Boxers are love bugs as any Boxer owner will tell you but we cannot say it enough about Vito.  Vito just wants to be loved and wants to love 24 hours a day!  Vito is the perfect storm of dogs – he is great with kids, does well with cats and other dogs, wants to please at all times, loves to play, and loves to be lazy too.  He sleeps with his tongue sticking out as you can see from the picture.    We do allow him on the furniture however he knows it is a special privilege and is just as content on the floor or in his own bed.  Vito is getting better every day on the leash and knows that the harness means some serious walking is about to happen and he is up for the task.  We walk him both morning and night for long walks and then we have play time.  During play time, Vito definitely likes to “box” so be careful as it can hurt if he gets you just right. This is the youngest 9 year dog we have ever met!  Even the vet was amazed with the results of all his tests.  Other tests also showed that Vito had been shot with a pellet gun (the pellet is still in there but is doing him no harm) and had an old ACL injury that was left untreated.  And still Vito just wants to LOVE humans anyway – what a boy!!    

Vito is fine with free roam of the house unless you have issues with him being on the furniture because he checks every bed, couch and chair while we are away.  He does not embrace the crate so gating him would be the best option if you are trying to limit his access to furniture in your absence.  Vito likes to sleep right next to us on the floor so he can keep an eye on us through the night.  We have invited him up to our bed at night but he eventually opts for his own bed every time.   

Vito does not always give you his full attention and needs to have commands repeated at times; however, we keep working with him on this.  He is not all that interested in treats so it makes it just a little more difficult to get him to focus.  Vito does get a little over zealous at the house door when he thinks you are leaving and will push past you as if to say “I am going with you whether you like it or not” so be aware when opening doors.  He also climbs right over you in the car as soon as you open the door so hold on to his leash and be prepared.  We will keep working on this one with him when we go for rides. 

 February 26, 2012

Vito arrived at his foster home yesterday.   This handsome boy is 8 years old and loves everyone he meets. He is great with other animals.  He has lived with a male dog and a cat in his previous home.  Vito is housebroken and knows his basic commands. Vito use to be crate trained, but will need to be reintroduced to the crate as he is having a difficult time getting in it.  He seems to do well in a gated area in a room when left alone.  We will work with him on reintroducing him to his crate over the next few weeks. Vito

also lived with children in his previous home and was wonderful with them.  Please check back soon as we get to know this handsome boy a little better.