Adopt A Boxer Rescue

 

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Box

Intake Info
Located in CT
Owner Surrender to AABR
FA #
Tag #
7 Yrs 1 Month
DOB 5/7/05
Male
69 lbs
Fawn
Natural ears
Docked tail
Reported good with other dogs
Reported good with cats
Reported good with kids - all ages

 
08/09/12 Happy Beginnings

Slow and Steady WON the race...

Dear AABR

I wanted to write something to you guys that may be helpful to your future adopters.

My family and I decided to adopt a boxer from the rescue back in Feb. after seeing them at a pet expo in Long Island. We had been thinking about it for a while because we wanted our 4 year old female boxer (Mahalo) to have a friend and we just love the breed so much.

After meeting with Sandy and Joanne for our home visit , we knew we chose the right place to adopt from. As anxious as we were , we were patient and trusted they would find the right fit for our family.

After a few weeks our patience  paid off , they had found us the perfect fit for us. We were excited and took a drive to CT to get him (BOX) yes his name is Box.   Love at first sight! The moment we saw him , we knew he was our new family member! He was even the perfect big boy in the car ride back to Long Island. We could hardly wait to see him with our girl (Mahalo) at home. I had visions of them running in the yard and sleeping with each other.

Arriving home we followed what we thought was the proper way to introduce the two. I walked Box in the street past the house a few times and my wife brought Mahalo out on a leash. Ok we are ready ! Not so fast, Mahalo didn't feel as happy as we did. She wasn't feeling our joy. I thought they were going to eat each other, i heard sounds like i never heard before. Not to mention the sounds coming from my wife and children. The thoughts i had of two dogs running and playing together, sleeping together , smiling children all came to screaching halt.  My wife and i sat on the front lawn 20 yards apart with two dogs that wanted no part of each other. At this point i think the dogs had a better chance of survival than my wife and I.

This is where the advice comes in. I made a call to Joanne and Sandy. They told me a few things to do and told me that this was actually quite normal behavior. Whew. They even offered to come to the house at that moment to help us out which they did not have to.  The decision to adopt wasn't made overnight , we were prepared and both on the same page. So we knew there would be some struggles.

The advice was SLOW and  STEADY. Keep them apart on leashes praising good behavior with treats (not good for Mahalo's girlie figure) . Nice long walks together but seperate. We brought them in the house together keeping them on leashes. The first night at bedtime wife and I slept in separate rooms each taking one of them. The crate was also very helpful, we put Box in the crate while we all watched TV together and Mahalo could sniff and lay near the crate. If we went out of the house we put them in separate rooms. The first few days we continued this ( after the first night on the couch we used the crate in the bedroom. ) slow and steady, keeping the craziness in the house to a minimum. Each night Mahalo would sleep next to the crate Box was in. On the fourth day , after one of the long walks together, side by side. we decided to bring them in the house and drop the leashes..........a few sniffs and they both lay down. Progress! Still following the slow and steady process over the following weeks. Keeping a close eye on them at first , then after a week or so , no more crate at night. Keeping them on leashes in the yard for a few more days, then letting them free in the yard together , while keeping an eye on them. If we left the house for any time at all we put them in separate rooms. As long as we were home they were together and free. Slowly giving them a chance to bond. Any sign of aggression they were seperated. The hardest part is, knowing what play is and what aggression is. My advice is to always make an error on the side of caution. One of the nights they went at it , sounding like they were tearing each other apart, my wife just said sternly "knock it off " and they both stopped looked at us , and began licking each other,then laid down and went to sleep. Apparently that was playtime.

We have had Box now for 6 weeks, and i cant even describe how awesome he is and how much we love him. Our patience paid off big time. Box and Mahalo are best friends! They no longer have any restrictions,they have been alone in the house for hours. I would say sleep together but Box is well behaved and doesn't lay on the couches or the bed, Mahalo on the other hand loves the couch and our bed!  Watching them run and play in the yard and the house brings those smiles and laughter i was thinking about for so long before we got him. The hard work,time and PATIENCE WAS ALL WORTH IT!!! Slow and steady WON the race!

It is really funny how smart the two of them are. Mahalo does not like her legs touched, when i play with her i would get down and try and grab her leg and she would dance around my hands, trying to avoid me. Well, Box sneaks up on her and nibbles on her legs and takes off, and the chase begins!! Or when she is annoying him he gets low and goes right for her legs. She also knows he is not so adjusted to the hardwood floors, so she always gets a little tougher in the house. Simply amazing to watch these two bond together, what a wonderful experience for our whole family!

Thank you so much to AABR , especially Sandy, Joanne and Karen!!!!

If there is anything we could ever help you guys out with just let us know!

The Trapp Family

6/26/12 -

Box! Yes, really, "Box" is his name. He is sadly being surrendered by his family due to financial reasons. I met him and he is AWESOME!!! He is a happy, wiggly, and energetic Boxer and enjoys running around in the yard with his frisbee, which he loves (and which I was told he can catch!). He is trained on an invisible fence and is not destructive when left alone in the house. He is a dream!


(click pictures to enlarge)

 

 

If you are interested in adopting this dog, please first read our Adoption Procedure, by clicking on the link at the top of this page, then fill out an online application.

Boxers and Applicants are not matched on a first come, first served basis. Not all applications are approved. On average, it takes between a week and 1 month to adopt a Rescue Boxer to an approved applicant, depending on your personal circumstances and flexibility.  

Matching Boxers suitable for placement with younger children, other dogs, cats, and special needs, yours and theirs, increases the application review time and adoption time.  

And yes, we realize that the Boxer you may have your heart set on, may be adopted before you're approved.   Should your first choices all ready found their forever home, we want you to advise us as to other dogs you are interested in at Adoptions@AdoptABoxerRescue.com .  Or let us suggest a few that we feel will match your home.  That is what we are good at.   And be happy for the ones that have been placed... and know that there are way too many fantastic dogs waiting in their place.

Our non-profit organization is wholly comprised of hard-working volunteers whose only reward is seeing our wonderful Boxers placed in loving, permanent homes and given another chance for a happy life. Our process may seem slow, but if you are patient, we will try to provide you with a devoted, loving companion - a Boxer.

We hope you feel that the right Boxer is worth waiting for. 

Adoptions Fee: Please see our adoption info by clicking on the link at the top of this page.

 

 

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