Dexter - In my own words!
My name is Dexter and I'm a 1 year old Boston Terrier. My foster mom says I should tell you my story.
I can't really tell you much about BF (before foster), except that I was trying so hard to communicate and no one understood me. It was soooooo frustrating, and I got really upset about it. In August 2008, I was surrendered to the fine folks at BTCCR to find a new home. My first foster home finally figured out what I was trying to tell everyone: I was deaf! Unfortunately, I was still frustrated as we didn't know how to communicate with each other. I needed to learn how understand a whole new language with hands. My frustration meant that I was using my teeth on the humans, and I got a lot of stern looks and corrections in return.
To prepare me for my next foster home, I had an operation (ouch! My parts went missing!) and a check up with a doctor (ouch! Sharp pointy things!). Luckily, I ended up with 2 wonderful fosters that understood that I taught myself how to communicate badly, and that I just needed time to learn a more gentle way. Afterall, I AM still a puppy, and I didn't learn to behave this way overnight, so time is my friend.
My foster family is neat! I have a warm bed to sleep in, a super-de-dooper big foster sister who lets me play with her, and a not so fun foster brother (he's OLD and grumpy, but I still try to get him to chase me). There are cats in the house too and I think they're really interesting, but dogs are more fun. My foster mom had two really nice trainers come to the house to help us learn to talk to each other. Oh boy! I finally understand what she's asking of me! I can sit, down, stay and will wait for my food when it's placed on the floor, until she says "okay". They also told me that literally biting the hand that feeds is a big no-no, so they taught me a nice way to touch hands instead. I love doing it because I get some dehydrated liver sometimes for a reward. My favourite!! The pats and "good boy" are really nice to get too.
After 5 weeks, I finally figured out that getting mad using my teeth is not such a great idea. It's better to be gentle with my mom as the rewards are great. I do forget sometimes, but she says that I'm nothing like I was when I first arrived in September. She says that "my kind" are very active and I need a job to do to keep me happy and busy, as when I get bored, I tend to get in trouble. What? You mean the shoes, remotes, boots, jackets, table runners, magazines, etc. aren't all mine? Poop! Mom says that it's the puppy in me doing this, and that I will eventually stop doing this as I mature (mom says she hopes it's soon!).
Mom said because I was doing so good at home-schooling, it was time to go to public school and meet other people and dogs. Boy-o-boy! Classes are FUN! Lots of liver-treaties, and I figured out how to understand when my mom talks to me! I still need to learn how to heel, because everything is so new and exciting that I just want to GO! instead of watching my mom give me cues to keep me at her side. The teachers tell me I'm doing so good and that I'm so smart. Of course I am! I'm almost a graduate too (one more class left). That's one of my teachers dressed in the Santa suit in the pictures (that was a fun day too!).
I've met a bunch of people and although I'm still nervous to meet them and my first reaction is to bark and jump towards them, mom puts me in a sit/stay and gets them to feed me treats and to touch them the nice way. Then I really love them and can't wait to give them kisses.
I've met some nice people who thought they wanted to adopt me, but I guess I just wasn't ready for them. Mom says I'm not for the faint-of-heart and that my new parent(s) needs to be patient with me and keep training me every day until I'm all growed up and ready to settle down some. She says having eyes in the back of your head helps too. I think she's joking. I love to run, but because I can't hear, I ideally need a fenced yard so that I don't run away, or a lot of leashed-walks. I think I like kids, but mom says that for now, I should not have kids of my own. Someday I will heel, and I think I'd love to try a dog sport like agility. I can climb and jump real good! Mom says I must have springs in my legs.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to meet you some day soon! Happy Holidays!
Love, Dexter
16 December 2008
If you think you could provide Dexter with the home he needs, please visit www.bostonterrierrescuecanada.com for information on our rescue and an application form.
BEFORE YOU APPLY...we ask that you carefully read the general information about our adoption policies available on our website (including home visit requirements and adoption fees), and also that you be sure you meet the specific requirements for the Boston you are interested in adopting.
PLEASE NOTE: We do not ship our dogs -- Dexter is currently being fostered in Nova Scotia.
