Re: Baxter – labrador x – HOMED

[Maglou]

Hi, Just thought you might like a little update on Bax.
I was away for a week visiting a friend in the UK, something I had organised before we had Bax. All the time I was away I was so worried that he wouldn’t know me when I got home. Well I need not have worried as he practically leapt into my arms as I came throught the door. It was a very happy reunion.
Nick texted me all the time telling me what he was up to. Having Bax has brought such joy into his life again as he was so upset when our lovely Paddy died in the summer. I have never had so many texts from my loving husband! He said that the garden was like a bomb site ( but in a good way) as Bax had scoured every inch of it to find things to play with including plastic plant pots,sticks, various toys,more sticks, chews etc etc..
He loves his sticks!!!
Here are some pics of Bax with his beloved sticks. He is not daunted by the size and likes nothing better than the challenge of pulling up half buried sticks on our walks. It’s really funny to see him yanking and pulling at something that looks very unlikely to budge and then suddenly does as he hauls the biggest part of it out of the ground. He is one very strong dog! He is sooo proud of himself too.
He continues to settle well and is a very good boy. He understandably suffers a bit from separation anxiety but as he realises this is his home I am hoping it will ease. I have a extendable lead for him now and it is easier to control him when it’s clipped to his collar and harness and he is making progress out walking.
He is so good around food and no more jumping up at the counter and no begging. He seems to know now that food does not necessarily include him. Of course he does love to lick the cats bowl from one end of the kitchen to the other. Very musical.
I would like to wish everyone at DID including all the wonderful fosterers out there and everyone who like us has had the great fortune to bring home a much valued new family member, a very Happy Christmas and all the best for 2011. Keep up the good work DID and thanks again!
Bax in garden and with stick 020.jpg
Bax in garden and with stick 026.jpg
Bax in garden and with stick 025.jpg

[buzzsmom]

He really looks great ,amazing it took so long to find his forever home but it was worth the wait, lucky boy Bax

[ems]

hey mgt and nick
the pics of bax are so cool….i love the one of him with the huge stick….der says its not a stick its a tree trunk and i agree!!! typical bax glad he is doing so well in his forever home and its fab to see how happy he is, he really is flourishing in your care and for that we can not thank you enough thanks for seeing the potential in this beautiful dog and for making our christmas wish come true, we are forever grateful to ye

happy christmas to ye all and we hope 2011 sees all your dreams come true xxxx

[Maglou]

Thanks Buzzsmom and Ems for your posts.
You are right Dermot, Bax is never daunted by things larger than himself. He loves a challenge! It’s amazing the things he tackles and it is a VERY large and long stick/tree and is really heavy. It is at the beginning of our walk and he always carries it for a bit on the way and also the way back.

I took some photos of him today in the garden. He broke the ice on the frog pond and carried it out onto the grass and started chewing it.
He bashes it with his paw and wades in! He is so amazing. He has real imagination. I’ve never seen a dog do things like this before.

Emma it is a joy to have Bax for Christmas and rather than us seeing his potential I believe he sees the potential in us. There is suddenly more fun and laughter in our world and he is teaching us things about ourselves that we had forgotten. I hope all your dreams come true too

Bax with cane surveying his domain.jpg
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Bax in garden and with stick 002.jpg

[Maglou]

I forgot to say in the last post that the first pic shows a bit of the battleground our garden has become! He goes off and chooses himself a new cane whenever he fancies one. Nothing too small or convenient though.
He tried to run in the house with one the other day. You can imagine what happened. He really is such a character.

[ColganFamily]

What is it about labs and sticks?? Or should I say TREES!!! I meet a golden lab in Tymon every morning and how his mouth is strong enough to carry the tree trunks he has is beyond me And the determination to get them through every gap no matter how long it takes is amazing! Looks like Baxter is the same. He looks terrific and SO, SO happy. Well done Maglou.

[Maglou]

Hi ColganFamily, Yes, maybe it is a lab trait to do things with sticks!
As you can see it’s not confined to sticks though and if the frogs stand a chance of surviving in the spring we’ll have to fence off the pond!!!
Today on our walk he kept rushing past me and belting me across the back of the legs with his sticks and even speared me with one. Ouch!!!
My son was in stitches (and so was I nearly, literally). He is such a clown and so full of fun. He was playing with two other dogs today. One was a bit grumpy so Bax just rolled over in a submissive pose and sort of said Hey, I don’t want a fight, I just want to play and the other dog left him alone. He is one diplomatic hound.
‘s so exhausting chasing sticks 002.jpg
‘s so exhausting chasing sticks 001.jpg

[JenB]

So happy for this big baby that he found his forever home! Been following his story and I’m so delighted for him. He looks so happy already too enjoy and keep the updates coming! They’re brill!

[liv]

Im loving the photos and the stories. He is such a character and is obviously so happy with you and with country life. he is so strong and so funny. He used to refuse to go down the stairs ahead of me and would only walk down behind me but pushing me with his head. I almost lost my footing at times and would step to the side to let him go in front but he never would. I wonder if he goes down steps first now. have a great Christmas together!

[tanya]

oh baxters posts have really cheered me up today, ive been in stitches reading bout his antics sounds exactly like the baxter i remember!!

looks like he’s settled in great! hope you all have a lovely christmas!

[Maglou]

It’s so fantastic to see how many people care about Bax and want to follow his progress. He certainly is one in a million (make that zillion!)

Liv, in the interest of science I just did a little experiment. You know, the stairs one.
Going up he raced ahead of me, which is probably what he did with you.
Coming down he hesitated at the top when I suggested he go first but when I started to walk down he raced to the bottom!
I seem to remember him being a bit hesitant on the descent when we first brought him home and I mostly live on the ground floor (dormer bungalow). My son, however, has his room upstairs and Bax is up and down to him all the time. He does a check periodically to make sure all family members are present and correct so maybe he’s got used to it.
He’s just been waving a plastic bottle at the sheep looking in through the gate at the bottom of the garden and tossing around a fallen fat ball courtesy of the visiting birds. He is such a joy
I can’t believe how good and mannerly he is and his barking is diminishing daily. He pays no heed to passing tractors or cats sliding on the roof(Norman) or any other unfamiliar noises. He hardly even bothers in the car now either, only if he remembers but he can’t seem to be bothered most of the time.
Baxter sends loving Christmas kisses to all his fans and will keep you posted with further adventures. He is VERY grateful for all you have done for him and will never forget how you helped him with your love and kindness. MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and yours and a peaceful, healthy, loving and HAPPY NEW YEAR!XXX

[Maglou]

‘s no place like home.jpg

[kaydoyle]

Its a hard life

[Maglou]

Baxter continues to amuse us with his antics. He doesn’t seem phased by copious amounts of chocolate around the place. Well not yet anyway as everything is wrapped. Might be a different story later!
His toy piggy is a bit worse for wear now as he has chewed lumps of it and shakes it and throws it all over the place.

He even puts on shows for the locals!

And do you remember the stick/tree he used to drag up and down the path on his walks?
Well one day he just kept going and brought it all the way home! :lol
He was very pleased with himself.

‘n piggy 1e006.jpg
playing to the gallery007.jpg
my tree014.jpg

[ems]

hey margaret
the pics of bax are fab its brill to see how happy he is i cant believe he managed to get his stick/ tree home he must have been delighted with himself….!!! he truly is a chancer and the most amazing boy, may this be your first of many happy christmas’ together give bax an extra special christmas cuddle from us,
we wish you and yours the most amazing christmas ever and we hope 2011 is amazing in every way for ye
all our love
em, der, lucy and jack xxxx

[Author]

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