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swgrl09
17-12-15, 17:01
My husband and I just rescued a dog ... she's a boxer/beagle mix and she is so great! Very affectionate, cuddly, playful. A few issues with accidents in the house the first couple days, but she is coming along well with house training. I am loving having a dog!!!

debs71
17-12-15, 17:26
How wonderful for you. :)

I think pets are very, very therapeutic and helpful for mental health sufferers. They offer so much for us in terms of unconditional love, affection, distraction when we feel anxious,etc. and company when we are/feel alone.

All the best to you and your new pet! :)

pulisa
17-12-15, 19:20
How exciting for you! And really lovely to adopt a rescue dog too. Wishing you loads of fun and happiness with your new family member!

swgrl09
17-12-15, 19:33
Thank you and you are totally right. Even in the worst mood, when she bounces into my lap it always makes me smile!! Been getting exercise too taking her out.

jimsmrs
18-12-15, 14:05
My German Shepherd is 7 yrs old now, we got her at 5 months old, the person who had her was going to put her in the dogs home, but we took her. She was the worst behaved dog EVER!!!!!! But now is she is the most gentle, well behaved dog.

Walking a dog is brilliant therapy, I take her out in rain, snow, all weathers. I stop and chat to other dog owners. Would be lost without her.

Enjoy her !!!!

swgrl09
18-12-15, 16:35
Thank you! We love taking her to the dog park ... She's made lots of doggy friends!! The owners all know each other too from frequent visits. It's been fun!

MissyMischief
18-12-15, 21:14
Congratulations! I rescued my two dogs almost two years ago now...and it's probably the best decision I've made yet. They bring me so much joy and happiness!

Have fun with your new fur baby!! :D

SADnomore
19-12-15, 03:51
Aw, congratulations! Enjoy! :)

MyNameIsTerry
19-12-15, 05:49
Whoa, a boxer cross! Boxers usually have tons of energy and love jumping on you so you will be kept very busy :D

Dogs are great companions, I bet you will get a lot out of this.

Oosh
19-12-15, 17:34
:yahoo:

I used to have three boxers, great dogs, soft as they come.

swgrl09
19-12-15, 22:22
Haha, Terry she has loads of energy. This morning I took her for a 2 mile walk. Thought we'd go up hill to use some energy but she still had loads, so I started jogging with her. Mind you I am NOT jogger/runner. So we jogged, got me some exercise, and she STILL was energetic. So we took her to the dog park and she ran around crazy with two husky/retriever mixes. I laughed because she's about 45 pounds (medium sized) and these dogs were huge she was playing with but she gave them the run-around for sure. She's got some speed on her.

Then she went to the vet and got some vaccines, loved all the staff and they loved her. The vet says she might be trainable to be a good therapy dog for others because she is so happy, not afraid of people, and affectionate. I will think about it for the future.

Finally that was enough to tucker her out and she snuggled up with me for a good hour under the blankets. Husband has her out for a walk again. I tell you we are definitely getting more exercise with this one!!!

swgrl09
19-12-15, 22:24
I tried to attach a picture ... let's see if it works.

SADnomore
19-12-15, 23:28
Aw, look at that sweet face! What a pretty girl, lovely brown eyes and gorgeous coat! :)

swgrl09
19-12-15, 23:29
I know ... those eyes let her get away with a lot!!!

MyNameIsTerry
20-12-15, 05:47
Aw, she's lovely!

She sounds like a friendly but also confident dog, some great qualities that will make problems be few I reckon.

My dog loves going to the vets and drags us in and all the other dogs in there are cowering under chairs. He loves the fuss off the vet & nurses and even injections in the neck don't phase him. Yours seems the same so you will have no worries over vet anxiety there!

She already sounds like she is doing some therapy to me :winks:

jimsmrs
20-12-15, 14:49
Aw she's gorgeous!!! I can see the Boxer in her

Dogs give tons of love back, they never question you, mine knows when I'm feeling down, and she loves the Vets too.

She'll definitely change your life for the better!!!

swgrl09
20-12-15, 15:46
Yep, Terry, she is just like that ... got her vaccine and was licking the woman giving it to her happily. Much different than when we take our cat!! Thanks for all your kind words :) We're really happy with her so far.

Jimsmrs - you are definitely right about that. Always loving, always helpful when you feel down. She's great.

MissyMischief
20-12-15, 20:37
Awww! She is so cute!

My dogs HATE the vets. I feel like I'm taking them off to be murdered, that is how much they hate it.

jimsmrs
21-12-15, 14:06
She'll open a whole new world for you.

keep posting about her progress

swgrl09
21-12-15, 15:11
We actually did have progress ... She was able to sit by the fire next to the cat without trying to play with her! They even sat on opposite ends of the couch haha! This is big because she's not aggressive, but just likes playing and the cat is not a fan of that. So they are coming along well together.

yvonne_uk_98
21-12-15, 17:06
she is lovely.

Lucinda07
21-12-15, 19:49
What lovely eyes!
Reminds me of that Van Halen song "Brown Eyed Girl"

swgrl09
21-12-15, 22:12
Thank you :)

jimsmrs
22-12-15, 15:16
That's brilliant that the cat has accepted her.

swgrl09
22-12-15, 18:16
Thanks! Our main issue is she keeps taking ornaments off the tree and chewing them up! We're going to have to either move the ornaments or get a barrier around the tree.

MyNameIsTerry
23-12-15, 11:15
That reminds me of those cats you see lounging around with a little puppy diving on them in those funny home vids shows. Eventually the older cat gets annoyed and gives him a whack :D

jimsmrs
23-12-15, 14:02
Use distraction. When she goes near the tree, tell her 'leave' in a forceful voice, but not in a shouty tone, then reward her with a treat when she leaves the tree, this will tell her that leaving the tree results in a treat, it's all about setting boundaries with her. You can adopt the 'treat' technique with nearly all of her training and get your husband involved too. Most pet shops sell treat bags you can clip onto your jeans. But only reward good behaviour, with praise, cuddles or a treat and remember to ignore the bad behaviour.

Remember you and your husband are the pack leaders, you dominate her not the other way around.

Happy to help if you need any more tips!!

swgrl09
23-12-15, 14:57
Thank you for those tips! We are trying to use lots of positive reinforcement with her ... That same idea helped her leave the cat alone. She is really praise motivated, which is a great help!

jimsmrs
24-12-15, 15:19
Remember it's not just physical exercise she needs but also mental stimulation with games and dogs love the 'leave' game,

It's also an important game too, just in case you drop something on the floor that would harm her, (all dogs think with their stomachs!!!) like any meds you're on. Grapes, currants , sultanas, chocolate and onions all toxic to dogs.

Have a great and fun Christmas with her.

Any further tips or advice, I'm here!!

swgrl09
27-12-15, 23:10
Thank you, thats good advice. Our vet gave us a nice sticker for the fridge with toxic foods to animals on it. We are working on "leave it" and she is doing alright with it.

She actually did spectacularly on our trip! I was so proud of her. She got along well with all the dogs, was great with the little kids, no jumping or nipping at them at all. Everybody loved her. She was also great in the car. Looks like my nerves were for nothing there!

We are going to get her involved in a doggy day care this week for the day that my husband and I both will be working long hours. I have no worries she'll be alright. Took her to the dog park today and have been working with her on training. She's fitting right in with the family.

jimsmrs
28-12-15, 14:03
That's brilliant, your lives before you got her will be just a distant memory.

MyNameIsTerry
29-12-15, 00:14
Your dog seems very friendly, confident, has a good temperament, etc. I bet she will be fine with other dogs.

The only worry could be separation anxiety. My dog has this but when we take him for his hair cut he spends 2 hours there and plays with the other doggies and he is fine. So, perhaps it wouldn't even be an issue in a daycare?

How has your mood been, swgrl? You have seemed low in the run up to Xmas and I'm hoping this has made a substantial impact on that.

Hippyannie
29-12-15, 12:50
Hiya, I have a black cat and two rats! I agree, pets are very therapeutic. Would love to see a picture if you have one :)

Congrats on becoming a dog mama xxx

swgrl09
29-12-15, 15:21
Thanks for checking about my mood, Terry. This has definitely helped a bit. I was quite anxious over Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We did a lot of traveling and my sister was home (the one I don't have a good relationship with) so there was some stress. But seeing how happy this pup is just to see us every day helps a lot! I have had my down days, as this is the time of year my mom got sick and died. But I do think getting the dog has helped to get through some of it.

She does have a bit of separation anxiety, but she loves people and dogs so I think she'll be fine at day care. I brought her this morning and she ran right in when she saw the dogs. Social butterfly I guess!

pulisa
29-12-15, 22:18
I'm so pleased that your new dog is bringing you pleasure and comfort at what must be a very difficult time of the year for you. She sounds as if she's settling in amazingly well.

MyNameIsTerry
29-12-15, 23:36
She will know when you feel down or anxious, mine does. When I was really bad he would try & get me up to play which took away my mad fatigue and he would come & sleep on me for comfort. I know he knows because he did the same with my mum when she broke her shoulder and for once he didn't jump up, just hung around her feet a lot giving her attention or just sleeping more around her.

They are good like that and I bet yours will be too. This will be a great comfort for you through these tougher times and you've both made a good decision to bring her into your family to help you through these times.

swgrl09
16-01-16, 02:54
There's been a lot of sad news lately, so I thought I'd post a happy update.

We've had our pup over a month now and could not be happier with her. She continues to be great, has met lots of our family and friends, my little nephews, and was WONDERFUL with them. I was nervous, as my 3 year old nephew is afraid of dogs but after the initial fear, by the end of the night he was sitting right next to the dog and she was sleeping. She has been so good, very well-behaved, and very smart. She picks up on her training very quickly. We just tell her to go to bed and she walks right over to her crate and snuggles up inside.

It's been a tough week for me for a few reasons, but sitting here with her sleeping in my lap and snoring (rather loudly) has me quite content regardless.

MyNameIsTerry
16-01-16, 05:46
That's lovely! Isn't it funny when they snore? Mine does and sometimes quickly so he sounds like a piglet! Yours must be loud with being a big dog.

Good for your nephew too. It would be so much better for him to lose these fears early on so he doesn't end up on here with us one day. A good confidence boost for him.

You've dropped on a good dog there.

swgrl09
16-01-16, 14:20
She sounds more like a full grown boar than a cute piglet, haha! We have been very lucky! I think a good pet can help a lot of us with depression and anxiety.

pulisa
16-01-16, 14:44
I'm so pleased that your new addition has settled in so well to become part of the family. I agree about having pets and how they can help us so much. We started off with gerbils and progressed to guinea pigs, rats, hamsters-both Syrian and Chinese-mice and my beautiful now sadly deceased house cat, Lucy. My vet has since retired to a luxury residence in Monte Carlo as a result of my visits but it's all been worth it!:D

Enjoy your beautiful dog-I'm sure she's more therapeutic than any med and she comes with no side effects!:D

swgrl09
16-01-16, 17:04
We had a wonderful cat named Lucy growing up as well. I'm sorry to hear about yours no longer being with you :( I know what you mean about vet bills ... We paid an arm and a leg when our cat was sick last year, but it's all worth it. Would not take it back at all!

Thanks for your kind words :)

yvonne_uk_98
28-01-16, 02:22
Swgrl09, who did you cause to become lop sided, somebody lost and arm and a leg.

George123
03-04-16, 12:27
Hi got new puppy first puppy ever.he now 10weeks old so training etc... I finding it so hard and stressful,I know it gets better.this was my idea for the family:but I am feeling gutted as didn't know it was this hard,I having anxiety over this.if he wakes up at 4am barks I panic..I feel so silly feeling like this,I feel like giving him up but my family will never forgive me.may be when he can go for walks it will get better xx

swgrl09
03-04-16, 14:20
George, first it's wonderful you gave the puppy a home! Puppies are a lot of work, as you know. Our girl was a year and a half when we got her so she was out of the worst of puppy stage. It will not last forever though! Are there any professional training classes you can take him to? Those are soooo helpful and worth the investment.

Pipkin
03-04-16, 18:53
Hi got new puppy first puppy ever.he now 10weeks old so training etc... I finding it so hard and stressful,I know it gets better.this was my idea for the family:but I am feeling gutted as didn't know it was this hard,I having anxiety over this.if he wakes up at 4am barks I panic..I feel so silly feeling like this,I feel like giving him up but my family will never forgive me.may be when he can go for walks it will get better xx

George,

Stick it out my friend. Although you're new here, trust me, it gets better. In fact, you've made an excellent decision in giving a home to a puppy, and you will love him and find he helps your anxiety. The first month or so can be hard but then you'll realise that you could never let him go.

And I agree, training classes are an excellent way to get the best out of your puppy and they're also great fun as you get to socialise with other dog owners and their furry friends.

Good luck

Pip

MyNameIsTerry
04-04-16, 05:55
Hi got new puppy first puppy ever.he now 10weeks old so training etc... I finding it so hard and stressful,I know it gets better.this was my idea for the family:but I am feeling gutted as didn't know it was this hard,I having anxiety over this.if he wakes up at 4am barks I panic..I feel so silly feeling like this,I feel like giving him up but my family will never forgive me.may be when he can go for walks it will get better xx

Yes, I agree with Pip and Swgrl.

I think what would be good would be if you read a few threads where people have suffered the same struggles. I was the same when we had ours but I promise you that you can get past this and you won't look back!

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=179064&highlight=puppy

Have a look at the links I put in there because plenty of people have raised this over the years and other members have reassured them how you do get over this issue. You will also see that the OP stuck it out and is now fine too.

Give it some time. :woof: