey difficult spay so ths may change). She does love going for walks though and would love someone who is looking for a walking, hiking companion. She is very smart and would love to attend obedience classes.

Both girls have been introduced to our two children Connor (2 and a half) and Rowan (13 months). Both girls are very good with the kids and are far less timid of them then they are of adults. They will take cookies gently from them and are gentle around them. The girls do move quickly and run, run, run so they can easily knock over a toddler or small child.

The girls continue to be exposed to our dogs and are doing great! We are trying to give them time with the other dogs seperatly as the two of them are quite bonded and when the other dogs are around they tend to ignore them. Willow is doing very well today with our min pin, she was a bit intolerant of him the other day but seems to be feeling better about him today.

The girls have seen the neighbourhood stray cat out on our walks and both have been interested. Their ears have perked up and they've thought about him. Neither have given chase but they are attached to us on leash and well the cat is 1/2 a block away so that's currently to far to venture from us. We will cat test both of them in time.

Th girls have started going in to their crates willingly and can often be found snuggled up sleeping in their crates with the doors open. They are sleeping through the night in their crates with little to no noise from them. They also have crate time during the day and are happy to sleep in their crates with the doors closed.

Both girls we be receiving another bath this weekend. They had one Monday night but they really weren't to sure about it. We did not want to over stress them so we will continue the scrubbing this weekend. They were also wormed again today just to make sure there's nothing left in their systems.

These two girls are just amazing and are going to make a family very happy! I'm quite biased as I'm totally a boxer person but these two loves are really growing on me and if we didn't already have an over full house I would be considering keeping one!! That's saying a lot from me!!!

Our Girls Officially have Names

Dog #2 or the sweet girl with the prick ears came to us with the nickname 3Penny. Not sure why 3 but since she was nicknamed by her rescuer Yvette from TG it seems only fitting to keep her name as Penny. Our other little girl, girl #15 or nicknamed Momma Dog by her guardian angel Stan has been renamed Willow by Lisa who was kind enough to donate a huge bag of kibble for the girls and picked up two more big bags that she had Spuddy's in Maple Ridge donate.

Lisa had the opportunity to meet "Willow" last night. Willow was happy to say Hi to her doberman Daisy but was a little to leary still to say Hi to Lisa. Lisa named her Willow because:

My first impression and the first name that came to mind was “Willow”. She is slender and graceful like a young sapling . .

The girls continue to settle in. Penny is still a Mexican Jumping Bean and can not be out in the yard off leash. She would be fine in a yard with a 6 foot fence but our fence is not 6 feet all the way around and she will jump it. Both are doing very well in their crates and neither have had one accident in the house. Both are walking fairly well on leash especially Willow who has spent next to know time ever on a leash or in a house. Penny had some time up at TG in the house and on a leash. These two girls are super sweet and loving. They would love to find a family with another dog or lots of time to spend with them. They are both very eager to please and would benefit and love to attend obedience. Penny would love a family who would be interested in trying their hand at agility!!!!

Our Girls from TG

Well pardon my miss matched pj's but as you all can see these two girls are settling in to life in a home quite quickly. Yes that is a dog bed behind my head but why would they sleep there when they can both lie on top of me on the couch. These two girls are very sweet and very eager to please!

Our TG Girls Have Arrived

Our TG girls arrived today safe and sound. We can't thank Stan enough who drove these babies to us. He left at 4:30 yesterday to bring down our 2 girls and 6 others to another rescue. It was 2:00 today before he met us with us, just shy of 24 hours after he left. He's spending the day with his daughter today and is heading back up to Topley tomorrow morning. Thank you so much Stan, you truly are a guardian angel for these babies!

Girl #2 and #17 will soon have new Yuppy Puppy City Names and are settling in. Stan was great with them and you could see how much they trust him. I didn't even think about the small things. These girls have always lives out in the bush, we met at Ikea in Coquitlam and all the noise, the people, the cars was very overwhelming for them. Girl #17 dealt with it all much better then girl #2. They have already taken me for a rollercoaster ride emotionally. Girl #2 within 10 minutes of being home jumped both our yard fence and then the perimeter fence to escape the yard. Fortunatly #17 started to cry so #2 was quick to jump back to be with her. They are both very unsure about what a leash and collar is all about and #2 did her best to crocodile death roll out of it.

Although this all sounds like a lot these two are very sweet and I know in no time will be settled and learning everything they need to know to be city dogs.

Pictures and more updates to come!

The TG Serizure Girls are Arriving

We have 2 of the Turtle Garden's Seizure girls arriving on Monday Oct. 22nd. We're pretty excited to welcome Pretty Girl and Doggie #2. Pretty Girl is doing very well and has already been in the home and working on all her manners. She's doing very well on leash, is crateable and does great with the other dogs. Doggie #2 has just undergone a very difficult spay and will require some healing time before anything else can be started with her. She will be allowed a lot of quiet time to heal and then will start on her socialization with everyone and everything. Both girls are still in need of foster homes. We could also use donations of food for these girls, both are quite skinny and will need lots of good food to help them along their road to a new home.

For Those Who Are Trying To Reach Me

Hi Everyone,

I have received a few emails in the last couple of days in regards to contacting, questions etc. Please be patient with me, our son is going in tomorrow for day surgery and my mind has been occupied. I will be back in the swing of things after the weekend. Thank you for your patience!

TURTLE GARDENS DOGS

We are trying to organize to fly our 2 newest Without Borders Boxer Wanna Be's from Topley (well the nearest airport) to Vancouver. I had posted the dogs were mainly greyhound/huskys but they are actually greyhound/saluki X's. We still don't have foster homes for the 2 that will be joining us and we would love to take in more of these wonderful babies! So far we have been told they are doing wonderful! They are very friendly, loving and effectionate. They are doing very well with housetraining (asking to go out) and although a little rusty on manners and obedience these wonderful dogs are going to make great new family pets. Please everyone consider opening up your homes and hearts to a needy foster (even if it's not a boxer).

Greyhound/husky X's

Without Borders has offered to take 2 of the seizure dogs from Turtle Garden's. We would like to help more if possible but we do not have any foster homes at this time to take any of these babies in. If you are interested, have a friend or family member who may be please email us for more information. If you know someone who might be interested in adopting one of these dogs please send them to our website. These dogs can be placed in a foster to adopt home. They would be fosters until medical care is completed. This would also give a family a chance to see if they are ready to adopt etc.

Please open your homes and your hearts!!! We can only hope that if we were ever put in this situation with our own breed that other rescues would step up and help us out. For that reason we want to be there to help Turtle Gardens!

Greyhound and Husky X's Need Foster Homes

These dogs are currently with Turtle Garden's rescue. There are to many dogs for one rescue group to be asked to care for. We would like to help out anyway we can. We would like to take some of the dogs and transfer them to Without Borders. To do this though we will need foster homes. Although these babies are not boxers please consider opening up your homes and your hearts to a rescue in need! If you are not able to foster but would be willing to donate to help with the large bills Turtle Garden's has before them please visit their website:
http://turtlegardens.org/

The dogs that have been assessed so far are doing very well. They are good with other dogs, are asking to go out to go potty, are in good health although need to put on weight. They are all warming up nicely and learning to walk on leashes etc.

This is from Turtle Garden's Website:

Sometimes life’s road curves away from reality and takes the person down a dangerous path. So it did for this person in the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako. The exact location doesn’t matter for this story because it ends at Turtle Gardens. A few weeks ago we received a call from the Court bailiff looking for a safe haven for dogs on a seized property. He didn’t know how many or what breed they were. Could we help? I answered to please call the SPCA as they have the funding and facilities to take in multiple dogs. But that we would help if need be. Famous last words!!
Monday he called back that there was no one else to help the dogs and that they were sled dogs possibly as many as 30. Could we help? Otherwise it was a bullet. I said yes and prayed silently and fervently that the resources to do this would fall into place. That we would have the money for the gas to pick them up. That we would have extra help. That there wouldn’t be too many. That they would be in good shape. That the money for speuters, vaccinations and vet care would be there when we needed it. And the biggest prayer of all - that they be mentally stable and adoptable.
Two days ago he called to give me the address and he still did not know the condition of the dogs but the owner was in hospital. Alarm bells went off in my head and I told him Dave and Stan would be there.

DIno (WBBR/BRLA Alumni)

Hi All,
Dino has made it to Sooke to his new home. All went well. Within an hour he had his head in my lap for the drive home. Now he's playing with his chew toy and makining his turff. Ha-Haaa. Ladies and Jeff thank you very much for making this adoption happen. I will keep in touch.

Once again many-many thanks,
Brian Vernita, Brody and Dino

DINO IS HEADING HOME!

After 5 long months with us Dino is heading home today. It was hard to see him go but we all know he's moving on to a wonderful new life. We wish Dino and his new family an easy transition and settling in period! Yahoo for Dino!!!!!

EMAIL DIFFICULTIES`

HELLO!

IF YOU HAVE SENT AN EMAIL, APPLICATION OR ENQUIRY TO:
CHANTELLE@RESCUEABOXER.CA
OR
CHANTELLEYATES@TELUS.NET
AND HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE PLEASE RE-SEND YOUR EMAIL. I HAVE BEEN HAVING AN AWFUL TIME WITH MY OUTLOOK, IT IS CURRENTLY DELETING EVERYTHING THAT ENTERS MY INBOX, SOMETIMES WORKING AND SOMETIMES NOT. I KNOW I HAVE HAD EMAILS THAT I WANTED TO REPLY TO AND THEN THE NEXT MINUTE THEY ARE GONE. PLEASE RE-SEND ANYTHING TO ME THAT YOU HAVE SENT AND HAVE NOT HAD A REPLY TO.

SORRY AND THANK YOU!

Muffet and Diesel (BRLA/WBBR Alumni)

Hi All!

We are Muffet and Diesel, a beautiful bonded pair rescued into Canada in April of this year, thanks to Chantelle and Without Borders Boxer Rescue. We love our new home on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia. There's a fenced 1/2 acre to play in and our own big kennel as well. We enjoy a cheese omlette every Sunday morning!
Here's some pictures of us.

Love to all and thank you for rescueing us!

Love Diesel and Muffet
Mom and Dad

Libby (WBBR/BRLA Alumni)

Hi Chantelle,

Libby has celebrated another anniversary with our family. It was five years ago September 1st that you brought her to me. She is still doing very well although in the past few months she has shown some signs of her age. Libby is quite deaf now, she hears clapping or banging but can't hear us calling her even when we are right behind her. She's limping badly on her back leg especially after laying down for a while and I think she is losing her eyesight. Despite all that she is still the most wonderful dog, she loves to go for walks and play with the kids and she will still chase the cat at any opportunity. As you can see from the pictures the old girl is really grey but she still has a lot of sparkle in her eyes. As always I love her more and more all the time, thank you again for bringing this amazing girl in to our family.

Sheri

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED!!!

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED!

WE HAVE 2 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS WAITING TO ENTER RESCUE WHO NEED FOSTER HOME. WE HAVE 1 FEMALE 1 AND HALF YEA ROLD DEAF WHITE WHO IS GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS, CATS AND KIDS (ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE TO PLACE HER IN A HOME WITH CHILDREN OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT SHE CAN NOT HEAR) AND A 5 YRS OLD FAWN FEMALE WHO WOULD PREFER TO BE THE ONLY DOG IN THE HOME.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO FOSTER ONE OF THESE GIRLS BUT ARE INTERESTED IN MORE INFORMATION ABOUT FOSTERING PLEASE EMAIL US FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Calling all 2008 Calendar Dogs (Open to BRLA adoptees)

Calling All 2008 Calendar Dogs!

We are taking submissions for the BRLA 2008 Rescue Dog Calendar. Make your BRLA boxer a star!! The 2007 BRLA Rescue Dog Calendar was a big hit and we expect the 2008 to be just as fabulous. Send a photo along with a sentence or two about your BRLA Boxer- their adoption date and why they are special to you.

You can email high resolution images to the link below.( The better the quality of your photo (resolution) the larger it can appear in the calendar)

Or you can mail a hard copy photograph (not returable) to:BRLA Calendar c/o Production Line Design2554 Lincoln Blvd # 792Venice, CA 90921

All photos must be submitted by September 10.The calendars will be available in early November for your holiday shopping!Make you Boxer a star!


newsletter@boxer-rescue-la.com

Pet Tags

I just ordered a couple of these tags and I'm very happy with them. I'm so happy I will be ordering a few more! I love the fact that you can have different fonts and a picture! Yes they come from Australia but I received mine in a week so even though they are coming from quite the distance they arrived nice and quick! They are a very good price as well! Remember the Australian dollar is not as strong as our Canadian one!

http://www.pettagking.com.au/

RAISINS/GRAPES DEADLY TO DOGS

Very Important---Dog Toxin If you have a dog... PLEASE read this and send it on Written by: Laurinda Morris, DVM Danville Veterinary Clinic Danville , Ohio This week I had the first case in history of raisin toxicity ever seen at MedVet. My patient was a 56-pound, 5 yr old male neutered lab mix that ate half a canister of raisins sometime between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM on Tuesday. He started with vomiting, diarrhea and shaking about 1AM on Wednesday but the owner didn't call my emergency service until 7AM. I had heard somewhere about raisins AND grapes causing acute Renal failure but hadn't seen any formal paper on the subject. We had her bring the dog in immediately. In the meantime, I called the ER service at MedVet, and the doctor there was like me - had heard something about it, but.... Anyway, we contacted the ASPCA National Animal Poison Control Center and they said to give IV fluids at 1 1/2 times maintenance and watch the kidney values for the next 48-72 hours. The dog's BUN (blood urea nitrogen level) was already at 32 (normal less than 27) and creatinine over 5 (1.9 is the high end of normal). Both are monitors of kidney function in the bloodstream. We placed an IV catheter and started the fluids. Rechecked the renal values at 5 PM and the BUN was over 40 and He continued to vomit and the owners elected to euthanize. This is a very sad case - great dog, great owners who had no idea raisins could be a toxin. Please alert everyone you know who has a dog of this very serious risk. Poison control said as few a s 7 raisins or grapes could be toxic. Many people I know give their dogs grapes or raisins as treats including our ex-handler's. Any exposure should give rise to imm ediate concern._________________

Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems (Hardcover)

For anyone who is thinking about adopting a dog, for anyone who owns a dog or really for anyone who just wants to know more about dog pack leadership this is the book for you! We would highly recommend all our adopters, current, past and future buy, borrow this book and read it!

Cesar Millan's Top 5 Tips for going to the Dog Park

1. Make sure your dog is spayed or neutered, has all her shots, and is in good health. Under no circumstances should you bring a sick dog to a dog park!

2. Do not use the dog park as a substitute for the walk! If you drive to the park, leave your car a block away and take your dog on a vigorous walk of at least thirty-five minutes to drain some of her energy. Never take an over-excited dog to the park.

3. While at the park, don't "punch out" on your calm-assertive leadership. Be aware of your dog at all times, and take responsibility for her behavior.

4. A calm-submissive dog will not attract another dog's aggression--but an excited dog, a weak, timid dog, or an aggressive dog can become a fight-magnet.

5. Know your dog! If your dog has poor social skills, is overly fearful or is dog aggressive, or if you have not yet established your calm-assertive leadership with your dog, find a more controlled way to introduce her to the company of other dogs, such as "play dates" with one or two other dog owners.

MORE UPDATES WANTED!!!

WE ARE ALWAYS SO EXCITED TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND PICTURES OF OUR ADOPTED BOXERS. THERE'S NOTHING BETTER THEN TO SEE HOW WELL THEY ARE DOING AND HEARING ALL ABOUT THEM. PLEASE SEND UPDATES AND PICTURES SO WE CAN ALL OOGLE OVER THEM AND POST THEM TO THE BLOG FOR OTHERS TO READ!

THANK YOU!

Winston and Sampson (BRLA?WBBR Alumni)

Winston (left), Sampson (right)-BRLA/WBBR Alumni!

here is a photo of the boys.. Winston is very happy on the property. We've discovered that he's obsessed with engines. He chases the lawmower and tries to attack it! We love him but try not to show that he's our favorite! I still can't believe people gives these dogs up!!

Charmaine

Roxton Update #2

My vet says this is a really nice dog. This carries a lot of weight with me. She does not say that about all dogs. In fact, not many at all!

Roxton is recovering nicely from his neuter/shelter experience and is now in my isolation kennel on our property at my husband's shop. He ate a GOOD dinner and is extremely cooperative. My vet drew blood and fluid off the swollen leg. She said Roxton could not have been more cooperative. The diagnosis says Roxton is weight bearing on the swollen leg drew blood for CBC and evaluation for transfer to Canada is celluitis. Treatment is two different antibiotics given every 12 hours.

My veterinarian and I talked for at least 30 minutes at my truck while Roxton waited patiently. Not a peep out of him. He knows. All things are good from here on out. He took his anitbiotic pills in some yummy canned dog food and is happily eating his kibble now.

I really think he knows. What I love is that this dog is so trusting and loving...well deserving of everything coming his way.

Roxton Update

Roxton is now safe and sound. He will remain at the city shelter till Friday when he is scheduled to be neutered and brought up to date on his vaccines. Friday afternoon he will be picked up and head off to another vet for an evaluation and begin treatment on his leg. He will spend the weekend with IDAWG and then will be flying North to his new home and new family!

This sweet boy has a lot of followers, we want to thank everyone for the wonderful words and emails that have been sent. He is a very lucky boy!

Roxton!

HERE'S MR. ROXTON! SOON TO BE WITHOUT BORDERS NEWEST CANADIAN! HE HAS A VERY EXCITED FAMILY WAITING FOR HIM!!!

The Effects of Dog Fighting hit home for WBBR

We received a plea late last night from an all breed rescue in Idaho. We have helped place 3 Idaho boxers in the past but this plea really touched everyone to the core. Roxton is a sweet 5-6 year old boxer boy who loves everyone he meets. His big brown soulful eyes have won the hearts of the staff of the shelter he was in. His big boxer heart had kept him from death row but that could only last so long. Roxton's days were numbered and he needed someone to come to his rescue. Everyone is full to the rafters and this morning we started a campaign to try and find Roxton a foster or forever home. This poor boy has been used as dog fighting bait and we all feel he deserves to know what it is like to be loved, to have a soft bed to sleep on and know he will be fed every day! We are happy to report that Roxton is now safe and sound with IDAWG, an all breed rescue in Idaho. He will be treated and then make the trip North to Canada.

There needs to be an end to animal fighting, this is awful! Although Roxton has nothing to do with Michael Vick's case, his case has helped to bring animal fighting to light. Please take a moment and send an email in regards to keeping Michael Vick off the field.

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/US_2007_dogfighting_nfl2?rk=G1NcqFS1Nbs8W

Learn to swim, hydro therapy

If anyone is wondering if their boxer can swim, wants their boxer to learn how or wants their boxer to receive hydrotherapy for an injury etc. check out K9H2O. K9H2O is a wonderful facility located in Abbotsford and soon North Van with excellent staff to help with all sorts of water needs. Visit their website for more information:
http://www.k9h2o.com/

JUST FOR LAUGHS!!!

A video in regards to the overflowing city shelters

Please watch this video in reagrds to the overflowing shelters in LA (california). There are no graphic scenes, it is very well done and something everyone should watch!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdQ_jNBTpSM

Michael Vick (NFL Quarterbackl) indicted for dogfighting

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=sports&id=5481951&ft=print

This is an awful story. Virk has alreayd lost many of his endorsements but Nike currently has not dropped him.

Coda (aka Mona Lisa)-Update! WBBR/BRLA Alumni

Thought it’s been a long time since we chatted, thought it would be nice to update you on Coda (aka Mona Lisa) Coda was adopted to us Chris and Corinne of Chilliwack a couple years ago. She is PACKED full of personality, she still sleeps on “HER” couch, says Mama when she wants something and she’s not getting it. She wasn’t taught that either just her way of getting my attention or anyone else’s. She is the sweetest dog you’ll ever find, she is just full of surprises. She LOVES swimming, and most boxer lovers just think it’s amazing she loves water. She is wonderful!!
One day when our old dog passes away we will adopt another boxer.
Take Care,
Corinne and Chris

TYSON AT MAPLE RIDGE SPCA

Tyson at the Maple Ridge SPCA's adoption is pending. If you missed out on Tyson check out Askim at the Delta shelter or consider Dino who is still waiting!

BOXER AT THE DELTA HUMANE SOCIETY

When we get dogs like this sweet goofy guy into our shelter, we just can't believe it. Askim is a gorgeous purebred boxer somewhere between the ages of 6 and 8. He has some grey in his muzzle but has tons of energy and one of the sweetest dispositions I've seen in any dog. He is friendly, polite, trained, and a total character. This guy won't last long so come down and meet him if you think he may be a good adition to your household.

Delta Humane Society
Delta, BC604-940-7111
EMAIL: deltahumanesociety@gmail.com

ADOPTION FEE INCREASE

Due to an increase in cargo costs we are having to increase our adoption fees. Our new adoption fee is $425.00 US for all adoptions from BRLA. This fee includes airfare (which has been increased to $298 US), a large crate that is yours to keep ($80 US), rabies, bordatella and the distemper combo shots ($35 US), de-worming ($20 US) and spay/neuter ($75 US). Total basic cost per dog $508. As you can see even with our increase in adoption fee, the fee does not even cover the basics that each dog receives. Many dogs require medication and care up and above these basic costs. There's also the cost of food, housing, transportation. Our adoption fee is a minimum donation, please consider donating more.

BOXER AVAILABLE AT MAPLE RIDGE SPCA

Hi Everyone!

There is a lovely boxer who will soon be available at the Maple Ridge SPCA. If you are looking to add a boxer to your home consider visiting him and filling out their adoption application. Read more about him and see his pictures at:
http://search.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=8685315

Dino Still Needs a New Home

Dino is still here with us! This poor guy has had such a hard start to life and really needs a chance to start life a new with a loving owner who can show him what he has missed. Dino is looking for an extra special owner who can commit to training, socializing, patience and lots of love. He so badly wants to please but from time to time memories of his past rear their ugly head. Dino has spent his life on a chain, he has not known love or compasion. He was starved, dehydrated and covered in sores when he arrived in rescue. He had been tossed out like people toss out their garbage. Before arriving at BRLA this poor boy had probably never heard a kind word, felt a loving hand, or felt wanted.

Dino needs someone who can spend the time to build a bond with him. Once that bond has been established he is a very loving and playful dog. He wants to love and learn and needs someone with the patience to help him. He is doing very well with his obedience and socialization. With 2 young children in my home, my own dogs and others he just isn't getting the time he so needs and deserves. He really needs to move on, head home! Dino will continue with his current training and trainer when he moves to his new home. We want everyone to get the best possible chance. I want his new owner to see what a diamond in the rough this boy is like I've had the chance to do.

Due to Dino's background and trust issues we'd prefer not to place Dino in a home with children under 15. He is also good with other dogs but we'd prefer to place him in a home where he can be the only dog as he does require work to make him shine. We will consider adopting him to a home with another dog as long as they are committed to work seperatly with Dino and understand that this is very important.

Please if you are interested or know someone who might be interested in this wonderful young boy! Please send us an email or an application. I will try and take new pictures of him as the ones we have up do not do him justice, he really is beautiful!

Adoption and Foster application forms from May/June

I'd like to apologize to anyone who has submitted an application over this past month. I have been side tracked with a family emergency and then last night we had computer problems and I lost all our recently applications. If you have filled out an adoption or foster application and have not heard from us please take the time to complete the form again and re-submit it.

I'm very sorry!

The Behavioural Bends of Adoption

THE BEHAVIORAL BENDS of ADOPTION
By J Maclachlan
Well, he’s home. Whether he was a long planned “perfect match” decided in advance by you and the Adoption Coordinator, or he was the winning contestant in a long lineup of four-legged orphans, he’s your baby now.
The adoption process was very involved. You had to sign things, learn about his diet, his training and his veterinary history, and you had a ton of questions. You were gently prepared for some things and sternly warned against others. Your head was swimming with information and your heart was bursting with joy. As you and your new best friend drove away from the shelter, watching it grow smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, it started to dawn on you: it’s you and him now. With every tick of the odometer, “Axel” is becoming less of that face-in-a-crowd, that never-changing portrait on the shelter website, that abstract future houseguest, and is becoming YOUR dog. All of the stuff they said to you in the Get Acquainted room is starting to fade. All of the generalities and rules and hints...you trust in the shelter staff’s experience, but you know it will work out. It was, after all, meant to be.
There, did you sense it? That thought, that conviction you felt in your gut that “it will work out” because it was “meant to be”...that is the first hint that you and your adopted dog may be about to suffer from a case of The Behavioral Bends.
THE BEHAVIORAL WHAT?
Bends. In human deep sea divers, the bends are a consequence of ascending from one depth and amount of pressure to another without sufficient acclimatization. A person pulled back up to the surface too quickly after being deep in the ocean can lose his life because of the bends. The effect of the Behavioral Bends on a dog can be just as grave.
When Axel first moves into your home, he may have one or two accidents. He may be unclear about the rules regarding furniture or barking. He may rough it up with your other dog once or twice. But with your help, he’ll start to figure things out. For a few weeks, things are looking good. This is when we get the wonderful e-mail or note telling us how easily Axel has fit into his new life, how he seems as if he’s always lived there. And sometimes, that’s just what happens. If “happily-ever-after” didn’t occur every once in awhile, none of us would be able to do rescue work at all! However, there’s a much more common phone call or e-mail we get shortly after this honeymoon. It seems that Axel has suddenly developed an attitude problem!
The episodes which prompt this phone call are usually characterized by their apparently random nature, are often directed at a victim who is relatively known to the dog, and are accompanied by the owner’s total shock and disappointment at what seems to be a newly uncovered “mean streak”. According to the extensive records at the agency where I train, these regressions tend to take place within a fairly uniform time frame, normally between the dog’s third to sixth week in the new home, and well after what most pet owners would consider an ample readjustment period.
Over time, I’ve heard this phenomenon described as “the end of the honeymoon”, “the Test”, and one friend refers to it as “Heeeeere’s Johnny!” after Jack Nicholson’s metamorphosis in The Shining. I call it The Behavioral Bends.
DOESN’T HE KNOW HE’S SAFE?
The emergence of The Behavioral Bends doesn’t mean that your new dog dislikes you or his new surroundings. If anything, it is a sure sign that he really does feel right at home. In his first few weeks, Axel is a little bit off balance: everything has changed in his life. Even though most of these changes are for the better, they represent a whole new set of habits, rules and expectations to which Axel must adjust. In the same way that a new employee is on his best, if most guarded behavior during his early days at his new company, Axel is getting a feel for things. As that new employee becomes more familiar with his new workplace culture and the individual personalities of his colleagues, he may start to let his hair down a little bit. If he is by nature a bully, he may find the office milquetoast and push him around. If he is a defensive person, he will get more comfortable snapping at criticism from his co-workers. If he is a jokester, he may tell inappropriate stories around the water cooler until he is reprimanded by a more sensitive person who doesn’t share his sense of humor.
In the case of an adult dog taken out of a shelter, you are dealing with an animal who may have had little prior experience dealing with the type of environment you provide for him in a normal home. No matter how comfortable and accommodating his shelter housing was, it has little in common with a normal pet owner’s household. As the days and weeks pass by, Axel feels more and more comfortable asserting himself. If he started out as a shy or aloof dog, you may see that he starts to come out of his shell and begin to bond with his new family. But if he started out as a normal, outgoing animal, you may find yourself wondering exactly what happened when he first shows you the less rosy of his true colors. Unfortunately, we often make things worse for the new arrival by mistakenly assuming that pampering will be rewarded with gratitude. After all, our instinct as dog lovers is to take all of the pressure off of a dog who has come out of a shelter or kennel environment. But that pressure must be decreased gradually, and sometimes even increased if we are to protect the dog we just rescued from needing rescue again!
To truly do justice to your newly adopted friend, you must accept that dogs really do not live in their pasts. Trying to “make up” to Axel for any real or imagined injustice in his prior life may make you feel grand, but it usually only serves to confuse Axel, who would benefit most from cheerful consistency rather than overwhelming pity. A better use of your emotional energy is to think about his most recent life in the shelter. If you are dealing with a modern, well-run organization with a clean, comfortable facility, you’ll have to admit that you really aren’t breaking Axel out of the Doggy Gulag. If anything, his time in the shelter may have been the first good thing that’s happened to him, in Dog terms. To really get this, make a side-by-side list of the differences between life with his shelter caretakers and life in your home. You’ll see that with its regular meal and exercise times, familiar faces, and consistent training (if provided), shelter life is calm and predictable. Try to remember that dogs are creatures of habit to the extreme. Because of this trait, the regimented structure of the kennel can give many dogs a sense of security, as long as it is balanced with generous individual attention from the shelter staff. Compared to the freeform existence that awaits him in your home, where he will have more room, days when he sleeps in or stays up late, special treats, trips in the car, and as many visitors and friends as you have, you’ll see where the problems can arise.
Going from that relatively uneventful shelter life into the new one is like traveling up from the peace of the ocean’s bottom and surfacing at a Jimmy Buffet concert.
Many adopters want to take a few days off to acclimate their new dog to this new life. But this isn’t necessarily the answer. As long as you aren’t gone for ten hours a day, you can usually jump him into this new schedule without major repercussions. That will be the easiest new change for him to conquer. When you start adding in the new people and places, you begin to court the Behavioral Bends if you don’t undertake these introductions conservatively.
None of this is a treatise advocating the hiding away of your new dog or twenty-four hour kenneling. Often, this type of “management” is worse for the dog than his previous life in the shelter, where at least he was getting worked with every day! Nor should anyone from the shelter or rescue group encourage you to bring your new dog everywhere immediately in an attempt to “socialize” him before he even gets to know you. New adopters are often confused by the seemingly contrary advice they get: a behaviorist might prescribe the “dog in the plastic bubble” approach while the local obedience instructor tells you that your brand- new, untrained dog should thoroughly enjoy the unsolicited attention of everything on two legs or four. There is a happy medium for you and Axel which will result in his adaptation into your home. Think of it as a program of decompression: the safest way to avoid the Behavioral Bends.
LET HIM EARN HIS TERRITORY
Most dog experts agree that the proper use of a crate is instrumental in helping a dog adapt to a new situation. There is a lot to be said for restricting your new dog’s territory during his first weeks with you. Not only is this the best way to prevent accidents and inappropriate chewing or destruction, it also gives him a clear idea that you are the person who determines the property rights in the home.
As he learns your daily routines, start allowing him a bit more supervised leeway, gradually including all of the territory you wish to share with him. Stay away from the notion that he can have some parts of the house now but not when Aunt Edna comes to visit, or not when you install the new carpets in a couple of weeks. You expect him to be consistent in his good behavior. That means you should be consistent in how you enforce your expectations.
At the first sign of any backsliding (marking things, soiling, destruction or possessive behavior) take back some of the real estate. Waiting for time alone to cure these problems will only result in their becoming long-standing habits rather than momentary mistakes.
KEEP HIM TO YOURSELF AT FIRST
The pride and joy you’ll feel when bringing home your new dog is hard to keep quiet.
Like many adopters, you may want to celebrate the new arrival by introducing him to everyone in your social circle, taking him for an inaugural spin through the neighborhood, crashing the local puppy playgroup...but hold up for a second. Throwing all of this at your new rescue can turn into a disaster if you undertake it too lightly.
Our hearts can lead us down some tricky roads when it comes to dealing with animals. There is something profound that occurs when we look into those deep brown eyes. We speak of “bonds” between us. We designate the dog as our best friend. And it’s all true. The catch is that it isn’t all true all at once.
This is especially important to remember if you have adopted a member of a breed which can be suspicious of strangers. But even if you find yourself signing the papers on a cheerful mixed breed who introduced himself with a barrage of dog kisses, remember that even you are a stranger to this new dog, and probably will be for longer than you think. It is a wise and considerate adopter who spends a lot of quality one-on-one time with his new friend before bringing him around to meet the neighbors. Let your dog get to know you and your immediate household members. These are the people who he needs to look to for leadership and reinforcement. The security of the pack is one of a dog’s greatest pleasures in life, and it’s up to you to make sure that your two-legged pack is well-defined in your dog’s eyes.
Because a dog is such a physical being, it’s also important that he learns all about your tone of voice, your body language, and your level of tolerance for certain things. As this develops, he will trust your judgment and better defer to your direction when you put him in social situations.
It goes both ways: get to know him, too. The write-up on the shelter website only scratches the surface. Axel has much to tell you if you’ll only listen and watch. What are his habits, his likes and dislikes? What is his threshold for handling, for pressure, for activity? When does he seem to run out of gas? You can’t change or improve any of these things until you know what they look like, when they’ll occur, and how he’ll communicate them to you. We call this “reading the dog”. When you can read your dog, you can predict your dog. When you can predict your dog, you can control him. When you can control him, you can meet the responsibility of letting him meet new people. If he is obedient and responsive, he will make a great impression.
EXPLAINING THROUGH TRAINING
Most shelters and rescue groups place strong emphasis on obedience training for the dogs and adopters involved with their agencies. The fact is that most dogs find themselves in the shelter or rescue system due to “behavior problems” in their last home. Good dogs are made, not born, and most of the “hyper”, obnoxious, young adult dogs barking and bouncing behind the kennel gates are good dogs in the rough who are literally crying out for direction. The greatest mistake made by well-meaning adopters is the assumption that their new dog will naturally adapt and understand the rules, and simply settle in as time passes. Opting against formal training because you feel badly for the “rescued” dog is a big step in the wrong direction. In my practice I have seen many adopted dogs whose owners are so indulgent and permissive that the dogs are nearly incorrigible; months and sometimes years have passed as the owners make excuses and wait for the dog to “settle down”. For these dogs, the Behavioral Bends never ended: they live in the murk of an indecisive, inconsistent pack, and never realize their true potential. They are held under by the resistance of their well-meaning owners to structure and leadership. If good training is introduced and maintained, the relationship can be salvaged. If not, the owners are cursed with an uncontrollable embarrassment of a dog, and the dog is cursed with never knowing his role in the pack.
It’s important to remember that a dog learns whether you teach him or not. The problem is that the untrained dog learns that you are an ineffective leader, and that when you open your mouth, nothing of import comes out. As his threshold for your repeated, increasingly desperate-sounding commands increases, your tolerance for his misbehavior decreases. If this goes on long enough, you will find yourself in the same frustrating standoff that probably landed Axel in the shelter in the first place.
Good, results-oriented obedience training as coached by an experienced, balanced trainer is the hands-down best chance for success. By building your relationship on a common training language, you are accomplishing two important goals. First, you are giving Axel a clear picture of your firm, fair leadership: a necessity in his life as a pack animal. Second, you are learning a system of prevention and control that will have you better prepared for any turbulence in the early stages of your ownership.
BE HUMBLE
This is the hardest part. But it is just as important as any other component of your new relationship with your adopted dog.
Some of the most disappointing experiences involving a dog’s failure in either his original home or his adopted home are those which occur due to the owner’s belief that he knows better than anyone what he needs to do with his new dog. And while the subjective knowledge you can gain about a dog’s individual habits and personality is certainly important, it is only half of the equation: the other half understands how to deal with those habits or personality traits when they become problematic. This is when the help of a more experienced trainer will help you. But to the stubborn owner who “doesn’t need help”, there is nothing that he could learn from an outsider.
It happens too much in rescue. The owner of a dog with a problem calls to arrange surrender or return due to the dog’s apparently insurmountable behavior problems. Any suggestions by the shelter staff are countered with claims of experience, a tally of the numbers of dogs owned, or the long and impressive history of the last dog that lived with them. Older owners won’t be instructed by someone their junior. Younger owners “don’t believe in” the advice from an elder. A sensitive owner finds the suggestions too harsh; a less patient owner doesn’t want to spend the time trying them in the first place. Regardless of the reasons for the owner’s resistance to advice, the end result is uniform: pride, stubbornness or just plain old ego gets in the way and a dog is put into a situation which he can’t handle.
Think of all the people who give up a dog for chewing things in their house but who “don’t believe in” crates. Or the people who have owned four Labrador Retrievers and refuse to believe that their adult adopted stray male Doberman is going to be a wonderful playmate for their neighbor’s male German Shepherd. Or the people who think it’s “inhumane” to train a dog using anything but cookies but have no problem bringing the dog back to the shelter when the cookies lose their appeal in the face of a more tempting reward (like the kid on the bicycle or the neighbor’s miniature Poodle). These are not dog problems, but human problems. How sad that it’s the dog who ultimately pays the price.
No matter how many dogs you have known in your life, you are a beginner with this dog. Your past experience has not conferred instant control and expertise in his handling. If you are one to counter the suggestions offered to you by a professional trainer with a claim that you’ve owned ten dogs, that means that you ascribe some importance to numbers as proof of experience. Then think of this: the person who is trying to help you has probably put their hands on hundreds and hundreds of dogs and is still learning from them. They are not giving you empty information or just telling you these things so that they can hear themselves talk. They are genuinely trying to help you and your dog find the shortest, safest route to success, as learned from the dogs themselves. This is a belief subscribed to by the most successful professional trainers who have handled thousands of dogs in their careers. Each one is a new experience and is as much a teacher as a student. The best dog trainers have been humbled many times by dogs who tested and found fault with our opinions about the generalities of behavior. Sometimes these are hard lessons, but learning them makes it possible for us to help more dogs than ever succeed. As the adopter of a shelter dog, it is your job to help just one of them. Try to open your mind as well as your heart when it comes to understanding and addressing any problems that arise during his adaptation period.
The Behavioral Bends don’t have to be a disaster. Being prepared by understanding and preventing them is more than half the battle. Your new dog has probably gone through much in his life before getting to the happy day you chose him to be yours. With your patience and common sense, perhaps the Bends will be the last crisis he experiences. Then both of you can enjoy the smooth sailing that awaits!