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| Questions for No Bones? Please email Elayne with any and all pet related questions. Answers will appear in this new regular online column chock full of advice, sharing, caring and laughs. |
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Dear Barbara, You think she's a beagle/boxer/pointer mix? I'm glad I missed that party. Dogs dig for many reasons. They may be bored, hunting, burying something, trying to escape, looking for treasure, giving themselves a manicure, looking for Howard Hughes' dog's will, or, just digging. If you think she may be bored, why don't you redirect her energy? Yelling NO DIG!! when she digs is essential, but she needs something else to engage her. Try a rawhide bone, or a challenging squeak toy rubbed with a little butter or gravy (outside the house). Make sure she gets enough exercise, and that she knows that isn't really the way to China. Colder weather means less gophers (I think they all have time shares in Miami) so that may help too. You could also lay some mesh wire over your lawn, or what's left of it, so she becomes discouraged as her digging doesn't get through. If all else fails, find out where new country clubs are being built in your area and rent her out for golf course construction. It's a win-win situation, and we could look forward to the Peaches Davilman Thirty Six Hole Beagle Boxer Pointer Classic.
Dear Elayne, Dear Heidi, Happy to report, the ear cropping requirement has finally been dropped for American dog shows. We can hope before long that Best in Show will be an uncropped boxer, although I fear the Miss America contestants will still be cutting off their noses. And if you don't have too many glass knicknacks around your house, the tails aren't bad either! My best to Elvis, I'm sure his wiggle is as great as his namesake's. So glad you are getting him a Big Bopper or a Chuck Berry for company.
Dear Elayne, Dear Love, She can only be inactive if you're inactive. Take her for walks,
it's good for both of you. If she's not interested in fetch,
rub a little peanut butter on the ball and keep throwing it.
Cut her breakfast in half, add a little non fat cottage cheese.
Stay away from jerky snacks (you too!) and use healthy low fat
dog biscuits instead. Here's a great trick that works for my shweeties.
Keep breaking off little pieces of the biscuit and giving them to her,
so she thinks she's getting ten cookies. They don't know from size,
she just thinks you're giving her a ton of cookies! If she's
thinking about food, go out and play. If she begs, say no. If
you're in the habit of giving her some of everything you eat,
save her one bite at the end instead of half. They just want
to be included, they don't need the whole enchilada. And for goodness
sake, don't let her watch Oprah! Of course, I write this assuming that your vet has checked out your
precious
Dear Elayne, If all else fails, get a roommate and blame it on him.
Dear Elayne, In April my husband and I rescued a female Boxer with, what Ursula
calls, "cauliflower ears", we call them rose petal
ears. Ursula said she has gotten two more since then. Not
only does Ginger not have a full set of ears but she doesn't drool. Fortunately,
Deuce, our male Boxer makes up for the ears and the drool. My question
is, do you think we can gather a posse to look for the "from
the street idiots" that think they are qualified to crop
(butcher) a Boxer's (or any dog's) ears for God knows whatever
reasons? I think they should be found, have their ears cut off
with dull scissors and hanged by what's left. And then we'll
pray for world peace!!! What do you think? Is this too severe? Okay, we'll
sharpen the scissors. Dear Charmaine, We must all always do everything we can to educate people in the humane treatment of animals. You can lobby the government, lobby the entertainment industry, speak at schools, boycott designers and stores (fur, ugh! Send them BACK their catalogues with a "no fur" letter). Make people do all they can to promote and support the humane treatment of animals in our society. Vote with your pocketbook and let them know you're not going to buy their cd's, shop at their stores, go see their movies, or vote for them, if they abuse animals as part of their "product". Write letters, make phone calls, take action. Work to outlaw and bust puppy mills. Network online. Get involved. Adopt, like you did. Take that anger (I'm right there with you) and use it to make lemonade. Thanks for caring so much. Kindness breeds kindness, and it starts today. So we'll sharpen the scissors.
Dear Elayne, Our kennel is in Sun Valley, California. If you don't live near here, you can spread the word about us, send people to our website, make donations in their name for the holidays or birthdays. We can even target a specific donation (any amount is welcome and I mean that) to any boxer you choose on the website, and we would send a card to the person in whose honor the donation was made with a picture of the boxer who got a blanket, food, or some medicine in their name. I will forward your offer of help to our founder Ursula, as well as to our coordinators Jennifer, Joe, and Judy (all volunteers) and someone will be emailing you shortly. But, you might have to tell us your name!
Dear Elayne, I consulted our expert in this field, Trainer Karla, and you may end up with your furniture saved after all. You must crate your boxer when you are away for short periods of three hours or less. I did not do this, fearing it was unkind. It's not. It could save her life. She may eat something and not survive, or get stuck somewhere and be hurt. They really can't hold it in for too long as puppies, so two or three hours is the most, if you've walked her first. When you are present and these things happen, always be consistent. Don't make it a game, as they love to play. NO! is not enough. It must be specific. NO TAKE!! NO CHEW!! NO DIG!! NO STANDING, BUS STOP (sorry). Give her plenty of toys and redirect her energy. When you take something away, always replace it with something of hers, a toy or a bone. Make sure she is getting enough exercise and stimulation. They love to run! Start a training program, they WANT to please you. They are bred for performing tasks and get bored just like people when there is nothing to do. Keep the sessions to five minutes several times a day and be consistent. Or take her to a group obedience class. Puppies cannot be housebroken this early, even if they understand. They don't have the muscle control. But keep repeating nonetheless. When she can do it, she will. A boxer is a special dog. They are emotional and involved, and as you know, ENERGIZED. She should get calmer as she gets more socialized and trained and secure, but boxers are always "puppies". Their energy and enthusiasm never fade. You have chosen a great companion for life, one who will participate as much as you will let her. The firmer and clearer you are, the sooner she will be focused on pleasing you. But she will never be a rug. She will never be the dog you leave outside alone while you work all day, that is not what boxers are. Lucky for us!
Dear Aunt Elayne, Okay, time to go to the park!
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