Age & Sex: 2 yr. old Male	UTD: Yes
Weight:  55 lbs.	Other Dogs: Yes
Color: Fawn	Cats: No
Ears: Natural	Children: Under 5: ?     Over 5:  Yes
Tail: Docked	Professional Training Required: No
Neutered: Soon	Microchipped: No
Shelter Surrender	Location: Voorhees, NJ
Adoption Donation $300 Medical Condition:  Demodectic Mange

4/25/08 - Rocky loves cuddling and kissing.  He does not go on the furniture but will put his head 
and paws on your lap and kiss forever if not stopped.  He seems comfortable with every person 
he has seen on his long walks and is working on his leash training.  He did very well with his bath 
yesterday after he was put in the tub.  He did need a little persuading (carrying into tub) but once 
he was in the bath he was compliant until it was finished.  He is a special and loving boxer who 
loves lots of playtime and walks.

4/21/08 - Rocky #1 has moved to a new foster home.  
I picked Rocky up and he is fine.  He slept the whole ride home with his head in my lap.  
He does have an eye infection which I am giving him medication for but besides that he seems fine.  
He shows no food aggression and him and my dog both eat from their own dishes without a problem.  
They also share toys without a problem.  Rocky seems to need a little coaxing to get into his cage to 
sleep at night but he absolutely loves going for walks.  He needs to work on being leash trained.

4/10/08 - Rocky is continuing to do very well here.  He is a very playful boy and spends quite a bit 
of time playing and 'boxing' with his housemates.  He is also enjoying the nice weather this spring.  
He is quite content to lay out in the sunshine on the porch and watch everything that goes on. Rocky 
seems to really appreciate any attention he receives.  He will nudge and nuzzle for petting.  He 
really is such a sweet boy,  I can tell why everyone at the shelter was sad to see him go.  Rocky 
knows "sit" and "drop it" so well.  He is also doing very well with his new "Stay" command. This boy 
is going to be a great companion when his forever family is found.  

4/2/08 - Today Rocky and I spent some good one on one time, which is at a premium around here.  My 8 month old niece is staying with me today and it seemed like a good time to see how he does with small children.
I had the baby sitting on the corner of the couch with me between her and Rocky.  She is in a squealing phase which really didn't seem to bother Rocky at all.  He was very curious around her, and would walk around the couch watching and seeing what she was doing.  When he would come close she would reach for him, so I let him sniff her a bit.  Of course, he has the world's longest tongue (so long it often hangs out the corner of his mouth!) and he gave her several kisses on the hand and even her cheek.   When this happened she got very excited and started waving her arms, which ended up smacking his snout which he didn't mind at all!  As time passed and they interacted like this for about 10 minutes, Rocky seemed to get a bit more excited and in true boxer fashion, tried to use his front paws, and nearly got the baby in the face, so we stopped playing for a bit.   I was glad to see there was absolutely no aggression at all.  He let her play with him, with no sign of irritation, no growling, no nose wrinkling even.  But I think he'll need more experience with little ones so that he can learn to keep his paws to himself.
He is still having the occasional accident in the house.  I haven't figured out the sign that he has to go out yet, as I just try to let them all out periodically.  He has never gone in his crate, but as I am giving him more and more freedom in the house we have to work on him letting me know if he has to go out.
He is getting along quite well with the other dogs, and I haven't seen any signs of problems from him, but he is quite exuberant, and tends to want to play when the other three are relaxing.
His hair is completely grown back on his head and face.  There are a few thin patches along his side and back legs, but he looks amazingly better.  He will be a very handsome dog....but with a ton of character the way his tongue hangs out the side!

3/18/08 - Its been an interesting week so far for Rocky.  My coonhound and Rocky haven't been getting along much the last few days (no aggression on Rocky's part).  I think by the end of the day Hayes just wants to chill out and rest, and Rocky is always looking to play.
So today, since its fairly nice out, Hayes and my other dogs have been outside chilling in the yard most of the day, while Rocky has been basically attached to my hip.  He is lying at my feet right now.  This is the first time I have really let him have a lot of freedom in the house and there have been no accidents. 
I do have much better pictures of Rocky, playing with my dogs, inside and outside, but I am having trouble with my computer so as soon as I can get them up, I will.
 

3/7/08 - Rocky went to my vet yesterday to have a routine check up and skin scraping done.  The vet did see mites on the slide that confirmed the Demodectic Mange.  He also has a fairly severe skin infection related to the mange.  He is now taking a few different medications to combat that infection and the mange, as well as requiring a special bath once a week.  I can't wait to see how that goes!
As far as his manners go, he was a perfect gentleman in the vets office.  He never showed any aggression or bad behavior around the other dogs, or the cats they have roaming around the office.  He wasn't specifically around the cats much, but when they did walk by, he pretty much ignored them.
He has had 2 more accidents since my last update.  He is very good in the crate, but whenever he is roaming the house, he lifts his leg.  I guess he never lived in a home before and still has to learn that you don't lift your leg in the house!
He did pull a bit on the leash when I first walked him to the car, but with just a gentle tug or two, he walked very nicely.
To the right are pictures from the day Rocky arrived at my house.  I am having trouble with my camera and computer software, or I would have taken and sent some of him out of his crate.  But for now, I basically took these so that there are some better ones than the ones taken at the shelter and so you can see how much better his skin is.
 

3/3/08 - The weekend was generally a good weekend for Rocky.  I started introducing him to the other dogs.  So far so good.  He is VERY playful and the other three don't really know what to think of him.  My 3 are not old dogs...but they are not boxers, so boxer playing seems to be overwhelming for them.  I have not seen any sign of aggression in Rocky at all.  He's just a very playful boy.  He did have 3 accidents this weekend, but I do blame myself for getting involved in other things, rather than keeping an eagle-eye out on him.  His hair seems to be growing back on his head, and I can't wait to be able to send new pictures of him.  He truly is much more handsome than his pictures show.  He needs a little work, but he's going to make a nice addition to some family out there.

2/28/08 - Here's another update on Rocky, who will, I think be a great addition to any household.  Unfortunately I am having trouble with my scanner software, so the pictures I have taken of him will be a bit longer in being posted.  I do believe his skin is clearing up some, especially when I compare with the original pictures on here.  However, until I am told otherwise I continue to keep him separate from my other dogs.
While the other dogs were playing outside today, I let Rocky have free roam of the house for a bit.  He followed me from room to room as I did laundry, and when I came to check email he laid down at my feet.  Eventually he got up and found a softball laying under the counter top and tried to no avail to get it out.  I heard him struggling with it, and went in to pull it out for him and his ears perked right up!   I sat down on the floor for a bit and rolled the ball for him. Each time he chased after it, he would bring it back and wait until I said "Drop it" and then would drop the ball in my hands.  When it was time for the other dogs to come back in, I told him "Rocky, go to bed" and he went
straight into his kennel.    I think he is going to be a great boy to have around.

2/26/08 - Rocky is doing well so far.  He does actually knows the "Go to bed" command, and it seems that I was wrong about the 'sit' command as well.  He has been sitting when I tell him to.
So far he has been very obedient.  Because of the skin condition and keeping him separate from the other dogs, until I get the go ahead, I haven't worked with him much yet.  I'm just letting him get settled into our routine.  I have not seen any sign of stress in him yet. 
He does absolutely refuse to go out in the rain however.  This morning he went out in the freezing rain, just long enough to do his business, but this afternoon it's pouring and he comes to the door, looks out and runs right back to his crate. 
His personality is starting to peek out a bit, and I am looking forward to seeing how he does with my dogs.

2/24/08 - Rocky arrived yesterday, thanks to everyone that helped get him here.  My first impression of this guy is what a sweetheart he is.  His skin condition appears to be better than when his last pictures were taken, though it does appear to be quite extensive.  I have him completely separated from the other dogs until I can get him to the vet, but he sees them and seems to want to play.  He kneels down on his front legs and wags his stub of a tail like crazy.
He napped during the entire car ride home, and had very good car manners.
He tends to pull on the leash a bit, but already this morning I have been working on that and he listens well.  He seems to be well crate trained, as there have been no accidents yet.  He is learning where the door is to go out, and has taken care of business each time I take him out. 
He ate well this morning, and he will not let a piece of food go to waste!  He doesn't eat ferociously , like some of mine do.  He takes his time and eats nicely.
So far he has not barked, even overnight in his crate.  I have him in the living room, separate from the other dogs crates, that way he can see what's going on, but its also tucked back into a corner so its nice and quiet for the most part.
He doesn't seem to know the sit or stay commands so in the coming days we will work on those.