DUTCHESS 4/20/03
#244
Pictures
Dutchess's Foster Journey
Adopted 5/24/03
Pertinent Information
2 to 2 1/2 yr. old Female Brindle
55 lb. Boxer/Bulldog Mix
Shelter Surrender
Natural Ears and Tail
Soon to be Spayed
UTD
Good with other dogs
Being Fostered in Nassau County, LI
Adoption Donation $200 + $20 microchip
5/30/04 - It doesn't seem like it's been a year now since I got
Duchess ( American Bulldog ) and that's because she is such a great dog.
We take our daily walks thru the housing development where I live and I
have some neighbors that come out everyday to say hi to Duchess which I
know she looks forward to. She walks without pulling or tuging-she
wags her tail at everyone and never barks at people or other dogs that
bark at her. Duchess get's very excited every Sunday morning because she
knows that we are going for a ride to my parents house which makes my
parents very happy too-I think they look
forward to seeing her as much as she likes going to there house.
She's one of the best dogs that I have ever had and I would be lost
without her company. It was one of the best things I have ever done the
day that I adopted Duchess.
11/23/03 - My girl Duchess ( American Bulldog ) is doing great-it's been 6 months but it seems like she's always been with me. She's my best friend and a great companion. She loves to go for a ride every Sunday to my parents house who by the way love the visits as much as Duchess likes going. She's great with other dogs that stop by to visit but cat's are another story. It's been one of the best decisions in my life when I adopted Duchess-you couldn't ask for a better dog.
8/23/03 - This is my 3 month update and I can tell you that getting Duchess is one of the best things that I have ever done. She's a great dog-loves to go for our daily walks throughout the neighborhood, sometimes I think some of my neighbor look forward to seeing Duchess more than she likes her walks. She's a great companion and loves to play with her toys. My parents look forward to seeing her every Sunday for dinner.
7/24/03 - I've had my sweet girl for 2 months now but it seems like she's been here for years. I've never had a dog that leaves everything along in the house except her own toys-I can leave her along when I go to work and not worry about a thing. She's a great companion, we go for walks everyday and to my parents house every Sunday which she looks forward to and so do my parents. I feel very lucky to have found her.
6/24/03 - Duchess is such great dog, She's been with me about a month now and it seems like she's always been here. We go for our walks everyday which she loves to do, once I get her leash out of the closet she knows it's time to go. She's great in the house when I'm at work, hasn't bothered or messed with anything since I've had her, which is amazing to me. I go to visit my parents every Sunday and she just loves to ride in the car to go see them, they love her and look forward to seeing her every week. I feel very lucky to have found her. Thanks to Gary Berg for doing such a great job on her updates that attracted me to her to begin with.
5/31/03 - Gary-Everything is going
great with Dutchess-on the ride home from your place she slept for about 2
hours-I had her stitches taken out on Thursday and the vet says everything
looks good-she's been great in the house alone-when I come home for lunch
from work she's waiting on the couch for me, Than when I come home after
work she's already in my bed-she
hasn't gotten into anything-she's eating well and goes out right
afterwards to do her duty-took her to my parents house on Sunday for
dinner-they love her-I'm lucky to have found such a sweet companion-Thanks
Tim
5/24/03 - Dutchess has been adopted.
5/21/03 - Dutchess is pending adoption.
5/11/03 - What a wonderful week we have had with our Dutchess. She went to the vet on Wed for her spay, and all went very well. She stayed at the vet, and we picked her up on Thursday. I must say i really missed her on Wednesday night, and I usually feed her before i go to work in the morning, and my morning was sadly different with her not here. She is now back, and definitely on the mend. Her right eye got a little pussy while at the vet, so she is back on cloxamox for the next 2 weeks, with antibiotic ointment to help clear up what might be a small infection. It is looking much better already.
This girl is such a character. She has discovered squeaky toys, and plays intermittently with them. She also has this very cute habit now. She now has free roam of the house, and she just LOVES to crawl under our bed and go to sleep. Now, this is a pretty tight spot for her, and it takes her a bit to climb back out of there, but she really seems to like it under there. Oh well, to each there own.
As you can tell, this girl has really grown on us. She truly is a wonderful girl, and we are anxiously waiting to here from her soon to be forever home. Will we be talking to you soon?
5/4/03-I have to say that Dutchess's health is now 100%, and she is showing that she is feeling all better. She spent a lot of time out in the yard this weekend, and found a few balls/spongy footballs, and she grabbed and jogged around the yard with them. When I called her she came, and I took it out of her mouth, threw it, and she went and got it a few times. We had friends over on Saturday night, and while my crew of lunatics were pulling off their usually antics of "who can climb over and on top of whom" to get to our friends, Miss Duchess showed manners that I must admit I was jealous of. She waited her turn. Can you imagine.......she waited her turn. God, I wish my guys could learn that. We have also been witness to another 1st here at the Wings and Halo Haven. Our Sharpei actually seeks Dutchess out to play. Now, we have fostered over 25 dogs, and our Sharpei, Norma Jean has NEVER looked to play with a foster dog. Shoot, were lucky when she can stay in the same room with one and not growl at it menacingly. Now, when I say play, you must understand Sharpei play. That entails rushing up to the dog, and growling pretty intimidating. As a new girl in the house, Dutchess does not realize this is Sharpei play, and unless you have lived with Norma as long as we have, you would not have known it either. But, play it is, and this definitely says something about the personality of this girl. Heck, to be not only accepted, but to be a playmate of Norma speaks volumes of this girl’s disposition. Dutchess has not actually played with Norma, but that is because she is more scared then accepting of this antic by Norma. Still, it is a pleasure to see. Dutchess is also just wonderful in the crate. She goes in so easily, a little cookie is all it takes, and usually you don't even need that. She stays in there so quietly, and stays in there for as long as you need her to be. She is just wonderful, but I think you probably have gotten that impression by now. Hope you are all thru the adoption process, cause I don't think you will see this girl in rescue much after her spay this week. We know she won't be here much longer, and we are sure gonna miss that sweet personality, but our loss will be someone’s gain. Will it be yours?
5/1/03-Duchess's health is really improving. Her nose is almost normal, and her eye is pretty much back to normal also. Her appetite could not be better .She polishes off her meal in a couple of minutes, then right outside to do her business. What more could you ask for. I have noticed something pretty interesting in the almost 2 weeks she has been with me. When I let her out, she immediately goes to a certain spot to pee, then sniffs a bit about 5 feet away, and poops in the almost same spot each time. Every day, every time, it’s the same routine. Makes cleanup very easy. If only my guys could pick up this routine, I wouldn't have to walk the entire property each week to clean up. She loves her big compressed rawhide also. I give her a 10 inch one, and this really keeps her busy. She loves it.
We have discovered that my tough looking Duchess girl is really quite a woos. When vacuuming today, where the other dogs ATTACK the vacuum, Ms. Dutchess ran downstairs and hid under a coffee table. Also, my Shar pei, who normally shies away from our fosters, charged down the hall toward Dutchess (not sure what she had in mind), and again, Dutchess ran downstairs and hid under the table. Boy, for a tough looking girl, she sure is a sweetie. We just love this girl, and she is a total pleasure to have. We are going to try to get her spayed next week. Turns out she finished her heat, so she really should be all ready. Speaking of ready, are you? Don't miss out on this totally terrific girl, she will reward your decision with many, many years of love and devotion. Go ahead, you deserve her.
4/27/03-Dutchess seems to be feeling a bit better. His nose is not full of as much gunk, and she is becoming a bit more active. We have started allowing her upstairs, to interact with the other five 4 legged fur babies, and she was also hanging outside with them during this beautiful day we had today. She really does not seem to interact with any of them all that much. She is not aggressive, nor is she nervous around them. She seems to be quite content to just explore the yard. So, my thoughts right now are that if you are looking for a companion for the human persuasion, this is just the girl for you. She sure does love the affection she is getting from us, and she loves to put her head in your lap for some nice petting and ear rubs. Watch for more updates on my regal Dutchess girl.
4/26/03-Dutchess when to the vet for her checkup today. I was very proud of her, as she behaved like the very nice girl that she is. She was very tolerant, as the vet was poking around, and he spent a fair amount of time looking at her right eye. I had thought, since she has had a bad cold, that she was squinting thru her eye because of the cold, but he wanted to take a closer look at it. He did an eye stain, and examined her to make sure that there was no corneal ulcer caused by the eyelid turning in. (a condition called entropin) He said the eye was fine, no ulcer, (it is red though) so we will give her antibiotics for the eye 3-4 times per day, for a week. He also wants her to stay on the clavamox for another week for the kennel cough. He suggested we hold off on the spay for another week. As i said, she was really checking her out, and she was very good about it. She also weighed in at 55 lbs. The shelter said she was 48lbs last week when we got her, but i didn’t think she gained 7 lbs in 1 week.
She has gained weight, and she looks great, maybe the shelter was a bit off in their weight last week. She has now met my other boxer Rocky, and my dominant female Shotzie, and she really has no issues with them. In fact, when she met them, she had a few rawhides on the floor that she was eating, and really showed no issues. We were very prepared to pull them apart if something started, as they all had leashes on, but nothing happened. In fact, she was really quite indifferent to them, almost ignoring the 2 new ones she met.
Dutchess is becoming a bit more affectionate, and i do get some quick kisses now. Nothing slobbery or overpowering, but they are kisses. She is also getting a bit more playful, a sign that she is probably feeling a bit better. I'm still not sure if she is in heat or not, we'll keep an eye on her as see if the staining is subsiding or getting heavier. So far, in the 1 week we have her, it is still hard to tell the stage she is in. Dutchess is definitely housetrained. He crate is always dry, and she goes out and does her business quickly. Then she wants to come right back in the house. She has taken a definite liking to the large compressed rawhide bones, which she has been keeping herself very busy with. Stay tuned for more updates on this super girl. I hope you have your app in already!!
4/22/03-Ms. Dutchess just continues to impress us. She is so sweet and calm. She has made a dramatic improvement when in her crate. She does not bark at all, so this is a 180 degree change. She still has a yucky cold, and is not feeling totally great, but she is a real sweet love. She loves to rest her chin on my lap while i am on the computer, and soaks up all the rubs; tickles and head scratches you can give her. She met my little 9 yr old, 20 lb pug tonight, and was absolutely fine with him. So, she has met my 105 lb big boxer boy, and my pug, we will introduce her to the others in the clan as the days go by. Her appetite continues to be very good, she is eating 3 times a day, for a total of 8 cups, and today we mixed in some spaghetti at lunch, and she loved it. I am really happy with this girl, and can't wait for her to feel better to see if she continues to be so calm. If i were you, i would get your apps in on this girl, as you definitely want an opportunity to adopt this super sweet girl. Believe me, you won't be sorry.
4/20/03 - We have a new visitor at the Wings & Halo Haven. Her name is Dutchess, and she is a very cute, sweet little girl. I went to one of the NYC shelters to get her, as no one wanted her. She came into the shelter as a stray, so we do not know anything about her past. She looks as though she has had a litter recently. She has a natural tail, and a pretty broad, square-ish chest. She is probably not all boxer, but, well, it doesn’t matter, cause we love her already. When you go to pet her, she leans her body right into your leg, trying to get as much love as she can from you. Sooooo sweet!!! She has kennel cough, is sneezing quite a bit, but the nice shelter was kind enough to give us a weeks worth of antibiotics to treat her. Once she is better, she will be able to be spayed, although she may also be going into heat, as there was staining in the crate when I took her out. She is a very sweet girl, who met and was flirting big time with my Chancey man....but like I said, that may be the "heat" talking. Well, he fell for her, and really likes her. They will definitely need a chaperone. We will introduce her to the rest of the clan later in the week. All have sniffed her thru the crate, and she showed that she had no problem with it. She gobbled up 2 cups of dry food at 3 pm, and another 3 cups (mixed with vanilla yogurt) at 7 pm, and didn’t have any issues with my hands in her bowl. We will evaluate more later. She is a bit barky in the crate, and seems to have no leash manners, but she knows sit, and we will work some more with her. So, welcome Dutchess, good things are about to start to happen for you.