ARE YOU FLYING HOME FROM THE LA AREA?

Are you going down to LA on business or maybe a family vacation? Do you have a friend or family member who is going? Are you returning via Bellingham, Vancouver or Abbotsford airport?

Our cargo airfares have increased again, we are now paying approx. $250 + $45 fuel surcharge for our rescues to arrive in Vancouver. Because of this our adoption fees are going to have to increase. Our current fee of $350 now does not even cover the cost of the flight and the crate. We are not sending any money back to the shelter to help with spay/neuter, vaccines etc.

Dogs can be booked on a flight to fly with someone on board for approx. $75.00. A big difference from what our cargo dogs are being charged. If yourself, your family or your friends would not mind including a boxer in their return flight please let us know. We would arrange it so that we would meet you at the airport. You would need to clear customs with the dog (which we can walk you through) and then we would collect the boxer when you come out.

Please let us know if you think you may or know someone who may be able to help us bring a boxer to Canada!

Remy (WBBR Alumni)

Remy is one of two boxers who came to us from Idaho. Idaho boxer rescue closed it's doors for personal reasons and Remy and her sister were left in limbo. The closest rescue to them who had room was WBBR and so the girls flew from Idaho to Vancouver. Both Remy and her mom Rosi were placed with wonderful families on Vancouver Island. We thank IDAWG in Idaho for saving these two, caring for them and transporting them to us.

Here's Remy with her adopted sister Olivia

Remy Update (WBBR Alumni)

Just a quick update on our little gal, Remy. We are pretty sure she has finally overcome the 11 week long battle against kennel cough! The vet believes she contracted kennel cough from her vaccine, because there is a small amount of live vaccine in it. Remy has gone through many tests, x-rays, ultrasound and a trachea procedure to determine what was wrong with her. She has been on so many different antibiotics the whole time as well, and she has been a trooper through and through! The vet has also said she probably has a weaker immune system than usual, hence her recovery taking so long. During this time, she was able to form a great bond with her sis, Livy, as they were both not allowed to be around other dogs due to the contagious nature of the bug. They are absolutely inseparable. We call them the ‘grrls’. Remy is growing steadily, now weighing 40lbs and 7 ½ months old. She is almost always covered in grass stains, or dirt from tearing up the backyard with Livy. Her favourite activities are ankle biting, chasing Livy, laying on the top of the sofa watching out the window, and playing fetch with, and pouncing on her squeaky toys. She is still not overly happy about being in her crate, as this takes away from valuable time from Livy. Her obedience is a work in progress, as she hasn’t been allowed to go to classes because of being sick. We’re working on it though! She is still the most gentle, even tempered girl as when we got her, and I have to make sure I fall asleep before her; otherwise I can’t, because her snoring is soooo loud (human loudness). We love her so much, and even though she has been sick, it has only made us grow closer to her. We are so thankful to have her in our lives, and the 2 grrls together bring us so much pleasure and laughter every day! We are forever grateful to WBBR and Margret’s fostering, taking such good care of Remy.

Jenn and Dave

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED URGENTLY

Have you been thinking about adopting a second dog but not sure if two is to many? Have you been thinking about helping out with fostering but haven't gotten around to really deciding? Please, please, please, we need your help! Right now there's 2 boxer X's and a boxer waiting at city shelters to be brought in to rescue and without foster homes we are unable to bring them in. It's an awful feeling knowing there's dogs that need our help but we have no where for them to go. Please consider opening your home and heart to fostering a rescue boxer.

Roxy is going home!

We are all very excited!!!!! Roxy is going home!!!!! Roxy came in to rescue due to her growing anxiety issues. We're very excited to say that with the help of training for both Roxy and her owner and some changes in pack leadership and rules at home Roxy will soon be heading back home to her family!

This is the best possible outcome for everyone! We're so happy that Roxy can go home to the family she knows and loves!

Becoming Your Dogs Pack Leader

Lately we have had a few people ask about Pack Leadership. I thought it would be a good idea to post a couple of things here about it for everyone to read!


Becoming Your Dog’s Pack Leader
©2002 Canine College of California

Dogs, like children, need boundaries. They see the world the same way we do. They aren’t
fuzzy, four-legged people. They are social, curious intelligent animals quite capable of
controlling humans. In more houses than we would like to admit, the dog is the big boss.
You say, “Not in my house!” Lets see:
􀂾 When your dog brings you a toy because he wants to play, do you play with him?
􀂾 If your dog nuzzles your arm when you’re on the couch, do you pet her?
􀂾 If you dog barks at you when you’re not paying attention to him and, in response, you
ask? What do you want? Then give him a treat, toy or go out on a walk?
􀂾 When your dog barks and whines near her feeding time, do you go to fill her bowl?
Yes? Then guess who is running the show: Your dog.
Dogs like in a social structure called a “pack”. This pack formation, ordered like the rungs on a
ladder, represent power and structure to your dog. All dog behavior problems can be traced back
to some misinterpretation in the pack order.
Even if you aren’t aware that you’re supposed to be the “pack leader” the “big boss”, your dog
is. If you aren’t comfortable in this position, if you hesitate, feel bad when you reprimand
your dog, or don’t have the time or energy, your dog will pick up on your weaknesses and
take advantage of them. If your dog thinks that he or she is in charge, that gives them the
RIGHT to bite you or anyone else they do not respect!
Many things that a dog needs are viewed by humans to be “mean” or “cruel”. Dogs are not
humans, they don’t need the same things, and they don’t communicate the same way. Trying to
make your dog human is ultimately going to harm your dog.
So what can you do? How can you be in charge?
1. Always eat before you feed your dog. This is pretty easy, always feed your dogs after
your family. It is the pack leaders right to eat first, gorge themselves and own any
leftovers. If your dog growls or snaps while eating, they eat only when they are hand fed.
- Your dog should be fed twice a day
- The food bowl should be put down by you, and picked up by you 15 minutes later
- You dog should never be “free fed (have food out all the time)
2. Restrict access to your bedrooms and furniture. Ensure you can have free access to all
the prime areas of the house. Sitting on the dog's bed will no doubt confirm your
neighbors suspicions that you have lost it, the dogs however will view the situation very
differently - you can 'occupy' their spot. Take this one stage further and restrict access to
your bedroom and it reinforces the point that your 'superior' sleeping spot is out of
bounds, theirs is not.
- If your dog has ever bitten, growled at, or snapped at a human, they should
NEVER be allowed on any furniture.
- Your dog needs to earn the right to sleep on the bed.
3. Make your dog move out of your way. Do not step over the dog that is constantly in
your way - take the shortest route to your destination and move the dog.
- Standing or laying in front of you, in front of doors or at the top or bottom of the
stairs is your dog’s way of controlling where you go
- Scoot your feet on the ground to move the dog out of your way
4. Always run away from your dog if it gets loose. Pack leaders GET chased, subordinate
pack members chase. Never chase your dog yelling “COME!”
- If you are chasing your dog, you can’t possibly be the leader!
- Having you chase him is a game to your dog – they are playing with you! We are
smarter than they are, make it your game for them to chase you!
5. Call your dog to you to play or get affection. Paying attention to your dog should be
when you want, not when they want. They shouldn’t tell you what to do.
6. Make sure your dog is paying attention to you. They will ignore you is they don’t respect
you.
- Do not repeat yourself, their hearing is 20 times better than yours, they heard you,
they’re just ignoring you!
- Do not command your dog if you are not prepared to reinforce your command.
7. Initiate games with your dog, make sure you win and end up with possession of the
toy
- Do not play any games you can’t win
- NEVER WRESTLE OR ROUGHOUSE WITH YOUR DOG, IF THEY BITE
YOU, YOU WILL NOT WIN THE GAME!!!
- Don’t play violent games with opponents that have big teeth!
8. REWARD YOUR DOG FOR COMPLETING AN EXERCISE WELL

Roxy our sweet boxer/mastiff foster

Roxy is again available for adoption. Her owner has decided at this time it is not right for Roxy to come home so we are trying to find her a new one.

She is a very sweet and loving girl who has some anxiety issues. She is an anxious dog and her previous owner has been feeding it. She has come from a loving home with a single mom and her son. She was loved to pieces but her mom did not understand her anxiety and in trying to help her with it actually fed it. Roxy will need an owner who can love her but give her structure to help her overcome a lot of her anxious behaviors. Although Roxy is an anxious dog she doesn't need to be as anxious as she is. Roxy has been in foster care for a week now and is doing quite well. She is learning to stay in a wire crate when people aren't home, at night or even when we are home. She is also learning it's okay to stay in another room when we are home (behind a babygate), we are helping to teach her some independence and not to rely on us 100%. She is house trained and knows some basic commands. She is very smart and eager to please! She would love to attend obedience classes so she can learn new skills and help her with her anxieties. She is nervous of new people but this week has been introduced to many new people and she's realizing that everyone is just as friendly as the next. She's been in foster care this weekend with 8 other dogs and is doing very well. She's starting to come out of her shell and is playing with the other dogs. Although she does love to just lay down in the dog bed and chew on her bone. She has just ignored my cats. 8 months ago she had surgery to repair a torn ACL, she is up to date on her vaccines and is spayed. I believe I might have had Roxy listed as younger, she has just turned 4 yrs old.