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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
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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!
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