CASEY
Age 10
Weight: 59 1/2 lbs.
State fostering: CT
Children under 4: yes
Over 4: yes
Cats: yes
Dogs: yes
UTD/spayed: yes
Crate trained: learning
House broken: yes
Leash trained: yes
Obedience: some
Attending obedience: no
Adoption donation $ 150
4/18/04 Just wanted to let everyone know that Casey did well with
her surgery. Her big bump was removed and she looks and seems
great. There's a large incision area, but she hasn't tried to lick at it at
all. The vet folks gave her a bath before sending her home with me
yesterday, so she looks beautiful all over--complete with bandana
around her neck. We're so glad to have her back with us; now
she's fully ready for a forever family!
4/15/04 Casey is scheduled to have the largest bump on her back
removed tomorrow. My vet took fluid from it and agreed with her
previous vet that it appears benign. So, we'll give sweet Casey a
little "lift" and have the lump taken off. We'd hate for it to get hurt
when she's playing with our Jake--which she does daily.
Casey has some of those amusing older Boxer habits. For instance,
she decides when it's time for bed and will come stand near either
my husband or myself and sort of snort to let us know she wants us
all to go upstairs. If we agree to go to bed then, she sort of dances
through the 'go out one more time, get a cookie' routine. If we don't
get right up and start the bedtime routine, Casey will pace a little,
maybe go lie on her bed for a few minutes, and then come right back
and snort at us again. It's a subtle behavior, but we get her message!
Casey also absolutely LOVES when we have company. We used
to think she liked men more, but now we think she just likes
everybody. She loves to smell different cars in our driveway, loves
to go outside to greet guests and she does her most youthful dance
to welcome people here. She makes us smile every single day!
2/22/04 Casey is fun and easy to get to
know. She really loves to be a companion--going in the car is a
favorite. If the car door is open, Casey is likely to jump in! She also
is
content just to be on the same floor of the house as we are. Her
favorite napping places are both the top of our stairs, and the landing
area
on the stairs--warm, often sunny, carpeted spots. At night we shut
her
in our room and she settles on the dog bed fairly quickly. There have
been a few nights where she's had more trouble settling in, and we
got
the distinct impression she wanted to be allowed to sleep on our bed
with us. That's a line my husband is not willing to cross! And since
she has been known to "leak" a little urine when sleeping, I don't
really
need that happening on the down comforter either. Casey & Jake
have a
fun play routine going now. There is plenty of "romping" at our house
daily. Jake has learned that Casey will play longer if he pretends to
be less dominant, so he'll often lie on his back under her while she
dances around, both of them mouthing each other and loving it all.
Casey
has surprised us by finding food items left in reachable spots, and we
need to be more careful as a result. She has a very healthy appetite
for her meals & treats, but we're not a household that shares people
food with the dogs. Casey and our daughter continue to enjoy one
another's company. I think Casey is even converting our daughter
into a happy
recipient of her sweet licking.
1/24/04 Casey has been here a
week and we know more & more about her. She is great at
teaching us what
she likes, what she wants, etc. And, since we think she is the
sweetest thing, we have readily adapted to her desires in many
cases. She
really likes our almost 4 yr. old daughter and will follow her around,
let
her "walk" Casey on the leash in the house and will gently take treats
from her hand. We have been keeping the dogs gated apart at
mealtimes,
and have not let them lick out the other's bowl, but neither out Jake
nor Casey has shown any food aggression. Casey has let me pet her
back
while eating. She is always willing to eat, but she eats at a
reasonable pace, and she takes all treats very gently. Casey knows
some
commands (sit, down, stay, etc.) but she is hard of hearing and you
sometimes
need to speak up for her. She walks perfectly on the leash, and
quickly does her business when we go out. She has had a couple of
accidents
in the house when we are not home, and she is still drinking as much
water as we let her. We will continue to keep an eye on that.
Casey has been very tolerant of Jake, but she does bark and tell him
to
stop jumping on her some. We have experimented with bones and/or
stuffed kong toys and though she can be a little possessive of hers(
where
Jake is concered), they do seem to each go check on what the other
dog
is licking and often "switch" bones. Jake will let her take whichever
one she wants; he's happy no matter what. Casey has let me distract
her from a bone and has been fine if I've picked one up & taken it
away.
She is such a nice dog. She wants to be with me, but is not attached
to me at every moment--except at bedtime when she is very clear
that she
wants to sleep on the dog bed in our bedroom. Casey has an easy
temperment and seems to be happy with whatever we give her. She
would like
it more if I let her lick me more, but she's happy just getting petted
as well. She does not jump up on people or the counters or tables
and
she has not taken anything from the garbage (thoug hthe kitchen one
is
out of reach for dogs). All in all, Casey is just a sweet lady!
By the way, the "bump" you can see on her back has been tested and
appears benign. She has apparently had it (and a few other smaller
bumps)
for a long time. They don't bother her at all. Get your application
in--this is a great dog!
1/18/04 Casey seems to be settling in fairly well given her situation.
She is pacing and drinking some extra water, but we expect that to
lessen as time goes on. So far she is just a lovely lady. She loves
attention and is a little insistent with her Boxer tongue for kissing.
She takes treats gently and has shown no food agression, and she
has tolerated our young Jake's rowdy introduction. She dances with
him some, and then tells him when it's enough. Casey has been
particularly wonderful with our almost 4 year old daughter, letting her
"walk" her in the house with the leash and will sit & down for her and
wait nicely for treat rewards. Casey will "cry" a little to ask to go out
and will do her business quickly in our "potty place" in the yard. She
doesn't pull at all on the leash. She woke me once last night and I
did take her out then, but then she slept another 6 hours on the floor
beside me. She is the definition of a great companion dog.