• Melisa HillHe looks like he's holding down your friend with his paw, so cute... Just love this lil' guy
  
  
• Betsy AustShane, do you think his fear of new people is a fear of hands? If so, doing some work with target or "touch" training could help desensitize Teddy to hands, and over time he could generalize that all hands that you allow to come in contact with him are good hands.
  
  
  
• Shane David McQuearyActually, I believe you are spot on Betsy. Hands are a major problem for him. If he snips at anyone almost every time it will be the hands. You can also see the nervousness in his face when someone that he is not 100% comfortable with goes to touch him. For a long while even when my wife and I would go to touch him his lower lip and jaw would quiver and he looked nervous. He has gotten past that with us but you can still see that happen with other people. You can see it in him that he wants so bad to trust people but at the same time he is nervous around anyone new.
  
  Betsy AustBefore I start, Is Teddy food possessive? Can you touch him while he is eating his meals? Does he take treats nicely out of your hand? If not food possessive or chompy with treats, proceed.
  
  Teaching my first foster dog who was fearful (cowered, wouldn't approach) the "touch" command helped her tremendously. Here is the method: get the dog to touch/tap nose to open palm of hand. No open mouth allowed. When the dog's nose touches your palm, say "yes!" and give a small piece of food with your other hand. repeat, repeat, repeat. Change position of your palm. Low, high, close, far away, left, right. When the dog is able to do this consistently with you both on command, you are ready for the next step.
  
  Get your dog to touch your open palm. This time, the reward is something he must lick. A kong filled with all things good is great for a dog like Teddy who may decide to try and devour. I use a hotdog that I don't allow enough exposed - dog must lick to get at the food. While the dog is licking the good stuff, come close to the face with the free hand - carefully, slowly - and try to rub under the chin. remember, this is the hand he has already "touched" with his nose. Any fear, and stop, pull the food away for a moment, ask the dog to do something else (like sit) reward that, and either stop the exercise, or re-approach. Once he allows the touch under the chin, you can slowly move up the side of the face, massage, rub ears, top of head, etc, etc.
  
  once he can do this with you both, then allow your friends that already know teddy to practice. eventually, with lots of time, repetition, patience, Teddy can learn to generalize to others he is less familiar with.
  
  the concept is this: hand = good things. (food, head massages.)
  
  

Gracie Mae Announces her:

2017 ANNUAL VALENTINE EVENT

Photo submission dates: January 13th through midnight January 19th only

On the 13th of January 2017, we will open a special album on the "Donna Curtis" timeline on Facebook, just to collect this year’s Valentine photos.


We will have our friends and readers submit a photo of their Bostons.
The photos will be put into our special album starting the 13th of January.


The only requirement will be that somewhere in the photo there must be a red heart; paper, plastic or whatever.


Then, on the 20th we will start the voting for this year’s top favorite photo of our 2017 Valentine Event.


With your help, the favorite photo will be selected by voting "like" starting at 5pm of the 20th, to midnight of the 21st.


This is our fourth year of having these contests.  We think they are just a lot of fun.

One more way of bragging and showing off our favorite Boston fur-friends.

To make this event special, just like last year, the top favorite photos with the most "likes" will be sent a special gift.

The winner will be announced on the 7th of February.

Why so early you may wonder? We want to make sure this year's gift arrive just in time for Valentine's Day.
 

Our Motto: “We are stronger together than we are alone.”, Means we are always looking at how we can make a positive contribution in everything we do. We understand we cannot achieve much good if we try to do everything ourselves.

We need your help.

This year we will have a bit of writing fun to add.

We are looking for some short stories featuring a Boston Terrier, Pug, Boxer, Frenchie or Bulldog.

The winning selection will be featured as an article for our Boston Terrier Network website.

If you have not taken this opportunity to write for us, you might find the experience challenging, yet fun.  This is truly a wonderful way to share your personal rescue experiences and stories.

Contact us at  info@bostonterriernetwork.com 

ADOPTED

Meet Dolly!!

Dolly is about 5 years old and VERY well behaved. She just wants to be near someone who will give her some love! Oklahoma Boston Terrier rescued this little doll from a shelter after she was picked up by animal control. She is one of the sweetest girls you will ever meet and seems to know what being in the house is all about. If you are interested in adopting Dolly, please fill out the adoption application.