Nov 29, 2009

This is Charelston's foster mom, I wanted to do her update this time, so I
could let everyone know her progress. Charelston was believed to be dog
aggressive, after having her in my home for over 3 weeks now, I don't think
that is the case, she just does not trust dogs at all and does not know how
to properly socialize with them which is from a lack of socialization
throughout her life. She needs very slow introdcutions with other dogs and
will probably always need very controlled environments to feel comfortable
with them. She can be out with both of my dogs, a male and female, and
is fine with them. Just this week she has been playing with both of them in
the yard, and she loves it. She loves to play chase and box my dogs. She
likes to play rough and she and my female have goten into a spat here and
there when the play gets too rough for one of them. Charelston and my male
have not had any issues at all. I took a total of 2 weeks before I let
Charelston out in the house at all with my dogs, I walked her with each of
my dogs every day, and slowly let her out with each one of them seperately
for very short periods in the house and in the yard. She drags a leash in
the house and in the yard when she plays, just in case she gets too
stimulated.
I have seen some mild aggression when Charelston gets scared, never towards
any human or my dogs, but the first time I vacuumed she jumped to defense
against it, she is very, very easily corrected and is totally fine with it
now. She also tried to attack a gator type golf cart thing on one of our
walks, it came flying around a corner and she jumped to defense and was
growling and biting the air at it... again, she was very easily corrected
and calmed right down. I think there are some things in life she just hasn't
experienced, and all she has ever known is to defend herserlf, the more she
realizes that her leader will protect her and she does not need to put that
defense up, she will be perfectly fine!! She continues to have the best
manners ever!! She is very well behaved in the house, and listens very
well!! She will nudge for attention sometime but we are still working on
ignoring her when she does this, so she will do it less and less once she
realizes that is not how she receives attention from people. She is
perfectly house and crate trained, goes into he crate on command. She sleeps
babygated in a room at night and doesn't need to be crated, she could be
left the same way when I leave her but my other dogs are crated so she is
too. We have passed many, many dogs on our walks and she shows no reaction
to them at all, she walks very politely by them like she doesn't even see
them. She does not like to meet dogs right away though, she needs a
controlled environment to meet new dogs, and she needs slow introductions
with them, she has to learn to trust them before she wants them in her face.
I think the more dogs she meets, and the more she has positive interactions
with them, she will get much better when meeting new dogs.
I had an 8 month old mastiff puppy come for a play date with my dogs, and
Charelston met her through the babygate and was very on edge, hair up and
just uncomfortable, but was polite about it, she went and laid down in the
corner of the room, and just did not want to be around her and I think that
shows that she would rather ignore them than have a confrontation where she
is uncomfortable and she knows she has to be polite. I have taken her to
petsmart, but the day we went there was no other dogs there, but lots of
people and kids. She did great with everyone and made so many new friends.
She gets so many compliments because of how pretty and sweet she is!!
Charelston will need a strong leader in her life to show her what is
expected of her, and to make sure she knows that she does not have to be in
control of things. She does not need walked everyday, but she LOVES walks so
a home that was active would be great for her. She has gone hiking a few
times with me and she loves carrying her own water and bowl in her backpack
:-) She also likes running around in the yard and playing fetch with toys,
so a fenced yard would be great for her, but she would also be fine without
it, as long as she got good exercise. She is one of the sweetest, and
goofiest boxers that I have fostered, and she is a true joy to have around..
I can't wait for her to find the forever home that she deserves, and that
will love and work with her, if this could be you go put your application in
today and I would love to talk to you more about this amazing girl!!!!

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