Wall To Wall

Some might not think so but I could go for this.

From Ruth: "I have a friend who's husband is in the hospital, we are spending a lot of time at her house so she can be with him. Her boxer boy Jack and my Coco have a blast running and playing in her big yard. Yesterday I had an extra visitor there so with my two and her two and the extra one I had five dogs, it was wall to wall dogs, it's easy when they're all asleep."

from top to bottom, Momma in the chair, Coco and Jack,

Trinity River, and Jude.

Another Old Friend

Some of the newer BML members won't know who this is but those who have been around longer than a couple of years ago will. Today's update provided by Norma:

Here's Koby. It's already been 18 months since he came to live with us after Michelle Moran's passing.

Koby listening to Abe Lincoln read at our public library which adjoins the site of one of the Lincoln Douglas debates. This photo was featured on the Therapy Dog International Facebook page. It was also made into a poster that is on display at the library during Paws For Reading sessions, to alert patrons that dogs are on the premises. Here's a secret... I put a chunk of ham inside Abe's book to hold Koby's attention (shhhh...). Good thing he's not a drippy drooler!

Koby reclines next to Abe, looking dapper in his TDI bandana.

Koby and his big brother, Johnny Cash, riding on our pontoon boat, keeping a close eye out for alligators  (rare in northern Illinois but you can't be too careful). So far it's Boxers 100%, alligators 0.

Our handsome English import, Johnny Cash. Johnny was six years old on Aug 11, sharing his birthday with The Brindle!

 Koby getting a hug from Matthew, our 8 year old grandson. Johnny is preparing to come and get his own hug.

Koby holding down his end of the sofa.

The Green Bean Diet

This comes up now and again on the BML, the green bean diet. Basically it amounts to reducing the food the dog receives but bulking it up with canned green beans. Veggies are healthy and the dog feels full and not deprived. Today we have a green bean diet testimonial.

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I have attached some pictures of Josie, my grandpa's lab/boxer mix for your blog.  They show the change she has made since starting her green bean diet back in April.

When I first moved to MI at the end of March, it was decided that I was going to be feeding all the dogs (Zoe, Caddie, & now Josie) because it was easier for just one person to be in charge of it, and I was more familiar with what it would take to help Josie lose some much needed weight.

The first 2 pictures are of Josie were before she started her green bean diet, when she weighed approx. 82 lbs.

The next couple of pictures are what she currently looks like at 64 lbs.

The vet says she needs to lose about 6 more pounds and then we can 'maintain' her weight.  I was told that Josie has NEVER been in the 60's for her weight!!  Maybe when she was growing up, but not for long.

A Very Special Hello

I know BML'rs are going to enjoy this one. I received a note and the pictures that follow and just couldn't wait to share.

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I finally grabbed hold of Dale's camera and got some pictures of Ella. I hope you'll see that she's a happy girl.  DM (Degenerative Myelopathy) presents her with extra challenges, but mostly she manages very well. She's also become an absolute expert at getting attention from her many friends. Mike, the fellow who owns the place where I buy her food, stopped in last Sunday to see Ella. He was on his way home from visiting relatives. He said he realized he was just a couple of miles away, and hoped I didn't mind that he dropped by to play with her.  (Ella said she didn't mind.)

Although Ella hasn't been on the couch or my bed for a long time, she surprised me yesterday when she told me she wanted to get on the couch.  Her method to get what she wants is to put her nose to my hand or my leg, very very gently.  She's really subtle with the touch and then directs her gaze to what she wants.  It felt so good to have her curled up on the couch, cuddling right up against me.

Her food dish is filled with frozen raw tripe, ground raw turkey or beef, or a can of mackerel.  All in all, she seems to think life's not half bad around here.

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I also had the wonderful surprise of a phone call from Diane. Man do I feel special! But on to what I know you've all been waiting for, Ella! (captions are by me)

you can see the weakness in her back legs here

not so much in this one

and clearly she still keeps an eye on her fence line

but she's still enjoying herself

and of course she's Ella the beautiful

Doggie's Anniversary, part III

Today we have the final part of Doggie's story with a few more photos. Continuing from 2006...

"The following spring she helped me hatch out chickens in the house.

That fall she became an official sheep dog - we got our first sheep.

In 2008 her life went to a hellion....Katie came to us in June. Doggie now had a 10 week old OES-Rottie mix pup to train.

Things were good and steady the next 2 years - protecting chickens, letting us know when lambs were being born.

Last June (she must hate June by now!) she once again took on mentoring puppies....9 of them. I think she breathed a sigh of relief every time one left for it's new home. To her dismay though, 3 remained with us and she has to deal with them to this day.

My dear old friend that I never wanted, is slowing down. Her black face is now white with just a few black hairs remaining. She has difficulties getting into the car and cannot make it onto the bed. Some days the stairs are hard for her and she sleeps down stairs. Walking around the block has become a bit much for her - so we stick with 2 mile walks instead of 4 - though it may go back up as fall comes. This was the first year I ever seen the heat bother her. She still gets all silly when I get my bike out and wants to go for a bike run in the worst way. I still do this with her and remember the days when I could not keep up with my old friend. Now I coast most of the time and ride in the lowest gear just because Doggie still wants to run with the bike.

How did this little stray dig such a deep hole into my heart?"

The answer is simple, she's a Boxer.

In 2008 Doggie welcomed a new pack member - Katie 1/2 OES/1/2Rottie.

She took her in and showed her the ropes.

Doggie is getting old. She is semi retired from training pups and most of that work is walking down the road on a leash - she sets the example of how they should behave and is very good at giving Eric the confidence he needs.

Doggie's Anniversary, part II

Yesterday was the official date of Doggie's anniversary and her mom once again told her story to the BML. Today and in the last post I'm going to let her words tell the story.

"I came home from work and there were two dogs in my pasture.

Since the normal attitude of people around me is to allow dogs to roam I assumed they were a neighbors dogs and if I shooed them out of the pasture they would be on their way.

Benji and I headed out to shoo them away. One a very large yellow lab looking dog took off as fast as it could ki-yiking as if I had beaten it silly. We were not even close to it. The other smaller brown dog was furiously trying to force it's way through the corner of the stock fence. I figured if I called and tried to get it to follow it would make it out the gate. I spoke to the dog and it snarled at me.

Well, fine! I turned with Benji and left - find your own way out then and I hope the horses don't kill you before you do!

The dog followed us.

By the time we got to the house yard it was playing with Benji and Benji was quite happy to oblige. It would not let me near it though. I figured it would be on it's way sooner or later.

It spent the evening in the wood rack on top the firewood with it's nose pressed against the glass watching us watch TV. In the morning it appeared to be gone....but as I pulled out of the drive there it was sleeping on the welcome mat.

This continued until Friday when Don got home from work before me and the stray ran all around him acting as cute as can be playing with a stick...so he fed her. He always accuses me of attracting strays and feeding them.

So, if the dog is staying until we found it a home, it was going to stay in the house because it - who I now discovered is a she, was killing all my chickens. She could not be trusted outside alone.

The search for her home - new or old was on. In November, with no home yet - she came into heat so Don agreed - got her spayed and up-to-date on shots. By February, still no home and no head way in the chicken killing. We decided one more month and we would have her put to sleep.

Don't know if it was because our attitudes toward her changed....but in that month Doggie did a 180 and became a different dog. She became Doggie.

In 2006 she lost her mentor Benji. she also helped me raise baby geese that summer and we met Nancy Knarr and the Blue rock crew at the end of summer. Miranda Sue was Doggies favorite. Miranda was very kind to Doggie and I think a bit like Benji for her."

to be continued...

Doggie learned to trust people and became a fixture on Don's lap at night.

Helping hatch out the chickens, proof how far she had come.

and the geese as well

In 2007 she took up sheep herding even allowing George, the ram to come in the house.

Clearly the sheep respond well to Doggie's brand of herding.

 

Doggie's Anniversary, part I

Doggie, the Boxer X, has been featured a couple of times here on the blog. This post, and the two that will follow, are special. August 20, 2012 will mark 11 years since Doggie showed up on the farm and decided to stay.

We on the BML know the story. It was touch and go for a while because Doggie had to learn to leave the farm animals, especially the chickens, alone.

Doggie's mom sent the following explanation along with the photos.

"She was so thin when she showed up. Thin, afraid and appeared to have been hit by a car or something. She would have nothing to do with people. If it were not for Benji (the big dark shaggy one) Doggie may not have made it in a world of people. Benji taught her to trust again.?

Welcome Tiny Tot!

I love the intro posts. Here's what one of our BML'rs posted on August 9th.

"For a while now we've been bouncing around the idea of adopting another senior boxer boy. I have been talking with a fellow BMLer  about applying to adopt from FL Boxer Rescue. I was in the process of doing just that when someone mentioned I call Tiny's foster mom and talk to her about him. After a couple of calls we made the decision to adopt Tiny...and yes, he's had that name all his life:-). We brought a very sweet brindle boy home last Sunday.

Tiny had lived his whole life with a military service member. A move, second wife, and new baby had caused Tiny to be put into rescue. The day after getting to the foster home Tiny had cluster seizures. The vets think he has a brain tumor. He's been on phenobarb since July 4th and as far as we know has been seizure free. I guess unless they are wrong Tiny may not be with us for a long time but we knew that going in. We'll keep him comfortable and happy and love him for however long he's here.

We're all still getting to know each other and so far it's going well. He and Macy have enjoyed a few chases and wrestling matches in the yard but right now it's just too hot and humid to let then really go at it. I sent a photo to maybe get him on the blog.

Tiny came with more information that most rescues. Not only did we get medical records going back to his first vaccines we also his reg. papers that tell us today is Tiny's 8th birthday! Happy Birthday Tiny Tot!!!"

So here he is and welcome to Tiny!

Tango Helping

Tango's mom has often told us how Tango likes to help her out. Well now we have photographic proof.

Mom asked Tango to get the pencil for her.

Tango carefully picks up the pencil.

And gives the pencil to mom. Good girl Tango!

Rubin & Tango

An update today on two of the more storied Boxers on the BML, Rubin and Tango. Many of us look forward to hearing about them because they are always to be counted on for a laugh.

Remember my previous mention of some Boxers and their thieving? Well here's Rubin doing some lingerie modelling, red lacy panties being his preference.

Poor Tango, how embarrassed she must have been. She resorted to some quality time with her "baby".

But when Tango heard about everyone modelling their Thundershirts she just had to get in on that. Isn't she lovely?

Happy Brindle Day!

Today is the day, Max aka The Brindle is 7 years old. Unfortunately because he was 6 months old when he came to me there are no baby pictures but I think I still have enough for a retrospective.

As close to baby as we get, about 1 year old.

This one is from when he was about 3 1/2.

The was May 2010 so Max would have been almost 5.

In honour of the special occasion we have cake! Well... doggie cheesecake using Three Dog Bakery's Bow Vows Amour recipe.

not sure if it's his...

But I talked him into it.

Austen's Turn

The other day we got a look at the very beautiful, all natural girl, Riley. If you didn't know, Boxers are kind of like potato chips, you can't have just one. So today Riley's brother Austen takes the stage. The rest of the commentary today is from Austen and Riley's "mom".

This was taken before we adopted him. He was an owner surrender into boxer rescue, and the foster family sent us this pic… of course we fell in love immediately; but it was Riley who met 5 dogs at boxer rescue on the same day and picked him out to be her brother.

Austen has little control of his ears - they are always going in different directions; and his short lips constantly get stuck in his teeth, so makes a lot of funny faces to keep us entertained.

The next 3 pics are some of his absolute favorite pastimes.

His "perch" on top of the berm in our backyard that overlooks a little retention pond we affectionately call the Bird Airport. He will sit on top of that hill watching the comings and goings for as long as you will let him.

Another pleasure is stick chewing. There is a large hedge and a bunch of trees across the back yard, so he finds a ready supply of sticks at his disposal. Occassionally he manages to bring a stick inside and he will hide under the coffee table trying not to be found out while he makes a pile of mulch.

The last shows what a good helper he is when I'm pruning trees or bushes. He will find the biggest branch in the pile and make off with it - trying to ensure he has a steady stick supply, maybe??

Unmentionables

There has been some discussion on the BML of Boxers thieving clothing and in light of this I received some photos from my co-admin.

It seems dogs have a "thing" for undies!  This series goes back about 6 years when Olly was just a little snert.  He LOVED nabbing my underwear and taking it out to the backyard!

Olly managed to sneak a bra outside and really had a great time running with it!

When he finally got tired of running with my bra, he found some shade and decided to rest.  But ... he was WEARING it!

You have to wonder what Esa was whispering in Olly's ear!  Maybe ... "Uh ... you're really a goofball, you know that?"