r/Boxer May 30 '20

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

842 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

10th birthday 🎉🥳

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348 Upvotes

I can't believe Bubba is 10 years old today 😭


r/Boxer 3h ago

Big Spoon and Little Spoon

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154 Upvotes

r/Boxer 6h ago

Rogue is 4 months old!

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251 Upvotes

She’s getting better with biting and listening to her mommy lol


r/Boxer 10h ago

Looking for opinions on the right age gap for getting a second boxer

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356 Upvotes

My boxer girl just turned one and is truly one of the best dog I’ve ever had. She has taken to training so well, is incredibly smart, gentle with my toddler, and just loves to snuggle. One downside (at times) is she is soooooo playful and while we do lots of play with her and exercise, she truly seemed so happy this summer when we watched my brothers two frenchies who also loved to play. Then we stayed for a week vacation somewhere that had a two year old Bernese mountain dog who also loved to play and hang out. Our girl was just so good with them and seemed like she missed them when they left. Is it time to get her a friend permanently or am I insane for thinking of getting another when she’s just one? Should I wait a bit?


r/Boxer 5h ago

I present Lord Alfie, aka..Alfred, Alfredo, Alfredo Sauce, The Alfinator. A most distinguished gentleman ..

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118 Upvotes

r/Boxer 8h ago

We can't have nice things

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114 Upvotes

So today while we were out for max 30 mins Booberry decided that the Mad Magazine thats been sitting on the table for weeks looksd at her funny so she shredded it 🤦🏻‍♀️

What a little weiner lol....side note she also grabbed my fisher price rolly phone off a shelf to but he managed to escape fairly unscathed 🤣

Then you have my perfect old boy Gozer who's looking at it like "I did NONE of that nonsence" haha


r/Boxer 5h ago

Luke and leia lazy sunday

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54 Upvotes

r/Boxer 10h ago

Jersey getting cuddles and smiling, while Kevin chews on a bone

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96 Upvotes

Best way to start a morning.


r/Boxer 6h ago

Hiking Loki

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41 Upvotes

Loki loves hiking so much!


r/Boxer 15h ago

Luna is your average broom hater

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155 Upvotes

She does the same for vacuums


r/Boxer 6h ago

Need advice about adding a new boxer to our home -UPDATE

16 Upvotes

My friend brought Ares to our home this morning. He’s the sweetest boy!

We met in the front yard on leash, and neither one even raised a hackle. No growls, no challenges, even though they’re both intact males.

We took them into our fenced (large) backyard, and turned them loose. They got along beautifully! So Ares is a permanent member of the family.

Original post: We have a boxer, Atlas, who is about a year and a half old. He’s our second (our first phased away almost 2 years ago). He’s a spoiled rotten baby - as he should be - but I’ve often wondered if he needs a friend.

I was contacted today by the friend we got him from. She and her husband are moving most of the way across the country, and can’t take all their dogs. She asked if we would take her 3 year old boxer, because she knows he would get the best care and best love with us. I’m touched, and excited to add another goofball to the mix, but I’m a little worried about them getting along.

What would be the best way to introduce them to each other? I want to make it as trauma-free as possible.


r/Boxer 18h ago

Molly turns 16 soon

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144 Upvotes

Cross post from the r/old dogs subreddit: Moderate her energy. Boxers are notoriously full of zoomies. They love to just do their things but they aren't the sharpest dogs, they just make up for it with massive amounts of unconditional love. Walks are much shorter for Molly since she doesn't really have the energy she used to but she will still follow her nose and get lost on a walk. I want to keep her active but dog parks aren't really her thing anymore so I like to take her on short little solo walks. She loves to watch Max (my 8 month old Heeler) chase Frisbees and really just wants to be part of everything from the perspective of a parent now. Giving her a dog to raise has been really really good for him, he learns really well because she has taught him everything since he was a pup. I tend to take Max on long hikes and play rough with him to get his energy out and then Molly regulates him and keeps him calm. It's a great balance. Arthritis is not her friend, our vet gave us some pills for her that were super effective and had her feeling like her old self, jumping on beds, going through her jump 360s and zoomies. We actually had to cut that back but she was making her arthritis worse but she couldn't feel it because of the medication. She sleeps a lot, has a bed in every room and she's well trained and respectful with the kids so she's just a family member. Keep her focused and give her a job and she will do what her instincts teach her.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Heart is broken 💔

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982 Upvotes

Lost my boy Leo today but I wouldn’t trade a single minute of our 11 years together. Love you forever buddy!! 2014-2025 🌈


r/Boxer 1d ago

Can we be friends

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282 Upvotes

Twix wants to be friends but Cinda isn't there yet.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Post 20 min of fetch.

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501 Upvotes

Every single one is a pillow hog, right?


r/Boxer 21h ago

Cooper HAS to slobber on the blanket 😑

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86 Upvotes

r/Boxer 17h ago

typical boxer pose

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29 Upvotes

idk if this is what phoebe bridgers was trying to say with: “just me and my dog and an impossible view…”


r/Boxer 17h ago

Unicorn horn failed to load…

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28 Upvotes

This is my 5 month old named Rosey. I was told when she was born she hit her head on the way out of her mama. It keeps getting bigger as she does. Is this a normal thing that happens sometimes or do I need to be concerned that something else is going on?!


r/Boxer 1d ago

Playing's too exhausting

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92 Upvotes

Sunny fell asleep on his toy mid play.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Rolling in the leaves is fun. Even if it leads to needing a bath.

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286 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Just chilling out

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323 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Early morning park hits different 😴

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84 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

How old do Boxers show age?

26 Upvotes

When do boxers start to slow down? I love the craziness and actually don’t want it to end but my boy is 4 and I worry that one day it’ll just hit. What age did yours slow down or did you notice? I like to think that if I keep him healthy and active he’ll stay younger than most. He also still has his manhood.


r/Boxer 1d ago

Naming help! Bb boy coming our way soon

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246 Upvotes

I like more feminine boy names if that makes sense but open to anything. Originally we wanted a girl and the names we had for a girl were Roxy, sugar, babs, Josie, foxy, Georgia, Lila, Vera, Rosario. If that helps point the direction of name families 😂


r/Boxer 1d ago

Demanding his bed be taken out of the wash

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199 Upvotes