Saturday

10 week picture / Stubborn Puppy / Play Date with the furr cousins

Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Bodhi is 10 weeks old today, he LOVES the lawn out back!

I found it!

The missing cord to the digital camara was of course in one of the last boxes I had to unpack for my office - so I'm back in photo land - YAY!

Stubborn lil Fella...

We took Bodhi to my sis-in-law's tonite, we caught him mid-pee and I took him outside. He did NOT finish. I KNEW he had to go - but my sis-in-law does not have a lawn and I think our pampered pooch prefers padded potty areas!

He went on strike...

He would NOT go. We were outside for at least 20 minutes and he just looked at me. Dinner was ready and everyone kept saying 'he must be done' and I told them he was holding out. Well they convinced me to bring him in and not 60 seconds later he 'finished'...Little weenie! I KNOW him and how his little brain works LOL Now I know for sure, I'm winning that one next time!

Romping with his fur cousin...

He had a ball playing with his fur cousin, Bearly. She just LOVES him! Bearly will be 10 this year and boy does Bodhi bring out the puppy in her. They are both sure to have a GREAT night's sleep tonite! She's a Boxer/German Shorthair/Lab Mix, a real cutie! I'll try to get a pic next play date! Next to her we can really see how much he's grown in the past 2 weeks - WOW!

Pierre the Chihuahua...

...is NOT so fond of Bodhi! My mom-in-law has a long haired chi, some refer to him as the spawn of satan... (lol) We all swear he has a second set of teeth like that alien in the movie Alien! He is a darling little thing, when he wants to be! He tried to eat Bodhi tonite! Bodhi was submissive, rolled on his back and wanted to play, but Dom Pierre wanted no part of it! He may be a little jealous of Bodhi playing with Bearly as Pierre is in LOVE with her though she is 50 # bigger than him, of course Bearly does not reciprocate in the love connection - like Pepe LePeu, the skunk who loves the cat! Not to mention Bodhi is already 2 times bigger than Pierre which may have caused the chi to be a little agressive too (well, a lot). We'll have to keep trying...

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Friday

Wrapping up week 2 with Mr. Bodhi!

Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Growing, Growing, Growing!

Wow time is flying, Bodhi has to be twice as tall now, he's growing like a weed! His legs have sprouted and his feet are as BIG as his 11 year old lab 'cousin'!

Sidways to Straight

When Bodhi first came home he ran willy nilly sideways like a confused crab! Puppy feet flying everywhere! Now he can run, and run FAST! He actually made it onto the couch the other day while chasing my daughter - she thought she was safe (lol) and up he went after her to play!

Potty Training B+

He's doing pretty well! He's only had a few accidents all week, and they were not his fault at all! If the door is open, he goes right out!

Crate Training A+

He actually puts himself to bed around 10, just walks in and snuggles in all his blankies! The past few days he's been sleeping longer and longer - which is nice for me as I'm the one who answers mid-night potty calls! When he sleeps at least 5 hours, after he potties outside he gets to come snuggle with me and Daddy. He loves it of course! The cats however, do NOT!

Speaking of Cats
  • Pita, still hisses and hops high out of reach!
  • Cleo, the hidden cat, hisses from her corner of the closet and Bodhi wants NO part of it!
  • Shadow, the big beast, just stands or sits and stares at him - maybe glares - and hisses - he 'talks' to her all the time - she is not too receptive other than a hissy response.

We're in LOVE!

His wrinkles on his head just melt our hearts! His personality fits with the family perfect! Our daughter loves him, but gets really purturbed because he steals toys all the time!

Toys, toys - WHY buy toys?

Of course we got ropes and balls and chewy things, etc..etc... Have to spoil the new baby! But just like a baby loves the BOX a new toy comes in Bodhi loves the freebies...for instance, an empty 1 gallon water jug - he played with it til it was flat! An empty yogurt cup, STILL playing with it! An empty water bottle! All FREE and kept him entertained for hours!

Shorter Naps - for SURE!

He now is staying up from about 7 AM to 11 AM! BUSY BOY let me tell you!

Check back soon for the amazing stories (pictures coming soon!) of Bodhi!

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Thursday

The Adventures of Bodhi begin!

Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Sorry no pictures, the digital camara is not working - new pics coming soon! I SWEAR he's grown bigger already!

Wild and Crazeee Puppy

Big feet, crazy legs and adoring brown eyes - he's quite a character! Developing his coordination is just too cute as he sprints across the floor chasing a ball or toy. Sometimes overshooting and stopping mid track, yet his body still in motion so he rolls and flips.

He LOVES the grass

One of his favorite times is when we play in the back yard, the lush green lawn is a fun place for him to romp and cause trouble! We have this bushy grassy plant with long waving grasses, he loves to run full speed into it and then 'hide' under the wisps dangling down. He has also found a patch of clover-like ground cover that must be nice and cool because he sinks down into it in puppy smiling bliss!

Rocks are NOT Kibbles!!!

For some reason he is enjoying chewing on rocks! We are nipping this one in the bud quick!

Windchimes, the enemy?

Inside the house we have some small windchimes as a plant stake in a plant. Several times he has walked up to the chime and bonked it with his nose - upon the return of a 'ting a ling a ling' he proceeds to tell the windchime off with an adorable backwards hop and a rumbly growl followed by quite an impressive bark. He has also told off a laundry basket, a shoe and his shadow among other things!

Cats - no big deal!

He still has not much interest in the cats, Pita and Shadow seem to 'tolerate' him. They don't run away, but they keep a watchful eye and send him a little hiss warning. He kind of whines like 'what did I do???' then bounds along on his way.

Puppy Teeth!

He is into rough playing and chasing with those needle like puppy teeth! We are teaching him 'no bite' and giving him a puppy toy each time he trys to gnaw on a body part or clothing!

Sleeping at Night

He has NO problem going to bed in his crate, he actually climbs in on his own now at 10 PM or so! Mon and Tues he woke up a couple times, Wed he slept until 5:45 YAY for ME! Then he got to come and snuggle us a bit after he pottied - that works for me!

Daytime Naps

He was snoozing on the couch or in his crate - now he comes and sleeps at my feet in my office! It's perfect because I see him as soon as he wakes up to take him out potty!

More to come soon!

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Have you hugged your Boxer today? I'm up about 100 snuggles for today!

Monday

Our Adventure to get Mr. Bodhi! AND his 1st day home...


Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Us with Bodhi at the breeder's in CA!

A loooooong adventure!

We left around 7:30 PM on Friday, August 12th. It was a nice ride, a long ride, a unique ride. Not sure if we were leaving Fri or Sat we were not fully prepared for what was ahead of us!

Thank GOODNESS for GPS!

GPS is a wonderful thing, we plugged in the address and we were on our way. We did not get lost once! We passed through many great little towns, including the town of Bodie! We went through majestic mountains, passed lovely lakes, rushing rivers and so much more. On the way there we did not 'see' much as it was dark.

Motel 6(66)

We arrived at our destination around 1:30 AM, so we knew where to head back to - we kept on truckin' and headed toward Bakersfield to get a hotel. Ended up at Motel 6 and let's just say they did not 'leave the light on' for us. WHOA a creepy little part of town! We somehow caught a few winks around 3 AM or so and got up around 8 and headed out!

Beautiful...

The views were GORGEOUS, just so beautiful! The Kern River is adorned by HUGE boulders, rushing water and quiet pools. Dotted with outrageous Oak Trees too. The landscape somewhat similar to here in Nevada - desertlike with an abundance of sage! Also very cool Joshua trees and some other unique plants we've not seen!

We knew we were at the right place...

When we saw a "Boxer Crossing" sign on the front gate! We went in and were greeted by bountiful, well behaved boxers and their people! Very well behaved, no jumping, barking or anything! Just happy butts wagging, kisses and waiting in line to be the next one for some lovies!

Mom and Dad

Bogart was HUGE! A Massive walking muscle meat head, just too cute! Korri Mama a gorgeous petite thing - both SO very loving! Then Bodhi, handsome and snuggly! He played with his sister Lil Bit for awhile and we chatted with the breeder's for about an hour or so - then we headed home for the long ride with our baby.

The ride

Bodhi slept on his new bed with his blankie the whole way! We stopped for potty breaks and he did GREAT! We're pleaed he travels well! Of course whenever we stopped we met Boxer lovers! He had some foodies, water was quite a happy camper the whole way!

The First Night Home

No potty accidents on my shift! He went potty outside, investigated the new home, took a short nap with daddy, got up to play a bit, went potty then I tucked him into his crate. He cried only 2 minutes or less and went to bed around 11:30 PM. He slept until 6 AM on the dot! Great 1st night! I went and took him potty and he did perfect!

The First Day Home

Only one accident in our house! Our daughter was in charge and did not know the 'signs' but only a pee pee! (thank goodness for shampooers!!!) I can easily tell when he needs to go and two times so far he as aked to go out by sitting by the sliding glass door. That's our smart baby! He likes to play, nap, play, nap, nap, play, play, nap! Not too much interest in the cats, which the cats don't mind one bit! The breeder had kitties which I'm sure is a huge factor!

His Voice

The cutest little growl bark you ever heard! He's tough when it comes to non-moving objects as they of course are trying to get him and he has to set them straight! Sounds like he'll be a talker like our Bear with his Chewbaca impressions!

The Second Night

He went right to sleep in his bed not one peep! I went to bed around 11:30 PM and was snoozing! I heard Bodhi talking and I thought it was 6 AM already, nope 12:30 AM! He had to pee so I took him and and he did! I snuggled him, he got drowsy and I told him to go to his room and he went right in his crate! I went to bed, fell asleep and later heard Bodhi. I thought it was 6 AM, nope 2:30 - whew I was tired! (flashbacks to when my daughter was a newborn...) He did not have to pee, I think he just wanted some reassurance that he was not alone as I snuggled him for a few then he got in his bed on his own! So 5:30 rolled around he was calling again, we went potty, ate some kibble, went potty again, played a bit -then we laid down on the couch for a bit til about 7. Got up, played, pee'd, etc... Romped with Daddy a bit before work then...

he Zonked out...

...on the couch! I peeked on him and all 4 were in the air -comfy for SURE! About 20 minutes later I heard a 'thud' and walked out to see a dazed Bodhi. I think he rolled off, he looked awfully embarassed!

On with our day!

So I'm trying to get work done, trying is the magic word! LOL Busy puppy, the kiddo is still not sure how to handle the boisterous puppy who seems to LOVE stealing things from her room! She's getting a little peeved, she does not get that her things are SO much more fun to steal (especially if he senses that it annoys her!)

So far So Good!

We're all in love with our new fur baby and we can't wait to see what the future holds!

Alethea Anderson
The Bella Blogger

Have you hugged your Boxer today? I have, a zillion times!!!

Thursday

Bodhi - almost home!


Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Bodhi, don't you wanna kiss those wrinkles???

The Count Down Is ON!

T minus 48 hours or LESS! We will be bring home Bodhi on Saturday, August 12th. It is a 342 mile drive that will take about 6 hours or so - each direction. What we do for love!

We are prepared!

We decided on a crate, we got a MONSTER 45" crate. Plenty of room and in mint condition. Funny Story: I had been pricing crates and the size we needed was around $190+tax or so. So I posted on my favorite free classifieds site called craigslist. I put a wanted ad under 'pets' that I was looking for a 42" crate. I had lots of responses and pictures, but one person stood out because was in the same city as me and was offering a crate for $50 - WOW! So we chatted, she sent a picture of her husband AND 2 dogs in the crate (big enough for sure) and I joked and asked if I could put MY husband in the crate too...(LOL) Soooo long story short, she lives on the same street as me! So we got the crate which was a smidge bigger than 42" for only $50 - a GREAT deal! Nice gal, I hope we keep in touch!!! So if you need a crate for Boxer, check out craigslist.org, they are Nationwide!

We also have...
  • A blankie for Bodhi, it's blue with sports balls on it. We've all slept with it to cover it with our scent and we'll let him sleep with it. Maybe it will help him realize he's one of our 'pack' now.
  • Some puppy safe toys.

We're getting today...

  • A bed for the crate
  • A food and water bowl
  • A collar tag
  • A bag of foodies
  • Licensing Info.
  • Pet Insurance Info.

Sooo Excited!!!!!

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Have you hugged your Boxer today? I will be in less than 48 hours!!!

Sunday

They are lovers, not fighters - why are so many boxers abandoned...?



Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Bodhi just being cute at the Breeder's! 5 more days til he comes home!

Boxers are an often abandoned breed...Why? Greed, misunderstanding and ignorance...

GREED: Irresponsible boxer breeders...

There are some boxer breeders who breed for money - and they don't care 'who' gets the puppies. ALL boxer breeders should interview the potential puppy parents to make sure they are educated on the breed, can provide the home the breed needs and are prepared to handle a boisterous boxer! Many who get the dog unprepared - simply think boxers are 'too much' and dump them as mere puppies under a year...

MISUNDERSTANDING: Boxers are purchased as guard dogs...

Some get a boxer assuming he will be a guard dog, to protect valuables, etc... Now don't get me wrong, a boxer will guard you with his life if need be, but he does this naturally. Boxers can not easily be 'trained' to be attack dogs. When people find this out - they often abuse them or abandon them because boxers don't have the agressive mentality the dog owner was seeking.

IGNORANCE: Boxers are too much to handle...

Often people don't do their research before they get a boxer puppy. They may simply like the look of a boxer. Someone they know may have a boxer and they want one too. Some may be caught up in the cutness of a boxer puppy. What they don't know is that boxers are HIGHLY active dogs, they don't grow out of 'puppy'. They mature, but they will always play, play, PLAY! They need attention, companionship, mental stimulation and will truly be your best friend! Boxers are also indoor dogs, not dogs to be left in a yard or dog run all day. Boxers are dogs for a high energy family ready to play and take him on walks. They are not couch potato dogs who will sleep all day!

If YOU are considering a Boxer...

Please, please, PLEASE read up on the subject BEFORE you make your decision! A GREAT book is Boxers For Dummies! It is for those considering a boxer or those who already have boxers. The book is basically boxers A to Z about what to expect with their playful personality, medical issues, training, etc...etc... It gives you a clear image of who a boxer is even before you have one at home. The book truly can convince someone OUT of a boxer, or someone that is sure they want a boxer, it will cement what you already know about the breed.

Don't forget the web!

Research the internet for information on boxer dogs! There are tons of FREE articles on the breed. Educate your self as much as possible. My husband and I have wanted a boxer for years, and when we were ready I STILL researched for months before we even chose a breeder. We are prepared for a furry bundle of energy, we are financially ready for a new puppy, we KNOW what to expect for a boxer!

Don't be a stasticic...

Pleasea don't get a boxer, then abandon him...It breaks their spirit, it breaks their heart...Just know for SURE if you REALLY want a boxer and if you are PREPARED to be a boxer parent...

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Saturday

To crate, or not to crate - that is the question...


Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

Bodhi peeking in on mama in her crate...to mama it was a welcome break from her 8 puppies!!!

Crating

Oh what a controversy around here! The sister in law says it's 'mean' the husband says "we never had a crate for our other 2 dogs..."

What they don't realize...

I've been researching crating for months! I too, was one of those people thinking 'that is so MEAN to put them in a 'cage'!" Research shows when used right, it's a 'den' not a 'cage'...

Thinking back 10 years...

We got a Mastiff mix in 1995 we named Bear. At 8 weeks he was 17#, 12 weeks 35#, 16 weeks 60# - basically Clifford the BIG red dog! He topped out at 180# in his prime, what a beast and such a pleasure as a mature adult dog. BUT - he was very hard to potty train, and a 4 mo old puppy that weights 60# doing a dookey on your living room carpet is a bit HUGE for lack of a better word...However he was potty trained shortly after... BUT - when he was 6 months old we decided he could hold his potty all day long as he had been doing AOK. So we decided to put up a baby gate and keep him in the living room while we were at work. He did GREAT, he did not go potty at all! HOWEVER, he ate our couch! Now not a little bit. Not a just a cushion or 2. He literally ate the ENTIRE couch down to the wooden frame. It looked like a winter wonderland, foam and fluff everywhere. I have got to admit he had a BALL doing it! LOL How could we be mad, he was alone for 8 hours! (he also got into a closet and bypassed all the 'cheap' shoes at at the $190 italian leather ones...) Good taste I suppose (ack!)

Goes to show you...

They CAN 'eat' you out of house and home as well as potty on the way!

My husband's side...

I work full time from home now, so he says Bodhi should be easier to train - and not lonely. I agree, I will have tons of time to play, wrestle and train the new baby! ((I'm SOOO excited!!! Just one more week! This time next Saturday I'll be holding him!))

My side...

What about when we go to the store? What about when we are gone a few hours?

His side...

We'll put up a gate and leave him in the kitchen...

My side..

He is pure muscle, will be 15# at 8 weeks - and from what I remember - puppies are quite the little escape artists...

My research...

I have been reading forum after forum, article after article about crating. When used correctly it is a valuable item that the dog considers his 'den'. By nature, dogs like a cozy little place to curl up and take a nap. A place they feel secure, a place that is their's for their bed, their toys, etc...

Why crating is good for puppies...

Puppies naturally don't want to go potty where they sleep, so they will hold out longer instead of just letting loose. So when used correctly, crating then taking on potty break eases the potty training period shortening it!

Why else...

Puppy won't eat your couch! LOL

And...

What about traveling? Going to a family members, friend's, etc... You can bring the 'den' with you. It's his home away from home! Don't you wish you could bring your own bed with YOU when you travel???

So what did we decide?

The jury is out! The crate would be used very infrequently since I work at home. He will sleep in our bed once he's trained. So maybe it will be a short time thing... My biggest desire for the crate is when we leave for several hours at a time. What oh what could a puppy do in a few hours alone in a 1600 square foot house? That is my concern! I really don't want to buy a new couch yet!

The debate goes on...

Around here we're still in debate mode on the crate, I'll let you know what we decide!

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer Blogger

Thursday

Bodhi will come home with...


Hello Fellow Boxer Lovers!

One Week and One Day...

  • Til we get our new furr baby! The breeder sent us this list:
  • Registration papers
    Vaccination records
    Photocopy of pedigrees
    Purchase Contract
    Spay/neuter Contract (for those who take this option, offered at p/u only)
    Blanket
    Assorted treats
    Veterinary leash (slip style)
    Small amount of dog food (approx. 2#)
    Feeding/sleeping schedule
    Diet sheet

Time has flown so quickly, I simply can't believe he's almost here! We'll drive to Southern Ca next weekend 8/12/06 to pick him up!

Alethea Anderson
The Boxer BLogger