Calvin

Breed: English Bulldog

Sex: Male

Age: 1.5 years old

Weight: 63 lbs.

7/27/2020 Update: 

Calvin was ADOPTED!!!!!  

Calvin joined NBBR as a stray. Calvin was found in an RV park tied to a fence in a very small town south of the Metroplex.  The director of the RV park asked all the families staying there if Calvin was their dog, everyone answered “NO”.  Calvin was then taken to a local vet to be scanned for a microchip and no chip was found.  Calvin stayed with the vet hoping to be reunited with his family but, with it being a small town, the Vet staff thought for sure it would only be a matter of time before someone called to claim Calvin. Several days went by and the Vet staff started contacting multiple rescues asking if they would take Calvin. NBBR agreed to take Calvin and find him a new forever home.  From there, a guardian angel agreed to transport him from the small town where he was found to DFW and his foster family. That was just over two years ago….. Calvin was briefly with a foster family, but due to a family emergency they could no longer foster him.   So, Calvin joined a new foster home where it was WAY different.  There were several other dogs.  Initially, Calvin was a little unsure of this move.  There was a lot going on, everyone seemed to know the drill and Calvin would just sit and watch the goings on.   Calvin had many people drawn to his rugged good looks and had many potential adopters.   But along with Calvin’s rugged good looks came many “unique” personality traits:  severe separation anxiety, destructive behaviors and the inability to be potty trained.  So, Calvin and his foster brothers and foster Dad set out to work on these issues. While Calvin has made HUGE strides. We knew that he is a very unique boy and would require a very, very, very specific forever home. His anxiety is better nowadays, but there are still  moments when he gets scared and gets destructive. When scared, his go to behavior is to chew things, not the 300 chew toys he has in the toybox but things made of wood, think window sills, dining room table, the fancy wood cabinet in foster Dad’s office, and the chair in the office to name just a few. I heard foster Dad tell a friend that he thinks one of my biological parents was a Bulldog (duh) and the other was a Beaver, due to my fondness for wood. Crating Calvin only made things worse. Calvin’s foster Dad’s biggest fear was that he would be adopted to a family that once he exhibited these destructive behaviors that he would either be returned (bad) or be crated (even worse).  They kept working and things got better. Calvin settled in and became one of the family and patiently waited for his forever family. 

Calvin’s foster dad took Calvin as a “temporary” foster when there was no other family available for him.   Believe it or not, Calvin didn’t do particularly well with men, we were not sure how this would work even temporarily.   Well the temporary situation, turned from a couple days, to weeks, etc.   All the while Foster Dad was trying to get Calvin adopted, Calvin and his foster brothers had other plans.  While at first Calvin would separate himself and watch everyone from a distance, slowly he began to play with everyone else.   He began to feel comfortable with his surroundings.  He even learned the art of cuddling (which he NEVER did).  It was apparent that when Calvin started cuddling that he thought he was home.  The final straw was when Foster/Forever Dad had to travel for work (pre-pandemic): Calvin loves his pet sitter but when Dad came home he was attached to him like glue.   Calvin stepped up his cuddling to Olympic proportions, every time Dad sat down, Calvin was there.   Even with all this bonding, Calvin’s Foster Dad held out hope that the right applicant that met all of Calvin’s  unique needs.  That didn’t happen…. so after many months of everyone that knew them telling him that Calvin was home and he needed to make it official- HE FINALLY DID.  Sometimes the best laid plans just don’t work out like planned.  Sometimes you have to listen to your heart and not your head.  And sometimes, it not only takes a small push from the universe but a HUGE punch in the face to get some people to realize what everyone else can plainly see.   Anyone that spends any amount of time with Calvin, his forever brothers and forever Dad know that they are one weird a$% bunch BUT they are perfect for one another and make one great family. Congratulations to Calvin and his entire new family. You do you and enjoy the good life.  

9/9/2018 Update:  Calvin is doing well.  I think he is finally at a point he’s comfortable with odd noises and such to not take them as something that will harm him.  Now, he takes them more as if he is a bit curious.  I am not sure if this is because he is comfortable where he’s at or overall in general.  He is eating and going to the bathroom great.  He is much better at being potty trained although needs to be limited to a certain area during the day that is “his”.  Not necessarily crated completely but an area/room that he is comfortable in.

8/27/2018 Update:

Calvin is getting much better at not getting so spooked with sudden movement and noises.  He is still skittish but much less.  He is so precious.

Calvin has to go to the vet because he had some bleeding on his gums.  It turns out he has a blood disorder we are giving him antibiotics and Vitamin K for.

Calvin still loves to play with other dogs as usual and is much better at not going to the bathroom inside.

7/16/2018 Update: 

Personality – Calvin started out trusting women more than men, but he is coming around to trusting both genders pretty equally.  He still gets spooked easily but never once has he reacted in an aggressive way to “protect” himself from the spook.  He simply runs away or cowers down and once he quickly realizes it was just a loud noise or quick movement he’s fine.  I want him to know how much he’s loved, he’s getting there and he has really come a long way in just a month. 

Bathtime – Calvin has had some baths while he’s been with us and at first I was really nervous he would freak out about having one.  He actually is so great during bath time!!  He just sits there, loves to be lathered with the shampoo and then doesn’t mind the rinsing.  He is so sweet!

Other animals – Calvin still loves to be around our dogs and interacts so playful.  He’s never been aggressive.

Potty Training – Calvin still is having a hard time getting fully potty trained but we are working on it.  I think he may be best crate trained during the day until he gets used to being 100% potty trained.  When he does go outside though, he takes care of business quickly and loves to ruuuuuunnnn back to you as fast as he can.  It’s pretty cute and funny.

6/17/2018 Update: 

Appetite and Bathroom – He is eating (twice a day) and drinking water with no issues.  Calvin has to use the restroom (#2 J) almost instantly after he eats.  This will for sure be something his new family will need to be prepared for because waiting even a couple of minutes too long after eating, he will end up pooping inside the house. Lol  He’s excellent at finding a place to use the restroom fast though and isn’t picky like other dogs.  This makes taking him outside to potty super quick and easy.

Medication / Sickness – Calvin has completed his antibiotic oral medication. He still needs the antibiotic ointment twice a day for a couple more weeks on his front right toenail that split.

Personality – Calvin still seems to trust women more than men…even though with anyone he is very timid at first. We worked on sleeping in the bed together again but I think he feels safest and most comfortable in his own space.  He isn’t quite sure how to cuddle or what to do when he’s trying to relax…but he is happy to hang out with people regardless. When you’re petting Calvin he loves to have his ears and front chest rubbed.  For some reason he loves human ears…so if they get close to his face be prepared for a lot of slobbery licks!  LOL   Calvin has really started to come out of his shell this week.  I’m sure it has a lot to do with earning some trust as well as probably feeling better physically after finishing his meds.  Either way, I’m loving seeing him feel more at ease and playful.  He really is so cute!!  Almost clumsy/puppy cute…if that makes sense.  He loves his chew toys and still has yet to chew/tear anything up in my room and bathroom…and I give his free reign to go anywhere in my room and bathroom. 

Other animals – Calvin still really love my littlest dog, Daisy (female Chihuahua mix) but is now trying to socialize with my other two (female/large pit mix and male/small/old JRT).  They’re jerks though and run off or bark at him but truly he just wants to play so bad with them!! 

6/11/2018 Update: 

Update from Calvin’s foster Mom:

Appetite and Bathroom – He is eating (twice a day) and drinking water with no issues.  He uses the restroom just fine when pooping and goes 2-3 times a day.  He for sure doesn’t seem potty trained regarding holding it until going outside, but at the same time when we go outside he knows exactly what to do and runs to the grass to use the restroom without being picky about a spot.  He seems to be getting a little better about not urinating for a long period of time without much coming out…but it still needs more progress to be normal.  I’m hoping by Wednesday this is the case.

Medication / Sickness – Calvin take his meds twice a day just fine with a treat.  He’s a very good medicine taker.  He seems to still be sneezing more than I’d like.  He slobbers a LOT…

Personality – Calvin seems to trust women more than men…even though with anyone he is very timid at first.  Up until last night he wouldn’t run to the back of my room and hide when I walked in.  I set up his crate in my bathroom and leave it opened with blankets and his chew toys.  He runs to that as well when he hears a noise or feels scared.  Last night was the first night I placed him on my bed to sleep with me and he was very confused.  It was a mixture of “happiness/excited” and also “let me down/I am not sure I like this”….so after about 25 minutes I placed him back on the floor and he ran to his crate.  It really seems like he’s never fallen asleep with a human before and that makes me so sad.  We will continue baby-steps. He has licked my face 3-4 times then will run off…those moments are really sweet.

Other animals – Calvin seems to really love my littlest dog, Daisy (female Chihuahua mix).  Daisy is the only one I have let meet Calvin because my male (Callie, JRT) is an asshole and the other female I have (Tinkerbell, pit mix) is large and it scares Calvin.  So I let Daisy come in and Daisy doesn’t want to play, but Calvin sure does and seems to light up when she visits.  So, I will see if I can get Daisy to lighten up and play with time. 

6/10/2018 Update:   Please welcome Calvin to the No Borders Bulldog Rescue family.  Calvin is an approximately 1.5 year old male English Bulldog that weighs 63 lbs.