Clay
STATE: ME
AGE: 15 months
WEIGHT: about 50 lbs
SEX: Male
NEUT/UTD: Yes/Yes
COAT COLOR: Fawn
DOCKED TAIL: Yes
CROPPED EARS: No
CHILDREN under 4: Yes
CHILDREN OVER 4: Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: No
OTHER DOGS: Yes
CATS: Yes
CRATE TRAINED: Yes
HOUSE TRAINED: Yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No
LEASH TRAINED: No
ATTENDING OBED.: No
MICROCHIPPED: No
ADOPTION DONATION: $250
5/11/04 - Clay is still doing great & having a fun time playing with my dogs. He went
with me to the the Pet Walk on Saturday we had a table at in Portland & did very well.
Clay LOVED all the attention he received from the kids & also the teenage girls that were
volunteers there & liked playing with them. He constantly wanted to play with every dog
that walked by, not that all of them thought a bouncing 50 lb boxer was as much fun!
Clay did finally show me his nervousness about meeting strangers that his prior owner
described. He was very scared of all men he met at the pet walk & it did not seem to
matter if it was old men or men in their 20's or anything in-between. He would growl &
bark at them to try to scare them off & then he would try to hide & just grumble so they
would not bother him. Clay did not do this with others he met & if he got nervous at
most he would just cautiously sniff someone & then be fine with them. I don't know why,
but Clay did not want anything to do with any of the men though, even those trying to let
him sniff or give him treats.
5/5/04 - Clay is fitting in just like one of the pack! He plays constantly with my dogs &
acts like a crazy boy with them. He is so funny, no matter how much my two dogs try
NOT to play with him sometimes when they are tired, they can't resist his play bows &
numbness about things! Last night my Sandi was running in her crate with her toy, just to
get away from Clay & would sit in the back of her crate & growl to ward off any
intruders. That didn't stop nutty Clay! He would just bounce right INTO her crate with
her (two 50 lb dogs in one large crate!) all playful with this look on his face like
"OOOOHHH, what's in here?! Can I see TOO?!". Poor Sandi was trying to sound so
vicious & just wanted him to leave her alone, but he kept persisting & she would just let
him keep popping in on her! Both my dogs know Clay is just an innocent pup looking
for fun as they would never put up with this much from any other dog.
Clay definitely needs to go to a home with another dog to play with as it builds up his
confidence (& wears off some energy!). Now that I have got to know him better, I feel
he would do great with kids of all ages, he just needs to be taught to not play so rough.
With some obedience training & time working with him, I know Clay will easily learn how
to be more gentle. He has been doing great in his crate when I'm not home--no more
accidents--YEAH! Clay has never had an accident in my house either, so I think if he is
just crated when no one can be home with him he will be fine. Hurry up as this is another
one of those GREAT dogs that I just can't say enough good about!
4/28/04 - Clay is having the greatest time! He played non-stop with my dogs last night
for over an hour & had a blast! He is such a goofball around squeeky toys too. You
squeek them at him & he will bounce around like a giant bunny rabbit, going up & down
& side to side! Watch out if you are the dog or cat (or bird cage!) in the way though-
Clay won't notice you! LOL He likes to growl when playing with the other dogs or with
me, just like my boxer Sandi does. It's so cute, but can be intimidating if you were not
use to this form of boxer play. He is one overgrown puppy & does still have some of the
puppy traits that need worked on, like nibbling on you & being a little rough when playing
with people.
Clay went to the vet today & he weighs in at only a solid 50 lbs. I thought he was bigger
than that, but he is a strong little guy & does pull on the leash right now. With some
obedience training I know he will be an even better boy. Clay was a little nervous at the
vet's office, but did very well with everything & everyone he met. Once the assistant gave
him a few chewy treats he thought things were fine(a little bribery goes a long way!). He
had the rest of his shots & was heartworm & lyme disease negative (yeah!), so he is all
set to go to a new home! I can hear the phone ringing now...
4/27/04 - Clay has been doing great & what a sweet boy he is! He is wonderful with my
dogs & just wants to play, play, play! He is very curious about the cats, but it's all playful
& I think with some time he can be worked out of that. Clay goes in his crate without
any issues when I'm at work, but he has had some peeing accidents in there. I'm going
to try moving him the the large varikennel instead of the XLG one & see if that helps. I
have not had any issues with him going in the house though, but I don't leave him
unattended either. His previous owners said if he was left in the kitchen a full work day
he would have accidents. I just think Clay needs more structure & less space to get use
to where it is okay to go & where not to go--crate training will definitely be the answer
for him. Tomorrow Clay goes to the vet for his hearworm test & the rest of his shots he
needs. Better hurry, this boy is not going to be around long!
4/24/04 - Clay is a cute neutered 15 month old fawn boy with black mask, docked tail &
natural ears. He was surrendered to a shelter we work with because his owner was
having issues house breaking him & said he did not have time to dedicate to the problem.
The shelter said Clay was very stressed out being there so he needed to get to a foster
home where he could be more comfortable.
Clay lived with 6 to 8 year old kids, another dog & cats. His owner said he got along
great with the kids & other dog, but he likes to chase the cats playfully. His owners also
said Clay can be nervous & shy about meeting strange people or dogs he does not know,
but once he is comfortable he warms up.
Clay went easily into his crate for the night to relax. Once he settles in here a little more I
will test him with my cats & dogs to see how he does. He also needs a visit with the vet
this week to update the rest of his shots & get his heartworm test. Maybe Clay can be
your American Idol? Watch for more updates soon.