Back toNIKO 3/2/03
#209
Adopted
4/13/03
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Niko's Foster Journey
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Pertinent Information
3 year old Fawn Male
60 lbs. with Natural Ears and Docked Tail
Owner Surrender
Neutered and Updated
Being Fostered Near Kings Park, LI
Adoption Donation $200
8/4/03 - Wanted to drop an update to all those interested in Niko's progress. Niko was adopted in April and is doing well in his new home. It took a few months of adjusting but finally is settling into his new routine (my routine). He loves his "cousin" the female Weimaraner so much that he often gives her boxer-kisses. Still not getting along with other male dogs, but we're just passed the mid-point of our 8 week "fiesty fido" training class. He seems to be excelling, all-be-it at his own schedule. The class is fun, and we learn different commands and approaches to training dogs with "issues". Still as skinny as ever, even though he gets a healthy dose of NUTRO. Stay tuned.
6/9/03 - Niko is a great dog. He's very calm and well mannered. He's eating well, utd on meds, shots, and parasite care. He's a bit of a priss when it comes to going out in the rain, he just stands in the doorway and looks at me like "you expect me to go do my business in this weather?" He's doing very well with obedience training on our walks. We're enrolled in a "fiesty fido" course to curb his doggy aggression tendencies. He gets along well with his roomie though which is paramount. we'll keep you posted.
5/25/03 - Niko is doing great. We've had a few serious encounters with other dogs but he gets along with his roomie, a female Weimaraner, very well. At the advice of a boxer enthusiast, I've decided to work more formally on his training which hopefully will mitigate some of his dog-aggressive tendencies. We've enrolled in a "fiesty fido" course through the local animal welfare center. Other than that one issue, he's great. He sleeps well, eats well, has good manners other than the fact that he likes the couch and he loves people. my parents absolutely adore him. he's a bit of a snorer (go figure) but I'm a heavy sleeper so it doesn't bother me a bit. Right now he's sleeping just outside the computer room so that when i get up to leave he'll be right there to follow me.....how cute. We'll keep you all posted!
5/6/03-Niko, niko, niko. Niko went to the vet to for a check up and to get his flea/tick medicine & heartworm preventative goodies. He was very good for the vet. Otherwise, he gets a 20-30 min daily walk at 6:30 am where he gets some exercise and we work on his training. He's doing quite well with sit, stay, and heel. Recall and "down" will be forthcoming. No improvement on his behavior issue with other males which is a little troublesome. I tried to re-introduce Niko to my brother's Sheppard again, only this time at his house, and there was a little progress but if left unleashed it would have gotten ugly. He also gets a little nasty when if he's sleeping on the couch, and someone goes to get him down by grabbing his collar. I'm keeping a close eye on that. Otherwise, he's eating fine, sleeping well, and only one accident in nearly a month. I'm considering a "fiesty-fido" course through the local dog club to try and get a handle on this dog aggression thing. More to follow
4/22/03-Well, Niko and I are going on about 1 1/2 weeks together. I couldn't have scripted a better story except one mishap where Niko pretty much attacked my older brother's (male) German Shepard. Partly my fault for not introducing them better but my brother dropped by unexpectedly with his dog and they both just kinda walked in. I don't know if Niko was being territorial, if he was scared, or what, but it wasn't appreciated! I was really surprised considering he's really good with his female Weimaraner roomie, and really good with his old roomie Boris. Other than that, he's been a dream. He's great in the house with only one, alleged, accident and he pretty much has free roam. He hasn't chewed anything either, although he does like to sleep on the furniture and my bed. We're working on those things though. His leash skills are getting better as we work on them on our daily morning walks, which can't come too early for this eager guy. He seems to be very friendly toward everyone who stops and visits, friends and family alike. He was very calm when the young neighbor's kids came over to meet him. All in all he's doing very well. He's eating bunches and looks like he may have gained a pound or two! Stay tuned for more updates.
4/15/03 - I've had NIKO now for three days and he's doing great adjusting to his new home nicely. He seems like a laid-back guy and a smart one too. We tried to do the crate thing on Monday as I was leaving for work and he didn't appreciate that AT ALL. In fact he got a little snippy which was surprising. The alternative was to leave him out and he proved to be a very good boy. I guess I'm re-learning my doggy reasoning abilities with this guy. He's eating well, no accidents, and he and my brother Weimaraner seem to be becoming buddies in this short time. We've gone for walks every morning and he does okay on lead but there's room for refinement. I'm going to call the vet tomorrow to get him an appointment mostly to go over flea & tick treatment. Right now, both dogs are laying quietly outside my office door to make sure that if i go into another room they'll be right there to follow me. Thanks again to Dina and Dean for fostering this wonderful little guy.
4/13/03 - Niko has been adopted.
4/12/03 - Boxer Fans, I picked up Niko from Dina & Dean who were so gracious to have him stay with them. On the long ride from Long Island to Morris Plains he was an absolute angel. He sat up front mostly because he didn't want to miss his chance to see the NY skyline on the George Washington Bridge. He nestled in and slept for a while too putting his head squarely on my center console just so i could pet him the whole ride home. He never made a peep and after the first few minutes of nervous drool he was a gentleman. We arrived home and waiting to see him where three happy faces, my brother, my father, and my stepmother. Niko make his introduction a lasting one giving each relative their due attention. No shortage of wiggles tonight. My brothers Weimaraner and Niko are behaving quite well. They played a little in the back yard as part of the introduction. Niko ate about 1/2 cup of food and lapped down more water than a camel. Right now he's resting contently just outside my home office where I can see his little nubby and where I'll trip over him when I leave, which is by design on his part (i think). Thanks to Dina & Dean and the rest of the BAR staff. -Greg
4/9/03 - Niko is pending adoption.
4/4/03 - Niko is the sweetest dog. He is so gentle, always looking for love. He comes every morning to sit by my bed; he wags his little tail and wants to be petted. He keeps his face very close to mine but does not lick. As soon as he hears me kissing Boris he comes in a middle of us. He does not want anybody else to get my kisses.
3/30/03 - Finally we have warm weather and Niko can spend more time outside without getting cold. He really loves to lay in the sun and nap. When he is not napping, he is playing. He is still very energetic. Everything could become a toy. A leaf, a stick or a tennis ball, those things make the best toys. He is also a protector of our property, if somebody is on the other side of the fence, he barks, but if the person comes in, he becomes friendly. Last night my neighbor and her 3 year all boy came to visit Niko. I was a little worried, but Niko was great, he wanted to kiss him, but did not showed any aggression. So now I can say he is good with kids.
3/25/03 - Last Thursday Niko came back from the vet. Now he is updated with the shots and he is neutered also. He is feeling great, still has lots of energy. Niko Plays non stop with toys and my dog. It is nice outside, so he goes in and out all day long. I tell him to stop playing, because no matter how much he eats he will not gain the wait with that kind of activities. And he needs to gain some wait, Niko still weights 60 pounds and looks very thin.
3/18/03 - Niko now really started feeling like he is home. In the way it is good and in the way it is bad. He does not listen as well as he did before. He started jumping on the bed. Sometimes takes some shoes to play with and still needs all the attention. As soon he hears me kissing Boris, he runs to me and starts pushing him away. He eats well and still plays nice. At night he snores, it makes me laugh; it is really funny to hear that. If he can not go on the bed, he will try to stay as close as possible to the bed, so that we could hear all night. I have one concern; he never was close to children, but barks when he sees the neighbor kids. I still don’t know what reaction he would have, if the child tried to pet him.
3/15/03 - Niko is definitely part of the family now - he sleeps in the dog bed at the foot of our bed and snores like a buzzsaw. Boris is teaching him to chase squirrels in the backyard and the two of them make muddy footprints through the kitchen - then they forget to clean up after themselves. Go figure. Their wrestling matches are harmless but entertaining and can go on for 20 minutes - we have some of the footage on video for Animal Planet. Since the weather is being cooperative today, we're going for a trip to the park at some point.
3/10/03 - Niko showed us how vacuuming can be a sport. As soon as the vacuum is on, he attacks it as if it were going to suck him up. We also brought him to the beach and he ran into the water and didn’t know what to do – so we pulled him out and brought him home for a nice warm bath and all was good. Next Wednesday he will go for his neutering – he went to the vet today and wasn’t scared but he was barking at the other visitors all the time. He’s got a nice personality and is a bundle of energy when he is not sleeping…
3/8/03 - Niko is really having fun with our dog Boris. They play non-stop and Niko has a lot of energy - since Boris has a doggy door, he can escape to the backyard for a breather. Niko is very obedient, but the only time he doesn't listen is when we tell him to stop drooling. He is very appreciative when Boris lets him borrow toys. He is eating well and enjoying his stay with Boris.
3/7/03 - Niko has been with us for five days already. He is such a good boy. My husband and I love him so much; we would like to keep him. He is a great dog, does not do any bad things, always listens, does not beg at the table and likes to play with our dog. Niko is always happy. He jumps up and down when we come home. My parents are staying with us till Saturday and he is very nice with everyone. He does bark when someone rings the bell, but stops after few minutes and lets everyone pet him. He has never had an accident in the house and today he learned to go outside through the doggy door. Niko eats well and I hope he will gain some weight. For his body type he is a little too thin.
3/4/03 - Niko arrived on Saturday to our home. He is very good in the car, sits in the back seat. He is very strong dog, but also very gentle and loving. He wants to lick us. The most kisses Boris will get. Now his ears stay wet from Niko's kisses. They both getting along well, but I can see that Boris (my dog) is not interested to play with him; it always takes a week to get use to a new friend. Niko is very easy dog, the first night he slept in the crate, now he is sleeping on the dog bed, comes close to our bed and I know he would like to come up, but I say “no” and he is listening. Niko is going to the vet on Wednesday, he looks like a very healthy dog, but he has to be neutered. He could be a great pet for a loving family or a lonely person.
