8/19/08 - Harry has been adopted

8/6/08 - This weekend we took Spinks to the dog park.  He had a great time running around and playing with a small dog that was there.  The small dog kept jumping up at his nose and he stood there happy and content until it wanted to run.  Then he ran.  Spinks is one of only a few dogs that I have seen that listens to everything he is told while he is there. (Anyone who takes their dog knows most of them get selective hearing once they enter the gate). 
Last night Spinks met a three year old boy.  He was very good with him.  He just patiently sat there while the little boy petted him all over.  (Of course, he did try and sneak a few kisses in there).  Like most boxers, when the little boy started jumping around he did get a little over excited but he sat right down once he was told.  We did have a thunder storm again last night.  I thought that he might get scared because the windows in the room he was staying in were open.  Was I wrong.  He did not make a single peep. 
In our home, when we eat our dog lays on the other end of the dining room until she is told she can get up.  We have been working with Spinks on this so he does not hang out by the table.  Every day he does a little better with this
 

7/30/08 - Spinks is pending adoption and will now be know as Harry.

7/28/08 - The information that I received on Spinks said that he is afraid of thunder and the vacuum.   Last week we had a pretty bad thunder and lightning storm in the early morning and Spinks did not make a peep.  We have also had some random thunder and when he is in the house he seems unfazed by the noise.  I also had him around the vacuum this weekend to see what his reaction would be.  He had no reaction to the actual vacuum and paid no attention to it at all.  However, he does not like the hose part of the vacuum.  When you take out the hose and use it he barks at it. 
Spinks did meet an 8 year old boy this weekend and seemed to love him. His face really did light up.  Spinks was a little over excited at first and became clumsy with him but Spinks settled down quickly. 
I do not have a whole lot of progress to report because there are not a lot of things that "need fixing".  Spinks does like to get on the couch but I believe that it would not take very long to train him to stay off of it.  We have been working on his sit, lay and stay.  He does pretty well with these commands but lacks a little attention sometimes.  We did go for a ride in the car with Spinks and my dog, Tigger and even with another dog in the car, once you roll his window down so he can rest his chin on it he sits there for the whole ride.  He does not try to stick his head further out the window at all he just wants to sniff the outside.

7/22/08 - Spinks is a very handsome guy who is social and well behaved.  I wish his handsomeness came across in the photos.  Since he has been here he has not been possessive over his food (even though he is too skinny) or toys but he does give a little whine when he feels my dog gets a little more attention.  He listens to what he is told, is great in the car and does not chew anything that he shouldn't.  Spinks is a little jumpy with unexpected loud noises and very quick hand movements.  But believe me the things that make him jumpy are far and few between.  With the quick hand movements he can get a little scared but there is no indication whatsoever of any aggression, it is more of a "whoa what is that!" reaction.  I have grabbed him and his collar quickly and every time he has no reaction.  My husband has also tried to pet him with gloves on and that also got no reaction out of him. We have not had the opportunity to to have Spinks around any children yet but I don't foresee any problems.  He is fascinated by children and spends a lot of his time outside "peaking" at the little girls next door.  Hopefully this week he will meet some and I will update you. 
   Yesterday Spinks had his fist bath with us.  He was a little nervous to be put in the tub, but once I gave him a cookie he waited patiently until I was done.  He is starting to understand the idea that humans will actually play with him and he LOVES playing with toys.  I am not sure how many toys he had in his past because when he first came he looked at them like he had never seen them before.  With just a little work he would be as close to perfect as a dog could be.  I just hope he will find a forever home that will love him and show him how good a dogs life really is.

7/19/08 - Spinks is a great dog. He has been with us for 3 days now and has fit right in with our family. He is very outgoing and friendly and made himself right at home here.  He obviously came from a home where he was put in a crate and does not give us any problems with going into it.  Spinks is house trained and has not had any accidents since he has been here.  He loves to play with my dog but does not know how to play with people yet. However, he does love affection. Spinks primarily occupies himself when not playing with our dog.  He does need some weight put on him but overall seems healthy. He has not seen the vet yet. 
Today Spinks went for a visit to my parents house and was very well behaved. So far, he has not met anyone that he does not like.  On a walk we ran into an unleashed dog and Spinks showed no signs of aggression.  Overall he walks well on a leash but does pull a little. 

7/17/08 - Spinks can sit, lay down and stay.  Which I find really impressive since he doesn't even know us yet. But he does need a little work on these things.    On the car ride home he seemed relaxed because he laid right down but was curious when we stopped for gas. So we let him stick his head out the window and he just looked around.  He did make some noise in the crate last night but on a whole was very good.  He does not fight to go into the crate at all.  The dogs played on the deck this morning while I ate my breakfast on the table outside.  He did come over to see what I was doing but did not beg or try to get my food.  He is a little skinny but not grossly skinny.  Last night we gave him some food in his crate and he ate it all.  When my dog, Tigger, was getting a drink and he stuck his head right in the bowl with her and had no reaction what so ever.  I did play with the ball with him (rolling it on my living room floor while he was alone)  he let me take the ball from him and had no reaction to that either.