Wowzer is one of the friendliest dogs you will ever meet!  He was found as a stray, limping along the road.  The person who found him took him to his vet who determined that Wowzer had a broken foot. Ouch!  Dr. Wayne has set it and put it in a cast ~ several times.  This little goober keeps chewing off the cast.  Yeah, I'm willing to bet he found himself in one of those Elizabethan collars, you know, the cones that keep them from reaching stuff while it heals. 

 

Volunteer Update:  I visited Wowzer in his crate last week and didn't see a crazy dog. He was slinking back away from me, obviously fearful and distrustful. Today when I got to the shelter he was out by himself, so I set a goal of getting him to know and trust me so that he will act like his “normal self” when I come see him in the crate and we can work on impulse control. Wowser's body language was very wary, though not at all aggressive. He moved very slowly, kept his head low and his mouth taut, and wouldn't make eye contact with me except briefly with a sideways glance that was apparently just to ensure he knew which way I was moving. I tried to load the clicker to see if he would respond to that (click/treat, click/treat until the dog understands that the click sound makes treats happen), but as I suspected, the sudden noise made him even more fearful. So instead I switched to using the marker word YES. First I just handed him several treats while praising him softly. He took the treats, but left to go up the stairs to ask to go inside, away from the “scary stranger.” Being on the top of the stairs put him in a position where I could look at his face without bending over him, so I worked from there. Standing sideways to him and looking softly (half-lidded) at him, I waited for him to ever-so-briefly lift his eyes to mine. Then I would say YES, look away and give him a treat while praising him. We did this over and over, until we could look at each other in a relaxed way (not staring, but holding the gaze for a second or two), and his face muscles were relaxed. I then went about 10' away and called him in a cheery voice. He came to me, I rewarded and praised him, then went across the yard and did the same thing. After a while he started to follow me, look directly at me, with his mouth relaxed and tongue hanging out, and by the end of the session he was putting his head in my arms for cuddles. Mission accomplished! I wasn't able to stay any longer as I wasn't feeling well today, but I feel good about how easy it was to get this sweet dog to trust a stranger. He displays as a dog who was either not socialized with strange people at a young age and/or neglected (such as put in a yard by himself). But he definitely has it in him to bond.

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, bred down in size from pit-fighting dogs of the bull and terrier types, the Boston Terrier originally weighed up to 44 pounds (20 kg.) (Olde Boston Bulldogge). It is difficult to believe that these dapper little dogs were once tough pit-fighters. In fact, their weight classifications were once divided as lightweight, middle and heavyweight. The Boston Terrier is one of the few breeds that was "Made in the USA." Boston to be exact. The original Boston Terriers were a cross between the English Bulldog and now extinct English White Terrier. Around 1865, the coachmen employed by the wealthy people of Boston began to interbreed some of these fine dogs owned by their employers. One of these crosses, between an English White Terrier and an English Bulldog resulted in a dog named Hooper's Judge. Judge weighed over 30 pounds (13.5 kg.) he was bred down in size with a smaller female and one of those male pups was bred to yet a smaller female. Their offspring interbred with one or more French Bulldogs, providing the foundation for the Boston Terrier. By 1889 the breed had become sufficiently popular in Boston that fanciers formed the American Bull Terrier Club, but this proposed name for the breed was not well received by the Bull Terrier Fanciers. The breeds nickname, roundheads, was similarly inappropriate. Shortly after, the breed was named the Boston Terrier after its birthplace. The breed was recognized by the AKC in 1893. It was first shown in Boston in 1870. In the early years the color and markings were not very important but by the 1900's the breeds distinctive markings and color were written into the standard becoming an essential feature. Terrier only in name, the Boston Terrier has lost most of their ruthless desire for mayhem, preferring the company of humans, although "some" males will still challenge other dogs if they feel their territory is being invaded. Though bred at first for use in dog fights, today's Boston Terrier has been bred to have less aggressive tendencies. It is gentle, alert, very intelligent, and well-mannered. Enthusiastic and occasionally rambunctious, this breed has a sense of humor. They are very sensitive to the tone of one's voice. This breed likes to learn and therefore is not difficult to train. Their intelligence ensures they pick things up quickly. At times they can be somewhat willful. Some owners have reported that their dogs are good watchdogs barking only when necessary, while other owners have reported their female Boston Terriers do not bark at the door at all. Most reliable with children, especially good with elderly people and very friendly with strangers. The Boston Terrier is playful, very affectionate and likes to be part of the family. Very popular in the United States, due above all to its excellent character. They generally get along well with non-canine pets. Some males are dominant and may fight with other dogs. These little dogs may be difficult to housebreak. They have a life expectancy of 15 or more years.