Why should you follow this blog? What makes it unique? Well that is an excellent set of questions. We try to post some fun stuff on the blog and lots of pictures of Lucy (the title character of the blog) and an occasional video or two. We write about things that matter to dog lovers and especially boxer dog lovers. So, here are the details of who Lucy the White Boxer Dog is...

Lucy the white boxer dog has been in our family for a little over six years now. She is not truly white but rather what is referred to as a "check boxer" due to her spots. She is not an albino! She has brown eyes and splashes of black on her in addition to her spots. She is a full blooded boxer. She is also extremely healthy with the exception of having a sensitive stomach.

Want to learn more about Lucy and the things we write about her, follow her blog. Better yet, check out some of the older posts. There is a lot of information on the care of boxers and dogs in general... We look forward to see your comments on some of the posts... Happy blogging to all!


Friday, October 8, 2010

Just a note on Lucy...

Well it is now October 2010 and Lucy is doing fine. It’s time for her annual checkup again and I haven’t had a chance to schedule the visit. I must get to that fairly soon! Boxers, especially White Boxers, have a tendency to develop some nasty problems when they get to be middle-aged. I just can’t believe that Lucy is now six! It feels like just yesterday that our daughter Lauren gave Lucy to us. Or, is it that Lauren gave us to Lucy to take care of?


Some of the experiences I’ve share with this dog will last me a life time. Going to the dog park, backpacking, going for rides in the car (just because she loves it), or just sitting at home enjoying each other’s company are all things I will take with me. What a great friend she has been! I now understand the statement of “Dog, Man’s best friend”. I think I’ll go ahead schedule that checkup while I’m thinking about. I want to keep her around, healthy and happy as long as possible.

I’ll post some new pictures of Lucy sometime in the near future. She has really filled out and is one beautiful creature… Until next time – ciao!

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Trip to the Vet

Well, where to start?  Terri and I headed out to do some shopping today. Pick up some bottles for the beer that we have brewing, buy a couple of chairs for the front porch and various other activities.  We were only out for about an hour. When came home, Lucy met us at the door.  Her greeting was a bit odd this time!  She was extremely sheepish and acted as if she wanted me to do something for her.  It was as if she were saying, hey- "I don't feel so great."  She was acting in the manner that she acts when she has been into something that she's not suppose to get into.

My "what have you been up too?" alarm went off in my head!"  Sure enough, when I rounded  the corner I found that she had indeed been into something.  There was bits of plastic all over the living room carpet and she was cowering in the corner as if to say "I didn't mean to do it!", please forgive me!  Well, when Terri saw what it was, she made one statement, and that was, "we have to get to Vet now!"  I immediately asked why?  Terri's answer scared me, "Lucy just ate ant bait!"  We couldn't understand how she got a-hold of it, but it was true... Our family member ingested a poison!

We were off like a flash!  I think I broke every speed limit in the conservative community of Germantown, Tennessee getting my dog to the Vet.  Luckily for us, it had just happened fairly shortly before we came home!  We were at the Vet's in about ten minutes of discovery.

At the Vets, they examined her and said she wasn't showing any symptoms of poisoning but we did the right thing by bringing her in straight away!  They set about their work, inducing vomiting and cleaning out her stomach.  They even examined the contents of the upchucked material.  They found the label on the ant bait and discovered that it was a slow acting ingredient.  They also hooked her up to an I.V. to get fluids into her.  Then they said that they needed to observe her for a couple hours.  These were a couple of long hours!

It turns out that Lucy is okay!  We were able to head off any sort of poisoning problems with our quick reaction to the discovery of the poisoning.  I guess the moral to the story is two-fold. One, be sure to keep any type of poison under lock and key.  And two, if something does happen, get to the Vet as quickly as possible.  Quick reaction time is critical in poisoning cases.

In my last post I wrote about pet insurance.  In this post I have to tell you that we had good cause to use it.  Our Vet bill was minimum due to the fact that we have good pet insurance for our dog.  And Lucy received outstanding care as a result of it!  As I write this post, Lucy is laying at my feet and seemingly in good health and humor.  I trust your pet and best friend is doing the same...

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Health Insurance for Your Dog


The word insurance is one of those words that just makes you cringe. Next to putting gas in your car it seems like insurance is the biggest expense you have.  There is so much that you need! You need to keep insurance on your car (it would have been really nice if somebody would have told how big a financial drain that was going to be), if you own a home you pay homeowners insurance, if you rent an apartment you have renters insurance, you struggle with the ever soaring cost of health care insurance, and if you are a really responsible family member you have life insurance. And now you find you are hearing that you should consider purchasing a health insurance plan for your pet.
  
You love your dog, he/she's more then a pet, she's a valued member of your family and probably your best friend. But health insurance? You can barely afford to put food on your table how are you supposed to be able to afford to insure your pet. Besides he's just a mutt, dog health care insurance is for fancy purebred show dogs, not your rescue pet.
  
The shoestring you’re probably living on is the very reason you might want to consider putting pet health insurance on your pet. The average dog owner takes their pet dog to the veterinarian approximately 2.3 times a year and it will cost you approximately three hundred dollars per year.  My guess is that each time you pay the vet bill your budget is screaming for mercy.
  
What happens if your dog contracts a disease, or gets hurt? It doesn't take much to rack up some pretty serious vet bills. What if you have to leave town and can't take your dog with you? Can you really afford to leave your dog at a boarding kennel? You already know how much you have to pay for your prescriptions, do you really think that a dog prescription is going to be any cheaper. Lucy's last visit was several hundred dollars for a urinary track infection. I'm glad we had pet health-care coverage.

Your dog is your best friend and a treasured member of your family could you really live with yourself if you had to put him to sleep just because you couldn't afford his vet bill.
  
It is possible to get health care insurance for your dog for approximately twenty dollars a month. While it might not cover all of your dogs vet care needs, it could help!  If you shop around and read each plan carefully you should even be able to find a pet health-care plan that will help pay for your routine vet visits. Some pet insurance plans will even cover some boarding expenses.

Some questions you should ask the pet health insurance company you are considering buying a pet health care policy from is whether or not your vet accepts that particular type of insurance, if there is a cap on treatments, how much is your deductible, and how will they handle any pre-existing conditions your dog might have.







If you have taken on the joy of having a pet, why not pony up and be responsible enough to provide the care your pet truly deserves?  Get pet insurance...

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

“All animals except man know that the ultimate of life is to enjoy it.” –Samuel Butler

Mr. Butler must have been a great observer of nature. Or, he must have understood the nature of dogs. One thing I can honestly say is our dog Lucy does understand the concept of enjoying life.
Currently Terri and I are spending more time outdoors enjoying the pool. Lucy, who is not a great swimmer, makes a game of chasing us while we swim. She’ll run or pace back and forth on the deck as we swim or float from one end to the other. She seems to really enjoy the activity. At other times she’ll just sit and watch from the comfort of some shady spot near the pool in the backyard.

I now must relay a story to you… In my attempt to get Lucy more involved in our activities I have been trying to teach her to swim. Lucy will not enter the pool unless I carry her in and then to remain there, I must assist her by supplying support while she is in the water. She will not attempt to swim on her own! This holds true even when we are out on hiking trips and there is a lake nearby, she simply will not attempt to swim.

Well, the other day Lucy was really interested in getting in the water so I retrieved her and brought her in the pool. I’m trying to make her understand that the steps are safe for her as the water is not above her chest level. The first introduction to the water went fine. I carried her in and then sat her on the steps of the pool. Great, she sat there for a moment and then got out of the pool on her own. A few moments later she was back at the side of the pool as if asking to get back in. So, I got out of pool lifted her up to carry her into the pool. We entered into the pool just fine but once I reach the floor of the pool I lost my footing and slipped. I didn’t drop Lucy put she thought I was going too! Lucy demonstrated to me that she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself in the water. It’s as if she could walk on water with the way she got out of the pool.

So what’s the moral of the story? I guess it’s this, if a dog wants to swim it can… Even though Boxers aren’t necessarily naturally attracted to the water, they can swim when they have to! Don’t force the issue, they’ll swim if they have to and swim with a passion. The best thing you can do for them is be encouraging and perhaps supply them with a floatation device such as a dog specific life preserver… A dog, especially a Boxer knows how to make their own fun, don’t press the issue!

Monday, March 8, 2010

What To Know Before You Give a Dog a Treat!


What dog does not love getting a treat or two now and then? Lucy love treats and looks forward to them! Dog owners also love giving their dog’s treats! I know I do! If you have a dog, then you probably have a good idea of what your dog likes to nibble on, right?

There are so many treats available these days and they all come in all different shapes, sizes, colors, and consistencies. For every great treat, there are those on the market that are not good at all. Some treats can harm your pet by being lodged in your dog’s throat or intestines which can cause choking or intestinal ruptures. If you love treating your best friend, then you want to be aware of those treats that can be potentially harmful. Even with treats that are not usually dangerous, you need to supervise your dog when they eat. Here's a short list of things to treat or not to treat your dog with...

Dental Chews: Most dogs really enjoy these treats. They are advertised as a treats that help clean your dog’s teeth. However, you need to be aware that dental chews can cause choking. Some dogs eat these very quickly which causes large chunks that my lodge in the throat. Young puppies should not eat dental chews and as well as dogs that are prone to “scarfing” their food. If your dog eats these treats, be aware of potential vomiting, bloody stools, and difficulty breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms after your dog has eaten a dental chewy treat, seek medical attention immediately.

Chocolate: I've written about Chocolate in the past, it is a terrible thing to allow your dog to eat. Of course, sometimes dogs get into candy and cake without your knowing. Chocolate is toxic to both dogs and cats, so you need to be aware of your dog sneaking chocolate nibbles. Chocolate contains an ingredient called theobromine. This acts in the canine about the same way caffeine acts in the human. A little will make the doge hyperactive, but a huge dose may be fatal. If your dog has gotten into chocolate, you need to look for vomiting, shallow breathing, and irregular heartbeat. A visit to the emergency vet is a really good idea if your dog gets into a large quantity of chocolate.

Bones: It seems that it is the right of every dog to be able to crunch on a real bone from time to time. Dogs love bones of all types. If you own a boxer or some other short face dog, it probably a good idea to keep all bones away from them. Bones can be dangerous for dogs like boxer for a couple different reasons, they are not set up dentally to chew the bones properly. In addition, both chicken and turkey bones are especially dangerous because they are brittle. When your dog chews on them, they can easily splinter and cause choking. Some pork and beef bones can also cause the same problem. Veterinarians agree that the one of the safest bones you can give your dog is a shinbone. If you must give your dog a bone, make sure you supervise your pooch and if he or she shows signs of bleeding, then you should call your vet immediately for some advice.

Rawhide: What dog does not love snacking on these chewy treats? Lucy will chew on one for hours, wearing herself out. Rawhide chews are good because they help clean your dog’s teeth and keeps your dog occupied. Rawhide can be dangerous as well! Some rawhide that originate outside of the United States may actually be preserved with arsenic-based chemicals that will be ingested by your dog when he or she chews. For this reason, make certain that any rawhide treat you purchase is processed in the United States where this type of preservative is forbidden. If you cannot tell where a treat originated do not buy it! It is best to purchase this type of chewy from a reputable franchise dealer such as Pet co or Pet smart. In addition make sure you buy rawhide that are the right size for your dog.

I'm not saying that you cannot give your dog an occasional treat. That is one of the fun parts of owning a dog. You do however, need to watch your dog and make sure that your dog is safe when snacking. Always pay attention to what kind of treat you give your dog in case of there is a problem! If you are looking for a proper treat for your dog, you may want to discuss the issue with your vet or knowledgeable people at a pet store such as PetSmart or PetCo. Lucy's treats come these, she really likes an all natural ingredient apple treat that we buy for her. Yes, I said apple treat, she loves them and they're low calorie as well... she must keep her girlish figure!

Monday, March 1, 2010

A hero has fallen...

This post has nothing to do with Lucy but this is a story that I must share with you! A friend of mine sent this to me, please read it...

You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded and dying in the jungle
in the Ia Drang Valley. November 11, 1965. LZ X-ray , Vietnam . Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8-1 and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in.

You're lying there, listening to the enemy machine guns and you know you're not getting out. Your family is half way around the world, 12,000 miles away, and you'll never see them again. As the world starts to fade in and out, you know this is the day. Then - over the machine gun noise - you faintly hear that sound of a helicopter. You look up to see an unarmed Huey. But ... it doesn't seem real because no Medi-Vac markings are on it.

Ed Freeman is coming for you.

He's not Medi-Vac so it's not his job, but he's flying his Huey down into the machine gun fire anyway. Even after the Medi-Vacs were ordered not to come. He's coming anyway.

And he drops it in and sits there in the machine gun fire, as they load 2 or 3 of you on board. Then he flies you up and out through the gunfire to the doctors and nurses.

And, he kept coming back!! 13 more times!! He took about 30 of you and your buddies out who would never have gotten out. Medal of Honor Recipient, Ed Freeman, died last Wednesday at the age of 80, in Boise , Idaho . May God Rest His Soul. I bet you didn't hear about this hero's passing, but we've sure seen a whole bunch about Michael Jackson. . . Medal of Honor Winner Ed Freeman. Shame on the American media!

Monday, February 22, 2010

Lucy's new friends ...



Our friends from San Diego came out to visit a week or so back. These are really great friends that we have been separated from by time and distance due to military service and the hassles of life. It was one of the highlights of our stay here in Memphis to have them reunite with us. Its kind of funny how life changes your situations.

When we were together before at an Air Force base in the frozen tundra of North Dakota, Terri and I were in mist of raising our three kids. As a matter of fact, our kids were younger then, than the our friend's kids are now... Back then our friends were freshly married with no kids yet. What a role reversal with Terri and I being "empty nesters" and our friend now in the middle of raising a family. My how time changes things! Now with that said, I've got to tell you about how Lucy reacted to the visit.

I think dogs have a sixth sense about people. It seems from the time that our friends entered the door Lucy was attached to them. I honestly think Lucy could sense the excitement that Terri and I had about our friends coming to visit! She instantly took to both of the our friends kids, and why not, they're great kids! Anytime the girls were in the house Lucy wanted to be right there with them. She accepted them right into the pack.

Now that our friends have left I think Lucy misses them... I know we do! The house feels just a bit bigger and bit emptier. When they first left, Lucy spent a good deal of time in the room where the kids were sleeping, as if waiting for them to return in order to spend time with them. It warms me to think that our old friends are now Lucy's new friends! I trust they return for another visit soon, I know Lucy's thinking the same... Pals!

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

A Great Cause...

I received this letter recently and I just feel obligated to share it with everyone that my come across this blog. The embedded links in the message lead to a site for books that profit the care of orphaned and abandoned dogs and discourages puppy mills. Please read the letter and follow the links. I think you'll be glad you did... The last link in the letter is a really touching story about a white boxer that is a must read...

Dear Bob,

I enjoy your Lucy the White Boxer Dog blog and thought you might be interested in a project I'm working on that features some white Boxers.

I’m raising awareness about puppy mills and supporting dog rescue groups by publishing breed-specific books full of stories about adopted dogs. The books give proud owners of adopted dogs a chance to showcase them, raise awareness about dog adoption and breed characteristics, and generate funding for dog rescue through the donation of a portion of each sale. We’ve now completed “Lost Souls: Found!” books on Boston Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Dachshunds, Labradors, Pit Bulls, and Boxers. We have also published a very special memoir of a Hollywood Studio Wrangler who has worked on set with adopted dogs entitled “Hollywood Barks!”


There's a story from our upcoming Boxer book about a white Boxer posted at http://happytailsbooks.com/story1.htm . Thought you might enjoy it. We would greatly appreciate it if you could post about the book and let friends and family know about it. Profits go back to dog rescue efforts.
Thank you,

Kyla


The story about Rocky the White Boxer really touched me. I trust you find something on this site that touched you as well... Please do visit the site! It for a great cause! Thanks!!!

Monday, February 8, 2010

Another Snow Day...


It's snowing again here in Memphis. The forecast is for snow through the morning turning to rain and sleet during mid-day and back to snow again this evening. It seems that all the weather guys are blaming "EL Nino'" once again. What else could it be but "global warming" causing an increase in moisture coming across Mexico and Texas and then into heartland of the United States. I wonder if Lucy sees things this way?

Lucy and I awoke this morning to prepare for our weekly ritual of getting ready to go to work and her to go to work guarding the home-front while Terri and I are away. To our surprise there was 5 inches of snow on the ground. A quick phone call into work confirmed my thoughts that today would be a good day to stay home. Work was canceled due to the road conditions here in Memphis. Terri's work day will be at home as well.

Since we all have the day off we'll try to enjoy the day! I can use another day off to help in my recovering from last weeks trip to the hospital.

Lucy was excited to get out this morning and checkout the yard and perform her morning chores. She was quite surprised by the fresh snow and took off like a shot to go play in it. Wow, was she ever animated this morning. I think that she was having the time of her life out in the snow but there may be another reason why she plays so hard in the snow!

I have no proof of this, but it is my theory that she stays so active in the snow to keep warm. With her thin coat and low body fat I think she instinctively keeps moving to keep warm. It's kind of what the military teaches in survival school to fight off hypothermia when you get wet and can't build a fire in the cold. Keep moving to keep your body core temp up. Funny how animals do these things instinctively...

I have a small ceramic space heater that I keep in the office area where I'm writing at the moment. I have our computer desk setup over by a big sliding glass window and the curtains are open at the moment. Lucy is laying at my feet staring out the window absorbing the heat from the space heater. Every once in awhile she glances up at me as to say, "when are we going back outside to play?" You know, I think right about now would be a good time... see you in a bit!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

It's cold in Memphis...

Today is one of those days when you may as well not even get out of your PJ's. You see, Memphis is covered in ice! I don't believe I could even get my car out of the drive at the moment because of the ice. Lucy's setting here next to me gazing out the sliding glass door next to my computer in the office area. Every once in awhile she looks at me and just whimpers... I know what she's saying, "I wish I could go out and play but it's just to cold out there!"

Boxers really don't care for the cold very much. Being a short haired dog with very little body fat for warmth, I can't say that I blame them. Sure Lucy will go out and play in the snow for short periods of time, but when it comes to cold like we are experiencing here in Memphis today, I can honestly say that all she really wants to do is curl up on a chair or sofa and get under a blanket! I feel pretty much the same today..

Tolerance to cold is something you might want to consider when picking our a dog if you live in a region that stays cold for long periods of time. Boxers are kind of like people, they prefer more moderate temperatures, not to hot and surely not to cold. Today I think Lucy and I both would prefer to be in Cancun or at least somewhere where the sun is shining and temp is around 72 degrees! Maybe tomorrow will be a bit warmer, one can always hope...

Friday, January 15, 2010

Update...

Wow, has it really been this long since I’ve written on this blog? I didn’t mean for it to take so long in getting something posted on this site. Life has a way of keeping us from the things that we really enjoy. This blog is really one of those items that I truly do enjoy. Writing about the adventures of Lucy the White Boxer Dog her pack of friends is something that I am very fond of!
Since I have limited time today this post will be a short note to let everyone know that Lucy is doing well and in good health. We continue to have issues with Lucy’s ears from time to time but the meds that I mentioned in one of the posts on this site seem to keep the problem in check. Boxers do tend to have issues of this sort their entire life.

We’ve managed to move into a new home over the course of the last couple months. The new place has a huge yard for Lucy to enjoy, although the weather hasn’t really cooperated for her to spend much time outdoors. But then again, I don’t think the weather anywhere in the Central U.S. has been all that great anywhere lately.

Thank you for following this blog and we’ll have more posts in the near future.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Why do Boxers eat grass?

Ever since Lucy was a pup, she has grazed like a cow at times on grass. Not just any grass, but rather, the long leafy variety. For a while I was puzzled by this behavior. Is she hungry? Am I not feeding her enough? Is there a vitamin or mineral that she is not getting in her diet? What is causing this behavior? These are all the things that went through my mind each time she performed the act of eating grass.

One day when we had Lucy in to visit the Vet for a check-up and recurring shots, I queried the Vet on Lucy’s lawn mower like behavior. Here’s the answer that I received…

Boxers will eat grass for a couple of different reasons. First reason they eat grass is an upset stomach. If a boxer is experiencing intestine irritation they will eat grass to neutralize the acids in their stomach. The grass also adds a bit of roughage to their diet. Second reason for the Boxer to eat grass is to induce vomiting. If they have something in there stomach that is not agreeing with them they’ll try to hack the item up to get out of their system. Lastly the Vet informed me that it is just a canine behavior and that I shouldn’t worry about the activity because is natural for a boxer or any dog to eat green leafy plants. Just be mindful of the plant materials she was attempting to eat because some can be harmful to dogs. “If she’s crazing on grass don’t worry about it.”

I guess the moral to the story is I’m an over-protect type when it comes to my white boxer dog Lucy. Now when she eats grass I just smile and think that dogs are amazing creatures to be able to find things in nature that help them through life and make them feel better. What a remarkable creature man’s best friend is!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Boxer Dog Monotony and Variety

Monotony and variety are always inter-connected in case of dog misbehavior. Yes, this is true! Many a times, monotony can be managed with an assortment of materials that will distract the animals to a greater degree. Hence, the dog may not do the deviant or unwanted activity arising out of the monotony it experiences.

Boredom experienced dogs may have different types of behavioral patterns. For example, some dogs will be seen barking incessantly and some may engaged themselves with digging activities.

There are many ways to get your dog out of its boredom activities. Many toys are available which simulated ducks, dogs, rodents and many others. These toys may be kept inside the crate. Puppies absolutely love these items! A Buster Cube with multiple treats may be placed in the dog’s sanctuary and the animal soon understands on how to roll the buster cube to get the treats it prefers. A Buster Cube is an ingenious toy use for simulating and activating your dog during play and feed time. Instead of placing the food boringly in one place, change the place of feeding unexpectedly and your dog will relish searching out the new placement of its food.

Such actions will be helpful for removing the monotony like activity in your dog. Activities pertaining to monotony need to be redefined well by the dog owners. This will help them to a greater extent to drive away the unwanted behavior patterns in their pet dogs.

For example, some dogs may often have destructive biting behaviors and will be seen biting chairs, clothes, mats, and everything that can get into their mouths. After ruling out the teething problem if it is a puppy, provide it with some large sized balls, mineral mixture based bone materials, etc. Such diversity of materials help to reduce the boredom related activities.

By following these few simple suggestions you can turn your dogs dull and bored lifestyle into an assortment of fun filled activities that may save you a headache and perhaps money replacing the items a bored boxer can destroy... I trust this will help someone with their favorite critter!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

A new picture...


Lucy and I on a walk through Shelby Farms Park two weeks ago. The picture was taken by Terri my wife... We had a great day!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Sunday...

Sunday was a beautiful day! Days like yesterday are why you put up with 3 months of hot humid summer in Memphis. Sunday's temp never got above 68 degrees with a very light breeze. The sun was shining and the shadows seemed longer than than they were a few short days ago.

Lucy followed the sun all over the house yesterday. We opened up the upper patio door with the screen remaining shut. I think she must have spent about 4 hours just moving from spot to spot at that door, following the warm rays of the sun and the sweet smells of fall. What a wonderful experience watching her move about communing with life.

We didn't do much in the way of special events yesterday, or did we? We did enjoy the day!!! I wish for more days like Sunday!!! I wish them for everyone!