BOSCOE....SWEET AS CHOCOLATE

 "Boscoe is settling right in here.  He is smitten with his "big boxer brother" Gordon, seeking him out for play and snuggles.  Boscoe is still a little bit timid with strangers, especially men, but with some gentle coaxing he warms up quickly.  When intimidated by someone new, he will squat and wet a little bit, but that is about being freaked out, I think, because he seems to be doing that less every day.  After he gets to know a person (in 10 minutes), he is one big wiggly love full of sweetness and humor.

He is great about letting me know when he needs to go outside by standing at the door with urgency.  The household schedule is pretty regular, and he has quickly adjusted himself to coincide with our regular daily movements.  I haven't seen any issues with food aggression, and he'll gladly trade his toys for a little treat.  Boscoe is a great passenger in the car, although he has to be reminded to stay in the back seat. He just wants to sit in your lap and give kisses - even when you're driving!

He is a real snuggle-bug, climbing right up on my lap and cuddling up to watch a movie.  He prefers to sleep in his own bed and is good at settling right down at night.  During the day he likes to get out and go, whether for walks in the woods or just to hang out in the yard.  He's an energetic puppy - not unusual for a boxer of his age!  With a little bit of encouragement, he is learning how to walk on the leash without pulling.  We're using a harness and a long leash, and after a couple of times he figured out that pulling means we stop and leaving slack means we go.  While he gets excited and forgets now and again, once he is reminded he gets it right together.

I'm using crate training for the 3-4 hours per day that Boscoe is home without adult supervision.  It seems familiar to him, and he hops right in for me.  He has a little bit of a separation anxiety thing happening; he is anxious at leave-takings and overexcited at homecomings.  I've been discouraging making a big deal about those things, being very low-key about them and giving him a peanut butter kong in his crate as I walk out the door. That's the only behavioral concern I've seen, but it seems like a natural outgrowth of his life
experience thus far.  Over time I don't think he would have a problem transitioning to being left home without a crate, but I think with his newness here, and his natural puppy curiosity, it's the best way to keep him safe right now.

Boscoe is surprisingly eager to please, given his obvious lack of previous consistent training.  This dog is also one smart cookie, and will test out a hypothesis by checking for the same response a handful of times.  Once he is sure he understands the message he's happy to go along with the program.  He is also starting to relax, no longer wincing at quick movements or loud noises.  I think a gentle and quiet household with lots of outdoor exercise would be his dream home, particularly with a good canine buddy or two.  He likes other dogs a lot, greeting them with puppyish submission and appropriate social cues.

In short, he's a boxer puppy - goofy and sweet and full of life.  That he's been moved between several homes at such a young age means he is a little bit behind in his training, but he's a real sweetheart and responds quickly to patience.