Choco Boxer & American Bulldog Mix Winona, MN

Meet Choco, a handsome one year old Boxer! Just reaching adulthood, Choco still has some puppy energy left over. This means it’s important for him to find a home that’ll keep up with his regular exercise needs, both physical and mental.

Choco’s shown interest in quite a few activities to get his energy out, first of which is playtime! Choco’s most favorite items are tennis balls and squeaky footballs - he loves them more than anything in the entire world. And the best part is that he’s not destructive with them; he’ll play with toys without tearing them apart, allowing for months of happy use.

Another effective activity outlet for Choco is plain ol’ walking. He does okay on the leash, still perfecting his leash manners (learning new skills also keeps him busy!). And when it’s time for relaxing, chew toys like DreamBones, bully sticks, and Greenies keep Choco well-entertained.

Unfortunately, like many dogs brought to shelters, Choco isn’t a stranger to cruelty at the hands of humans. He’s lived in a home before, but we wouldn’t call them family. His owners, the very people Choco trusted, tied him to a tree in their backyard, and then allowed children to hit him. Suffering through this torment, Choco didn’t know what to do except defend himself. So he did just that, and then his ‘family’ abandoned him. He still carries the trauma with him, yet continues to crave love from humans.

With Choco’s history, he’ll need a home without children. Experience with his breed is highly preferred, or at least willingness to seek professional training and obedience skills. We’ve started Choco on a basic training program and he’s progressed significantly already; maintaining that discipline will be key to Choco’s success in a home.

Choco’s prey drive prevents him from living with cats/small animals, but larger dog friends are a maybe. He’s had several successful parallel walks with a few different dogs at the shelter and it’s gone really well! It truly depends on each individual.

The world hasn’t treated Choco with the kindness he needed, especially in his early years. So he is here at WAHS, receiving the second chance he deserves. We know his special time will come, with a person willing to put the necessary effort in. Choco has all the makings to be a loyal companion; he just needs a fair chance to show it. Please consider coming to meet Choco!

IMPORTANT - HOW TO APPLY: If you're interested in meeting Choco, you need to first submit an adoption application on our website: winonahumane.org/adopt. If you're a good fit for Choco, our Canine Director will then contact you to set up a time to visit (our building is operating on an appointment-only basis with scheduled visits). Please email dogs@winonahumane.org with any questions about Choco or his adoption process!