Sister083009

MEET:
SISTER => Greta
(Boxer/Boston mix)

STATE: ME
AGE: 2 yrs
DOB:
WEIGHT: 15 or 20 lbs
SEX: Female
NEUT/UTD: Yes/Yes
COAT COLOR: Black & White
DOCKED TAIL: Yes
CROPPED EARS: Yes
CHILDREN UNDER 4: Unsure
CHILDREN OVER 4: Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: No
OTHER DOGS: No
CATS: Yes
CRATE TRAINED: Yes
HOUSE TRAINED: Yes
LEASH TRAINED: Yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No
MICROCHIPPED: Yes
ADOPTION FEE: $220 (includes $20 microchip fee)

UPDATE 4/18/10 - Greta is doing great. We started leaving her crate open during the day and she has handled the new responsibility very well. It seems like she's been a part of our life for much longer than 6 months. She's a very good little pup.

UPDATE 1/18/10 - Greta (aka Sister) finished her obedience training in December. We found a good trainer that we were comfortable with and who was interested in helping with Greta's needs--essentially dog aggression. Aside from her aggression toward other dogs she is so well-behaved and quick to learn that we are surprised and amazed every day. She is SUCH a good dog!
We will start another round of training in the spring which will focus more on getting her comfortable with seeing dogs from a distance.
While we work she spends her day in her crate but we have given her a couple of house-roam trial runs when we've run errands. We've learned to make the cat's litter box and food unavailable and other than that she's been fine on her own.
It's snowing today and while it seems to appeal to her when she's looking out the door she's doesn't tolerate much time actually playing in the snow. She has a winter coat but since she's a Boston Terrier/Boxer mix she's a bit low to the ground and the snow grazes her underside but the path we've shoveled in the yard encourages her to get out there.

UPDATE 12/18/09 - Greta is doing very well. She is very responsive and well mannered and continues to learn new commands.
Our new trainer taught us how to fashion a halter out of her existing leash and collar and Greta has now learned not to pull on the leash. As the weather has gotten colder we encounter fewer dogs on our walks but she remains dog reactive, we are working with the trainer to specifically address this issue. However, she met a friend's dog (who is her size) off leash and they were fine together, they ran around and played. It was encouraging!
A couple of weeks ago Greta started growling at anyone who would approach when she's in the car and sometimes with visitors at home. Our trainer suggested tossing treats in the car or on the floor at home when someone visits so she associates visitors with great things. It seems to be working.
We have a routine for mornings and evenings and she's patient if we have to deviate from the norm. She still spends her days in her crate but doesn't seem to mind it. We've left her out on a couple of occasions and she's thoroughly investigated the cat's litter box or eaten ever scrap of the cat's food. Not truly bad behavior but enough. Greta and Ted (our cat) seem to get along quite well. Ted is no longer skittish when Greta comes charging into a room. And Greta is polite in letting Ted have his treats rather than going after them herself. However, she is an attention hog and will wiggle in if someone is showing the cat more attention.
We feel very fortunate to have found Greta she's been an amazing addition to our lives.

UPDATE 11/18/09 - We are absolutely in love! There is so much to tell. We eneded up changing her name as she wasn't responding to Sister (we'd learned from her foster home that the shelter had given her the name and the foster mom said she didn't really respond to it).
So, we asked our girl what her name was, it sounds crazy, but we went through a list of names, watching for a reaction and when we said "Greta" she actually looked at us and perked her ears we decided that "Greta" must be her name. She now responds very, very well.
Greta is super smart, someone must have spent time teaching her commands as she knows many and continues to expand her vocabulary, including "go to bed" and she dutifully goes to her crate. She spends her nights on a bed in our room and her time while we're at work in her crate. She has no complaints and is very happy to see us when we come home. We have done a couple of trials of leaving her crate open when we leave for short periods of time and she hasn't shown any destructive behavior.
We have taught her to "wait" until we tell her it's ok to go out an open door, when she comes inside we tell her "paws" and she waits so we can clean off her paws. She knows to lie on her bed until we are finished eating. She and our cat get along very well--sharing the same spaces as if they've known each other for years.
Greta is learning to drop the ball when she brings it back during "fetch" in the yard, she's also learning not to pull on the leash during walks. Greta loves riding in the car but has no interest in hanging her head out the window, she's happy to curl up and wait to see where she ends up.
She loves to curl up anywhere we are, she is so snuggly! Everyone who has met her cannot believe how well behaved she is and while we can't take all the credit we do wonder how she could have ended up in a shelter before SCBR found her.
Her one flaw continues to be her aggression toward dogs. We have attended training and have learned some techniques to try to deal with her dog aggression. We do not expect her to be able to interact with other dogs but we do hope to get her to a place where she can see another dog on the street and not completely lose her mind. Hopefully we'll have an update on that in the next month.

10/18/09 - I was adopted today!

8/30/09 - Sister is a Boxer/boston terrier mix we got from our local shelter. She is a sweety who wants nothing more than a home where she can be an only dog. Sister loves... loves... loves to cuddle in your lap and barely waits for you to sit before she snuggles on up. The shelter reports that she is good with cats. She seems to be good in the car and did not make a noise all the way home yesterday. After a warm bath and some food she snuggled down in her crate for the night after making herself a comfy nest in the blankets. We went to let her out this morning and she wasn't ready to get up. She looked at us as if to say but I sleep later than this what are you people thinking? She is going to be a great dog for someone. I will update more on her as we get to know her. For now here are some pictures we took today.