Tonka

5/1/08: He is the "clown" of the pack, he will do anything to get one of the other dogs or one of the kids to play with him, it doesn't matter if it's 6:30 in the morning when he helps me wake up my son, or if it's 10:00 at night when he is rough housing with my daughter. He has had the opportunity to play with a 3 month old black lab that I have been fostering for a local shelter, let me tell you he has no trouble keeping up with him and will get on his belly to play at the puppies level. His playmate will be leaving this week to go to his new forever home, Tonka will certainly miss him. I know Tonka would love to find his forever home as well. He is such a gentle giant and would make some lucky family a great addition.

3/16 Tonka is doing great, he has adjusted very well to being crated every morning. He gets a noon time potty break for about an hour and then is given run of the downstairs for 2 - 3 hrs. till my daughter gets home.

He loves playing chase with my pug - quite the sight to see considering the size difference.
He has finally won over the cats and they come downstairs to see him on a regular basis.

His favorite night time activity is still curling up in the "dog" recliner or laying on top of me on the couch. Once he falls asleep it takes an act of congress to get him to move.

He really loves attention and would love to have more of it...... It is hard sharing me with my two dogs.
He needs to be the center of attention and he deserves to be.

I'm sure there is someone out there that can give him his forever home and all the love and affection he needs.

2/25 All is well Tonka has had a busy couple of weeks as we have been dog sitting for two more boxers and then a Bichon, he provided 24 hr. playing! and loved having other boxers to play with.

He had a "home" bath today and was very cooperative. He has been enjoying the snow and loved having my son home with him during school vacation.

He is really becoming quite the snuggle bug and will cry if you don't make room for him on the couch. He is getting better about voluntarily going in his crate when told.

That's it for now.

2/11 Tonka continues to be a happy big boy in his foster home. He is getting much better about being left (no accidents) and we have even left him crated for a few hrs. he does great having run of the house when he can be with the other dogs. He absolutely loves to play, he is a little afraid of the basket where we keep all the dog toys but yesterday he actually stuck his head in to get to his tennis ball.

We went on an hour long trek around town this week and he was a little tired but he enjoyed himself, he likes walking with the choke and regular collar rather then the harness.

He is still a little afraid in the car, he just lays down and puts his paws over his head, which would be OK but with his size there's no room for anyone else !!

His appetite is great, he is eating three times a day, and his coat is absolutely glowing. He had his "shelter friend" over again this week and they had a ball doing laps in the back yard, he loves to play chase and with his long legs he is very good at it.

If you are looking for a well balanced happy playful boxer, then Tonka is for you !!

1/27 We have had the "Tonka Truck" for a little over a week now and he is settling in nicely. I can't say enough good things about this dog, he has been to the park with my pack, to the pet store, to the groomer's, has had a play date with a very rambunctious shelter dog (my roommate runs an animal shelter) and loved all of it. He has been a gentle giant in every situation, he is very friendly with the cats and loves to play with the kids.

He truly is everything a boxer should be, playful, goofy, loyal, affectionate, and very obedient considering he was at a shelter for a month and who knows where before that. There isn't a home that this dog wouldn't fit into.

He does like to sit in your lap which is quite the sight for an 85 lb. dog !! he also gets a little cramped (due to his size) when he is in the car with the other three dogs and doesn't like it very much. We are working on making the car ride a fun experience. He slept by himself in the kitchen for the first few days and after a little fuss went to sleep for the night, he is know sleeping with my female boxer and the pug. His favorite game is catch, he can catch anything I can throw, sometimes he comes a foot off the ground. He loves toys, and treats and to put his head on your lap and have his ears rubbed. He has met the neighbors (people and dogs) and everyone agrees he is a great dog.

When he gets on the couch he sometimes has his hind end laying down and his front feet touching the floor, he falls asleep in this position.

I would encourage anyone looking to add a new family member to consider Tonka.

1/17 Tonka has arrived at his new foster home and is doing great. We picked him up in Boston and he was fantastic in the car, he is so cute, and so big! he could probably put on a few pounds and definitely needs to be on some really good food to clear up his "stress coat" from being in the shelter. He is a gentle giant, so sweet and lovable. We stopped on the way home to a new walk-in do it yourself dog spa he climbed in the tub and I gave him a medicated bath followed by a great smelling rinse. He slept most of the way home and was very excited to meet his new dog family. My pug was happy to have a new "big" brother and Tonka seemed to know that my male boxer Gabriel is sick, he was so gentle with him. The introduction to my female boxer maddie went as I expected.........!! she did take a walk around the block with him, the rest will happen slowly. Tonka did a lot of barking at her and that was not welcomed.