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!