TIGER'S STORY
- Tracey Bragg, October 2025
New Beginnings
Losing a beloved family dog suddenly and unexpectedly can feel like your world has fallen apart. That was our situation in July, when we lost our beautiful Bella — a Boxer we’d had from a pup until her passing at just seven and a half years old.
For some, space is needed to grieve. For others — and that includes us — the silence and emptiness are too much to bear, and the need to fill that huge vacuum becomes very real. And from the start, we trusted that the right dog would somehow find their way to us. I’ve always believed in opening doors; without doing so, you never reap life’s rewards. Rehoming Tiger has been right at the top of this — one of life’s richest experiences, full of unexpected reward.
With this in mind, we contacted Home Counties Boxer Welfare (HCBW) to explore rehoming opportunities, and before long, we were on the path to meeting Tiger — a two-and-a-half-year-old brindle female described as “a sweet, affectionate Boxer with playful energy and lots of potential … very well trained … can be reactive to other dogs, and sometimes people, in her home around toys, food and water. This will need to be carefully managed.”
The support and words of wisdom from both Donna and Karen at HCBW throughout our rehoming process were invaluable, as was the video we were asked to watch — Starting Out Right with Rescue Dogs by Ali Carrington, dog behaviourist. It helped us understand Tiger’s early mental state and the difference between true aggression and behaviours that stem from overwhelm. That understanding shaped our entire approach — avoiding confrontation and focusing instead on building trust.
For some, space is needed to grieve. For others — and that includes us — the silence and emptiness are too much to bear, and the need to fill that huge vacuum becomes very real. And from the start, we trusted that the right dog would somehow find their way to us. I’ve always believed in opening doors; without doing so, you never reap life’s rewards. Rehoming Tiger has been right at the top of this — one of life’s richest experiences, full of unexpected reward.
With this in mind, we contacted Home Counties Boxer Welfare (HCBW) to explore rehoming opportunities, and before long, we were on the path to meeting Tiger — a two-and-a-half-year-old brindle female described as “a sweet, affectionate Boxer with playful energy and lots of potential … very well trained … can be reactive to other dogs, and sometimes people, in her home around toys, food and water. This will need to be carefully managed.”
The support and words of wisdom from both Donna and Karen at HCBW throughout our rehoming process were invaluable, as was the video we were asked to watch — Starting Out Right with Rescue Dogs by Ali Carrington, dog behaviourist. It helped us understand Tiger’s early mental state and the difference between true aggression and behaviours that stem from overwhelm. That understanding shaped our entire approach — avoiding confrontation and focusing instead on building trust.
Meeting Tiger
Meeting Tiger for the first time was very special. While Donna advised us to take our time in deciding to rehome her, it was clearly obvious — within seconds of Tiger entering the enclosure — that she had found her new home with us.
The hardest part, due to family commitments, was leaving her for a fifth week in kennel isolation before we could bring her home. That delay, though frustrating, gave us time to prepare properly — setting up her bed under the stairs as a quiet retreat, removing all toys, and installing a stair guard to limit her world at first. We also blocked off sofas and chairs to avoid any early confrontations.
The day we collected her was unforgettable. She was so clearly eager to leave the kennel that she leapt straight into the car. During the two-and-a-half-hour journey home, I sat in the back, careful not to make direct eye contact, but aware that she was sometimes standing close behind me, sometimes curled up resting — signs of both curiosity and caution.
Following Karen’s advice, on arriving home, we “kept her world small” — allowing her to explore the garden on a lead, under quiet supervision.
The hardest part, due to family commitments, was leaving her for a fifth week in kennel isolation before we could bring her home. That delay, though frustrating, gave us time to prepare properly — setting up her bed under the stairs as a quiet retreat, removing all toys, and installing a stair guard to limit her world at first. We also blocked off sofas and chairs to avoid any early confrontations.
The day we collected her was unforgettable. She was so clearly eager to leave the kennel that she leapt straight into the car. During the two-and-a-half-hour journey home, I sat in the back, careful not to make direct eye contact, but aware that she was sometimes standing close behind me, sometimes curled up resting — signs of both curiosity and caution.
Following Karen’s advice, on arriving home, we “kept her world small” — allowing her to explore the garden on a lead, under quiet supervision.
Understanding Her Past
As anyone who rehomes a dog knows, you always wonder about their past. You’re told a little, but much remains unknown. However, it was clear to us that Tiger had been well cared for and trained. This care was also clearly evident in the personal belongings that accompanied her and which touched my heart — including a carefully prepared and organised bag complete with toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, wormers and treats — it spoke volumes about the love and care in her previous home. I can only imagine how difficult it would have been to have relinquished her, and I can only hope that, perhaps through reading this, Tiger’s previous family might know she is loved and thriving in her new home.
The Early Days
We kept the first three days very quiet. At first, Tiger stayed on a lead in the garden, and only later did we let her run freely. Her joy in that simple freedom after five weeks of kennel isolation was heartwarming — running, sniffing, exploring, and keeping us company as we worked in the garden.
Those early weeks were all about gentle new beginnings. We were mindful that Tiger was still in survival mode — her body felt hot, her eyes often intense with uncertainty, and a fear of the unknown. We knew the balance could easily tip into overwhelm, so we took things slowly: using a soft voice, short touches that didn’t linger, and always approaching from the side, never the front. Gradually, those fleeting touches became gentle strokes, alongside quiet moments sitting together. As much as we wanted to scoop her up for cuddles, we knew that would be too much, too soon. What she needed was calm, space, and safety — the foundations of trust.
Those early weeks were all about gentle new beginnings. We were mindful that Tiger was still in survival mode — her body felt hot, her eyes often intense with uncertainty, and a fear of the unknown. We knew the balance could easily tip into overwhelm, so we took things slowly: using a soft voice, short touches that didn’t linger, and always approaching from the side, never the front. Gradually, those fleeting touches became gentle strokes, alongside quiet moments sitting together. As much as we wanted to scoop her up for cuddles, we knew that would be too much, too soon. What she needed was calm, space, and safety — the foundations of trust.
Building Trust and Confidence
We followed a slow, deliberate plan of introductions:
With a motorhome holiday planned for week six, we also prepared Tiger with short, calm sessions inside it — coffee breaks, lunches — helping her feel comfortable before we travelled. We’d worried about living together in such a small space, but that time away on holiday brought closeness and trust that deepened our bond.
What helped us in the first three weeks
- Short car trips, to teach her that car journeys always end with coming home.
- Simple, consistent routines around meals and rest.
- A first short walk from home in week two, leading to field walks on an extendable lead.
- A first visitor in week two, fully briefed on “The Rules”.
- Friendly visits to the vet practice in week three (just for treats!) – these early “lobby-only” treat visits paid off, when Tiger needed veterinary care in week 4.
- Parallel walks with friends and their dogs in week four.
- Secure field off-lead (safe recall practice) in week four.
With a motorhome holiday planned for week six, we also prepared Tiger with short, calm sessions inside it — coffee breaks, lunches — helping her feel comfortable before we travelled. We’d worried about living together in such a small space, but that time away on holiday brought closeness and trust that deepened our bond.
What helped us in the first three weeks
- Keeping the world small to help decompress: limiting access around the home; bed under the stairs as a safe den.
- Lower stimulation and gentle routines: low expectations, no toys initially; then short, structured toy time with “leave” and “give” games.
- Calm handling (“The Rules”): limited eye contact, never stepping into her space, not reaching out but inviting her in without pressure, soft voice, side-on approach.
- Structured, slow and graded intros: garden on a lead; visitor briefed before meeting; vet lobby trips for treats only; short car loops that end back home before introducing walks.
- Predictable routines: mealtimes, bedtimes, wake up, training and games.
Lessons Learned
These careful beginnings helped Tiger find her feet and build confidence. The intensity in her eyes has softened, replaced with intelligence, warmth, and that cheeky Boxer sparkle. Her obedience and quick learning show just how bright she is — and we’re excited to see what the future holds as we join our local dog community.
Of course, we’ve made mistakes — mostly from our own eagerness to give affection. Ali’s words often come back to me: “If we make mistakes, that’s okay.” And we have. Despite trying hard to follow The Rules — limiting eye contact, avoiding sudden approach, respecting her space — there have been slip-ups. But each one has taught us something new about Tiger and about ourselves.
One early mistake was inviting her onto her blanket on the sofa — something Bella used to enjoy. Unfortunately, that led to a guarding incident, reminding us we’d given too much, too soon. We removed the rug, reinstated a sofa ban, and set up a comfortable bed on the floor for Tiger instead. It was also a gentle reminder that Tiger is not Bella. Bella, at seven and a half, had earned her privileges; Tiger — young, full of energy, but also anxieties — has different needs, and we must meet her where she is.
Lessons (so others don’t have to)
Of course, we’ve made mistakes — mostly from our own eagerness to give affection. Ali’s words often come back to me: “If we make mistakes, that’s okay.” And we have. Despite trying hard to follow The Rules — limiting eye contact, avoiding sudden approach, respecting her space — there have been slip-ups. But each one has taught us something new about Tiger and about ourselves.
One early mistake was inviting her onto her blanket on the sofa — something Bella used to enjoy. Unfortunately, that led to a guarding incident, reminding us we’d given too much, too soon. We removed the rug, reinstated a sofa ban, and set up a comfortable bed on the floor for Tiger instead. It was also a gentle reminder that Tiger is not Bella. Bella, at seven and a half, had earned her privileges; Tiger — young, full of energy, but also anxieties — has different needs, and we must meet her where she is.
Lessons (so others don’t have to)
- Reactivity = can be too much given, too soon.
- Overwhelm can look like aggression: step back to calm, space, and boundaries.
- Parallel walks beat face-to-face meets: seek steady dogs first, and gradually reduce distance of parallel.
- Reflect → Learn → Adjust → Move On (we can all make mistakes): tiny environment tweaks or a new approach prevents repeats.
A New Chapter
Now, seven weeks on, we can honestly say that rehoming Tiger has been one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences of our lives. Watching her confidence and trust blossom has filled our home — and our hearts — once again.
We were told that “the dog you see in front of you on day one is very different to the dog you’ll see at three weeks, and again at three months.” How true that is. We are already witnessing those changes in Tiger — her growing confidence, the softening in her eyes, and the emergence of her playful, affectionate nature.
Tiger has brought joy back into our lives, joy that was lost with Bella’s passing. As we begin new adventures together, meeting new people and exploring new places, we’re reminded daily that the nervous, uncertain dog we first met is becoming a happy, trusting companion — exactly where she’s meant to be.
We were told that “the dog you see in front of you on day one is very different to the dog you’ll see at three weeks, and again at three months.” How true that is. We are already witnessing those changes in Tiger — her growing confidence, the softening in her eyes, and the emergence of her playful, affectionate nature.
Tiger has brought joy back into our lives, joy that was lost with Bella’s passing. As we begin new adventures together, meeting new people and exploring new places, we’re reminded daily that the nervous, uncertain dog we first met is becoming a happy, trusting companion — exactly where she’s meant to be.
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