7/30/07 - We made it home in one piece and the dogs got along well.  Zoey is doing well as far as behavior and she walks pretty well on the leash even without the prong collar.  (We got one yesterday but haven't sized it yet.)  She doesn't eat that much, though, but during the day will eat Ming's food and Ming will eat Zoey's.  There's a bit of rivalry between them but nothing serious.  Zoey is, of course, used to running and playing with the big dogs and is out of her element with the little pug.  She overwhelms Ming sometimes and so we have to step in.  Sometimes they just chase each other around the house (we live in a square with the center a courtyard). In short, Zoey's a great dog, she's doing well (a little low on the food side) and is adjusting nicely.

7/28/07 - Zoey has been adopted. 

Zoey is off with her new family.  Their son Neil is going to have alot of fun with her.  And Zoey got along well with her new fur brother.  Zoey, be a good girl, don't forget to show off how much you have learned, make me proud of you and most of all be happy, cause this new family is going to take very good care of you and love you alot.

7/26/07 - Zoey is pending adoption

7/20/07 - Zoey is still playing and running and having a good time with the other dogs here.  She has become
 quite vocal with them when she plays and when she wants a toy or bone they have.  She will persistently bark at them, but they do not give in to her!  She thinks 'cause she is a baby that she is entitled to have them give her what they have, but she is learning that it does not work that way.
  Zoey went to work with me today to meet the co-workers in the office.  They all thought she was adorable and so sweet.  She behaved well, was friendly to everyone and did do some smelling and exploring new territory.  I stopped at the bank after and she stayed in the car with no problems.  She likes car rides and does not bark at people passing on the street.  She rides very well and quiet in the car and stays in the back seat.  
Zoey took herself to bed in her crate tonight.  She has been sleeping in there with the door open  for over 2 hours now.  Guess her busy day today wore her out. 

7/5/07 - Zoey continues to do well here.  Her tolerating the crate has improved.  I even found her sleeping in her crate the other afternoon...the gate was open & she had gone in there for a snooze.  She goes right in it at night and waits for her cookie.  There are times I still get barking for a while, but it is not all the time.  She has slept out of  the crate a few nights this week with the other dogs and there were no problems.  Zoey went on a home check with me the other night.  They had a 10 month old boxer puppy.  Zoey was a perfect angel.  She walked well on the leash and behaved like an adult dog in their home.  They were quite impressed with how well Zoey's training has come along and how well behaved she was, considering she has only been in training about 6 weeks here.  Of course they thought she was sweet and adorable....but that is because she is!!

At this time, I do not recommend Zoey with cats.  She plays very hard with my 4 year old boxer.   She is a jumper, a biter/nipper, and of course alot of boxing when she plays.  She has hurdled my tallest boy and she chases when playing as well.  Zoey needs to be with a younger dog to play with, as my two 7 year old dogs really do not appreciate her jumping on them as part of play and really do not participate in playing with her.

Zoey likes to go for car rides.  She stays in the back seat and has shared the back seat with one of the other dogs on a vet. visit.  There were no problems with that arrangement at all.  Zoey has not shown too much of a watchdog personality yet.  She has gotten on the window a few times to look out, but has not attempted any barking at the doorbell or people or cars on the street.  She likes a kong with peanut butter, some toys, has played a little fetch but does not always bring the toy back, still watches airplanes, chases the moths and flies, and is not bothered with thunder or the 4th of July fireworks booms. 

If you are looking for a sweet, little girl that is learning and exploring every day, Zoey is the girl for you.

6/23/07 - Zoey is getting to be more of a love bug.  She is climbing on my lap for more hugging lately, but she is still stingy with her kisses.  Her tail wags constantly and she is always ready to play with the other dogs.  Zoey busted out of the crate twice last week.  I came home to find her greeting me and nothing was touched.  I debated about leaving her out of the crate when I am not home, as she touches very little in the house, but I then decided I was not going to give in to her.  She has since stayed in the crate and continues to sleep at night in the crate with no problems.  Teaching her down is not going quite as quickly as the other commands.  I am not surprised, as I have always found this to be the one command that the boxer is stubborn with, along with not jumping on people to greet them. 
Zoey really is a good puppy.  She is easy to take care of, loves to play, is quiet, she is not a watch dog yet, is capable of just chilling out like a couch potato after play and being outside, is housebroken, is small, light, and listens pretty well to sit, stay, come, and walks fairly well on a leash with a few reminders.  I would say she is doing excellent for a 9 month old puppy that came here with very little, if any training.  Now I have 4 other boxers in the house to take care of, so imagine her potential with someone that can give her even more time than I have.

6/14/07 - Zoey is doing well.  She eats well, plays hard, sleeps well, especially when she is sleeping out of the crate.  Zoey went to visit at my mom's house the other day.  My sister and brother in law were there too.  Everyone thought Zoey was adorable and very well behaved, especially for a puppy.   She did not jump on anybody, and did not beg at the dinner table. Zoey's training is going well too.  She knows sit, stay, come, waits for her food, is housebroken, and walks well on a leash.  I will probably start teaching her down next week.  She has needed to learn off, as she has gotten on a bedroom window to look out the window when I am outside, and she gets on the back door to come in from the yard at times.  Zoey is a good little puppy.  She actually gave me 3 kisses the other day...the first and only kisses I have gotten from her.  She is not a big kisser, but wags her tail alot, has climbed up on my lap for a few hugs, and I have gotten the boxer wiggle greeting from her.  She can spend time in the yard without barking at every noise and every body, unlike my other 2 girls.  Although she loves chasing and playing with the other dogs, she can entertain herself with running, jumping and toys.  She doesn't seem to want to learn how to play fetch yet.  She runs after the toy, but doesn't pick it up to bring it back yet.  Maybe in time she will get the hang of that game.  Zoey's only real problem is that she does whine and bark for a bit when first in the crate, but eventually she calms down.  She would prefer to not be in a crate, but when I am not home I am not sure the puppy in her won't find something to get into, so for now, she is in the crate when I am not home and for sleeping most nights.  Zoey is a friendly, sweet, little puppy looking for someone to spend her time and energy with.  Another dog to play with is a plus too.

6/5/07 - Zoey is having fun discovering toys in the toy box.  She has found quite a few balls, kongs, and squeeky toys she is interested in.  She plays with them, talks to them, and carries them around the house and yard with her.  Zoey's training is coming along quite well.  She knows sit, stay , come and she is walking well on a leash.  She is always ready to play with the other dogs.  I have let Zoey sleep a few nights out of the crate with the other dogs and there is no problems there.  She is curious with just about everything and is always checking things out.  You can tell she is interested in learning what everything is about. 
Zoey is a very sweet little girl.  She is a petite boxer and will be a small girl.  She is very light when she climbs up on your lap for some loving.  She has jumped on me a few times for greeting and you can barely feel her on you....although I am not encouraging that behavior anyway.  There is still barking in the crate, but she does respond to correction.  I crate her while I am at work and have come home to find her quiet in the crate.  She also knows she won't get out unless she is quiet, so she is always sitting patiently waiting.  Zoey has gotten into a few things, as all puppies will, but she responds well to correction and it has been a few days now since I have caught her with her paws on my counter. 
Zoey is waiting patiently for her forever home.  If you want a sweet, little, playful puppy, get your applications in for this cute little girl.

5/28/07 - Zoey is your typical boxer ...full of play, running, boxing, and following you, even in the bathroom.  She is cute, little, and is very soft.  She likes to be hugged but has not given any kisses, and she does the boxer wiggle.  Every sound she is curious with, even watching an airplane fly by.  She really is a good little girl.  She knows her name, she knows sit and stay, but at times needs a reminder, walks pretty good on a leash and usually comes when called.  She is definitely learning and is learning fast.  I have caught her with her paws on my counter a couple of times, but I was not surprised.  She gets along great with other dogs, so one to run and play with is something she enjoys....and it would help you in her burning off some of her energy.  
I do not think Zoey has true separation anxiety.  She goes into the crate with no problems for her cookie.  She takes herself right into the crate for it.  She has gone to sleep in the crate a couple of nights this week without even a peep.  There are times though that she does yap and cry for a bit, but once settled down she has been fine in there for a few hours.  I have left her to run free in the house with the other dogs while I work outside and she is fine...she is not ripping the house apart looking for me as would happen with real separation anxiety.  I have left her outside in the fenced in yard while I am inside and she has been fine and quiet out there too.  I think Zoey would prefer, like any dog would, to be out of the crate, but I think she was accustomed to barking and crying and was let out when she did that, so she thought if she carried on long enough she would get her way.  Zoey is learning it does not work that way here, and I have not had any destruction of the crate or an inability from her to settle down in there and behave.  As stated before, she sleeps in the crate every night and sleeps thru the night...with no potty accidents either!  She is housebroken, but does not know how to ask to go out.  She is being let out pretty much on the same schedule as my other dogs, and has only had 2 accidents in the house all week. 
If you are looking for a soft, sweet, little, energetic puppy, Zoey is the girl for you.  She is friendly with people and dogs, and is just looking forward to learning and playing more each day.  Sorry, I do not have a cat so I cannot tell you how she would be with them, but Zoey is so young, I am sure she is open to learning to get along with them too. 

5/23/07 - Zoey weighs in now at 50.2 lbs. and has a bit of growing and filling out to do yet, but she is not going to be a big boxer...she will be a sweety, petity.  Zoey is learning sit and stay and to come when she is called.  She has taken walks with the other 4 dogs and walks pretty well as a group of 5 dogs together.  She is learning to sit when I stop and to wait till she is told to continue.  She is also sitting and waiting for her food, which she eats quite well, by the way. 

Zoey is the perfect example of a puppy/dog being given up due to lack of training.  If you cannot devote the time needed for consistent and structured training, then Zoey is not the puppy for you.  Zoey was put on a medication for separation anxiety prescribed by the shelter.  Zoey had destroyed crates and was surrendered to the shelter due to the separation anxiety she displayed.  Well, Zoey has slept thru the night in a crate since the first night she arrived here.  Now, that does not mean she won't try to carry on for the first few minutes, but Zoey just needs some direction, discipline, continued training and perhaps the company of at least another dog. 

Upon her vet. visit with my vet. we discussed the medication, the fact that Zoey at 8 months of age seemed to have no real training yet, and that I have been able to get her to sleep in the crate.  The medication Zoey was put on needs to be given a minimum of 2 months to build up in her system before it would even take effect, hence it was doing nothing for her now and it would do nothing for her without her being trained and taught "behavior modification".   Since I am working with her and have been able to get her sleep in the crate, and I have left the house for 3 hours so far with her ok in the crate, I am weaning her off the medication.  She will be weaned off completely in 8 more days.  As stated, Zoey will try to yap and whine in the crate for the first few minutes, but settles down after.  HOWEVER, her behavior must be corrected during those first few minutes, or she will carry on continuously.  In other words, you MUST be willing to devote the time and energy needed to train and work with Zoey right now.  If Zoey is here for a while, I am hoping to be able to get her fully broken of any anxiety she may have, but time is needed for that.

Zoey gets along well with other dogs, although she plays a bit rough with her boxing and jumping.  She is very vocal when playing and talks back to the squeaky toys she is playing with.  I do not recommend Zoey with children under 5 years old at this time, as she still does a little nipping and when she jumps she jumps with all 4 paws off the ground like she is flying.  She could easy knock a young child over with her playing, running and jumping, and a toddler is the perfect height for jumping and nipping.  She is just too active a puppy with little training right now.  Of course, I will continue to work on this behavior, but for now, no children under 5. 

Zoey is a fast learner.  I have only had her here 5 days and she is learning and obeying.  There is no doubt she will turn out to be a well behaved, sweet, loving, little girl. She just needs the time now to start showing her full potential that she was not given a chance for before.

5/21/07 - Zoey arrived here Sat. afternoon.  She got 2 hours of training when she arrived.  I know that sounds a bit long for an 8 month old puppy, but she had me and then my 4 dogs to meet and walk with one at a time, and that takes quite a bit of time.  Zoey seems to have had very little formal training as she knows no commands, so the 2 hour session was a good thing for her.  She is learning to walk well on a leash and it helped her relieve a bit of her pent up energy from the long transport.  After 2 hours of walking, she then took a dash around the back yard.  Does that give you an idea of how much energy this little pup has??  She jumps and runs at the same time.  It really was comical, but I held my breath wondering if she would have the nerve to try to jump the 5 foot fence...which she did not do, thank goodness.  She met all 4 dogs with no problems.  She does play rough, as she likes to box and jump.  My dogs are working on teaching her to calm it down a bit.

Zoey is a typical puppy...very sweet, very active, alot of energy, curious and nosey about every noise including closet doors sliding open, cupboards opening, what my dogs are barking at, etc.  She is not a kisser, and she is now starting to give you a wag from her long natural tail with a white tip.

Zoey has a loud bark when she is playing or wants one of my dogs to play with her.  She had a loud bark the first couple of times she was in the crate, for about 25 minutes.  She is now down to a couple of whimpers the first couple of minutes in the crate.  She does bark when I get home to let me know she is in the crate....How could I forget??  Zoey loves treats so I think she will be a fast learner.  My dogs run to their crates when I put my hand in the treat jar and Zoey actually walked into her crate tonight to get her treat too.  So she is either learning from me or learning from my "kids"...or both. 

Zoey goes to the vet. Wed. for her wellness checkup and to discuss the medication she was put on last week at the shelter.  I will update again then, and let you know about Zoey's training progress and her medication.  Pictures of this cute little girl will be posted shortly...just working on figuring out how to get pictures on my new computer.

5/19/07 - BAR got a call about a puppy at a shelter in MA on Monday.  She was not doing well in the shelter as is usual for a Boxer.  She was an owner surrender to the shelter because they could not deal with her separation anxiety.  She did not like to be crated and had destroyed 2 crates and they were afraid that she would hurt herself in the crate.  My son happened to have to go to Brockton, MA on business and I asked if he got finished early enough, if he would go to the shelter and pick her up.  He was happy to do it and by 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, little Miss Fergie was at my home in CT.
She rode quietly in the car and slept all the way home.  Knowing her dislike for crates, I arranged an area in my house where she could be gated off from the other dogs as she has just been spayed on Monday and had to be kept quiet and not allowed to run around and play with other dogs.  I put her in the hallway with 2 sets of gates and she got the first gate open in record time!!  So I put 2 gates up one behind another and put a third one on top in case she tried to jump over them and she could get nose to nose with my guys and that seemed to make her much happier.  But she was still whining and trying to get out of the gates.  So I opened the hallway door into the garage and then garage door out into one of our fenced in yards so that she had some more freedom to move around and she was just fine.  She loved the fenced in yard and pranced around like a princess.  She did her business and I left the areas open since it was warm enough and to let her have a little more freedom and exercise.
She is a little on the skinny side so I am feeding her 4 smaller meals a day and she is eating them right up.  She is also drinking well.  She had a couple of accidents the first day, but after that went outside if the door to the yard was open or went in the garage when we were out or at night.  By the end of the week, she was not going in the garage any more and was waiting to be let outside.  I had to close the garage because it got so cold out and she did not have any accidents and waiting nicely to go out.
Mid week she did manage to pull down the top gate while I was on the phone with the vet that she had seen in MA.  All of a sudden there was a noise and then there was a third Boxer running around my family room!!  She was very excited to get with my boys, but they were not so sure of her.  So I hurried her back to her area and resecured the top gate.  On Friday I let my young male in the office with her and they were okay together.  My boy is a little fraidy cat and was actually scared of her.  She was very excited but very good.
On Saturday morning I got up very early and drove her on the first leg of her journey to her permanent foster home in NY.   I hated to see her go as she was one of the sweetest