Sophie: a Super Dog in the making?

Last Wednesday night, Sophie and I had our last beginners agility class. It was only a 5 week course and we are starting the next level right away.

During the 5 weeks, we worked on clicker training, shaping behaviours with clicker training, targeting objects, and a basic introducing to most of the agility equipment (tunnels, chutes, jumps, tire jumps, dog walks, a frames, and a wobble board.) By the 4th classes we were able to do 2 or 3 obstacles together. On our last class, we practices 2-3 obstacles together then joined all of them. There were 11 in total, 7 tunnels, an a frame, and pause table, and a dog walk. It was set up to be very basic and by no means did anyone or their dog do great, but we all had fun. We did it twice each. The first time Sophie and I went, she did really well, but stopped between obstacles to rub at hear gentle leader which I left on her. The second time I was told to take it off her, and well....her concentration went as well! But like I said, all-in-all I think she get a wonderful job!

Beach Day

Last Sunday, I went to Grand Beach, one of the best beaches in Manitoba. In fact, it was once voted in the top 10 beached by playboy! But of course that's not the reason I'm talking about the beach. The real reason is, I took Sophie with me. It was her very first time at the beach. In the past I had tried to get her into water and to like it, but with not much success. I knew if only I could find a beach and encourage her to follow me in to the water. By the end of the day she went into the water a few times, all on leash. She didn't protest but she wasn't overly eager to get wet. All in all, I think she did an amazing job and I am so proud of her.

(Sophie and I posing for the camera in the water)

(OK, everyone out of the pool!)

The only thing that didn;t go our way, were the flies. Sand flies. They bite...a lot! No one was exempt, especially not Sophie. We ended our day a few hours earlier than planned becasue everyone was getting eaten alive. Oh well, part-in-part of summer I guess.

Canada Day

July 1st is Canada Day and the parties can be epic! There are of course fireworks coast to coast to celebrate our fine country. This year was no exception. I went to the Forks (locally meeting spot where 2 rivers converge together) to watch the fireworks. I took Sophie with me.

Now here I will just add a quick side note. Every year, dogs run away during fireworks. This is from fear of the loud noises and large crowds. The noise is very loud for a dog and may hurt his ears. Or he may get scared and become traumatized or bite someone. Always take precautions with your dog during fireworks and know how your dog handles different situations.

This being said, I know my Sophie. She has no fear to noises and does well in crowds. She got lots of attention from people - until the fireworks started of course! And she actually watched some fireworks herself, seemingly curious as to what the bright loud lights in the sky were. Near the end when the finally was at its loudest I gently covered her ears to muffles the sound a bit. But all-in-all she was an amazing spectator!

Happy 143rd Birthday Canada!

Paws in Motion 2010

(Sophie, ready for her 1st Paws in Motion, sporting a fashionable Winnipeg Humane Society bandanna)

On Sunday, June 27, I participated in the Winnipeg Humane Society's annual walk-a-thon called Paws in Motion. Sophie and I walked the longer walk of 3km all around the Assiniboine Park. There was easily over a thousand people there with their own four-legged friends in tow. Everyone got along superbly and had a great morning.

(during the walk)

The event ended up being a huge success for the Winnipeg Humane Society. They claim it was their best year to date.

(after the walk, by the Lyric Theatre in Assiniboine Park, where there was prizes, contests, and live music)

Mother Nature was also on our side with a warm day. The thunderstorm predicted held off until about 1:30pm, a good hour after the event ended.

(there were also many kiosks, selling pet products, or giving out samples, or information on services)

Amongst all the dog, I was shocked and pleased to see another white boxer. Not only another white boxer, but he had an uncanny resemblance to Sophie. So uncanny, in fact, that I had to do a double take to confirm it wasn't Sophie! You be the judge by these photos.

(Sophie (on the left) looking at her male like-alike Bono (on the right))

(Bono, Sophie's twin!)

(currently best photo I have of Sophie's standing physique)

I wish I could've gotten better photos of Sophie and Bono together, but all the wanted to do was box and wouldn't stay still together (go figure!) What do you think? Do you think they look similar?

I manager to raise over $400 for the cause. I'd like to thank all of my supporters: those who pledged money and those who lent me moral support.

The Myth of the White Boxer

When one thinks of the boxer breed, they don't think of a white coloured dog. Boxers, by definition, are muscular, medium-sized, short-haired dogs with a smooth coat in either fawn or brindle with or without white markings. That is the ideal boxer. However, some boxers will have an access of white markings, or even be completely white. Any boxer with white markings covering more than one-third of their body are called a "white" Boxer. This colour marking is not rare. Genetically, when a flashy boxer is breed to another flashy boxer, approximately 20–25% of the litter produced will be considered white. (flashy refers to the amount of white on the body - typically face, chest, legs. It cannot exceed 1/3 of the body's colour or it is outside of the breed standard)

(Flashy boxer with her pups. Notice how 2 of them are also flashy, while one has little/no white, but the 4th is white)

(This boxer is considered a "white boxer, because it has more than 1/3 white covering it's body)

The white boxer is not an albino. Albinos have a complete lack of pigment and their eyes are red. White boxers have an access of white in their coat. Most white boxers will have some colouring to them, either in coloured patches or in light or dark spots. Also, they will have brown-coloured eyes.

(Here's another white boxer pup, with just a little coloured patch around one eye - like the dog from the Little Rascals!)

As for health problems, a white boxer can easily get sunburned easily or have sensitive skin and/or allergies. The extreme piebald gene, which is responsible for white markings in Boxers, is also linked to congenital sensorineural deafness in dogs. It is estimated that about 18% of white Boxers are deaf in one or both ears.

In the past, breeders often euthanized white puppies at birth because they are disqualified from conformation showing by the breed standard, and are prohibited from breeding by every national Boxer club in the world. They can, however, compete in non-conformation events such as obedience and agility, and like their colored counterparts do quite well as service and therapy dogs. Today, most breeders place white puppies in pet homes with spay/neuter agreements. They are the same as any other boxer in personality and make excellent pets.

Always be leery of someone advertising "rare white boxers for sale". Typically this is someone out to make a quick buck, and will try to charge a higher price for this so-called rare colour. Reputable breeders will charge less for non-showing pups or pups with spay/neuter agreements, not more!

My Sophie is pretty much all white. She has a black nose with dark spots around and in her mouth. There are some lighter spots on her ears and some even lighter spots on her belly. She does get sun burnt easily and everything shows up on her, from blemishes, to scraps and cuts, to mosquito bites. One thing I'm very grateful for is that she is not deaf. Her hearing is just fine - excellent in fact when I get cheese from out of the refrigerator!

Agility

Last night, Sophie and I had our very first agility class. We have already been introduced to some agility equipment before in my beginner's obedience class, but this was a real agility class. We worked on clicker training and we were introduced to the bar jump, the tire jump, a wobble board (very short see-saw), and a tunnel. It was all very fun and exciting for the dogs as well as the handlers. Sophie did great once I got her attention but keeping her attention is hard. She liked the equipment, but she was very strung-out over the other dogs, which is normal for her on leash. We'll see what the next few weeks bring.

For those of you who may not know about agility, it is a dog sport in which the handle and dog must work as a team. The course is set up like an obstacle course, complete with jumps, tunnels, see-saws, etc. The handler tells the dog by verbal and non-verbal cues which piece of equipment to go on, jump over, or go through. The dog with the fastest time with no mistakes wins.

why a boxer?

Why did I get a boxer?

That's a great question. Most dog lovers like most dog breeds, if not all. Yet all dog lovers will still have a favorite dog breed(s) or group (such as the toy group, hound group, terrier group). Most of my life I was a big fan of the working class breed, specifically the German Shepherd. From an early age, that was the type of dog I wanted. When I was in grade 5, I finally got my dream - a puppy. We adopted a shepherd/lab mix pup through the Winnipeg Humane Society. Piper lived for almost 15 years and was a wonderful companion.

(a very young Piper)

Since her passing, I always planned on adopting another dog. I prefer to adopt then purchase, so the likelihood of getting a purebreed was low, and I knew I didn't want another shepherd cross. I guess it was out of respect for Piper, not wanting to replace her somehow. I researched many breeds, leaning strongly towards the papillon.

(papillon)

But then I moved back to Winnipeg (I lived in Ontario for a number of years) and volunteered at the Winnipeg Humane Society. There I met a 8 month old boxer puppy with a broken front leg. I instantly fell in love with his personality and his goofy grin. He's name was Paulie and I was put on the list to adopt him even though there were talks of an amputation. I even planned on changing his name to McCoy (aka Bones. I'm a Star Trek fan) Unfortunately, someone else was on the list before me. At least he found a great home. And the good news, last I heard, he didn't have to get his leg amputated!

(Paulie)
Meeting Paulie made me obsessed with boxers. I researched them, learning all I could about this breed. I loved their personality and their beauty. I knew I wanted a boxer in my life.

A few weeks after Paulie was gone, I was still upset with losing the chance to adopt him. Then in came Sophie. I couldn't believe my luck that another young boxer came into the Humane Society so soon! I hadn't planned on getting a white boxer because of the extra health risks (sunburns, allergies, possible deafness, etc) but I could't pass up on the chance for a young boxer and she captured my heart almost immediately.

Since then I've notice I have a new fondness to dogs with pushed in faces and towards bully breeds. I just can't get enough of them. And Sophie is the most perfect dog for me.

Donate - WHS Paws in Motion!

Every year, the Winnipeg Humane Society has its annual fundraising walk, called Paws in Motion.  This fundraising event brings in 50% of the WHS's donations every year.  It takes them 6 months to organise it each year and thy always hope for a big turn-out with lots of sponsors and donations. Over 10,000 animals goes through their doors every year in need of shelter, medical care, and love.  They do everything the can to save as many lives as possible.  But they need your help.  The Winnipeg Humane Society relies on private and corporate donations to keep their doors open. 

Last year I went as part of a team, but at the time I didn't have Sophie.  This year I registered alone and will be walking the 3km around Assiniboine Park with my Sophie and over 100 other dogs and there people.  Some people bring cats in strollers and I heard that someone is bringing a donkey this year!  Before and after the official walk, there are demos, contests, a live band, various animal/pet related kiosks, and vendors to peruse.

Here are some photos I took of last years event:

As I said, this year I registered and am taking pledges.  If you know me (and see me regularly), you can donate in person.  For other who want to donate, I have an online website where I can accept secure donations. 

Please donate what you can, to help care for all the animals in need.  Any donation $10 or more can get you a tax receipt. 

http://www.winnipeghumanesocietydonor.ca/netcommunity/SophieandCynthia

scared pup

Not sure what's up, but I've noticed Sophie's been acting a little strange. Mostly today, but for a few days now. Two days ago a neighbor came into the yard, all the while talking to Sophie. I wasn't there, but my parents were and recaped this story to me. Sophie started shaking and dropped to the ground and softly growled. She was acting scared and unsure. Ok..., except she's never displayed this reaction with this person before or anyone really. Then today, I noticed that when I told her to go in her kennel or when I took her out to do her business, she started to shake uncontrolably. Not sure what has changed to make her so timid and anxious. I'll be keeping an eye on her and rewarding positive behaviors.

Keeping Kool

As the days become hot, I've noticed a change in Sophie's behavior and energy levels.  Last fall and all through the winter, she was go go go.  We'd spend a minimun 45mins each day at the off-leash dog park.  Some days we stayed for 2+ hours!  And she would just keep on going.  My little energizer bunny never seemed to tire, expecially if there were other dogs to play with or large open spaces to run in.  But spring and now summer has come early to Winnipeg, and with a vengence.  Not that I'm complaining.  Winnipeg is well known for it's brutely cold and windy winters, but our summers are great and this one proves to be amount the best.  Nice and hot without to much humidity - just how I like it.  But now that I have Sophie...well, she doesn't do too well in the heat.  The first major notice was when the temperature went into the 20s C (~68-72 F).  We would go to the dog park and after about 10 minutes Sophie would find some shade to lay down in. 

What!?!  My dog lay down at the park!?!  What twilight zone are we in!?!

Since there are very few trees at this park, I started staying close to picnic tables and instead of going for a walk, we'd play fetch or I'd let her mingle with other dogs.  That way she could got under the picnic table in the shade if she wanted to.  I've also been bringing her water to the picnic tables.  I've always had a water bowl in the car that I would fill after every outing, but now I carry it all with me in the park.  On top of all that, I also have to apply baby sunblock to her muzzle, ears, and belly, since they burn very easily.  Ah the wonders of having a white, short haired, brachycephalic dog.

I have been looking for ways to keep her cool, or if that's not possible, to cool her down.  So far, this is what I've come up with:

• Swimming  She isn't a big fan of water to begin with, so this is a hard issue to tackle.  Many dogs will swim in the ponds at the park, but Sophie won't even get her toes wet.  I'm currently looking for a secluded beach where I can teach her to swim.  In the mean-time, my neighbor gave me an old, hard plastic sandbox/kiddie pool.  On hot days I've been getting Sophie to stand in the water and let me wet her down.  She tolerates this at best, but she will go in willingly(-ish).

• Cooling collars  I've found 2 different types online. 
1. Polymer-filled collars or bandanas: You have to soak in cold water for 10 minutes to a few hours  before use (depending on brand), then it supposedily stays cool for a few hours to a few days (again depending on brand).  They are filled with non-toxic polymer crystals that can absorb up to 30 times their weight.  I have personally tried something like this, when I traveled to Honk Kong a few years ago, and I wasn't too impressed.  Plus, the constant saoking ahead of time can be a hassel.  All-in-all though, it is better than nothing.
2. Kool Collars: This product looks neat.  You fill it with real ice cubes and as the ice melts, it keeps the dogs chest keeping him cool.  For a dryer method, there are specially made ice packs.  Down-side, ice malts fast and needs to be replaced often.  Not easy if you're out for a long time.  Regardless, I've ordered this product and will report back my observations.   http://www.koolcollarstore.com/ 

3. Cool beds and Cool vests. Based on the same principles of as the polymer-filled collars.

What's in a name?

Before I met Sophie, her first owners called her Muggs.  Why, I can't say.  Perhaps they thought she had the face only a mother could love, and played up that idea but calling it her mug shot.  Whatever the reason, when I met her, I couldn't possible continue to call her that.  It just didn't suit her.  I knew I had to come up with a name for her fast, because I didn't want to confuse her by calling her different things.  And I didn't want to have her associate her new life with the name Muggs, so calling her that, ever temperarily, was out of the question.

Since she was so thin, I joked that I'd call her Skeletor, He-Man's arch-enemy, from the Masters of the Universe franchise, but I knew I couldn't actually go through with that.

The real contenders were Sophie, Zsa Zsa, and Daisy.

My mom ixnayed Zsa Zsa and I wasn't too fond of Daisy, so Sophie it was.  And I have no regrets with this choice and Sophie learnt her name within a few days.  I officially dubbed her Miss Sophie-Loren, after the beautiful and talented actress Sophia Loren.  My Sophie can be such a diva and attention grabber, that is truely fits.  Plus, both are absolutely stunning!

The Origins of Sophie

Last summer I was volunteering in the vet clinic at the Winnipeg Humane Society.  http://www.winnipeghumanesociety.ca/  I was to required volunteer 80 hours as part of my application process for the Animal Health Technology program I will be starting this fall.  I had already decided I wanted to adopt a dog, but needed to find the right now for me.  I was very interesting in getting a boxer, as I had recently fallen in love with this breed.  In fact I nearly adopted one, but someone else got him first.  So near the very end of my required time in mid-August 2009 (I ended up doing about 108 hours) a sickly white boxer pup was surrendered.  I saw her the day after, as she was getting prepped to be spayed.  After her surgery she was still groggy, but licked my hand.  It was instant love!  I immediately put my name down to adopt her. 

Her original owners had bought her as a puppy from a Petland store for $1000, which leaves me to believe she came from a puppymill.  Will people never learn?  Do NOT buy puppies from pet stores!  Based on her age, I think she must have been born late October or early November 2008, making her the perfect age to adopt...right before Christmas.  Again...NEVER buy a pet as a gift!  After only 7 months her owners surrender her, because she was too needy, barked/whined when alone, and wasn't trained.  She wasn't even house trained!  Research the breed to know what you're getting into. and take the time to properly train your dog!!!  All mistakes that happen all too often resulting in poor animals being surrender to humane societies or city pounds.

Also, I should note that her original name was Muggs.  That's right, Muggs.  Upon first laying eyes on this beautiful girl, I knew she was not a Muggs and changed it to Sophie.  It took her 2 days to forget her old moniker.

At 8 months, she was only 30lbs, a good 10lb underweight.  I could see every vertebrae down her spin and every rib poked out like she was starved.  I jokingly called her Skeletor!  Other than her sickly appearance, she had the most beautiful gold-coloured eyes and legs that looked too long for her.  And those loose jowls are sooo cute!

A few days later, the day before I was supposed to officially pick her up, I got a call.  She couldn't be adopted out yet, because she was heart worm positive, but I could foster her until she had a clean bill of health.  Of course I said yes, and took her home the next day.

For those who may not know, heart worm is a serious and potentially deadly disease in dogs.  Heart worm is a parasitic roundworm that is spread from host to host through the bites of mosquitoes. The heart worm is a type of filaria, a small thread-like worm, that when reached adulthood (about 6-7 months) will migrate through the blood stream and reside in the pulmonary artery of the heart.  These parasites will continue to grow and breed, eventually killing the affected dog from a heart aneurysm.  It's a long and painful death. 

Prevention is so easy and treatment is long, painful and not always successful.  Sophie's treatment was 2 inter-muscular injections of an arsenic-based compound, 24 hours apart.  This slowly kills the heart worms.  Then for the next month I had to keep Sophie VERY quiet.  I wasn't even allowed to walk her, for if her heartbeat got to fast, the dead heart worms could go through her bloodstream and cause a clot.  This was a long month, but since she was already so sick, she didn't even want to do much.  Very uncharacteristic of a boxer pup!  Finally after just over a month, her primary test result came back negative and I officially adopted her on Oct 2, 2009

I can say that Sophie is now a very health and very energetic pup of 1.5 year old.  Within a few months of adoption, she gained 12lbs.  Although still on the slender/small side (based on her breed specifications), she is looking great!

Long day = one very tired pooch

Ok so this is my first post on this blog.  I promise to provide background info on Sophie and myself soon, but for now I thought I'd hit the ground running and jump right into blogging.  Specifically, today's events.

This morning I took Sophie to my local off-leash dog park to burn some of her energy.  We spent about 15 minutes playing a not-so good version of fetch.  Then we met up with a couple and their young dog, who immediately got alone with Sophie - like peas and carrots.  We all walked around the park for about 45 minutes.  Normally, Sophie stays away from water, but she miss-judged a jump and landed right into a mud puddle!  Sophie, being all white, shows any and all dirt.  She turned into a Dalmatian hybrid!  (She did look spotted, but the I towel-dried her, giving her this lovely grey tone).  Before we left the park, I also ran into a friend in the parking lot.  It was a first meeting between our dogs, which went very well.  My friend had also just rescued a second dog, who was there too.

I work at a pet supply store and the employees are allowed to bring their dogs in to work.  Since I was planning on bringing Sophie to work with me today, I went in early to wash her.  We have a grooming room there, and although the groomer is off this week, employees may use the equipment.  So, half an hour later my dalmatian was once again a sparkling white boxer, with soft, yummy-smelling fur.

Sophie was amazing at work today.  She was friendly with all humans that walked through the door, ignored most dogs, and settled down if I stepped in when needed.  Most of the time I keep her leash tired to my belt loop - just as a precaution on busy days.  Today she was off leash in store for about 1/3 to 1/2 of my 8 hour shift!  Of course it being the Saturday on the May Long Weekend made things rather slow.

By the time we got home, we were both exhausted!.  Sophie immediate found my bed and fell asleep while I soaked my aching feet and showered.  After some relaxing we're now both ready for bed.

Good night all!