We love and miss you, Junior. :(

[Juniors_Dad]

Sept 15, 2005 will go down as the worst day of my life. Junior, at a tender 9 months, had to be put down. His aggression outside of the house was too much to handle, and put us and everyone around him at risk. He was the best doggy 99% of the time, but was a terror the other 1%. He was great in the house, and even welcomed strangers in our home with lots of wiggles, hugs, and kisses. Sadly, it was a different story outdoors. He was so vicious, and this Dr. Jeckle and Mr. Hyde story has a very sad ending. We took him to the vet and stayed with him until his little puppy heart stopped beating. I was so torn up, I couldn't drive home. My wife had a hard time too, but she managed.

This was a week ago, and I still get teary eyed thinking about my little June-bug. We know we did all we could. Training, positive reinforcements, and even took him to a few behaviorists (who he wanted to eat alive). He was such a great pet, if only we could've kept him inside a bubble. Unfortunately that's not real life. Real life now is empty and sad now that he's gone though, and I hope our sorrow fades with time.

We travelled to the SPCA animal shelter yesterday and found 3 boxers needing to be adopted. It's too soon this week, but by next week, I'm guessing we will have a new boxer. Our life (and house) seems so empty without one.

We will name him/her Frito, because Juni's feet always smelled like Fritos.

Junior, you were my best friend. I will always love you and you are dearly missed. I hope you are having fun burning around the green pastures of doggy heaven.

Love,
Your dad

 

[My Calla]

I am very sorry to hear about Junior, that is just terrible. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Godspeed Junior.

 

[Slobber Baby]

I'm so sorry...oh my gosh..that's very sad..sending your family hugs and strength..Godspeed Junior...

Laura

 

[Elyse]

I am so very sorry for what you have been through. I can not imagine how difficult it must have been. I do think it is wonderful that you do plan on opening your heart and and home to another boxer baby. You will know when the time is right. ((((HUGS))))
Godspeed Junior.

 

[sanford7]

Godspeed Junior!! Play ball and fetch with the rest of those sweet angels up there!!

 

[efb01]

I'm sorry for your loss. It's never an easy decision to make. Godspeed Junior, play nice at the bridge. There is another member on this forum that recently had to put a puppy down for the same problem. It happens.

 

[Julie P.]

I know how horrible it feels to help a sweet friend to the bridge; it is the worst pain ever. Please know that your love for Junior shined deeply through your words in this thread. Only you, your family and those who tried to help Junior to over come his problems can fully understand what it took to come to the decision that you had to make. I am so sorry for your loss and pain and I wish things could have been better. I hope you find a sweet boxer that you can fully trust. There is nothing like the feeling of a trusted friend.

 

[Luvnmyboxer]

Godspeed Junior, you are at peace now and can play with your friends at the bridge. So sorry to hear of your loss, but poor Junior was obviously confused in life and scared outside of his home. Good Luck with the adoption process.

 

[Juniors_Dad]

Thanks for all your kind words everyone. It's nice knowing I can come to this community for support.

Just to clarify, Junior was believed to have had a chemical imbalance. We also think somewhere in his ancestry was a pitbull. Not saying that pitbulls are all bad, but....

We didn't buy him from a breeder...we got him at 4 months from a nice family who owned another boxer who was elderly and ill. They claimed Junior was too much (hyper) for their other boxer and it "wasn't working out."

I have a feeling that wasn't the whole story.

Anywho, his behavior got progressively worse. When he was 6 months, we went to Yosemite Park where he almost bit a kid while on his leash. Luckily, I stuck my hand in between or else the kid would've been bit in the face. Disaster averted!! That was the first time (of many) he drew blood on me.

It was like he was posessed while around other people/animals. We tried to introduce him to our neighbor's boxers while on nuetral ground while off his leash, and he attacked them.

While walking him around the neighborhood to expend his energy, which NEEDED to be done to prevent him going nuts in our house, anything he saw caused him to flip out, and as soon as that happened he would turn on me or my wife. He once saw a dog 100 feet away....tried to attack him...and when he realized he couldn't...he attacked me and bit me in the private area. He drew lots of blood. Ouch.

He attacked one behavior specialist when I was doing some leash training and the leash slipped out of my hand.

He ripped practially every shirt I own when I would take him on walks. He ripped numerous pairs of my shorts also.

The list goes on and on.... You can see he was no ordinary boxer puppy, and his attacks were indeed getting worse. I hate saying all this about him because I really want to remember him as a great dog. I really miss him, but that 1% was not tolerable and NOTHING could be done. He was literally crazy. Someone would've eventually gotten hurt. I already had been bit so many times. If he hurt my wife seriously, I dunno what I would've done. We want kids someday soon, and if he hurt them..... Well, that's not gonna happen now.

Sorry to sound so defensive. I really don't mean to be. I just want you to know how serious of a situation it was... It was a tough situation, and an even tougher decision. After all the times he turned on me, I wanted to keep him. My wife wanted to euthanize him way before I did. I finally caved a week ago.. I was hoping he would get better, but I was fooling myself. He was getting worse and I was blinded by my love for him.

He is in a place now where he can't hurt anyone. While I wish so badly he was laying here next to me as I type this, I know what we did was the right thing. That doesn't make me feel any less empty inside. My wife and I miss him so bad. :( :( :( He was our son.

 

[Checkers]

Theres no need to be sorry about being defensive, you obviously tried and nothing could be done. I dont know whats its like to have an agressive dog, and neither do most people. I can only guess how hard it must have been to see the dog you love act in that way :( I hope you do adopt another dog and give yourselves some happiness after such a struggle

Godspeed Junior!