being with your boxers

[jldodge]

Wow! I thought I was the only one who planned their life around the "kids." I have a 9 month boxer boy, I rescued, and an 18 month boxer/bulldog mix girl. I get a lot of flack from people, who tend to think I'm too attached to them. I've always been this way, even with other dog breeds I've had.

We go home to Pa. every Christmas, from SC. and this year I decided to board them at our vets, because not everyone in Pa. is as thrilled with our kids as we are. (They do get rambunctious!) Well, let me tell you, I was so down in the dumps, missing them, and worrying about them, I would wake up in the middle of the night and not be able to get back to sleep. My husband was as bad as I was.

I called the vet's and was assured they were fine, and actually they were. When we picked them up they were so happy, and they seemed healthy and wild as ever.

I'd kind of like to go out to dinner tonight - but, they were alone for a good part of the day - so, guess what? We're ordering in Chinese!

Jane

 

[Boomer'sPapa]

I went to a New Year's Eve party at the house of some close friends from church. At 0400 on New Year's Day, even though there was room on a couch downstairs, I drove home so I could let Boomer out of his crate, and we could saw logs together for a few hours. Dawn mentioned that I'd have to bring Boomer along next time. I really felt bad leaving him for so long (just over 11 hours), but then again, he's been in his crate this long several times since 11 Sep, and I still get plenty of kidney beans when I come home later than usual. :D

Cheers,

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Jean, you took the words right out of my mouth!! You expressed how I feel exactly. Thanks.

And I agree with Cubby as well. I've spent the better part of my life living it for others, doing for others, working for others and being there for everyone but myself. Now that I'm retired, I am going to do whatever the hell I want to do with my life. And I decided that I want to spend the rest of my "golden years" with dogs. My dogs, any dogs. I don't care. I love them and have all my life and now that I have the time to be with a dog and to enjoy spending time with my dogs, I intend to spend as much time as possible with them.

There is no greater joy in my life than watching my two girls play and run and have a good time. When I get up in the mornings now, I don't dred the sunlight and the prospects of another day but, instead, I can't wait to get my eyes open and receive my sloppy morning kisses and wiggles.

I'l take my boxers any day! Keep your tension, your hassles, your traffic, your shopping malls and all of it. I'm so very content to take a long walk, singing with my dogs, and watching them enjoy their lives.

And, THAT's what its all about !!

 

[VTbxrFan]

I'm right there with you! I also live alone and don't go out much during the week because I don't want to leave Dallas alone again after leaving him while I'm at work. The way I see it, I made a commitment to give him a good life with quality time with me when I got him, and I fully intend to live up to it.

I adopted Dallas shortly after moving to a new state -- sure he might keep from going out some so I haven't met many people, but I probably wouldn't have met many people anyway (I'm shy and not good with strangers, so it takes a long time!) -- Dallas is truly my best friend and I love every minute with him -- I'm so excited to get home from work every day and see him.

This was my New Year's Eve this year:
Curled up on the floor in front of a fire watching movies with Dallas sleeping next to me -- it was great! (Ok, so I was sick, but even if I wasn't, I don't think I would have a better time at a party!)

 

[gidget1]

Obviously from all the responses you are not alone. I feel exactly the same way. I'm a busy mom of two with a full time job and a home based craft business also, but I always make time for Gidget just as I do for my skinkids. In the end you will have a loyal and loving pet and companion who will love you forever. Marcia

 

[trice]

You are terrific

Beautiful!!!

I am so glad to hear there are others like my self.
There was a post from Scott. You crate your Boxer at times for
11 hours? Wow! Thats long.
I was hoping you could tell me some activities you all
do with your boxers, for fun, excersize etc.

Enjoy your baby dolls!!!

Thanks for all your kindness!!!!

Trice

 

[sbartels]

My husband and I are right along with all of you! We used to go to movies all the time, but now we ALWAYS rent them so that Abby can lounge on the couch with us to watch them. Thankfully, most of our close friends are the same way with their dogs, so Abby is welcome in any house that we are.

New Year's Eve was crazy! We had about 25 of our closest friends together at one house, bought a keg and lots of champagne and fried two turkeys (yummy)! It was so much fun, but the best part: guess how many dogs were there? 7!!! Everybody always brings their dogs, and they get along great and probably had just as much fun as us, if not more! We also did a white elephant gift exchange (where everybody brings an anonymous gift and you open and exchange) and six of the gifts were things for DOGS!!! You know you are amongst the best company then!

 

[tingoddess]

I too love to spend time with my dogs. I do have a word of caution though. I'v found it is extremely important that a dog learn to be by it's self. Whether it's crated or just left secured in a special room at home or whatever. I think the biggest dis-service we do our dogs is to make them so dependent on our being there 24/7 that they have problems being without us. I have seen so many dogs that fall to pieces without mom or dad right there. I guess that's why I feel so strongly about making sure my dog's are comfortable being looked after by several different people and my boys both go to the kennel to be boarded if I'm away over night and they cannot come with me.

Some of you mentioned you don't have a social life. Well, I guess that all depends on what you'd consider social time? If you are going places with your dog and interacting with other owners and other dogs, then I'd say you have a very healthy social life.
If friends don't think you have a social life because you don't hang out in bars 5 nights a week or have seen all the latest movies, in the theathers. I'd say they're the ones with the stunted social life. And there's a lot to be said for quality quiet time with the furbabies. I find I'm very introspective when we take walks or spend time snuggling. I get a lot of quality of life from time spent with my dogs. Let's face it, sometimes being with other people isn't all it's cracked up to be. Especially when they don't get the whole dog thing.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

You are absolutely right Penny. I try to make time just for me, away from the girls, every day. They need to be able to stay at home by themselves and get away from me for a while as well. It does us all some good. And that way, we've avoided a lot of the separation anxiety issues which many people experience with their dogs.

On a social life, I just wanted to add that before I got Maggie, my first dog, I lived in my neighborhood for 17 years and knew maybe 3 people (all in my building). I worked, went to the grocery, cleaners, etc., but really didn't have much of a life outside work and coming home exhausted and falling asleep in front of the television. Weekends were spent cleaning and doing all those errands that pile up during the week when you are too busy to get them done.

But, once I got my Maggie, a WHOLE NEW SOCIAL WORLD opened up for me. Suddenly everyone on the neighborhood was coming up to us on the street, introducing themselves, saying that they've seen me for years but didn't know I had a dog, etc., etc. It took the dog to open up the social scene for me. After that, I couldn't go anywhere without everyone asking, "Hey, where's Maggie?" or someone saying "Hi Maggie's Daddy!"

And when I moved from NYC to Tulsa, and knew no one, thank goodness I had the girls. I was able to meet nice people (dog people) on my very first day in town and have been meeting nice people with their dogs ever since. My dogs have made me see that I want to spend my time with dogs and dog owners and work with dogs and dedicate my life to them. Thus, I went back to school, got my Trainer's Certificate and now I have a WHOLE NEW LIFE thanks to my Boxer Girls.

So, you may THINK you have no social life, but I can assure you, if you get out there and merely walk your dog, you'll have more social life than you know what to do with.

Thank God for Boxers !! I'd be a nutcase without mine!

 

[Linda/NJ]

Patrice:

I totally agree with you and everyone else on here! I also spend a good bit of time with our boxer. We are pretty much home bodies, we do go out but not a lot. If we go out for the day and leave her behind I do get a real guilt trip. I think it was worse when she was a puppy. Now that she is older and she has the whole run of the house and do not have to worry about her at all. Now if we go on vacation, we take her to a wonderful kennel and never ever had a problem. But if that kennel is closed or booked up I will not leave her with any one else. Even though I am very happy with this kennel I still get a big guilt trip while on vacation and miss her the whole time. Pretty sick, huh? I am sure everyone will understand what I am saying. Now she is getting more spoiled since I have been unemployed and have been home she just loves having Mom home!

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Linda and Erik
Ginger - born 6-4-97
Flash fawn , natural ears