Media Coverage:

 

 

Ox:

 

- Is such a people-lover.

- Loves belly rubs and any attention he can get.

- Loves stuffed toys (and enjoys taking them outside with him)

- Is great on a leash.

- Is a pretty laid back guy.

- Likes bathes.

- Rides good in a car.

- Likes to lay at/on your feet.

- Is good with his canine and feline foster brother and sisters.

- Does not currently need to be crated.

- Loves going to outdoor restaurants with foster mom and brother.

- Still follows me around the house after fostering him for months (what a great dog that is!)

- Is a "leaner".

 

Ox is a wonderful red Terrier.  He is very friendly and good with other dogs, cats, and kids.  Ox is a pretty quiet dog - not real high-energy.  Ox is like a pair of dog slippers.  He would be laying on my feet as much as possible if I stayed in one place long enough.  Ox's favorite past time seems to be receiving belly-rubs.  Ox also loves laying on his back and "squirming" around with all four paws in the air especially with a stuffed toy in his mouth.  He LOVES his stuffed toys - especially those in the shape of a ball.  He likes to carry them outside in his mouth (like in one of his photos).
 
If you want a dog that bonds with you despite his past, Ox may be the dog for you.  He was my shadow after knowing me for less than 24 hours and continues to be right by my side.  I have to be careful not to trip over him because invariably he is laying behind me and I don't know he is there.  He likes to keep "his person" in sight.  He may also sit on your feet when you are standing, as he looks up at you with those "Thank you." and "I hope I'm being good enough." eyes, or touching your foot when you are sitting down and he is laying beside you.  What more could you ask for in your potential "best friend"?
  
Ox has received heartworm treatment.  He is now on monthly heartworm preventative.  Many dogs live long and heathly lives after being diagnosed with heartworm.
 
04.10.10 Foster Update:  Ox was brought into my foster home today which consists of multiple cats and dogs.  He has been wonderful with all of them.  He had known me for about a total of an hour and already appeared to have had an attachment to me.  As I was out doing yard work, he was very close by and continued to want to be where I was.  Right now he is at my feet as I work on the computer in my office.
 
Ox also went to his first outdoor social event today.  He did very well.  He was not quite sure, at first, what strollers, bikes, and skateboards were but quickly adapted to all of the movement and excitement.  He had no issue with them at all.  Also, small children kept wanting to pet him.  He was so calm and appeared very glad to have the attention.  Ox also went to his first outdoor restaurant today.  He laid on the floor under the table with two other dogs the whole time and was extremely well-behaved.
 
04.11.10 Foster Update:  I think Ox is learning a little bit about what a "dog's life" is supposed to be but not from me.  He is learning from my other dog.  You know - running around in the yard, laying in the sun, watching the birds, etc.  When we were all outside and my dog ran to and stood at the fence to let people know he was there (barely barks), Ox got up and to go with him.  Ox just looks at my dog like he is wondering what my dog is doing.  Ox is not much of a barker.  Also, when my dog wanted to play his favorite game - retrieve the ball - Ox ran after him toward the ball.  Even if Ox got to the ball first, Ox let my dog have the ball then they both ran back to me (video).  Last night, Ox's first night at his foster house, was a quiet night.  He did not make a sound while in his crate.  He quietly waited for me to get up and let him out in the morning.  He is so good.
 
Ox was very good about his first foster bath since being with me.  He just stood there as I sprayed him down.
 
I was not sure if the first quiet night was a fluke.  The second night Ox was quiet too.  Oh yes, and Ox loves belly rubs.  He is begging me for one in one of his videos but I could not take the video and rub his belly at the same time!
 
04.17.10 Foster Update:  This morning Ox, his foster brother, and I went for a walk down to a park.  Ox did good with all that were at the park - puppies, small dogs, and people.
 
Ox continues to be my shadow.  He doesn't let me out of his sight much and is usually within a few feet away.
 
There continues to be no display of food aggression from Ox.  If he is done eating and the other dogs are still eating he can be beside them but make no attempt toward their food.  His focus appears to be on me.  Also, if I am giving cats treats by placing a few on the floor by the cats and Ox is nearby he will not attempt to eat the cat treats.
 
Since Ox has been so good at night, rather than putting him in a crate he has been staying in my office which is adjacent to the bedroom.  Ox is able to see us and feel apart of the rest of the pack.  I only separate him so that everyone has their own space and is able to relax.  He quietly waits for me to get up in the morning.
 
Ox is crated for about 9 hours daily during the week.  He has not any accidents in the house since being with me.
 
04.20.10 Foster Update:  Ox continues to amaze me at how responsive he is.  He is very good and does not require any drastic discipline; however, like with the other family dogs once in awhile there is a need to tell them, "No".  I simply, in a low voice, calm voice tell Ox, "No" , and he responds.  He is also learning, "Sit".  Ox appears to be very intelligent and really seems to want to please.
 
There have only been two times when Ox had something he was not supposed to have - both times it was my flip-flop.  I caught him carrying it but had not chewed it.  I promptly took it from him, told him "No", and went to the dog toy basket and got him a toy.  A little while ago, he went to the basket himself and got the brand new toy I gave him last night!  I was so proud of him and verbally praised him.
 
05.04.10 Foster Update:  Ox continues to get along with all of the other animals in the household.  He loves to play fetch with my dog.  They play very good together.  Whoever gets to the ball first, gets the ball...no arguing about it.  That must be the agreed upon terms between the two of them.
 
Ox is very cute the way he slightly bobs his head side to side, with a little grin on his face, when he is trotting back toward me!
 
Tonight when I had to leave for about an hour and a half, I gated Ox into my office rather than put him back in the crate that he'd been in all day.  Don't ya' know...he was at the front door greeting me when I got back.  I was afraid of what else might be greeting me as I've had my share of a separation-anxiety dog; however, it appears that Ox was a perfect gentleman during my absence.
 
05.13.10 Foster Update:  There are time when I give my dogs or cats attention (intentionally) and not Ox as I want to continue temperament testing him.  I want to make sure he is not going to show any negative reaction by snapping at my dogs or cats.  Thus far, he continues to pass with flying colors.  Actually, what he does is sneaks up behind me and nudges his big ol' head between the back of my knees if I'm standing up.  Before I know it, I have a very sweet, red-headed dog's head lodged between my knees looking up at me!  If that is his way of looking for attention, I will take that versus a more negative approach!
 
05.15.10 Volunteer Update:  Ox went to the park today with me and my dog.  Since I have not had Ox in a highly social setting, I kept him leashed.  Ox was a perfect gentleman.  He was in the middle of large dog crowds during our time there but he displayed no negative responses.  In fact, if he appeared to be uncomfortable at all he would lay down on the ground.
 
Ox was the hit of the morning with the humans in attendance!

 

05.30.10 Foster Update:  This morning Ox went to the park with us.  By the time we left there were about 12-15 dogs in the immediate area.  Ox was good with the other dogs; however, the smaller dogs seemed to make him a little more nervous than the bigger ones.  Additionally, Ox was the about the only one on a leash so he may have been a little unsettled because of that.  He expressed his concern with a little growl which was good. 

 

I am testing Ox in various scenarios so that I gain more information about him.  One reason I kept him leashed was I did not want to risk Ox running off since the area is not fenced although I would not really see that happening since he is not usually more than few centimeters away from me.

 

06.14.10 Foster Update:  Ox continues to get more and more handsome everyday.  Although, I'm not sure that is possible.  Also, the "red" fur coloring is getting more intense with time.  He seems to be putting on a little bit more weight; it is good weight though.  He looks really good.  Everyone continues to comment on how they love his coloring and his eyes.   

 

Yesterday I left him uncrated when I was gone.  I was gone a little longer than expected for a total of 7 hours.  He was a good boy!  He did not touch anything - not even my flip flop which seems to be what he likes to carry from place to place.

 

08.23.10 Foster Update:  A lot has happened in a few months - most notably that Ox has had one heartworm injection in his series of three.  He will get the other two injections later this week.  I now believe what folks say about maintaining no activity during this treatment is the most difficult aspect of the treatment.  Ox wants to run and play like a healthy dog!  That will be a very happy day when he is actually wants to and is gets to play.  It will probably be another couple of months before he is declared heartworm-free.

 

Ox loves, loves, loves to play with his toys.  He is so good about going to the dog toy box (well, or the cat toy box) and getting toys. 

 

We continue working on sitting his food bowl in front of him and Ox waiting to eat until I say "Okay!"  In fact, he has gotten so good at it that I was not paying attention one time after I set his food down in front of him.  I was on the phone.  A minute or two later he was still looking at me and waiting for me to give him the cue!  He was so good!

 

09.14.10 Foster Update:  Ox continues to be the best boy ever!  He went through a short time where he seemed to experiencing some newly-found separation anxiety.  I think the anxiety was at least partially due to his medical orders of "no exercise" during his heartworm treatment.  We have since worked through that experience.  I'm very confident that he and his foster brother are home snuggled up in the sheets on my bed right now.

 

He continues to display that he is great around other animals.  He is not food or treat aggressive. Once I give him a chew at night - WHICH HE LOVES - I intentionally give him the chew and then take it away from him just to test him.  Now that sometimes becomes me trying to unclamp his jaw so I can get it!  There is no attempt to bite though.  I think that requires more "human" training.

 

10.22.10 Foster Update:  Ox went with me to an outdoor non-rescue related event last night.  He always is such a big attraction to other folks.  They just love him!  He is so unaffected by mass amounts of people, skateboarders, bicyclists, etc.  He just casually continues on his way no matter whats going on around him - or lays on my feet if we are standing still for awhile.