r/Boxer May 30 '20

In memoriam Leela, inspiration for /r/boxer, has passed

895 Upvotes

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 6h ago

Sunshine

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140 Upvotes

r/Boxer 15h ago

In memoriam Zephyr Bear was here, and he was the goodest

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356 Upvotes

Foster fail 02/14/24- 8/31/26
He came to me without a name after my soul boxer passed from cancer sept ‘23. I had no intention of keeping him but that boy had my heart from day one. He was happy go lucky, a complete goober, had no idea how big and strong he was, but so, so gentle and so, so sweet. A big gigantic baby in all the best ways. Not a day went by that we weren’t together, just us two. He had a bit to overcome and few surprises from wherever he came from but we found our groove and he was my reason to get up every day. Never in a million years did I think this could happen again, and to a boxer so young. He got to leave this place as we spent our time together; just us two (in the vets office but privately). I guess that’s the boxer tax. You get the most epic irreplaceable friend that makes every day the best day ever, but there’s a chance they’ll have to leave before it’s fair and you’ll have to be the one to make the hardest choice for them. Zephyr, Zephyr Bear, Handsome puppy dude, Ghost face killa, bubba, bubby bear… I hope you’re running and playing and talking at everyone, and that I get to see you again 🧡🌈💔🧡 I love you


r/Boxer 14h ago

Margie is just a little baby

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181 Upvotes

r/Boxer 23h ago

My boxer memorial portrait

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360 Upvotes

I just finished this memorial portrait of a sweet boy named Sullivan and wanted to share him here. 🤍 I've never painted a boxer before, but this one is definitely one of my favorites now. It was a huge honor to paint him for his family. I never use any AI, in case anyone's wondering, it's all made by me.


r/Boxer 18h ago

Anxious about Cardiologist Visit

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128 Upvotes

My sweet puppy Elmer (10 mos.) has been diagnosed with a grade 3 heart murmur by his vet during his first and second check-ups. He suggested waiting until he’s a year old to do an echocardiogram.

Last night we had to go to the ER because Elmer ate a wet wipe (😑). While we were there the ER doctor said she was sure it’s a grade 4 murmur and seemed more concerned about that than the reason we were there.

Since last night, I’ve already made an appointment with a cardiologist but I’m feeling very anxious about what he’s going to say. I usually Google about the possibilities of these things in order to prep myself for the worst but I can’t bring myself to do it. Any words of advice are appreciated.


r/Boxer 22h ago

My mom has the biggest boxer set I’ve ever seen

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209 Upvotes

r/Boxer 21h ago

Nothing better than a sunny day nap 💤

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117 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

I see some posts on boxers swimming. Here’s Cookie….

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423 Upvotes

r/Boxer 19h ago

My boxer-beagle HAVANA

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66 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Welcome Apollo, see you soon

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345 Upvotes

As yu may have read, we lost both our precious boyz this year, Roscoe and Chewy....a few serendipitous things have made me commit to this guy...Welcome Apollo, we cant wait to get you home


r/Boxer 1d ago

Wagon to help with walks

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376 Upvotes

Our 11.5 yr old can’t make the long walks he used to but he’s too stubborn to know better 🤪 so we got this all-terrain gardening wagon to help when he gets tired and he LOVES getting to choose when to walk and when to ride. More modifications to come but so far so good!


r/Boxer 1d ago

Tripod swings

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209 Upvotes

He gets mad when the ball isn’t deflated enough 😂


r/Boxer 1d ago

Been a while since i’ve posted, we got our girl a friend who is also her brother and they are besties. Here’s the cutest pictures I have of them

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438 Upvotes

r/Boxer 22h ago

Getting a boxer puppy - should we get a second

23 Upvotes

My wife and I are getting a European boxer puppy in a couple of months from a local breeder. I am now wondering if we should get 2 (the litter will have 10 pups). We have had two boxers before and realize that they help keep each other entertained and exercised. Having said that 2 pups at the same time might be more work than I realize. We have had 2 boxers before but they were staggered (got the second one when the first was 4). They have both passed now and we miss them terribly. They are amazing unique beasts. We love the breed and love all of their goofy sweet energy but not sure if we might be biting off more than we can handle with two. Anyone else with experience of getting two boxer pups at the same time?


r/Boxer 1d ago

She caught me snooping...

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169 Upvotes

Busted....


r/Boxer 1d ago

Bruno celebrating his 12th birthday this week 🥳 he’s had a few health scares over the years so wondered if he’d ever make it to 10 let alone 12. He’s living his best life ❤️

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731 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Goliath’s first hammock hang

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212 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

She's a dog after all

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248 Upvotes

My girl is 6. She ate a newborn bunny today. Is there a support or something group for this./s

Eew

I mean I know she was getting in touch with her primal side but she's 6 and hasn't this whole time so I'm having a hard time.

Edit: to Thank-you humans of reddit, from Ivy for helping my mom stop freaking out. She hasn't yet found the nest so I'm restricted from being in yard alone for now.

Edit: Actually I'm trying to retrain brain with high value treat distraction. I realize this may last the rest of our lives, or until winter at least.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Henry ❤️🌈🐾

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386 Upvotes

Had to make the heart breaking decision almost a month ago to let my boy Henry go. He got really sick over the weekend and we loved him too much to let him be in pain. He was my first boxer to make it to the double digits let alone being 12. Miss him everyday.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Recommendations for adding a second Boxer to our family

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145 Upvotes

Hi all, lurker and first time poster. I love seeing the pictures of all of your babies. We are longtime Boxer lovers. We are on our 4th boy, Beau (brindle, 4 years old). We got him when he was about 4 months old after our prior Boxer passed suddenly at an all-too-young age from cardiomyopathy. He’s been well socialized but can be protective of me (the only female in the family) and my young kids (5&7).
We are looking at adding a second Boxer to our family and now that I have kids, I’m worrying (perhaps needlessly) about how they will blend.

Beau has mild separation anxiety. It’s not severe, but we think he’d benefit from having a partner. Our local rescue contacted us last week that they have a puppy available if we want him. I’m both excited and nervous. We know all the tricks - lots of exercise, meet and walk in a neutral zone, etc. But now that I have kids this feels high stakes that it needs to work.

We went to the Rescue’s adoption day a few weeks ago and met a few adult dogs, and Beau didn’t like them near his human brothers. We are hoping the puppy energy will have different results.

Any tips?


r/Boxer 1d ago

Tails

9 Upvotes

Boxers with tails, do they ever injure them during a wiggle?


r/Boxer 1d ago

2nd Ampu-versary🐾

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173 Upvotes

Rico has been a tripod for 2 years! Which means we celebrate being cancer free ❤️


r/Boxer 2d ago

boxer and what else?

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554 Upvotes

hi yall! we're a "boxer family" (we love all dogs but boxers have stolen our hearts) and my dad adopted this pup about 6 months ago. at the shelter she was listed as a "boxer mix". you can def see the boxer, but what else do you think? at first i thought maybe pit but she is SO BIG. according to the shelter shes only 2.5-3yrs old. she's like 85lbs already. i'm kinda thinking a mastiff mix? maybe even cane corso?


r/Boxer 1d ago

Idiopathic Epilepsy

6 Upvotes

My 2 1/2 year old was just diagnosed with idiopathic epilepsy. I’m glad to have some answers, but really sad he has to deal with this. I had no idea that it was common in Boxers. We’ve stayed him in Keppra.

Anyone else ever had to deal with epilepsy in their babies?