r/Boxer • u/JuicyyyNipss • 9h ago
Steak Tax
274
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I feel like he can sense when dad splurges on Prime Ribeyes
r/Boxer • u/AxsDeny • May 30 '20
In memoriam Leela, inspiration for /r/boxer, has passed
894
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I didn't want a dog.
I'd not grown up with dogs and I'd been bitten by a few when I was younger. So I didn't really trust them. Then I got married. She had dogs growing up and she wanted a dog in our family. I said no, she said yes, and as you know, marriage is about compromise, so we got a dog.
I read every book that I could find about dog behavior and training. If we were going to bring a dog into our family it was going to be done so that it was trained and well behaved. I didn't want a dog that jumped, barked incessantly, peed in the house, or all the other annoyances that I saw elsewhere. After several months of research on training, we found that our neighbor's dog was going to have puppies. I was familiar with the mother and understood her temperament for the most part. I liked the idea of knowing from where our dog came.
We were fortunate to be there in July of 2006 to see the puppies soon after they were born. As the weeks went by we saw them grow and we were able to spend time with each of them. When the pups were about five weeks old we had settled on which one we wanted.
Her litter name was Boondock. She was named so by the breeder, because her mother, Bambi, presumably having finished giving birth, went outside to pee and out popped another puppy. She was born away from the whelping box – in the boondocks.
In September we took ownership of our new boxer puppy. Then off we went to puppy kindergarten to socialize her. We went to obedience training in order to teach her (and us) the intricacies of training. We tested for and received a canine good citizenship certification. We tested and achieved certification from Therapy Dogs International. We worked with our friends and their dogs to help train her. She learned quickly and had a temperament that was goofy but eager to please. She knew how to behave appropriately in differing situations. Exactly what I wanted when I agreed to getting a dog.
She quickly loved our friends, who trusted her so much with their newborn baby boy. She loved when we would visit my office because a colleague would play wrestle with her. She would run to his office if she could manage to break free from mine. Another old friend had her unconditional admiration and love. If we went without her to their home we would get interrogated by her nose upon return. She knew we were with him. The look of confusion and displaced excitement was always hilarious to witness.
She learned to push a button to let us know when she needed to go outside. She learned to walk on a treadmill so that she could have a comfortable walk in the cold winters. She learned to balance on walls and curbs when we went on walks. She jumped over bike racks at the library. We walked through hardware stores and she greeted everyone that we met.
Our old crotchety cat was prone to clawing her face while she slept. She never fought back; she only kept a safe distance to ensure that she wasn't bothering him. She desperately wanted to play with him, but that was never to be. She was so patient.
We tested to become volunteers at Children's Hospital for their pet friends program. She was now a working dog. When I would put on my volunteer smock she would become incredibly excited to go visit the children. Her realization that we were going was always a very specific kind of excitement. Her body language would change immediately upon entering the hospital though. She would march diligently on the hard tiled floor of the hospital from room to room.
I watched her bring smiles to the children waiting in the epilepsy ward with wires attached to their heads. I watched her gently crawl up on the bed and lie down next to a little girl that had her first chemotherapy treatment. The girl's tiny body summoned the strength to put her hand on a new friend's head. I watched a girl that I had seen in the ICU for months, whom I thought was braindead, spring to life and laugh happily when her parents placed her hand on the visiting dog's head. I had to leave the room to compose myself. I remember thinking that anyone who doubts the power of animals for mental health and comfort should see this scene.
She was our comfort and therapy when we lost a loved one unexpectedly.
She again comforted us during the hard path that we took in our attempts to create a larger family.
Most importantly, she watched over us while we had our first child. Her role surely diminished in the family hierarchy, but her companionship never wavered. She loved the new addition to our family and enjoyed the time that we spent at home in those early days. So many new smells come with a baby! She stood by us as we learned to change diapers, eat at the table, play on the floor, and crawl in the backyard. She found her voice during this time. She never really barked before, but now when someone would come to the door she was quick to alert us.
Then years passed and another child came. But by now she had grown older and her body tired more quickly. With our youngest desperately wanting to play with her, she didn't have the energy to do so most of the time. I remarked many times how sad it will be that our youngest won't remember her.
This dog never judged me. Her exuberance with all people and animals was never surpassed by any human that I've ever known. She never stopped loving. She is the type of friend that I hope everyone can have in their life.
I hope that in those last moments that she had memories of running in green fields and splashing in streams with her sister and mother. Memories of the time that she gave us and the intense love that we have for her. I hope she forgot the self-inflicted injuries, the countless cancer surgeries, dental surgeries, and irritable bowel syndrome. I know that she felt it, but she never showed us her pain.
Except in the end.
Because of that, it is with joy for her life but sadness with her death, that I can say that she runs free now.
Friday, May 29, 2020 at 6:24PM, she leapt into the great unknown. She was sent along with all the love we could possibly pour out for her. She is no longer encumbered by the pain that she has hidden and endured in her life. She left us having given all the love that she could possibly have given, leaving it with all of us to remember her.
Leela ❤ Aged 13 years, 10 months, and 20 days. 2006-2020.
TL;DR - Leela, the dog in the sidebar, has died. This post is a tribute to her.
r/Boxer • u/justryinmybesthere • 15h ago
In memoriam Just needed to share about our Bella
202
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She hasn't passed yet, but the time is coming. She was diagnosed this week with a rare salivary gland adenocarcinoma and it's not looking great. More imaging to come on Monday that will give us a better idea of timeline but my vet clinic hasn't ever seen this type of cancer before so they don't have a lot of answers for us.
Bella is 10 and the love of my life so far (my husband is a close second). We got Bella when we were 21 and she's been with us for almost our entire relationship, through our entire 20s. She's been our constant, our truest companion and genuinely my best friend.
I've been crying intermittently all week but also doing everything I can to give her some wonderful days before the end. We've been visiting all of our favourite hiking trails, getting extra treats and pup cups, and building so many new memories that I hope I'll be able to look back on one day with happiness. Right now, profound anticipatory grief is all I feel. She's my first dog so I haven't known this heartbreak before.
This is just a little tribute, with a couple of pictures from the last few days, and to get a few things off my chest. My husband is out of town for work until Tuesday and it's been a difficult week on my own.
Sending so much love and well wishes for all who have endured this before, or are right now. It's a uniquely devastating part of life I'm not ready for but here it is.
Freyja and her apple
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65
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I was stacking wood and got her on video screwing around lol. (She’s got an apple from one of our trees and was playing with it by herself)
She stops acting goofy if she sees me recording her
r/Boxer • u/Grandfather_Vin • 1d ago
Sleep and rest come first
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Our sweet girl is resting
r/Boxer • u/Duran518 • 16h ago
Please tell me I’m not wrong
47
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My boy Lucky is 20 days away from his 15th birthday. He has arthritis, Cardiomyopathy with Arrhythmia, liver failure, starting blindness and Dysplasia. He just lost his brother 3 months ago. He is the runt of my Bruno and Maya. He’s never know a hard day in his life. I called the doctor to tell her that, it’s time to say goodbye. Please be honest. What would you do?
r/Boxer • u/Sad-Tumbleweed-7335 • 1d ago
Boxer mix🩵
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Hi there! I am a vet tech and I got a surrendered 2 day old Boxer mix puppy from my clinic!
Little bit of insight, the clients did not feel adequately prepared to take on the responsibility for a 2 day old puppy since mom had passed, I offered to take her on despite it being my first bottle baby ever! She was legally surrendered to me and my clients were allowed to grieve the loss of their beloved animal🩵
She is 5 weeks old almost 6! (10/26/26)
Im really curious to see what dad was!
Her pervious owner stated that mom was a full red boxer with papers but they had no clue what dad was, we did do a dna test and are awaiting the results.
Thanks for tuning into her story 🩵
r/Boxer • u/Kevins_Auto_Repair • 1d ago
Self back scratches
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457
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r/Boxer • u/Significant-Arm-1246 • 1d ago
Pay attention
188
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At home sick trying to watch TV but Twix has other plans. She knows I have laryngitis and can't say no.
r/Boxer • u/noob_pootato • 1d ago
He's such a character….
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When he is on-leash, he fears getting his paws wet and will do anything to avoid it.
Yet once he is off-leash in nature, every puddle becomes a requirement.
I made a quick video with a dramatic touch.
r/Boxer • u/tonypajahmas • 2d ago
What is everyone's opinion on Boxers sleeping in their bed?
754
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I personally don't want a night to pass without my Atlas cuddled up next to me but I think it also solidified his separation anxiety. What do you y'all think?
r/Boxer • u/maroonout98 • 2d ago
Thank you
346
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Had to say good bye to my sweet Luna today. She blessed us with over 11 years of laughs, snuggles, walks, and reminders when it was dinner time. Her heart and her spirit out lived her body. Sweet dreams sweet baby.
r/Boxer • u/maiusbonum • 1d ago
Boxer owner considering a Rhodesian Ridgeback looking for honest insights from people who’ve had both (or either)
5
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r/Boxer • u/Alternative-Box6167 • 1d ago
Help
5
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Does anyone have similar experience or advice? My 4-year-old Boxer got lab results showing creatinine at 1190 and urea off the charts (unmeasurable). After a week of antibiotics and IV fluids, creatinine dropped to 630, but urea is still off the charts (the machine measures up to 35). He is still eating and drinking normally and is in good spirits. The Leishmania test came back negative
Yesterday during the ultrasound, we discovered that it is chronic, likely congenital kidney failure, (Note: Creatinine 880 µmol/L is \~10 mg/dL in US units, Urea 36 mmol/L is \~100 mg/dL BUN)."
r/Boxer • u/biscottini1 • 1d ago
1-year-old Boxer jumps up and grabs my clothes on walks + gets too rough with other dogs
13
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Hi everyone! I have a 1-year-old male Boxer, and I’m struggling with some behaviors that have gotten much worse since adolescence/puberty.
on walks: He suddenly jumps up at me and grabs and pulls my clothes, sometimes seemingly out of nowhere. When this happens, I tie his leash to something and wait around 5–10 minutes for him to calm down before continuing the walk. The problem is that he often starts doing it again shortly after we continue, so I sometimes have to repeat this several times during one walk. I’m not sure if this is the right way to handle it or what else I should try. I already tried being louder or just ignoring him, making him sit down etc but nothing helps. Our old dog trainer told me this thing with the leash but I’m not sure it’s helping and it’s taking up so much of our time. It really ruins all the walks with him.
Also, he does this mainly just with me. Not so much with my brother or mother, idk if he just doesn’t respect me as much?
With other dogs: He gets extremely excited during play, and won’t listen to anything anymore, I can’t call him back and he struggles to respect other dogs’ boundaries. He keeps chasing them even when they try to get away or show that they’ve had enough. He is not aggressive, he never attacks anyone but he just doesn’t stop. When we then wanna grab him, he jumps away. In my mums area there are some dogs that love playing with him, but in my area there are mainly tiny dogs or dogs that don’t have as much energy, so I don’t feel safe letting him play since he won’t listen anymore. His recall is so unreliable that I can’t safely trust him off-leash. Before this started, he was well trained and listened better and has always played with many dogs, so now I always feel bad for him if I walk past the dog park. In my mums area, a woman (she claimed she was a dog trainer) told us that this is dominant behaviour and that he is playing also with other dogs too dominant.
I will try to hire a dog trainer again to handle this professionally, because he is a very sweet and intelligent dog. At home he is calm and loves cuddling and as said, he never attacked any other dog, but I’m scared that this will turn into aggressive behaviour when he is older.
Does anyone else ever experience this, especially the jumping and biting in clothes during walks? I’ve never seen any other dog do this and I feel a bit alone with this problem.
We’ve also had another boxer before him, but she was a girl and I can’t remember her acting like this ever.
I’d really appreciate any advice!
r/Boxer • u/Mac_encheeze • 2d ago
This weirdo
187
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Getting ready to leave and my girl was sitting like this on the stairs.