#1
|
||||
|
||||
A new life for a middle-aged Am Staff
Roxy is a beautiful American Staffordshire Bull Terrier. At 2 years old, she found herself as a mom, had her ears hacked off, and was homeless in an SPCA. Her adoptive family ran into some financial issues and Roxy along with her two Jack Russel buddies had to find a new home when the family's farm had to be sold.
This is where I come along. I adopted Roxy a month ago from a Pit Bull rescue group where she was then a 6 1/2 year old chunky monkey at 81 lbs. I put in a request for an adult or geriatric female dog that will get along with kids (family's, not my own) and our poop disturber Chihuahua last fall. Roxy actually lived with the 2 JRs as well as 3 Chi's and 3 kids aged 2-6! PERFECT! From living on a farm, Roxy wasn't used to meeting a lot of strangers so she was leery of strangers (particularly men), but warmed up quick. She was good with introductions if done properly, but meeting strangers face-on would inspire a protective reaction from Roxy. ![]() The rescue group suggested a trainer for me which offered free training sessions for dog's adopted from this rescue group. Since I couldn't find any local trainers that I had much confidence in we traveled 6 hours to the trainer with Roxy and Peewee. This trainer has worked with a lot of troubled dogs, and really helped tremendously with Roxy. [If anyone wants his name, PM me and I will be happy to tell you all about him.] He explained that Roxy has no idea what's going on in her life, and doesn't know she's now our dog so we have to establish leadership. He taught us how to establish leadership in a non-confrontational way using heeling practice as a learning tool. The difference in just one day (and now 3 weeks) was absolutely astounding! Roxy recently accompanied me to BC to visit family where she met my brother's kids, and swam in rivers and lakes. Since we don't know Roxy very well yet, and we know her past only from second-hand information she was muzzled while around the kids. We called it a face mask. ![]() Nowadays, Roxy is enjoying our fenced yard and learning how to play fetch. She goes for daily walks practicing her heel and leave it commands in public areas. She also meets strangers and new dogs as she learns how to introduce herself in an appropriate manner. Roxy is also on a diet! She is loving her new Orijen diet and along with a smaller meal, less carbs, and more exercise she has gone from 81 lbs down to 74.5 lbs today. She has a few more lbs to go, and lots of fitness to come! I am hoping that Roxy will be ready for the winter's indoor agility classes, but we have some work to do yet! I am waiting for her veterinary records (got lucky with a re-home instead of a rescue so I get info!) so she can go for a full check-up, and get her anal glands expressed. She's too fat to reach her butt to lick it thankfully. ![]() Here she is on her way home with me...she slowly inched over so her head was on my lap...too cute: ![]() Does my chunky butt fit on this little dog bed? ![]() Even my lips run when I run! ![]() Perdy: ![]() My first BC river: ![]() Going for a run with my new kids! I have my face mask on, but I don't mind. ![]() Look how trim I am now! ![]()
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie Last edited by Myka; August 19th, 2011 at 05:10 PM. |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Myka,that last pic of Roxy is beautiful,she seems very happy and I am soo glad you adopted her,who knows what kind of life she could have had,if you didn't.
I just love her,she looks a little short and stocky for a Staffie,but I've only ever met one,so I could be wrong. ![]()
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
#3
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks Chico! She has a real sweetheart personality. Very cuddly, and would be a lap dog if she could! She will sneak up on our beds if no one is watching.
![]() I considered returning Roxy when I was having protection issues with her. I have a lot going on in my life right now (starting up my own business), and really didn't expect to or want to have to deal with behavior issues. The thought of what would happen to her guilted me into keeping her and I am happy that I did! In order of tallest and lankiest to shortest there are Am Staff Terriers, Am Staff Bull Terriers, and English Staff Terriers. Since most of these breeds can be crossbred with APBTs and still be registered as APBTs it really has made the breeds all wishy washy! I don't have any registration papers for her, but her records all the way back to the SPCA say "American Staffordshire Bull Terrier". The rescue group thinks that is correct. Who knows? ![]()
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
She's very beautiful--and very lucky!
![]()
__________________
"We are--each of us--dying; it's how we live in the meantime that makes the difference." "It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived!" "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." |
#5
|
||||
|
||||
Myka she is absolutely gorgeous! So glad you brought another into your life!!! She certainly didnt know she won the lottery the day she met you!! she stolel your heart! Love the pics and she looks really good with that bit of weight loss!!
![]()
__________________
Tabitha April 10, 1995 - August 23, 2013 Bomber April 10, 1995 - July 12, 2010 Winston Nov 15, 1999 - September 15, 2011 Sophie Aug 30, 2011 "UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED" He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion. -Unknown |
#6
|
||||
|
||||
Congratulations on your new addition to the family and thank you for rescuing her.
![]() Love the pics. Roxy is a gorgeous girl. ![]()
__________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The animals share with us the privilege of having a soul." -Pythagoras "The soul is the same in all living creatures, although the body of each is different." -Hippocrates "Let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world." -Jack Layton "Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi Kitties: Punky (17), and Sassy (13), Twinky (10), Sweet ![]() ![]() |
#7
|
||||
|
||||
She is just beautiful, Myka!
![]() These dogs just want to be loved, that's all and looks like Roxy is going to get that ![]() That pic of her on the tiny doggy bed is just precious, she thinks she just a wee pup ![]()
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#8
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for the comments everyone! She's a real sweet dog, and very clean. Poops at the very back of the yard. Unlike the Chihuahua who poops everywhere...including his kennel.
L4H, we have no shortage of tiny dog beds around here because of the Chi. Roxy thinks she fits on all of them. I got some pics lastnight of her curled up on a tiny dog couch. I will upload them sometime! ![]()
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie |
#9
|
||||
|
||||
Myka please do,love to see pics of her.
The Staffordshire Terrier I am thinking of belonged to a member here,a long time ago(Lucky Rescue),I got a pic here somewhere...here she is.
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
#10
|
||||
|
||||
Aw, she's cute! She didn't live long though....
![]()
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie |
#11
|
||||
|
||||
No she did not,her owner was absolutely devestated when she passed,I forgot why she passed,it was such a long time ago.
Roxy is a sweet sweet girl,I am sure she'll be very happy from now on. Do you ever watch"Pit-Bulls and Parolees",I really love that show.
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
#12
|
||||
|
||||
Yes, I watch it every now and then. I don't watch much TV though.
![]() ![]()
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie |
#13
|
||||
|
||||
Ahhhh, she sure is a sweetie pie, Myka
![]() ![]() ![]()
__________________
Cat maid to: Rose semi feral, a cpietra rescue, female tabby (approx 13 yrs) Jasper RIP (2001-2018) Sweet Pea RIP (2004?-2014) Puddles RIP (1996-2014) Snowball RIP (1991-2005) In a cat's eye, all things belong to cats.-English Proverb “While we are free to choose our actions, we are not free to choose the consequences of our actions.” Stephen R. Covey |
#14
|
||||
|
||||
Myka, she's gorgeous!
![]() |
#15
|
||||
|
||||
If you're talking about the human couch...she's not normally allowed up there, I just figured it was a nice background for pictures. As for the doggie couch...she insists she can fit on it.
I should weigh her again, she's now down to a good weight.
__________________
Ella - Jun '20 - Reg AmStaff Squeak - '15/16? - Tabby cat (adopted Nov '18) Streak - '18 - Black cat (adopted Nov '18) Peewee - Jan '06 - 6.5 lb Chi (adopted May '09) -------------------- Roxy - Feb '05 to May '20 AmStaff (adopted Jul '11) Myka - Nov '98 to Jan '10 - APBT X Lacy - Sep '92 to Jul '03 - Sheltie |
#16
|
||||
|
||||
OMG,that girl has just landed in doggie-heaven
![]() ![]()
__________________
"The cruelest animal is the Human animal" 3 kitties,Rocky(r.i.p my boy),Chico,Vinnie |
#17
|
||||
|
||||
I just love, love, love your new furbaby. Roxy is a doll, Sasha tries to fit into small doggy beds too. patti
__________________
It Is What It Is |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|