Instead of having a b-day party, Dad and Mom decided to treat me to an event. They said it was a surprise so I had no idea where we were going. All I remember was taking the highway.
When we got there, I saw a big sign... Oakwood Collegiate ... "Where da hell are we?" I asked. We started to approach a large grass field with fences along the edges. A group of people were talking in the middle of the field. Then I saw them....all of them. They came in different sizes and their colours were brindle, white, fawn and they all looked like me!...but I was the most handsome of course. I saw boxers! All of them were boxers! We were at a boxer meetup!
"OMG! Thanks Mom and Dad!!!! I'm home again, with my people! Or should I say my canines?!"
"Son, go have fun with the others", and Dad released me into the play area.
I walked slowly towards the massive group of boxers and their owners. I didn't know anyone at first so I approached them with caution. I wonder who the alpha was? Better not piss him/her off. I estimated about 10 boxers were huddled together talking.
"Who's the new guy?" I heard someone say.
"Fresh meat y'all!" And then they all started to sniff me.
"I'm Brix and I'm 2 today."
"I'm Gustavo, but you can call me Gus.Happy bday." He was also a brindle boxer and he was nice to me.
"I'm Zowie, nice to meet you." she said in a tiny voice. She was a cute white puppy. No chance to get wit her tho.
"I'm Leroy." He was a flashy fawn just a little smaller in size than me.
"Yo Brix, I'm Jam." He was also a flashy fawn, solid with a muscular build.
I hung around Leroy, Gus and Jam mainly. They were about my size and age. They were a friendly bunch. We chased each other the whole time. I was at peace and was free of that stupid leash Dad and Mom put on me. We began chatting about old girlfriends like all studs would and I started to talk about how black labs bitches were the hottest when we heard a fight happen.
"I'm warning you right now. DON'T get any closer to me." It was one of the white boxers staring down another boxer. He was the tallest of the group and stood with confidence. His muscles were erect and his head was held high, tail straight up.
I watched from a distance. The two boxers now were about 1 foot away from each other and then they froze, staring each other in the eyes. The place fell silent. Without a word, the two let out deep low growls and instantly were on their hind legs. Both tried to take the other down. No one tried to submit. I darted towards the two, hoping to break the two apart but their owners forcefully broke off the fight.
After that I looked at the owners as they showed disappointment with their boxers' behaviour.
"I'm so sorry, I'll leave." The boxer owner apologized. The stocky boxer and his owner started to leave the field. "It's all right. I don't know what got into him." the other owner said solemnly.
Not long after the tall white boxer and his owner decided to leave too.
"Dad what happened? Why didn't you let me stop them.
"It's none of your business Brix.." Dad replied. Dad tried to explain some more.
"Sometimes dogs don't like everyone. One wrong look and that's all it takes. Let me ask you. Why don't you like Rotti on 52?"
"Uh.....'cause he smells weird? "
"Seriously?"
"No, cause he showed teeth to me and I run the streets of Murray Wilson."
"See, not everyone is your friend either."
After the meet up I said bye to my new friends. It was awesome and I hope we see each other again. Then as usual, I dozed off in the car, during the ride home. What a great day.
B-Stud
Although I feel the last post is incredibly important and necessary, I also feel it calls for a cheer-up. Enter the Erica tortures her dogs show. Actually, they were more than happy to oblige…oddly enough. (It’s only a matter of time before I wake up with my eyebrows shaved off.)
Props courtesy of the movie theater that gave us 3-D glasses for the not-3-D showing of Up this summer. Waste-not, want-not, that’s what I say! I couldn’t throw them away, they were still in the wrapper! I did it for the Earth. 
READER QUESTION
My granddog is a boxer female 26 months old. In the mornings when I try to get her to go outside she snaps and growls at me. Can a dog sleep with a muzzle on? If they can is the my best plan of attack or put her back in her cage. Sincerely KB Houston TX
Dear KB,
Of course your dog could sleep with a muzzle on, but I wouldn't recommend it. I almost always reserve muzzles for dogs that BITE. Snapping & growling are warning behaviors -it is not to late to fix this problem. Both you and your dog deserve to sleep and wake-up in harmony.
It sounds as if your Boxer is a Bed Guarder. On the Guarding Scale (1-10) your dog is a light-weight. She only guards the bed, after having been there all night. Heavy-Duty Guarders will claim it as theirs (growl/snap/snarl) as soon as they lay down.
I'm not excusing the behavior, but I do understand it. I am a deep sleeper and DO NOT like waking up. I hate waking; I routinely abuse my alarm clock in the morning. The best days start with someone brining me coffee in bed!
Coffee MAKES me happy; coffee is NOT contingent upon my BEING happy :) As you read the following keep this in mind --The coffee I get in the morning is NOT a reward for waking up in a good mood. The coffee is a nice way to prevent me from being cranky.
By contrast, punishments for 'grumpy morning behavior' will not work. Think about it. If you already hate waking up to leave your warm, cozy bed your attitude will not likely improve if you get in trouble for not being a morning person.
WARNING:
Punishments: yelling, hitting, squirting, dragging, pinning, rolling, etc WILL MAKE CERTAIN BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS WORSE. In this case, the dog already hates leaving the bed in the morning. She is NOT is her right mind --me before coffee (cranky!) Punishments for cranky morning behavior will make your dog have an even bigger negative (yucky) association with waking up.
Try this instead...
1. Before you wake your dog, go to the fridge.
2. Get something tasty (some cheese or a hotdog).
3. Approach your dog, but stop before you are so close that she will yell at you.
4. Then, say something in a sweat voice: "Morning Girl -Rise & Shine." The phrase can be whatever you like saying and can say nicely.
5. Then toss a treat, right to her. Toss it on the bed, or even bounce it off her head.
DO NOT WORRY IF SHE BARKS OR GROWLS -Remember she is NOT a morning dog. She doesn't mean anything by it, she's just grumpy.
6. If she eats the treat, toss another and then toss the rest on the ground.
7. As soon as she is on the floor call her to the door and give her once last treat.
Please see the following ARTICLES for more information.
Dog Faces: Reading Body Language
Muzzles -When & How Should They Be Used?
Muzzles --Is Aggression The Only Use?
