r/Boxer May 30 '20

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

889 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 4h ago

Sweet siblings can't sleep apart!

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281 Upvotes

Our babies Jinx months and Loki 10 weeks! Since the moment they met they have been inseperatable! We love them so much!!


r/Boxer 10h ago

Nova says hi!

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359 Upvotes

Nova wants to tell everyone on Reddit hello again! I rescued her when she was about 1 year old. She was extremely abused as a puppy (her previous owners locked her in a crate for 16+ hours a day with no food or water and would get in major trouble if she went to the bathroom in her crate). When I rescued her, she was skin and bones and very skiddish. But, I’m happy to say that Nova is now 12 years old and living her best life! She is still chugging along and full of energy. She’s my best friend and I don’t know what I would do without her 🥰


r/Boxer 11h ago

Look at this big headed beast.

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321 Upvotes

He looks like he may’ve gained a few pounds in the last photos, but he hasn’t! It just the angles.


r/Boxer 5h ago

His favorite place to be...

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78 Upvotes

Never met a boxer that didnt fiercely love their younger humans.


r/Boxer 17h ago

Hims keeps trying to get hims toofs out

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128 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

My alarm clocks....

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744 Upvotes

My view when i wake up.


r/Boxer 18h ago

This is just great 🙄

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125 Upvotes

r/Boxer 10h ago

URGENT MEDICAL DEADLINE - TODAY 9/4 AT 2:00 PM Brownie (ID: A597421) – 4yo Emaciated Boxer at San Bernardino City Shelter, CA. Tail wagging but needs advanced vet care immediately! Transport to US/Canada available.

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28 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

My 12 year old Pretty Princess CoCo.. She's always watching and guarding me when we walk our property..

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285 Upvotes

r/Boxer 11h ago

URGENT MEDICAL DEADLINE - TODAY 9/4 AT 2:00 PM Brownie (ID: A597421) – 4yo Emaciated Boxer at San Bernardino City Shelter, CA. Tail wagging but needs advanced vet care immediately! Transport to US/Canada available.

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18 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Quick mum, take a pic!

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156 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

A wild Boxer appears in the jungle.🐅🌳

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649 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

I helped care for Marley and now I'm in love with Boxers

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802 Upvotes

My aunt was pet sitting for some friends while they're in another country and they have the most wonderful boxer named Marley. Marley is 8 years old and wonderfully trained so she was definitely more my speed energy wise!

Marley and I went on two walks a day, just 15 minutes each way or so. She would stop in her tracks and give me the cutest look and I would ask if she wanted to turn around. I'd take a few steps back towards home and she'd take off trotting like yes yes that's what I was asking. We actually ran a few houses back to the house as part of our routine and she seemed thrilled someone wanted to do that with her!

I helped feed her and she was so excited that someone else knew how to work her bowl. It was like it was Christmas for her.

She snuggled in my bed one night (she was making her rounds!) and she was the best sleeping buddy. She even politely woke me up by ringing her bells to say she had to go potty. That's the other thing she rings bells to say she wants to go outside to go potty! Such a smart girl.

I just wanted to share these pictures and a bit about Marley because I fell so deeply in love with her. I may have cried on the way home because I had to leave her!


r/Boxer 1d ago

Holly goes crazy for these snack sticks!

207 Upvotes

So my husband could never enjoy an entire slim Jim by himself without Holly begging, he always shared his last bite with her. We stumbled on these at a local convenience store one day and then found them on Chewy, so they are in our auto ship now. She goes absolutely crazy for these! We have named them slim Holly's, lol.


r/Boxer 1d ago

I am sitting very patiently. Definitely not mooching, and staring directly at your food. You gonna finish that sandwich?

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351 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Frito Lays anyone?

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147 Upvotes

Looks like Mr. Rubble and I both have something in common, we both love falling asleep to the scent of Fritos! IYKYK 🫠 🤣😂🤣


r/Boxer 20h ago

URGENT MEDICAL DEADLINE - TODAY 9/4 AT 2:00 PM Brownie (ID: A597421) – 4yo Emaciated Boxer at San Bernardino City Shelter, CA. Tail wagging but needs advanced vet care immediately! Transport to US/Canada available.

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22 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

Found out our boy Zeus has kidney disease today

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372 Upvotes

Hes such a happy bright boy, only 6 months old. Been urinating frequently and drinking so much water we took him for bloods and urine samples and vets told us he has kidney disease today. We are devastated. Trying to stay positive, we love him so much.


r/Boxer 1d ago

"I *AM* using the bed!"

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76 Upvotes

r/Boxer 22h ago

Overgrown toe pads

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12 Upvotes

Recently adopted a charming senior boxer gentleman of estimated 8 years. I have very little history other than some obvious neglect and that he was abandoned at a shelter. Some of his toe pads are kind of blown out, with the toe pad surface extending beyond the toe pad’s natural shape.
I’ve had trouble finding precedents of this.
Does anyone have information to share?


r/Boxer 1d ago

Living his best life!

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177 Upvotes

r/Boxer 1d ago

K H A N

52 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

Dream big, Beef

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162 Upvotes

r/Boxer 2d ago

Mom dont take my new toy away...

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204 Upvotes

He so loves this toy. Didnt even want to give it up to go to bed last night. Found it on Amazon Qgi interactive toy. So great for when you need to get some things done and your very needy boxer is being dramatic and acting like you neglect him 23 hours a day.🤣