STATE: near Hartford, CT
AGE: 14 months
DOB: 9/26/24
WEIGHT: 74 lbs.
SEX: male
NEUT/UTD: yes/yes
COAT COLOR: brindle
CHILDREN under 4: no (no history)
CHILDREN OVER 4: yes w/dog savvy kids
SEPARATION ANXIETY: no
OTHER DOGS: best as only dog
CATS: no (no history)
CRATE TRAINED: unsure
HOUSE TRAINED: yes
OBEDIENCE TRAINED: no
LEASH TRAINED: no
MICROCHIPPED: unsure
ADOPTION FEE: $575
11/28/25-Jethro though great with us he has actually gotten worse not better around our dogs so he really needs to be an only dog. He will thrive in an active home where he gets the exercise & stimulation he needs to work off the young boxer energy. He is now ready for his new home.
11/27/25-Jethro is a champion napper and cuddler. If this job does not work out for him however, he could be a sled dog!!!! J is enjoying daily 2 mile walks but I do not believe he’s had any training whatsoever so there is much work to do as he pulls with all his strength. He also likes to attack the leash or tether so he will need a strong handler who is more alpha than him. He would definitely benefit by a fenced yard for this reason. He also has a little foot fetish at times which his former owner alerted me to. There is no clear trigger but Jethro’s hyper focus seems to occur when first going outside. When this happens, I just stand still and redirect with a few sharp NO’s! He is good inside the house but outside i think he gets overstimulated and does not know what to do with his energy so he acts up in these ways. He is smart and is both praise and food motivated. He takes treats very gently from my hand and while eating his kibble I can put my hand in/near his bowl without issue. He has been OK in his crate but would prefer to be attached to your hip so he will whine and chuff for a while while before settling. Jethro wants to be alpha and take over my pack of dogs but that’s not happening here!! Lol Because of his size and strength he also should not go to a home with young children. He is a fantastic boy but needs to be an only dog and the center of your attention.
11/26/25-This boy is a big mush! Very gentle taking treats, can put a hand in food bowl, but i think he is better as an only dog in his new home. He wants to jump on Tyson my boxer all the time so I have been unsuccessful with intros but have been managing OK. All dogs respect the gate that I have been using. We are taking a pack walk when my husband gets home so I hope that helps with bonding or getting a better assessment. He is perfect in every other way and has really settled for me since Sunday. Was very anxious then, but not so much anymore. In fact, his allergies have calmed down too. His ears are looking near normal and he’s not itching and shaking head. I think his immune system was going crazy in the prior home. I think a combo of food, attention & vetting did the trick. I’m not even giving him the antihistamine as frequently…. We played in leaves yesterday and zero allergy flare!
11/25/25-Jethro had a restful 1st nite and was pretty good in his crate. A little whimpering but eventually he settled. Our magical Vet squeezed him in for neutered so he would be ready to go home for the holidays! His ears were kind of gross so while under anesthesia, they were cleaned thoroughly and antibiotic prescribed for yeast infection. He has some minor seasonal allergies which causes itchies and skin redness. He takes an inexpensive antihistamine with meals to manage this. After surgery I noticed the skin on his ears and his belly looked so much better than the day before! He’s also not shaking his head and itching as much already. What a difference a couple of days and some RX make! I don’t know if this boy played much in his former home as I have given him toys and he seems disinterested. Mostly what he wants is human attention and couch time with you! He is going to be an amazing companion & shadow dog to a lucky family. He is eager to please and wants to be near his humans all the time. We still have not connected him directly with our 2 dogs as I don’t know if he wants to play rough, or if he is a little fearful of their size which manifests in some reactivity. We absolutely love this big boy and his perfect match will be a strong owner who will provide mental stimulation, structured training, regular physical exercise, routine and nonstop love. He deserves it all!!!
11/24/25-Jethro aka “J dawg” arrived to me on Sunday. He is a big, solid boy & absolutely gorgeous. He was fine with me handling him and rode well in the backseat of the car. I sensed his high anxiety so I walked him around a local Petco to assess him. He saw a couple of small dogs which he was mostly curious about and I could redirect pretty easy. When I got home, his reaction to my 2 larger dogs was a little different. He definitely wanted to pull, and dare I say lunge at my dogs. No growling or hackles but he is a powerhouse so I had to hold on tight to keep him controlled. I ended up tethering him safely so he could chill & watch while we raked leaves. Hubby and I then took him for a walk and he did fantastic. We have been keeping him separated from our dogs however I have allowed him close enough on leash to sniff them and is very curious. I do not want to set him up for failure but wonder if he may have a little leash aggression. He is otherwise sooo sweet and cuddly and adores my husband and me. He is a huge hugger, but not a kisser. Lol
J Dawg was a good boy, not scared at the vet today. Was interested in a little poodle in the lobby with very strong pulling but no hackles or growling. I do think he may have some leash issues with bigger dogs who he may not be used to. Handed him off with ease to the tech. Big boy is done I will pick him up this evening. They did find he has yeast infection in his ears and they were really gross this morning so I asked them to flush the ears. Also because his skin is red and itchy they prescribed a week and a half of antibiotics.
11/23/25-Jethro is a big, strong, handsome 14 month old brindle boxer owner surrender that came into rescue today. This owner got Jethro from a friend a couple of months ago as the original owner could not spend sufficient time with him. Sounds like he spent a lot of time in the crate and does not love it. New owner let him full roam of the house and said he is not destructive & describes him as a bouncy, jumpy boxer boy. He was given us as the autistic grandson will often throw himself on the ground and kick his hands and feet around. This causes Jethro to think it’s play time & he mounts him and mouths his feet playfully, which scares the little boy. He has more energy and bounce than most but he is a young boxer after all… I guess I will be losing some weight on our 5 walks a day! Lol Jethro gets neutered tomorrow & once we get to know his needs better he will be ready for his new home.