We got a new Boxer puppy! Well, she’s 2 years old but in Boxer terms, she is most certainly still a puppy! Her name is Roxy. I won’t go into all the details on how she came to us, but suffice it to say, we are happy she’s ours!
When I first brought Roxy home, it was evident that she was used to doing things in a completely different way than how I handle dogs. After a couple of weeks of getting to know each other, my family and Roxy are starting to figure each other out. We have figured out her signals for needing to go outside, and she is settling into knowing who is boss.
Roxy came home to us on May 27th this year. It took her about 2 weeks to start settling into our routine. I work a crazy 12-hour rotating shift and with fixing to be a 6-year-old boy at home, our schedule can seem quite hectic to anyone looking in from the outside.
It’s often said that we are creatures of habit. Let me tell you that is true! Roxy is as well. She knows that our pool cleaning robot runs in the mornings. I’m not entirely sure what time the thing comes on but it’s on when I take her outside just after 7. She chases that robot around the pool like it is her arch nemesis. We usually wake up and I take her out to use the restroom and then bring her in to eat and fix my coffee. When she has finished eating, I take her and my coffee outside. I sit and sip on my coffee while she chases the robot. Ronnie will come out and sit with me and talk or he will turn on the TV inside and eat breakfast while I sit outside enjoying the morning air. Yes, even in July, the morning is still nice, even if it’s a bit on the warm side.
After her morning ritual, Roxy is typically ready for a bit of a nap, and I usually can make breakfast or do some housework, or start schoolwork with Ronnie, depending on the day.
We have had a few instances where Roxy has barked at Ronnie, because she wants to play, or she thought that Ronnie was trying to play with her. These instances ended Ronnie in tears and crying for me, so I would get Roxy out of the room so I could talk with Ronnie to find out what happened. Each time, Roxy was wanting to play, and he not knowing that that was what she was wanting got scared. I had told him to not make sudden or quick movements that Roxy would think he wants play and that she is a big dog and all that goes along with it.
Since the last incident though they have been good friends. Roxy will lay down on Ronnie’s bed when it’s that time. Both Ronnie and Roxy are usually asleep before I finish the first story.
I have been working with Roxy on some basic obedience commands. Such as sit, down (lay down), place, and stay. She’ll do anything for a treat and is super smart. I have her so that she does these commands inside and out in the back yard. But out front on her leash is a different story. She is so distracted by everything that she can’t focus on me.
I’m looking at taking her to a behaviorist and a trainer to get some help getting her to focus.
We are loving Roxy and can’t wait to see what adventures we go on with her!
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