Cherokee122808

MEET:

CHEROKEE

STATE: MA
AGE: 9 years
DOB: 11/6/99
WEIGHT: 64 lbs
SEX:   Female
NEUT/UTD: YesYes
COAT COLOR: Brindle
DOCKED TAIL:    Yes
CROPPED EARS:   Yes
CHILDREN UNDER 4: Unsure
CHILDREN OVER 4:   Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: Yes
OTHER DOGS:   Yes
CATS: With dog savvy ones
CRATE TRAINED: Learning
HOUSE TRAINED: Yes
LEASH TRAINED:   Yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: Some
MICROCHIPPED:   No
ADOPTION FEE: $150 (fee waived if you adopted from SCBR before!)

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UPDATE 6/13/10 - We just want to say Cherokee has been extra cute lately-I guess just regular cute was not enough. She is a little more velcro, slowing down a teeny bit at 10 1/2, but also just got diagnosed with an underactive thyroid. We are very curious to see if she perks up a bit when she has a cellular response to the thyroid hormones. She seems to have accepted Maggie, the rescued beagle, as part of the pack. She understands the beagle finds the best smells while on a walk, and the beagle is on top of guarding the house, so Chero can relax a bit and let the younger gal do most of the work. Once Maggie alerts to someone passing thru, Chero jumps up and chimes in, and then waits for her praise by strutting in her sassy way over to me. She is still "me first" with treats and after-dinner plate licking and all, so we watch her carefully and do not even let her give Maggie the hairy eyeball. We would love to know if she is better with a male-we have a feeling so, but with our weird w ork schedules where I am away four days roundtheclock, it is not the right time, and that makes me sad. Maggie still does not understand play, and Chero wants to play. Also, discovered the other day she loves Ceasar salad!

UPDATE 4/3/10 - March 2010 Update: Not too much to report. I smell spring and I want to be out all the time now! Except when it's raining, but I go when I need to go anyway. I got some relief from that little thing they call Maggie. She smells like a dog, kinda looks like a dog, but is not really a REAL dog like me and some of my big dog acquaintances. When she was away for a week I got to do everything with that guy I adopted. Real walks in the morning; hanging out all day at work; real walks in the evening; no competition begging for his meals. Then it happened: out of the blue that little four legged PIA came back!? I wasn't amused at all. In fact one evening she was being a little too frisky with MY guy and I went over and got into it with her. My guy stepped in and scolded and pushed ME away - WTF!? I tried my best to take a piece of her but I was pushed away too soon. Then to top it all off she goes and nearly takes my guy's pinky off - boy I've never seen or heard him like THAT befo re. I think I'll just leave that mutt alone from now on - she is such the homewrecker. Why does he put up with her!? Sheesh. Anyway, my guy is doing much better now. Oh - gotta go - he's calling me to go for a WALK!!

UPDATE 2/1/10 -   I just got news that obedience training has been waived for seniors. Cherokee hopes that it is retroactive because I haven't had the time or inclination to make the 2 hour drive or so for the April Frost class I want to put her in. However, since adopting her I have uncovered some of the commands she responds to. She knows 'Sit' perfectly; 'Stay'; 'Stop' along with the 'Stop' hand signal well; 'Down' or 'Lie Down' well; 'Wait' is extremely effective to halt her on our walks. I have also taught her a few of my own: 'Over' means move over when she is in the drivers seat and I want to take it back. Unfortunately it doesn't work so well when she has made herself comfortable on my bed. In that case I have to TRY to physically move her over - which usually is a futile exercise. She just lays there and ignores me. Which is better than Maggy the Beagle who will try to bite anyone who tries to move her when she is settled in - She go me twice - bad; blood everywhere. We learned to u se a leash with Maggy. There ought to be bully breed legislation for Beagle owners who should know to 'let sleeping Beagles lie'. Anyway, Cherokee also knows 'Cookie' and 'Walk' and 'Out' and 'Duty' and 'Eat' (which means it's time for some eats). She really does know 'Come' but defiantly refuses to acknowledge that she does, especially when we are outside. She also knows 'Get Maggy' - seriously. She will go and find the Beagle when Maggy has gotten off leash while we are out walking in my woods. When you say 'What's That?!' in a concerned tone, she will immediately go on alert and bark loudly with the Mohawk thing going on. She also knows the _sound_ of Maggy getting excited for a treat and will come from across the house to get one too! She knows that 'get the bone' is time to play 'try to get the bone from me if you can'. Similarly 'Get the glove' and ' Where's the Stuffy' means lets play tug with one of my gloves or one of the stuffed toys. Oh, yeah she also knows 'No', but I don't have to use that too often with her. She is truly one great boxer with both looks and personality and came turn-key on the obedience thing. All round: lucky me.

UPDATE 1/2/10 - Cherokee has made a remarkable and complete recovery from her bought with Lyme disease. The course of antibiotics and anti-inflammatories worked their magic. She is now back to being her bratty, fun-loving self. She's not too keen on all this snow, but when I go out with her she loves to run and jump and try to grab my glove to play tug. We usually go out without the Beagle - she's too slow and gets distracted sniffing; don't like waiting getting cold while Maggie takes her sweet time. We like to RUN and JUMP and GO FOR THE GLOVE!
All that excitement sure does work up an appetite and she's ready to eat first thing in the am and as soon as it gets dark she starts asking for dinner - sometimes as early as 3pm!
She and the cat Neo still get along great...except when Maggie starts in on the barking and chasing. Then the pack mentality takes over and Cherokee joins in on the fun. But when it's just Neo and Cherokee, she defers to Neo. Neo is the Alpha, but Maggie just hasn't got the message yet, although she is doing so much better at not baying and barking, at least when I'm around.
The Holiday's were fun if uneventful. The Beagle left us alone to enjoy quality time together - just Cherokee, Neo and me. It was great. Up early; eat; out to play; hang out with the Master; treats throughout the day; out to play some more; eat; play and roughhouse in the evening; in a warm bed for a well deserved rest. Then repeat. This is what every dog's life should be like.
I just want to add to Alex's update and say how much I love Cherokee and what a cool dog she is. First off, she had a great foster mom in Christi, and was loved and appreciated by her. Chero is very communicative, and seeks you out in large ways as well as subtle. You can tell she has been responded to in her life. She always lets you know some way that she has a want or need. She has a full range, from a gentle nudge or will grab a toy and bump it into your knee. Or she will knock down the recycling bags or paw her dish around to get your attention. Besides the boxer wiggle, she has something extra I have not seen in the boxers I have known. She has an extra squiggle in her wiggle. She has the serpentine snake like wiggle, but if she's extra excited, she gets a quick jolt of an up/down wiggle in her lower back while doing the side to side wiggle. Hard to explain, but wicked cute, and I find myself trying to get her to do it many times a day by upping the silly an te, bc that is when she gets extra happy and will do it. We love Cherokee.

UPDATE 11/28/09 - The biggest deal for Cherokee lately is still getting along with another dog around. At some point, we would like to see how she accepts a male, but for now Maggie the beagle needed escape from living in a tin box for 6 years, so she is Cherokee's fur pack. There is also Neo, the cat with the extra toes.
Overall, she has accepted Maggie. She seems even to have accepted the beagle's OCD-level sniffing. She doesn't get it, will still give her a perplexed look, then look at us and shrug, where she used to feel the need to correct Maggie. They have been playing tug-of-war in the evening with a blanket or a shredded stuffed animal. Cherokee will have her end and be pulling Maggie all over the kitchen (70 lbs versus 20). Then she'll decide "I'm done", drop her end, walk over to Maggie and whack the blanket out of her mouth with her paw. Game over. Walk away. Cherokee is kind of a brat that way. Its very funny, and we laugh a lot. Things have to be on her terms with the beagle. Tonight, Alex was playing tug with Maggie, and Cherokee was just watching from a distance, a bit drowsy. I have documented in the scbryahoogroups that Cher just got diagnosed yesterday with Lyme disease. She came home tonight from a night at the vet's office. Tired and punk as she was feeling, she w alked over to their game and grabbed the stuffie away from Maggie and Alex, put it down, and went to lay down again. I just laugh every time I see this or think about it. If she was a kid, I would think she was a brat.
She still enjoys her runs in the woods. She has developed stronger muscles. She enjoys bluffing the cat and chasing him in a silly way. When Maggie is here with her, she shows no more signs of separation anxiety. She always has a good appetite. She like going to work with Alex a few days a month, and meeting the local dogs and people. She is very social and confident.   You could tell she was very relieved to come back home after 30 hours at the vet clinic. She very sweetly and enthusiastically greeted everyone. We knew we loved her, but we really knew when it was so hard to see her struggle to stand, and then fall with the onset of the Lyme disease. She had a lack of interest in drinking water, so I gave her water through a syringe and she sucked on it like a bottle, she was so cute. It was one of the few times I could admire her gooey face up close because she doesn't get how cute she is and does not sit still for you to admire her.
From her point of view - maybe - she says " I was really scared when I kept yakking over and over again. My peeps tried pepto - I tossed those cookies. And I kept doing it til we went to the vet and he gave me an OUCH (shot of anti-emetic)I was really scared when my legs hurt and I kept falling down. My peeps kept helping me up, and put a towel under my belly, and held the ends above to help me stand and pee. At the vet, the other dogs barked constantly, but I was an angel - pretty much quiet. They had clinic cats that I could not chase bc I was in a kennel. Also didn't really feel up to it. Had one of those IV's where they put OUCH a needle in my leg. They didn't have evening roughhousing and treat-dispensing like at my peep's house. I had so many people, animals, and action. Someone brought in a goat! I am feeling a bit better...wondering if I will see my peeps again, and the OCD beagle..."And of course she has all the mysterious thoughts and contemplations we may ne ver be lucky enough to know about.

UPDATE 9/29/09 - Cherokee has some new nicknames. Besides Miss Cher, she is also called Cherry Berry and Cherokee Bee. Who can figure.
Last month, we had computer problems, and the update was sent off and did not seem to make it to you. Lots new for Cher. For one, she likes a variety of foods. This includes watermelon, the blackberries that were growing in the yard last month, and ice cubes! That was discovered when one was dropped on the floor, and she chews them. She also likes the usual cheese, a bit of yogurt in her dinner, and homemade dog biscuits.
She has settled in quite well. She has gotten very cool with the cat - they sleep together on the bed and Neo will occasionally chase her on walks (and vice versa). Cherry now loves the woods and goes for a walk in them every morning. She loves to race around, challenging herself to find new paths, up and over the granite and around the trees. She is having a blast. What is new in Cher's life is another dog. It's a long story, but an outdoor beagle needed to be rescued, and she has overall been a positive influence for Cher. The presence of another dog has brought out many sides of Cher-with someone to bounce off of on a regular basis, we have seen her personality more clearly defined. My impression of Cher was she may have been an only dog before she came into foster/adoption. And Maggie the beagle was alone in her metal box for years. She had been witnessed occasionally interacting with neighborhood dogs, and acted very sweet, friendly, curious, and subordinately by quickly dropping and rolling to show her belly. Neither really seems to know how to play with other dogs. Cher made the first move, and is trying to get Maggie to play. Maggie now mimics Cher, and barks back and gets all excited. She has made a few playful moves back at Cher. Cher really like to play with people, and can get a little carried away - maybe jumping a little too hard, or getting a bit edgy. She reminds me of adolescent boxers trying to figure out the boundaries, and crossing them a bit in their enthusiasm to play. And Cher occasionally does that with Maggie. Since Maggie had virtually no human contact all those years, she is so excited to have home, people, dog, cat, stimulation after years of deprivation, that she acts quite puppyish. That bugs Cher a bit, so she has put her down with her paw a few times. Her FM commented on how Cher would then look at you sort of proud and "look what I did!", and she does. Cher likes things kind of orderly in that regard. Very funny. The beagle was trained to hunt years ago, so is very obsessed with the nose/sniffing, and that seems to get on Cher's nerves. She likes Maggie to be balanced, like Cesar Milan. We are working on bringing Maggie down a couple of notches. Since Cher will sometimes jump on Maggie to get her to chill, they are watched carefully. Another positive has been Cher has been much happier when people leave, and not displayed the separation anxiety any more. She does not jump in her kennel to move it across the floor, and she is occasionally left out of the kennel and has been pretty good. After several weeks of spending a fair amount of time together, they are developing an ease with each other that is very nice. Neither really sniffed each other in the normal way, and since the second week or so, that has become a relaxed part of their interactions.
Well, the other recent news Is Cherokee possibly met her first skunk the other night. She gets a late night walk off leash because it is a rural road with only a few houses. She is responsive 95% of the time to being called, and stays close. Well, I did not see the skunk, she did, and it was over in a second-Cher got sprayed in her face. She had a bath and all the treatments. She was clearly dismayed and perplexed. A couple days later, she still carries the smell (and so do we). I tell her how lovable she is despite her smell, and her self esteem remains intact and healthy as ever, as any boxer's does if they are in a loving home. (That's Jane anthropomorphizing - ed)

UPDATE 7/31/09 - When we arrived home I took Cherokee (on lease) to sniff around the yard. Then we went for a short walk down my drive. My cat Neo saw that I was home and came to greet me, and boy was his nose out of joint when he saw Cherokee (who didn't see him).
Once inside I took Cherokee (on leash) into every room and let her sniff around. Once back downstairs she saw Neo and immediately wanted to chase. Neo is very dog savvy and went behind a big partition I set up in advance preparation. There he could size up the new interloper and keep a watchful eye.
For the next week Cherokee would whine and wonder why Neo just didn't come out and play. But Neo came around remarkably quickly and while there were a few hisses and paw-batting corrections when Cherokee came uncomfortably close, they are now both walking together, sleeping on my bed together and generally hanging out together. They don't understand the other's way of playing, but they do interact well. On walks Neo will follow, stalk, charge past and occasionally startle Cherokee (which is his intent) and Cherokee takes it all in stride - doesn't try to chase. Conversely, when Cherokee really gets going with running (and boy can she run) in a field and is headed right for Neo, he just holds his ground and Cherokee runs past him and makes a sharp turn and heads back to me. Quite the sight to see. Neo definitely likes being around Cherokee and he seeks her out, both indoors and outside. Cherokee kind of just accepts him and thinks he's a strange quirky animal (I'm anthropomorphizing a little here).
Cherokee is definitely a people-dog. She is very clingy and does not like to be left on her own. She follows and wants to be right where her people are - a little too much. The first week Cherokee was not left alone at all. Between Jane and myself Cherokee was always with one or both us. Even now, a month later, she very rarely is left alone. During that first week we had the crate set up and would coax her in with a treat and leave the gate open. It was a challenging exercise to get her to go in on command, but patience wins out every time. Eventually, we had to have her stay in the crate, but never for more than a 5 hour stretch, with 3 hours being the usual. The first few times she moved the crate across the floor, as we were warned she would. Now we set it up in the kitchen, with a clear view of the front yard and the dishwasher door to prevent her from moving it. That has kept her from trying to move it and as a result kept her calmer while she is in it. The most important exercise (and difficult for me) is letting her out. She is obviously so excited - too excited - and I feel so guilty, but I nonetheless exercise the discipline to open the door, let her out, ignore her excited state and go about bringing in the mail, groceries, etc., until she calms down some. Only when she is calmer do I greet her and give her affection. The point of this is to get her to learn that having her pack leader come and go is what happens and is ok. Not greeting her when she is in a hyper excited state lets her mind be reassured that pack leader is back and things are normal. Obviously, separation anxiety is one of the most difficult issues to deal with and won't be cured in a month, so it is critical to be disciplined and consistent about our departing and returning ritual. The good news is she doesn't try and get out of the crate (or car) and does not loose control of her bladder/bowels. So we already are in a good place to work from.
Her socialization with other dogs is another area where Cherokee will need more work and after a month she is just beginning to come into her own in terms of self confidence and sense of place that I am just starting to see more of her personality in this regard. My initial impressions are that she actually seems insecure around other dogs. While she knows she can easily intimidate smaller dogs (and will if allowed) I sense she is nervous and expects a meeting to not go well and as a result set herself up for a tense and even confrontational meeting. I am working very carefully and methodically to understand her better in this regard. She has been meeting other dogs regularly, and the meetings have been good because I have been very sure to make them so. There has only been one meeting (which I was not a part of) where she went after another dog because she interpreted his actions as aggressive, which they were not. Bear is a larger yellow lab puppy (1.5 yrs) and Jane's family's dog. This is a work in progress and I hope to gain much more insight once I get her signed up for dog school, which I have not done yet as I just had a week of Court and am behind on many things (but not on taking her for walks).
Finally, I did take her to the vet for a check up and she is on schedule for heartworm meds. I had to switch the food she was on to a brand that is locally available. It was difficult because she seemed to like _all_ the sample packs we tried. Anyway, she has fully transitioned to California Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice Adult (http://www.californianaturalpet.com/products/default.asp?id=3). She always has a healthy appetite. I have also been giving her 2 doses of Mountain Naturals, Natural Joint Plus (http://www.mountainnaturals.com/for_pets/support/natural_joint_plus_double_strength_supplements_for_dogs/) which she eats without having to be coaxed.
I have looked at a number of local dog schools, but have not spoken with them because of my unrelenting June/July schedule. I have a little breathing room now and will hopefully have her signed up very soon. She knows basic obedience, but I want her to learn a few more advanced commands and to have an environment to work on socialization with other dogs - to be able to have a calm and engaging meet-and-greet as opposed to tense and nervous one.

UPDATE 7/18/09 - First day was somewhat bewildering and a little stressful. Having been in a great foster home for so long left Cherokee somewhat glum when she got in the car with us to leave. But we stopped briefly at Whole foods where I got to give her a walk and get a little 1-on-1 time. It was immediately apparent that she has received a lot of time and attention and a fair amount of training. She is almost ideal on leash. She pays no attention to other dogs if I don't want her to. She even ignores those groups of little yappers - they don't seem to phase or interest her. (Good thing too, as my neighbor has an unruly, disobedient, Westie.) Cherokee sits on command, stays on command, lies down (after sit) on command, and comes on command. Although that last one only really works when there are no other really interesting distractions like cats, squirrel, chipmunks, porcupines (yep) - she is very prey driven. She is also great in the car. She doesn't stress pant, stick her head out the window or move around a lot.
There is so much more to write (and I will), but the trip home was remarkable in that Cherokee was so well behaved she made it appear as though I was an expert handler and have had her for years. She really shined on the trip home and continued to do so well afterwords. More on that soon.

6/28/09 - With a tear in her eye, Foster Mom said goodbye to her Miss Cher as she went home with her new forever family!

6/1/09 - Hi again, yeah, I�m still here and you�ll never guess what my foster family has done to me. They brought home a PUPPY! Yea she�s cute but she�s a puppy for dog sakes. I tried to tell them I was too old for this but they seem to think I�m a spring chicken. Tell don't them I said so but really I am a spring chicken. I just like the perks I get for being a senior. FM says just because there�s a little snow on the muzzle doesn�t mean there isn�t still fire in the hearth. I have NO idea what that means. Shhhhhh, don�t tell anyone but sometimes I like the little rascal that lives here now. We play outside and she�s a real good sport when I race at her and jump over her to get the ball they throw. I loooooooove chasing the ball but I�m not always keen about bringing it back. If I have it with me when I come back, I�ll leave it if they tell me to. Then I get to chase it again. FM is working on the videos of me for youtube. My FB thinks he should be the star of them but we�ll see about that. His singing, to me, sounds like the puppy howling.
     Not too long ago they brought me to the doctor �cause I kept scratching my eyes. FM thought I was just getting cloudy eyes because of my age. They found out I have ulcers on them. I�ve been getting medicine drops and boy do they feel better. They also gave me these funky �puppy cookies� and now my legs don�t stiffen up so much when it rains. They are something that sounds like Glucos�.something. Anyway, they work wonders. Don�t worry I still run and prance around when I play. I still love being outside every chance I get. And I stay in the yard when they let go of my leash. FM says the best part about me doing my business in the yard is no more chipmunks making holes.
     I think you should really, really, REALLY take a closer look at me. You don�t have ANY idea what you�re missing. I will make a near perfect companion for you. I know FM has raved to you about me and they can be biased because they love me but seriously, they appreciate how good and they say, easy I am compared to the youngun over there. You did notice I am dog of the month, right?
     I still don�t like the crate but I know I have to go there when they are gone. But I like being in there best when they give me a big bone to chew on. Yuuuuuuuuummy!
     Hope to see you soon. Love and wiggles, Cherokee

4/29/09 - Cherokee is still here. Why? Don't get me wrong, we most certainly do love her, actually everyone loves her. And she loves them, too. But she needs you to come get her and get her settled in for the summer. I know she would love to go on vacation with you, and have no doubt, she will be the perfect traveling companion and guest. She has very good balance while riding in the car. She doesn�t try to drive while you are but she will keep your seat warm while you run in for a gallon of milk. And she knows "get in the back" and �go� to get her back in the passenger seat. She likes either the front or the back and sticks her head out the window a little bit but only when you're going slow. She's pretty smart like that. We went for a ride to the dump and, like a dog, she thought it smelled fantastic. But, she behaved admirably. She did not bark at the other people nor did she try to hop out to find the source of the "yummy" smell.
     She loves the dog park but only for about an hour. Inevitably someone shows up right around that time and Cherokee wants to dominate the smaller dog. She�s not mean about it, she just wants to gently hold them down a little bit.
     I mentioned how smart she is right? Well she learned "no kisses" (I'm allergic) in less than 2 days. She knows "leave it" and that includes the cat. She knows the difference between "get the ball", �get your toy� and "get your bone". She knows where to go when I say "let's go to Mary's" (my neighbors house) and when I say "time for na-nights". And she knows the difference between going for a ride and going outside, either out the back door or through the cellar to the car. She still doesn�t like the crate but will go in easily with �crate up�.
     We are letting her loose in the yard while we are out there. And she stays with us no matter what. We keep the 20 ft leash on, just in case, but for the last few weeks, not one single bolt.
     I also mentioned the cat, after we brought Cherokee�s fur foster brother to Maine for surgery we re-introduced the cat into polite society, meaning every other room besides the bathroom and my sons room. Obviously it went very well. Cherokee walks right by her without a sideward glance and still doesn�t move an eyelash when the cat comes over to smell her. We very much enjoy a peaceful kingdom. Now getting her to leave the kitty bon-bons alone, that�s another story. YUCK!
     I think Cherokee would do best with an active family that�s home a lot or maybe she can go to work with you. I would say take a chance on this mature girl but there is no doubt that you will adore her just as much as everyone who meets her, so there really isn�t any gambling involved.

3/31/09 - Psssst! Hey you!! Yeah you! I know you�re looking at me. What I don�t know is why
you haven�t come get me yet! You have no idea what you�re missing! I am all that and a bag of
chips and modest too. Seriously, I�ve been here since Christmas. I know I was a great present
for my foster people but it�s time you clicked on that adoption link and come get me. I know the
puppies and the younger kids look appealing but guess what, they�re a lot of work. Trust me, I
know. I�m like that house you looked at that was �move in� condition. All the work was done for
you, before you even showed up. That�s me!
     I�m house trained and crate trained even though I don�t like it, I go right in because that�s what a good girl does. I don�t counter surf, I don�t pull on the leash (most of the time) and they�re teaching me not to bark at every leaf that blows by the window. See what I mean.? I love to play tug and fetch, but you have to watch me with the rope and tire toy �cause I like to floss too much and sometimes eat the string. I�d be a good walking and jogging partner, too, since I love to be outside doing those things. And, I�m a good snuggler to boot!
     Oh and those pictures you�re looking at are not the best of me. FM�s working on it. I really am a sight to behold, if I do say so myself. Come on, click it, you know you want to.

3/9/09 - Cherokee is spayed! Finally. Also her belly bump was tested and found to only be a fatty tumor, nothing to worry about. This is girl is turning out to be one hoot afte r the other. My son says her tail nub is voice activated. It doesn�t matter what you say as long as you say it to her in that higher pitched voice they all love. She doesn�t really do a kidney bean dance as much as prance and bounce for you, yes I said bounce, like a rabbit or Tigger, whichever you prefer.
We�re still working on the crate issues. She does know what �crate up� means and used to try to ignore you when you say it. She looked around as though you may be talking to the invisible dogs around her. She will go in now with a treat and a gentle guiding on her collar. We spied on her the other day and figured out how she was moving the crate half way across the room. She20pushes the door on the crate with both front feet really hard. She was sliding on the hardwoods, which did not thrill me, so we cleaned the junk room and put the crate in there, on the rug. She still managed to move it, though not as much. She did chew up the bed a little. Of course it was the expensive one and not the pillow like one. So only blankets, no stuffing for this girl. Jeesh, you�d think she was a puppy.
     She had a manicure and did pretty well considering she loves strangers but is a little shy of them touching her. I hate to think this out loud but I think someone used physical discipline with her. Not beating or �abuse� but we�ve all seen someone swat their dog for barking or jumping or whatever. That�s what I mean. When she 1st came to us she was just a little standoffish while being excited to play and walk, etc. Then I noticed that if we reached down to pet her she would shy away from it. Then I saw her doing it with everyone she bounded up to on our walks. She wants the love and attention but seemed unsure about the touching. Well that no longer applies to my son and I, all it took was time and she is now your typical dog that comes over and nudges your hand to be pet.
     She walks well on the leash, but does this goofy shot-out-of- a-cannon thing right after she does #2. It seems like she�s trying to get away from it or she celebrating that it�s gone. Once you get her rhythm while walking and evacuating you8 0ll be able to tell her no before your arm gets yanked. She does listen well especially once she trains you to catch her right before anything you know she�s thinking about doing.
     She's comfortable being with another dog and kids. Younger kids don't interest her too much but 10 and over would thrill her. She is more than ready for her forever home.

1/26/09 - Hi everyone, Boy it sure is cold up here. I know you know I�m from the south but let me tell y�all, I do like this funny cold white stuff you have instead of grass. My Foster Brother (FB) throws it in the air so I can catch it. It�s not very easy to play fetch with it. Foster Mom (FM) keeps asking why I�m prancing when we go for a walk. You would be too if you weren�t wearing any shoes.
     Ya know I heard them say that maybe I shouldn�t live with cats, if that�s what you want to call that funny looking naked thing that lives here too. But I know that if she would just try to play tug with me she would like it. Sometimes she pretends like she wants to play chase but then she changes her mind and swipes at me. That�s just not very nice or lady like at all. If FM or FB tell me �no� before we�re in full chase mode I�ll stop and come sit down but if I�m whipping around that corner, they have to come get me. That doesn�t happen often though. Bling, the cat, has come up close and personal while I�m just lounging on the couch. I don�t move an eyelash while she�s sniffing me. I�m no dummy, I�ve felt the breeze from those talons. Maybe if you have a kitty that likes to play you can bring me to live with you and we can all play tug and chase together.
     I have to ask y�all a question. Is my FM supposed to be making me stay in this thing she calls a crate while they�re not home? That has to be against some kind of rule somewhere. And who said it�s not ok for me to spread the trash around the kitchen? I was just trying to decorate and find a snack. I really like my foster people but they said I can�t stay forever. They said someone out there is looking for me. Is it you? Take a real close look.   I bet I am the one you�re looking for.

12/28/08 - (carnival barker voice)      STEP RIGHT UP LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! DON�T BE SHY! Be the 1st to WIN THE HEART OF THIS LOVELY LADY! What you are seeing here is the glorious Cherokee. Don�t let her official age fool you! She is every bit a pup at heart!
     Cherokee has been with us since Wed. 12/24. She is one of the sweetest girl�s I� ve met. She has obviously been well loved but due to unfortunate circumstances her owner had to give her up. That is a lucky stroke for you. This girl has some of the prettiest markings I have seen on a brindle. Some of her stripes make a curved V down her back pointing at her tail. For her age she has very little gray on her muzzle. Her spirit and attitude is typical Boxer., perpetually 3 yrs old. She�s not a leaner, yet. But she does need to be with her people. And she is definitely a cuddler. She doesn�t seem to know her name but we�re working on that by using it a lot with praise. My BF thinks it�s because we�re not saying it with a southern accent. Yes she came from the south.     She did come here knowing; sit, stay (but not for long), go (if you don�t want her to be where she is), leave it, down and off. She is playful and smart. She likes to play tug-of-war and fetch, with some playful pretend growling noises. But she'll also be ready to lay down next to, with you or on top of you when you're ready.     She walks nicely on leash but is easily distracted by new people and dogs, all of whom she wants to meet and wiggle for. I think she might have been exercised often because she loves to go for walks. She doesn�t heel unless you keep the leash in the correct place in with your hands. She does flinch a little if she doesn�t see you reaching to pet her. So we've been allowing her to come to us to be pet.     I can�t say enough about this sweet girl. Act quick and don�t let her �age� deter you. She is a treasure. I�ll let her post something herself, very soon.