New dog, unique challenges.
- Thread starter icerose
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Whatever he's thinking he's settling in nicely. Today he did "talk" on command. He's been watching our other dog perform it and having never worked with him before on that particular trick (we've simply reinforced the ones he already knew), he performed it today. They are both incredibly intelligent which actually makes my job all the easier.
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Just wanted to chime in and say how much this thread warms my heart. I read the first post when there were no responses yet, and since I'm not the animal expert in my family, I made a mental note to ask my mom (30 years in vet tech and 50ish in pet ownership, including rescue and...er...challenging animals) and to come back with whatever she'd suggested.
But by the time I got back here things were already looking up, and every time I check back in, my heart gets a little more melty and I just grin wider. (I partly blame the pics for that
)
From that very first post I had a gut feeling that the right dog and the right family had been brought together at the right time. Which I know I probably have no right to say since I don't really know you and haven't really talked to you. But it persisted, and I'm just thrilled with how things are going, for every single one of you. You're all benefiting from each other. *bursts*
Thank you so much for sharing!
But by the time I got back here things were already looking up, and every time I check back in, my heart gets a little more melty and I just grin wider. (I partly blame the pics for that
)From that very first post I had a gut feeling that the right dog and the right family had been brought together at the right time. Which I know I probably have no right to say since I don't really know you and haven't really talked to you. But it persisted, and I'm just thrilled with how things are going, for every single one of you. You're all benefiting from each other. *bursts*
Thank you so much for sharing!
Thanks everyone for chiming in.
He is doing good but he definitely does not like change. He has a little grumble for his complaining every time there's something he's not happy with something. Like when someone calls to him and he doesn't want to move. It's different from a growl. I think that's the boxer in him as they tend to be very vocal. Now that's he's more comfortable he likes to grumble about things and whine, but I'm taking it as a sign that he feels comfortable enough to voice such complaints.
He is doing good but he definitely does not like change. He has a little grumble for his complaining every time there's something he's not happy with something. Like when someone calls to him and he doesn't want to move. It's different from a growl. I think that's the boxer in him as they tend to be very vocal. Now that's he's more comfortable he likes to grumble about things and whine, but I'm taking it as a sign that he feels comfortable enough to voice such complaints.
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An update since it's been a while. He's a totally different dog than when we got him. He's cuddly, loves attention, plays all the time, we've found some toys that can withstand his aggressive chewing. He loves to crack open coconuts. He loves my husband and doesn't slink off anymore. When we take him out for a run he gets that wide eyed-huge grin tongue lolling look on his face as he jumps and spins around.
He's very vocal. He likes to make noises over everything including grumbling if he doesn't want to do something. It's hilarious.
He's probably hands down the best dog we've ever had. It took several months of rehab to get him this way, but he's quite the dog now. Also now that he has some meat on his hips he isn't as sore.
He's exceedingly patient. We had a little niece over who is only 2. She was pulling on his lips and tail and he just sat there patient as can be. My kids use him as a pillow and he loves it.
Our other one has grown up nicely as well. She's starting to grow out of her puppy phase, but she has to be on/next to someone almost all the time. She's extremely cuddly. We also discovered she's not a boxer but a Cane Corso, which matches her personality so closely it's not even funny.
He's very vocal. He likes to make noises over everything including grumbling if he doesn't want to do something. It's hilarious.
He's probably hands down the best dog we've ever had. It took several months of rehab to get him this way, but he's quite the dog now. Also now that he has some meat on his hips he isn't as sore.
He's exceedingly patient. We had a little niece over who is only 2. She was pulling on his lips and tail and he just sat there patient as can be. My kids use him as a pillow and he loves it.
Our other one has grown up nicely as well. She's starting to grow out of her puppy phase, but she has to be on/next to someone almost all the time. She's extremely cuddly. We also discovered she's not a boxer but a Cane Corso, which matches her personality so closely it's not even funny.
Oh, how awesome, icerose! I'm so happy for you and your family (both two-legged and four-legged)! Thank you for the update.
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Coconuts, how funny! I guess it's like Nature's Kong or something.
I love that he's talkative. My Elka will talk a lot, and we have "conversations" that don't seem as one sided as one might think. Or I'm a crazy dog lady.
It's great that your other pup has grown up and fit in better as well. I'm glad that you came back to report!
I love that he's talkative. My Elka will talk a lot, and we have "conversations" that don't seem as one sided as one might think. Or I'm a crazy dog lady.
It's great that your other pup has grown up and fit in better as well. I'm glad that you came back to report!
mirandashell
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How cute! It's great to hear Some dogs just need some time to adjust and get to know you and feel at home. I'm so glad y'all were so patient!
Some dogs just need some time to adjust and get to know you and feel at home. I'm so glad y'all were so patient!
That's so good to hear He is such a handsome boy. Reading this thread really made my day yesterday
Rescue dogs can turn out to be so amazing. One of mine, who I adopted when he was six years old and quite a nutcase, turned into the most dedicated, smart, and loving mind-reading sweetheart. The kind of dog you probably only find once in your life. I was so lucky to have ten years with him.
How does he respond to ear rubs? Two of my boys are very vocal as well, and both will start groaning with pleasure when getting an ear rub.
I always joked about it as their "eargasm" since half their body goes slack, the lips start quivering and the eyes roll back a bit...and then I found an awesome book on alternative healing methods for dogs, acupressure points included. Turns out the bottom of the ear where I rub is the stimulation point for the reproductive system!
You guys are wonderful people. With wonderful dogs.
He is such a handsome boy. Reading this thread really made my day yesterday Rescue dogs can turn out to be so amazing. One of mine, who I adopted when he was six years old and quite a nutcase, turned into the most dedicated, smart, and loving mind-reading sweetheart. The kind of dog you probably only find once in your life. I was so lucky to have ten years with him.
How does he respond to ear rubs? Two of my boys are very vocal as well, and both will start groaning with pleasure when getting an ear rub.
I always joked about it as their "eargasm" since half their body goes slack, the lips start quivering and the eyes roll back a bit...and then I found an awesome book on alternative healing methods for dogs, acupressure points included. Turns out the bottom of the ear where I rub is the stimulation point for the reproductive system!
You guys are wonderful people. With wonderful dogs.
Thanks everyone for the support. We were really worried about him when we first got him. The two dogs taught each other a lot of things and I don't think he'd be half the dog he is today without that puppy to push him out of his shell and teach him how to belong to a family.
He'd gone through so many homes before us that he still gets nervous if we show up at someone else's house with him in the vehicle. But it's just for a visit and as soon as he realizes that he's good to go.
He loves his ears rubbed. One of the things the younger dog does for him is lick the inside of his ears and he just thinks that's the greatest thing ever.
The funniest thing is when they get a very large sturdy stick (think small tree branch) and they get on opposite ends of it facing each other. They start spinning each other around.
We're trying to get a used motorcycle tire since they're supposed to be the best to chew on. They don't have cords in them like normal tires and are very sturdy.
They're both silly dogs and need a lot of attention and excercise but they're fun and amazing dogs so it doesn't seem like work at all to give them either.
He'd gone through so many homes before us that he still gets nervous if we show up at someone else's house with him in the vehicle. But it's just for a visit and as soon as he realizes that he's good to go.
He loves his ears rubbed. One of the things the younger dog does for him is lick the inside of his ears and he just thinks that's the greatest thing ever.
The funniest thing is when they get a very large sturdy stick (think small tree branch) and they get on opposite ends of it facing each other. They start spinning each other around.
We're trying to get a used motorcycle tire since they're supposed to be the best to chew on. They don't have cords in them like normal tires and are very sturdy.
They're both silly dogs and need a lot of attention and excercise but they're fun and amazing dogs so it doesn't seem like work at all to give them either.
If that's a photo of your beautiful dog, it's not a boxer. It looks like a mix with a little boxer and maybe some American bulldog with some terrier in there. These are great dog, very smart and sweet. Boxers faces are more pushed in and their chests are more barrel shaped. If your dog is what I think, then you should get it to a dog training class. It will learn and probably have a lot of fun.