WinstonFOB5-13-07


	Breed: Boston Terrier


UTD: Yes


	Sex: Male


Other Dogs: Yes Cats: Unknown


	Age: 4 yr. old


Children under 5: NO


	Weight: 18 lbs.


Children over 5: NO


	Color: Black/White


Mandatory Professional Training: Yes


	Neutered: Yes


Microchipped: No


	Owner Surrender to Shelter


Location: Nassau county, LI, NY

Adoption Donation $300

9/10/07-Winston has spent 4 weeks at a trainer in New Jersey. He has made great progress. He listens very well, and has not had any incidents after the 1st few days.
The trainer works with him every day. He gets hand fed and when ever he is eating, he gets pet. He is becoming more accustomed to being touched. The trainer has reported his progress to me every other day, and you can hear the pride in his voice when he tells me how well Winston is doing. Winston runs around in the yard, and plays with a bunch of toys. He also plays with the other dogs at the training facility, but likes to follow the trainer around as his most favorite activity.
It is important to understand that a dog like Winston does not get "cured". This is not a dog that you will pick up and bounce on your lap, nor would it be wise to allow him to sleep in your bed. He will always need to know that you are in charge, and you will need to make that leadership position clear to him. Our trainer will meet any prospective adopter, and give final approval based on meeting you and Winston at his facility. We are doing this because it is critical that Winston go to the perfect home. He has had a miserable start in life, and for him to lead a normal, happy life, which his is well on his way to doing, he needs to be perfectly matched in his forever home. We owe Winston that much. We have invested so much time and money in him, so that he can have a happy life, normal life.
If you feel you have what it takes to adopt a boy like Winston, fill out an app and find out if you are a perfect match for this very special boy

7/14/07-Winston will be going to a professional trainer to work on his behavioral issues and will be ready for adoption in the near future....

5/13/07 - It is time to introduce our newest member to the Wings and Halo Haven, one of the cutest, and certainly one of the more challenging fosters, Winston.

Winston is a 4 yr old male Boston Terrier who was turned into a Long Island shelter because of aggressiveness. I don't know what these people did to this dog, but they really did a number on him. We were pulling a boxer from this shelter, and someone told me about this dog, so I took a look at him while there. He was showing terribly in his kennel, snarling at all of the hands reaching down to him....some people even think that is cute, and taunt him some more. He had absolutely no chance to get adopted there, and would be put to sleep for sure, so I offered to take him home and see if I could have any luck with him. They were all to happy to let him have probably the only chance he has.

I got in contact with Kim Barnett, a very well respected trainer who has volunteered and worked with BAR and helped many of the dogs we have taken in with behavioral issues. I explained my experience with his behavior, and she advised me that it sounded like fear aggression, and explained that the best thing to do for at least the 1st week was to totally ignore him and let him just get comfortable with his surroundings. Leaving him alone was going to be one of the easier things to do, because you could not touch him at all, if your hand got within 2 feet of him he would snap at it. He has a leash on at all times, so i can maintain control of him if needed.

I brought him home, and left him in the yard. I let out a few of the dogs, boxers and pugs and he did not have a problem with any of them. After a bit, I took him in, and that is where you could see his insecurities. He crawled under an armoire and hid under there for quite a while. When he finally came out of there, he went and hid in a corner, behind a crate. Over time, he learned to relax.

Winston has been with me for 3 weeks now, and has made A LOT of progress. He openly plays with toys, particularly loves balls and rope toys, and plays both in the house and out. He gets along with the other dogs, and runs and plays with my Boston Terrier girl. He has not shown ANY aggression toward any of the dogs, big or small.

I have been working with him often. We go for nice walks, and he does beautifully. We has SLOWLY worked up enough trust that he can be pet slowly. I also massage his back any chance i get. Like i said, he has come a long way, but make no mistake about it, he still has a long way to go. A few instances where i have reached to pick something up that he has apparently eye has caused him to show that aggressive side. He has a 6 ft lead on at all times, so i am able to quickly get control of the situation.

I had noticed over the few weeks i was working with him, when i would give him a command, such as sit, and he did not do it, and i helped him into the "sit position", that he was shaking, clearly reinforcing that he was not mean or nasty, but fearful. Kim was right on with her over the phone evaluation. We are making plans for her to meet him and further help me help this boy.

He is totally house trained, and if fine in the crate. Clearly, Winston is not a dog for just anyone. He will need to go to a home that has no young children (probably children should be over 15, or none at all) and to people who are comfortable working on earning trust and want to help this boy develop into everything he can be. NO HEAVY handling of this boy, it just does not work, and probably the cause of his current temperament. If you think you have what it takes to continue to help this boy, please fill out an app and lets talk.