r/Boxer May 30 '20

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

886 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 2h ago

Jesse and watermelon

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134 Upvotes

r/Boxer 3h ago

My nova has lymphoma

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167 Upvotes

Hi guys so an update, After the FNA test results from swollen lymp nodes the test came back and nova unfortunately has lymphoma, I’m still trying to process everything still and would have never imagined him having it. My baby has just turned 4 years old and I’ve just been crying but I’m trying to be strong for him. Everyday I give him so much love, so many hugs , so many kisses and comfort but now that I received the news my life has turned upside down. Nova has been there for me when I was going through depression and he opened my eyes to appreciating everything in life, he’s honestly the one that has saved me. human and dogs, anybody don’t deserves to go through this. My heart hurts. I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to give up on him, I want to hang on still but I also don’t want to be selfish if he’s in pain at some point. If anyone has advice it’ll mean so much to me. Anyone that has gone through this or is going through this.


r/Boxer 1h ago

This man has never know a hard day in his life

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Upvotes

Went to the park and he was gone before you left the first stop light


r/Boxer 4h ago

POV, boxer owner at 3am in New Zealand

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104 Upvotes

Bed also shared with an English staffy and a tuxedo cat. I typically end up slowly forced out of one side and move to the other side where there is more room. Tonight she’s sticking to ‘her side and her pillow’.

Tis a good thing I’m single, or perhaps why I am🤔😅😭


r/Boxer 18h ago

POV: You try to pet your boxer

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742 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1h ago

Fergie the Boxweiler is tired

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Upvotes

r/Boxer 14h ago

A great big bang and dinosaurs. Fiery raining meteors - It all ends, unfortunately. But you’re gonna live forever in me. I guarantee, just wait and see.

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130 Upvotes

r/Boxer 18h ago

Another day another swim 💪

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175 Upvotes

r/Boxer 17h ago

Every night when we eat dinner, Mr. Jaxson wants to talk about it

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131 Upvotes

Now mind you he isn’t blocked off from us, but he knows he can’t be in the kitchen while we eat. So he tells us exactly how he feels about that!


r/Boxer 17h ago

Do swamp puppies count?

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108 Upvotes

See you later alligator!


r/Boxer 22h ago

Sleepy boy enjoying the cool balcony floor

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173 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Axel is so comfortable

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298 Upvotes

r/Boxer 23h ago

Breeder ? + Coco tax

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95 Upvotes

Can anyone recommend a reputable breeder in the Omaha area? I’ve also been checking local rescues for Boxers. We had to let our girl Chloe go in April and now that summers end is approaching, we want to complete our family. We would be willing to travel 2-3 hours in any direction. Thank you and pet your dogs for me!

Edit - I have done some google searching. Coco was $200 from a trailer park in Mt Vernon, IL and was the best dog I’ve ever had, so I don’t care about papers.


r/Boxer 12h ago

Price of kc registered Boxers.

12 Upvotes

Getting our new puppy next week cost £2250, it's getting a bit crazy now but I suppose it's worth every penny.

Had 5 previously so she is going to be my last as I'm 54 now. I prefer bobtail wharedrobe Boxers so maybe I have paid a little extra because of that.

But looking back. My first boxer in 1988 was £50 lol

How times change.


r/Boxer 22h ago

What are you feeding your boxer?

20 Upvotes

I adopted a 1 1/2 yr Boxer mix 4 months ago, thinking a boxwieler. I have been through 4 dry dog foods, (diamond, nutro, blue buffalo, natures' recipe, and now trying purina pro plan), and 3 wet foods. Cant seem to find a food she is willing to eat more than once. I've tried the toppings, ground beef and rice, beef tallow, etc. Running out of ideas.

Are you feeding your boxers just dry food? If not, what are you adding?

Thank you.


r/Boxer 1d ago

SIGH…..😒The saddest one….😞

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630 Upvotes

I told him we could go for our walk as soon as I was finished with my work project… he’s making sure I understand the inconvenience of it all… 😂


r/Boxer 1d ago

It’s new watermelon cutting time!

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245 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

He wants more food

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248 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

All I have to say is “Who wants a cookie!?” And they all snap to attention.

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158 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

Lazy day

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170 Upvotes

Relaxing when she got me up 2hrs before I had to go to work. Poor Twix, hard life of a spoiled princess.


r/Boxer 2d ago

My beautiful boy

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445 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

update: zhivago’s nipple

20 Upvotes

nothing to worry about guys! took him to the vet, he told me that redness is typicall in dogs with skin allergies (which zhivago has) and gave us a cream but the nipple is fine, nothing to worry about :) thank you so much!!!


r/Boxer 2d ago

In memoriam Story of pooch

10 Upvotes

I am not sure if shes dead, my great aunt has her but I've heard nothing of her and last time I saw her she just laid around all day she might be alive but she is gone from my life so I would like to share her story.

My family were wanting another dog after Daisy our mastiff died, she was loyal brave and comforted us for years.

My family had some connections to people whos boxers just had a litter and they wanted to get rid of puppies because they didnt think they could handle a ton of boxers. I walked into the house remembering the tiny blue plastic pool empty no water but full of a sea of boxers only one puppy was pure white. That was my dog Pooh. I walked in the pool and all the puppies ran up to me barking wagging tails whimpering but only one jumped up on me and flung herself from her spot to me, my dog.

She was the favorite of the litter her mother wasn't pleased to have Pooch leaving and I felt bad wanted to return her, I can't remember if she was the runt or not but she came into our house and we gave her some milk made for puppies in a bowl which was my idea because I wanted her to not miss her mommy.

I had said the name pooch on the drive to the house because of an episode of too cute which I would watch too cute constantly and there was a dog named pooch which I wanted one then. I couldn't pronounce My c's so I would say Pooh. Pooh was crazy and jumpy, she would do 360 spins and even get our super old terrier dog(R.I.P cookies💔) which was alive before I was even born to start running around and playing, she was an inspiration for me. I've always had bad social issues and Pooh? She fixed that she was my bestfriend but she soon stopped being hyper, she was more calm during my moms pregnancy not even wanting to move off of her and just sit on my mom for hours against her stomach, we thought she would be like that around the baby but nope! When my sister emberlyn was maybe a year or less?(she was born blue but her autism wasn't diagnosed yet) she jumped on the baby swing and somehow slipped my sister off of it causing my sister to fall on the ground. Pooh didn't mean it but my sister was screaming which almost gave me a literal heart attack.

My pulse was at the level which heart attacks usually happened (Before I had gotten diagnosed with anxiety and had heart palpitations more often) and Pooh was also fighting our old dog because Cookies was the boss always was but Pooh wanted to be the boss, she was the youngest and strongest one so Cookies was in danger, and we had to give her to my aunt Tina which loved her.

I love you pooh you taught me so much and even if your not in my life and you might be gone you are always my dog❤


r/Boxer 2d ago

Twix about to FAFO

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110 Upvotes

Twix just doesn't realize she is just bigger and stronger. However they will snuggle up.​