DUTCHESS
NAME: Dutchess
STATE FOSTERED: MA
AGE: 9 1/2 yrs.
WEIGHT: 65 lbs. approx.
SEX: Female
NEUT/UTD: Yes/Yes
COAT COLOR: Lt. Fawn, Blk & Grey Muzzle
DOCKED TAIL: Yes
CROPPED EARS: Yes
CHILDREN UNDER 4: Unknown
CHILDREN OVER 4: Yes
SEPARATION ANXIETY: Mild
OTHER DOGS: Yes
CATS: Unknown
CRATE TRAINED: Learning
HOUSE TRAINED: Yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: No, listens well
LEASH TRAINED: Mostly
ATTENDING OBED.: No
MICROCHIPPED: Unknown
ADOPTION FEE $150
UPDATE 12/31/06 - Not sure if you remember me, but I adopted Dutchess back in November 2004 --
she was the nine-year-old who had a major surgery for pyrometra in May 2004. She is now lovingly
referred to as just "Dutch". I was wondering if you would be so kind to post this email to the group for
me. She's turned 12 years old today and is still going strong!! I can't believe it, especially after the scare
from a local vet back in May 2005 that she had a brain tumor and only approx. six months to live. Well,
needless to say, I got a second opinion and it turns out it was only a temporary inner ear disorder (Thank
God!) The neighbors always comment about how she just seems to get younger every day even though
she's an old chick. I'm not sure how much longer she has on this earth, but I wanted to commemorate her
special day by sharing it with the group and to say how blessed I am to have her in my life. She makes
every day worth living. I've attached a few pics -- one is approx. six months after I adopted her, two are
from this morning with her party hat and Happy Birthday To Me! sign which, unfortunately, aren't the best
quality due to taking them with my camera phone. So, you can't really see all the bright colors my friend's
kids used to decorate these for Dutch. BUT, you can see the "oh, here we go again" stoic look on her face
that always cracks me up! I love it! haha The third is one without the lovely hat and sign so you can see
her beauty in its entirety. So, Happy Birthday to Dutch on her 84th Birthday!!!! My sweet, serious,
wrinkly, loving little Boxer angel. :)
UPDATED 12/12/04 - We (my Rottweiler Sampson and I) have had the sweet Dutchess in our home for
about two weeks now, and she's doing FABULOUS. We love her so much and all three of us are
completely attached to each other already. Sam's been very lonely since his best Rottie friend of eight
years had to be put to sleep earlier this year due to cancer. He's howled and cried and was so longing for
a new friend to spend his days with. Sam smothers Dutchess with kisses all about her face and ears, and
she is very motherly to Sam. Dutchie's favorite place is on the couch or in my lap. She actually gets half
way up on my lap with her back legs still on the floor and just stares at me while I talk to her in the goofy
voice we all use when no one else is around!! I just can't get enough of her. The other night, Sam was
howling in his sleep around 2AM (something he does from time to time for no apparent reason), and
Dutchess jumped off the couch and came into the bedroom snorting and grunting to see if Sam was okay.
She gave him a few sniffs and a lick on the snout and went back to bed on the couch. How cute is
that??!!! She's adapted very well to our schedules, hasn't had one accident in the house, and is the neatest
eater I've ever seen. Although Dutchess weighed in at a whopping 95 lbs. when I got her, she is now on a
healthy diet to trim down her waistline. She really enjoys the quiet, relaxed environment we've provided
for her, and loves the company of the great Sampson. I couldn't have asked for a better dog. Thanks
SCBR!
9/19/04 - Last weekend Dutchess came out to join us at our SCBR info table at PetRock in MA. She is
looking & feeling great after her surgery! Her foster Mom said she acts completely normal & is feeling
much better now. Dutchess did great as the day's representative for SCBR with the huge crowds of
people. She loved everyone she met & was a happy girl all day. Dutchess is a sweet girl & will make
anyone happy to have her as part of their family. Won't you make a spot in your home for this sweet
lady? You will not regret it!
9/7/04 Hi Everyone, Dutchess here again. I really like this typing stuff, so I’m gonna try it again. Let
me just say, boy do I ever feel like a different dog. That yucky thing inside me made me feel horrible. And
it scared my foster people too. I couldn’t walk well and I didn’t want to eat. My tummy hurt, FM
(foster mom) kept asking me to tell her what was wrong. I tried but we had a language barrier thingy. But
the nice Dr. took care of me. And I get a special bonus now. See I still didn’t want to eat that plain
old crunchy stuff, and FM was getting worried again, ‘cause it was hard for her to get me to take the
medicine, anti???, some big word, after surgery. So when the Dr. called to check on me, she told FM to
try baby food mixed in with the crunchies, Yee Haa!!!, boy do I love that stuff. The best part of the whole
thing, no more pups to take care of. Whew, what a relief. I’m too old for that stuff; I deserve a life of
luxury and adoration by my own personal people.
You guys should have seen me in action this holiday weekend. I was running and jumping and playing like
and with my FS (foster sister). IT WAS AWESOME!!!! I felt so young again. Ok folks, don’t go
getting all excited on me, it was a burst of youthful enthusiasm; I got caught up in the moment with FS and
FM. I do like to relax in the shade, preferably in your lap. I almost made it up onto FM but she was in the
chair and said I was too heavy. So she just let me rest my front end on her and we hugged and chatted for
awhile.
Actually the neighbor lady said I was lookin’ kinda sexy these days with my trimmer figure. She thinks
her sometimes guest, an old yellow Lab named Chaos, will want to spend some time with me now. And
that’s ok, ‘cause like I said before, no more babies for me. Am I allowed to do that silly dance that
Snoopy pooch does or do I have to just stick with my Boxer wiggle? But seriously folks we would
probably just lay in the shade and keep each other company while we alert the neighborhood about whoâ
€™s coming and going. I told you before I’m a Lady.
I’m looking forward to going to that Pet Rock thing in Worcester with FS, FM and FB (foster
brother), although why someone would want to pet a rock instead of me I don’t understand. Oh well,
I’m sure I can steal the spotlight from those silly rocks. Maybe you can come by and see me, live and
in canine. Maybe even put in an application to let me come live with you. Oh boy Oh boy, I can’t wait
to meet my new family someday. I’m sure they are gonna LOVE me. Everyone else I meet does. Until
then,
Dutchie
6/30/04 - Hi everyone, Dutchess here. My Foster Mom (FM) said it’s time for an old dog to learn
new tricks so she’s teaching me how to type. None of that silly old rollover stuff for me. As my name
indicates I am a regal older gal, with plenty of spunk left. My time at my Foster Home (FM) has been nice
but I’m ready for a family of my own where I can be numero uno. I do like the company of other dogs
as well as long as I get my share of lovin’. My 4 legged Foster Sister (FS) is cute but she’s so
young, sometimes I don’t have the gumption to play as much as she’d like. Although she seems to
think its playtime when I try to gently nibble on her tail. I swear it looks just like the bones FM gives me.
So when I’ve had enough I just go over to one of the people and they tell her to leave me alone.
Did FS tell you I love to be outside? Ahhhhh, the fresh air and comfy shade is a girl’s best friend. I
like to watch all the people walk down the street but if they don’t come over and pat me I have to
bark a little and let them know I’m here. The kids like me better than FS, ‘cause I’m not
slobbery. I’m learning how to wait at the door until I’m told “let’s go�. I think I’m
doing pretty good, it must be all those “good girl’s� and chin rubs I get. So if you like to take
walks, I’m your girl. I’ve gotten better at not pulling, as long as I get to sniff lots and lots of things
along the way.
I’m still eating that special food, something called a diet. I like the dry and canned mixed together and
a bowl of water to sip from. I think I look pretty good. And I know I’m more muscular than tubby,
FM says I’m “wicked strong�. I hope that’s a good thing.
Oh yea, I forgot to mention that thing they call a crate. I don’t like it, not one bit. I’m a lady not
some young ruffian who hasn’t got any manners and don’t need to be in that thing. FS does, but
not me, Nee Ner Nee Ner Nee Ner. See I’m still a kid at heart. I have never, never touched anything
I’m not supposed to. Not the yummy smelling trash, or socks, anything on the counters, not even that
fresh water in that big white bowl, nothing. I know how to behave myself and am allowed free roam, all
the time.
So please look past that 1st horrible picture you see of me. I’m actually quite photogenic, ya know.
Give me a chance to show you how much love I can give. Hope to see you soon.
Boxer Wiggles for all, Dutchie
6/14/04 Dutchess finally saw the vet on Wed. 6/9. A whopping 76 Lbs. She has been and will remain on
diet food and extra exercise for a bit. We are going to wait to see if she comes into heat again before we
think about spaying, considering her age. She is now 100% UTD on all her vaccinations. And he told me
the clouding on her right eye is NOT glaucoma but a scar, at some point that eye was injured. Boy do I
wish we had a video file of these babies’ lives before they came into rescue. He did however find 4
growths, 2 of which he aspirated and found them to be Mast Cell Tumors. He wants all 4 taken off
ASAP. I agree. He suggested a harness for walking her instead of a collar taking into consideration the
scars she has on her neck already. I don’t have one yet.
Guess what? Dutchie can climb baby gates, twice now. One minute she’s on one side and the next
she’s on the other. I don’t know if she is hopping, jumping, climbing or flying. The act has not
been witnessed and the only time she is behind one is during feeding time. They try to switch food. She
does do this awesome bunny hop thing when we get home and she knows she’s going out, also when
we get up in the morning. Not much of a boxer wiggle butt. I would like to get her a gentle leader; she
gave my son road rash on his knee yesterday. I honestly thought she would stop running when she reached
me. I was wrong. She did stop and look sorry when he started crying though. It’s those strange
sudden bursts of energy she gets. I don’t know where they are coming from or when they will happen,
but when they do hang on. We are working on her manners.
She rides well in the car and if she gets close to one will try to get in, wants her face out the window most
of the time. She LOVES to be outside, prefers the shade though. We finally got her to play with her little
football. It was so funny to watch; she swatted it and then pounced on it. After she was sure it wouldnâ
€™t move again she picked it up and just held it in her mouth for a bit.
This “senior� is so sweet. She deserves a special forever home with all the love and attention you
can offer.
5-19-04 Dutchess has been with us for a week and ½ now. She is acclimating to our schedule nicely.
Her and my 2 ½ yr old Brindle girl get along well. It’s funny to watch them race to see who takes
over the couch in the morning after breakfast. Lexi ends up trying to sneak onto my bed. The 2 dog beds
on the floor are just not good enough for my Divas. Dutchess is very affectionate and mostly well
mannered. We are still working on some basic commands. She has met neighbors, neighborhood dogs
and everyone in between. The only things we can’t test her on are children under 4 and cats. She
doesn’t seem to have a high tolerance for the puppy antics of our Lexi or the 3 month old Boxer boy
neighbor. One big paw put him in his place this morning. And my girl just gets a headbutt to move her out
of the way. It has been amusing to watch her habits that are so different from our girl’s. Dutchess
seems to enjoy grooming herself like a cat. She lay on the couch and licks herself from her feet up to as far
as she can reach (but not like a boy would, wink, wink). When you tell her to move so you can get by, or
if you walk toward her in a hallway, she backs up instead of turning around (even if there is space for her
to turn). I almost expect to hear those beeps like on a big truck. Despite her girth and the deep bark she is
quite dainty. Gentle with her mouth and neat eating habits. Also surprisingly agile on her feet. I almost got
her to chase her new ball yesterday. Even though she wasn’t so much into the ball, she did enjoy
racing around the yard with a BIG burst of enthusiasm. And my neighbor took her for a quick run up the
street and Dutchie kept up well. Please take a second look at this mature but sweet and lovable girl. You
will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.
We've had Dutchess for a day and 1/2 now. She is a really sweet girl. So far she has been attached to my
hip or ankle I should say, she's a little on the petite side, height wise. She seems a little overweight to me
but will let the vet decide that. Overall the transition into my home has been smooth sailing so far. Her and
my 2 1/2 yr old girl are just fine together. She's eating but not alot. No accidents and seems to enjoy being
outside and walking. She does pull a little on the leash if she catches scent of something. But nothing my 8
yr old son can't handle. I wish I could get a picture of her without the flash reflection, she has such soulful
eyes. More on Dutchess as we get to know her better, but I think she would be a great addition in a
relaxed home environment.