What better way to kick off the new blog than with puppies. Okay, Izzy is not a puppy truthfully. She is 2 yrs. 8 months old according to the Austin Humane Society where I adopted her just a couple weeks ago. Izzy still acts like a puppy at some times, but I am extremely lucky that she is almost the perfect dog.
The bio given to me by the volunteer was lengthy and you could tell the previous owners, who were the sole owners since the dog was actually a puppy, loved her a lot. AHS was extremely busy that day. That was probably due to the holidays. While I waited I talked to Chicken Nugget, a black and white cat born with a congenital defect that left her rear legs rotated so that they were backwards from the knee. One of the volunteers told me that she would definitely be taken home soon. People have a soft spot for animals with special needs.
According to her bio, Isabeau, means “beautiful”. She is a sweet friendly dog who loves to play rough because she was taught that way. Friendly with dogs and playful with cats. The latter which is important because there are cats at the apartment and I wouldn’t want them to get eaten.
In person Izzy seemed a little timid, but right away her tail would start perking up gradually after spending time with me in the run outdoors. The volunteer outside let me know that she seems very adaptable and well-mannered, that she would adjust easily.
Did she ever. After making it back from Petsmart Izzy acclimated herself immediately. She became an entirely different dog and made herself right at home. Her eating habits started off a little funny, but that only lasted a couple of days.
Adopting a new pup had been something I planned for awhile and I had wanted a boxer even longer. It was only the opportune time since I had been at my new job for about half a year now and my life is out of flux for awhile. Also I believed a myth that I needed a large yard for a dog to be happy and apartment life would not suit one.
Turns out a dog can become bored and frustrated even in a yard if they are not walked regularly. Apartment life actually works quite well because people will not be inclined to leave their pups in the yard without walks. New Yorkers apparently have very happy dogs, as well as homeless folks since they often walk.
At first I was nervous when she first got home. Mostly about losing time having to take care of her and also about any surprises in bad behavior, stuff torn up, or angry neighbors who can’t stand constant barking. It has been a couple weeks, but I am a lucky dude to have such a great pup.
She has boundless energy, but she minds, she is quiet, great with kids and other animals. Everyone remarks at how pretty she is, and she certainly is, just look at the pictures.
There are a few things to work on, she is a dog. A crazy stroke of fortune happened today though. My roommate kept bringing up getting a full body harness and I was skeptical about it. I fell in the camp that believed harnesses are silly and probably trigger dogs instincts to pull. I couldn’t have been more wrong. She used to pull frequently while using a normal collar, but with the harness she hardly does at all. Tonight we just ran 45 minutes and I hardly had to control her. It was like instant training. I’m blown away.
Here’s to a long life with my new companion. A lot of time has to be dedicated to her, but really it has only done me benefit. Caring for her helps me manage my time because although I am crazy productive, I always found it annoying that the days seem always too short. Especially in the winter. With Izzy around I get to chill out. Our walks are a time that I do not have to take care of anything but her and that feels liberating. Watching her fly around at the dog park is a thrill.
To anyone thinking about getting a pup, go for it! Do it now…they bring all the happy feels all day.