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| Comedian Elayne Boosler, a lifelong dog lover and Dear Abby fan, has
decided to combine her two passions; loving animals, and butting into
other people's business. 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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| No Bones Holiday Update 2001 |
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What is the origin of boxers? Delia Lewis, U.S.A.
Boxers.
Dear Elayne, My name is Doug and ever since I had my first boxer I have just fallen in love with the breed. I was wondering if you could tell me if there were any rescue centers in Texas. I was hoping in the near future that I could get another one, instead of buying a puppy. I may think about getting a rescue dog. Puppies are easy to find homes, but rescue dogs aren't always so lucky sometimes. Thanks,
Texas is a huge state!! You don't say where you live, but I did go on the American Boxer Rescue Association (ABRA) website at www.americanboxerrescue.org. They list many affiliated cities who have boxer rescue groups. I did not see one listed for Texas, but if you email them, they may have a link for you. You can also check out the shelters in your neighborhood, and any general rescue groups, telling them to contact you when a boxer comes in. Good choice!
Boxers came from Germany and England. They were working dogs which
is why they love to be active and
Dear Elayne, Daisy is the newest member of our family. We love her very much and are of course committed to her like we are to our other 4 (human) children. We just can't seem to get Daisy housetrained. She is so excited after she goes potty outside and knows that she's done something good. She immediately runs over for all of the "good girls' and loving that she gets, but she will also go in our house quite often. I hate to put her in her crate when we are home, but I don't really know what else to do and I can't bring myself to punish her the way everyone says we should when she potties in the house. She has been with us for over two months now with no progress in this department. I'd love any suggestions. I'd also appreciate it if you could refer me to a boxer rescue in the PA/OH area. After keeping Daisy for the weekend, my parents have decided that they would love to have a boxer, but not a puppy. Hopefully, you can point us to a local agency. Thanks so much, Wendy
Congratulations on giving your four wonderful children the gift of a boxer with whom to grow up. Boxers and kids are a perfect match, and Daisy sounds like she has found a great family. You don't give her age. If she is a puppy, under a year, they simply don't have the muscles developed yet to "hold it in", even if they understand that going potty in the house is wrong. If she is a little older, and is simply being inconsistent, then you must be consistent. Punishing and correcting are two different things. If you all make such a fuss praising her when she potties outside, and then don't correct her when she potties inside, she may actually be thinking that she is getting praised for going potty, and not because she went outside! If you catch her "going" in the house when you are home, you must firmly shout "NO! POTTY OUTSIDE!" and either pick her up and take her outside or drag her outside and make her finish her business outside. If you are home for a length of time, take her outside every hour or so and say "Potty outside" until she starts to get it. Crate training is a very fast way to housebreak a doggie, as they don't like to soil where they sleep. You can keep her in the crate overnight, and let her outside immediately first thing in the morning and say "Potty outside" while she is pottying, so she finally connects the words to the action she is already doing. Finally, since she, like all boxers, is a love dog, and she has the joy of four children to love her, withholding that praise when she does wrong will have a strong effect. If she has an accident, be very firm. A strong "Bad girl. You potty outside!", and putting her outside alone for ten minutes will make an impression. She wants to please you, you just have to give her clear signals about what is right and wrong. To find boxer rescue organizations in your area, log on to www.americanboxerrescue.org (see above letter). Good luck! You should accompany your parents and take Daisy when they go to choose a boxer. That way you'll be sure the dogs get along.
Dear Elayne, My new boxer puppy keeps eating soap! Whenever "Bubbles" can get a bar of soap she eats it! Is this harmful? What should I do? L.S., Connecticut Dear L.S., Of course it's harmful!! First it's just a little bar of soap, but that leads to stronger and stronger cleaning products. Next thing you know she's stealing money out of your purse to buy Wisk at the local mini mart. And she's on to a life of crime. Just look at her, she already has an "alias". Stop it now. Talk to your dogs about soap. Let them know you care. Let them know you'll listen and not judge. And for goodness sake, you're the big person - PUT THE BARS OF SOAP OUT OF REACH! Although, I 'll bet the farting has been beautiful.
Dear Elayne, My new boyfriend doesn't like dogs. He doesn't want me to keep my boxer of two years, Chloe. I think he may be the one, and I don't want to lose him. Is there someplace I could give my boxer to, and then if it didn't work out, I could maybe get her back? And if it did work out they could keep her? Susan G. Dear Susan, He's not the one. And neither are you.
Dear Elayne, I have a 13+ year old female who has had digestive problems for the past three years or so. The vet can't seem to identify why she has diarrhea on and off. Currently, it's more on than off. We've finally gone to a fish/sweet potato based food (yuk) in the hopes that it's maybe a food allergy. The final straw would be a colonoscopy with anesthesia. I'm not about to put her under. I'd rather just know she has problems and live with it. Have you heard of such a case? Or can you refer me to someone who may be able to help me figure this out? Thank you for your time, Rhonda Larson and Penny
Dear Rhonda and Penny, So sorry for your discomfort. I know. I have a 70+ mother who has had digestive problems for the past sixty years. Your dog doesn't happen to eat at a Chinese buffet, does she? I forwarded your email to our wonderful Dr. Rasmussen, who generously helps us with all the rescued boxers at boxer rescue L.A. Here is what she had to say: "Diarrhea is a loaded term! Figuratively and literally." (Everybody's a comedian.) "It means very little by itself. In order to narrow down the potential site of origin of the diarrhea, there are many history-type questions to ask and clinical signs for which to look. Once a probable site is determined, a more select group of diseases/conditions can be investigated. Some conditions can be tentatively diagnosed with specific treatment trials (like your food trial). Has it helped? If so then one can make a probable diagnosis. For chronic conditions like this, the most valuable diagnostic tool is endoscopy. This is generally a 30-60 minute procedure with samples taken from either the colon or higher up depending on the above information. It does require anesthesia. As a surgeon I rely heavily on anesthesia, it can be conducted with high levels of safety if performed correctly with the right drugs and the right support and monitoring." She goes on to recommend that you have an Internal Medicine Specialist consult on the case, and be sure to give him/her a thorough case history, thorough treatment history and effectiveness, and get a proper physical examination. One of my dogs, a black lab, had that same problem for two years as a puppy. He spent two years on some disgusting chicken powder, ordinarily used to treat horses, that I added to his food. It was truly gross, but diarrhea can leave one dehydrated and malnourished, so it must be treated. I am sorry I cannot remember the name of the powder, but perhaps you could ask a vet what it might be. With my lab, after many months the last attempt at diagnosis before having to put him under for a procedure, was, we took yet another stool sample, but this time it was sent to a very special diagnostic lab in (I believe it was) Denver. They do special tests there, and found a micro-organism in his stool that the regular vet tests couldn't find. It did cost a few hundred dollars, (they didn't have to buy it a first class seat!) but we treated it with the powder and eventually it stopped. I would inquire of your vet as to the special diagnostic lab and send a stool sample. Good luck!
Dear Elayne, What would be a good Christmas present for a dog? Scott Dear Scott, World peace and a squeaky porkchop. Actually, for Chanukah or Christmas, the best gift you could give your dog would be a donation in his/her name to any animal rescue organization of your choice. Your dog has a home and food and all your love. If he/she could only sign checks, you know she'd make the donation herself, just to thank the world for her luck in having you.
Dear Elayne, I am searching for a boxer puppy for my brother as a Christmas present but am not having any luck in finding one. I've looked under the rescue but only see adult dogs. I've also tried calling numbers in my area but one of the numbers the message machine is full so I can't leave a message and the other is some sort of pornographic hot line. (I think the number is posted wrong.) Anyway, if you have any info that you can pass on to me, I would appreciate it. Thank you, Dear Stacy, So you found the boxer-porno hotline!!!! All their dogs are naked. I don't know what I'm saying. Thank you for your interest in adopting one of the best dogs on the planet, the boxer. For the most part, rescues don't deal in puppies. Very few are turned in to rescues. We get all the great and wonderful dogs that thoughtless people have for one reason or another changed their minds about. I don't know how much time your brother has on his hands, but training a puppy is a full time job, for many months. We have many gorgeous, pure bred male and female boxers at Boxer Rescue L.A., many of whom are only a year old. At that age, they are trained very quickly, indeed many of them are already somewhat housebroken and trained in the basics. They are still truly "puppies" until they are two, but just a better version! If you would like to just come to the kennel and take a look you can call us at 213 532 6541. Our dogs come with all their shots, we know all about their health and temperament, and the donation is only $175. If you do find a puppy at a pet store, you will pay between four and eight hundred dollars. I advise against it simply due to the fact that many pet stores (and you can look this up on the web) buy from puppy mills, and you can get a puppy that is inbred and have a (short) lifetime of expensive and heartbreaking medical problems. Fifteen years ago, I got my boxer from a reputable breeder. When he developed cancer at two, I discovered that the breeder had inbred the litter, breeding the mother to her own father. One of his brothers died of heart failure at two, several others had cancer and heart problems, and the litter as a whole did not have a long and healthy life. I am not saying this is true of all breeders or pet stores, but it is does happen. You can try rescuing a puppy at a shelter, they get puppies once in a while. Since we just rescue, I don't have a list of breeders I can give you, as we all wish the breeding would stop for two years and give all the millions of dogs already here a chance to find a good home. You don't give your brother's age, but it is always a good idea to make sure someone wants a dog, a boxer, instead of surprising him. And perhaps you could bring him to the kennel where he would have the joy of actually picking out the boxer he would most like to have by meeting one of our wonderful dogs. We successfully placed over seven hundred last year! Hope to see you at our kennel.
Dear Elayne, I just lost my wonderful dog of many years and was thinking of perhaps adopting a boxer this time. Are they good with cats? Nora, Los Angeles Dear Nora, I am so sorry for the loss of your beloved dog. LIke people, some dogs like cats and some dogs do not. Most rescues in Los Angeles have you bring your cat to the adoption site to make sure there is some initial compatibility there. We do, and many boxers are just fine meeting cats, and some are not. Many rescued dogs came out of homes with cats so they get along really well, and other dogs believe it was the cat who changed the locks.
Dear Elayne, We adopted Tasha 6 months ago (She's about 18 months now) from Boxer
Rescue LA. She is a great dog and is fantastic with the kids and our
other dog Nero. She is sweet and well behaved throughout the day.
At night however she gets up on the table and kitchen countertops
to get anything she can find to eat. She also "dumpster dives"
in our trashcan each night. We have tried everything including feeding
her a snack before bed. Other than putting the trashcan up each night
and making sure there is not a crumb of food on the counter and all
the lunchboxes are placed up high each night, we have not found a
solution. She will only misbehave after she thinks everyone is asleep.
My husband has even seen her lay next to me and wait until I fall
asleep and Thanks, The McDonald Family Dear McDonald Family, Well, you 've just described what happened to MY girlish figure, but enough about me. The easy way out is simply, whatever room she sleeps in, close the bedroom door at night! Of course, that isn't training Tasha. You can tell her she has a date this weekend, and she'll stop eating completely, but as I said, enough about me. No doubt you reprimand her sternly every time she raids the kitchen. That is a must. You can also reprimand her, pointing to the trash, put her outside (if you have a yard) and say, "No breakfast, bad girl. No breakfast". Leave the overturned trash can empty, outside, and then do not feed her until dinner. She has to have some consequences. If that hasn't motivated her to behave, you may have to do more. How about throwing a few mothballs on top of the trash in the can at night, and a few on the kitchen counters? Or, to just get her to stop eating, make her try on a bikini under flourescent lights in a department store. Good luck!
Okay, time to go to the park!!!!! |
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