Boxers – The New Pit Bulls?

Animal control officers notice an increase in the number of abandoned or surrendered Boxers. Many of them show clear signs of having been used as bait to train fighting dogs.

During my own frequent visits to animal shelters to evaluate dogs for possible rehabilitation, I also notice more and more Boxers in shelters. Some shelters have more Boxers than others. It is quite apparent that the number of Boxers in shelters is somehow related to either an irresponsible backyard breeder in the area or to criminal activities of cowardly dog fighters.

Pit bulls and other bull breeds still are the most common dogs in shelters. Scars indicate that the dogs were used for fighting. It appears that the proliferation of pit bulls is cutting into the money one can make by either fighting or breeding them. At the height of the pit bull craze, a puppy from “champion parents” could bring $ 1,000 and more. I guess such prices are harder to achieve nowadays. Pit bull fatigue is taking hold.

In addition, numerous communities have tightened laws regarding dangerous and vicious dogs. Many do no longer allow pit bulls.

Boxers always ranked among the most popular breeds in the US. They appear to be rebounding after almost dropping off the list of ten most popular. With this increase in popularity and a reduced interest in pit bulls comes, of course, increased abuse of these fine dogs. Consequently, they end up in shelters in greater numbers than before.

That is bad for the breed and even worse for the individual dog caught up in the vicious cycle of abuse, abandonment and death in a shelter. Because of their stellar reputation as excellent family dogs, most Boxers get adopted from shelters or are rescued by rescue groups. This may very well change.

As more and more Boxers are used for fighting, more of them will turn vicious. More complaints about aggressive Boxers already prompted some insurance companies to put Boxers on the list of biters. They will not insure Boxers any longer. In the past it was easy to get insurance for your Boxer. That is beginning to change. Not because the breed is changing, but because of the actions of irresponsible dog owners.

Careless breeders and dastardly dog fighters are not the only ones to blame for the Boxer's increasing troubles. Well-meaning dog rescue groups, I hate to say, carry a big, if not the biggest, responsibility for giving Boxers a bad rap.

Bull breeds are hard to place. But Boxers almost place themselves. Thus more and more dog rescue organizations call 'Boxer Mix' any brown dog with a relatively short nose. I have seen 'Boxers Mixes' that had absolutely no resemblance to a Boxer – none whatsoever. Boxers do not have medium long coats and bushy tails! Only a misguided, irresponsible and sentimental dog rescuer can dupe the unsuspecting public into seeing a Boxer in such an animal.

It is much easier to mistake a pit bull with a relatively short nose for a Boxer Mix. The two share at least similar body types. It is also easy and common to mistake an American Bulldog for a white Boxer. Those are honest mistakes. But declaring herding breeds Boxer Mixes is pushing it too far.And it is the trademark of many a rescue group!

As a Boxer lover, I am concerned about the future of the Boxer. Though descendants of a tough little dog that was meant to assist hunters to bay wild European buffalo, Boxer have evolved into kind, friendly family oriented dogs and guardians of children and couches.

Let's leave it that way. We do not need to ruin another breed because of greed and pure cruelty.

It is a most unpopular suggestion but I believe that communities and cities should require licenses for any dog breeder – pedigree kennel or backyard.

More throw-away dogs are the last thing we need.

Gabe

by PJJ

Nature was cruel to Gabe. It dealt him a bad hand.

Gabe was born an American Staffordshire Terrier. He has a red nose. He looks like a pit bull. If you put him in a Santa Claus suit with a big white beard and a Santa Claus cap, he would still look like a pit bull. Like a pit bull in a Santa suit.

That's a bad hand!

But wait! It gets worse.

Gabe came to some people who did not care to take time to train him properly to cope with life in a city. Boundless energy of youth, unbridled by proper training, made Gabe bound happily into traffic. He was run over by a car. He survived – with an injury to his spine.

Under the capable care of good veterinarians Gabe recuperated from his bout with disaster in an emergency hospital. He was not paralyzed, he could move freely, he could jump and run. Only on smooth surfaces his hind legs slip occasionally. Then he falls.

This time Gabe was lucky.

His lucky streak did not last long.

Gabe sat in his cage at the emergency hospital and waited, waited, waited for his family to come and take him home. They never came.

So, Gabe had to move to an animal shelter to wait a little more. He cheerfully did, making friends with kennel attendants along the way. They like him because of his pleasant, friendly nature. And he likes them because some of them let him climb in their lap. He doesn't know that he is a big boy. He doesn't know that people get scared when they see him. He doesn't know that people think he will eat their little Froufrou for breakfast.

He is a big, happy go lucky boy.

He even had his two minutes of fame on TV where he waited around peacefully together with a bunch of other shelter dogs. None turned up missing! Many found a new home. Gabe was not so lucky. After all he looks like a dangerous pit bull and even has a red nose. What about Rudolph? He also has a red nose. Is he dangerous?

And so Gabe went back to sitting in his cage a little longer, waiting for time to run out.

Gabe, the happy, friendly boy who never even harmed a lowly fly, may once again sit in vain.

He doesn't know life dealt him a losing hand.

Life just is not fair!

The King Is Dead – Long Live The King!

Windsor King MacArthur, editor and main contributor to this blog, unexpectedly crossed the Rainbow Bridge on June 18, 2008. He was at least 14 years old.

He succumbed to degenerative myelopathy, an insidious disorder of the spinal cord and nervous system for which there is no known cure.

His passing is not only a blow to his blog but also a great personal loss for me.

After eluding death in a shelter eight years ago, he spent the second half of his life as my faithful, ever present companion. Gentle, considerate, self-disciplined, with great love for people, a loyal paladin in good times and bad, my truly unique, irreplaceable best friend dedicated many of his later years to the rehabilitation of old, disadvantaged, aggressive dogs. His selfless service touched the lives of countless dogs changing the course of their life forever . The need for a wheelchair did not stop him. He passed away returning from rescue duty.

Windsor was a veritable service dog.

But most of all, Windsor will be remembered for his love of women. He spent his last truly happy lucid moments petted and caressed by a young woman. He gave her his last broad, happy smile and his final joyous Boxer noises.

His euphoric smile and his jubilant noises shall stand as his memorial in my heart.

And the changed lives of dogs he touched bear witness to his greatness.

PJJ

A Reminder - Hot Cars Kill Dogs

The recent heat wave in California and other parts of the country gives cause to remind all dog owners to take special care of their dogs. Now more than ever, they need plenty of water and a shady place to rest.

Dogs can dissipate excess heat only through their mouth and tongue by panting and to a much lesser degree through sweat on their feet. They need copious amounts of water to keep their 'cooling fan' going.

A car parked in the sun heats up very, very quickly - even with open windows. Temperatures inside can easily rise to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit and much more.

In hot weather a car is not a good place to keep a dog. He is much better off at home where he can stay cool and access water whenever needed. This is true even when she is accustomed to ride around with you when you do errands or work.

Please exercise your dog early in the morning and in the evening when temperatures are down. Let him snooze away the hot hours of the day inside the house or in another sheltered space. He does not mind. Dogs are not very active during hot weather.

Let him them have their 'lazy dog days of summer'.

Adopting A Shelter Dog - Introduction To Selecting the Right Match.

By PJJ


This article is the first in a series of articles about adopting shelter dogs or rescued dogs from a dog rescue group. Future articles will deal with adopting from an animal rescue group, 'easy dogs' and 'difficult dog breeds, male versus female and other rescue and dog adoption related topics.


So you decided to bring a dog into your family. Better yet, you resolved to rescue a dog instead of getting one from a breeder. That's easy, you tell yourself. An animal shelter is close by and there are many more in my County. Moreover, humane societies and animal rescue groups all have highly adoptable dogs to choose from.

This is true. But it would be unwise to walk into an animal shelter and select a dog because of his looks, sad eyes or pleasant demeanor.

As a professional dog evaluator for dog rescue groups, I have learned that shelter dogs must be very carefully observed, checked out and evaluated before considering adoption. However, the most reliable way to evaluate sheltered dogs is to do the evaluation away from the shelter environment. Unfortunately, that is not possible. Thus much of the 'evaluation' is based on the evaluator's experience, intuition and good hand with all kinds of dogs.

Dog evaluation is not dog training. We are not testing here whether the dog responds to commands or stays or any of the other dog training stuff. Some measure of that is attempted and sometime achieved during 'temperament testing' of the dog by shelter personnel. Therefore dog trainers are not necessarily good dog evaluators.

Dogs end up in shelters because of some traumatic event in their life. Diagnosis of an expensive illness, abandonment by its owner, running away and getting lost, abuse and cruelty are only a few. As a result, all shelter dogs are scared stiff, confused, traumatized, depressed, unstable. This frequently leads to personality changes and neurotic behavior.

The longer a dog is confined in a small run at a rescue shelter, sometimes with kennel mates, the worse the situation gets. Life in a rescue shelter is unpleasant despite the best intentions of kennel attendants.

Shelter dogs become 'institutionalized' because of a lack of exercise, the deafening noise and the absence of positive interaction with humans and dogs.

The wiggly, happy puppy in the animal shelter could morph into a nasty nippy critter once he settles into your home. Yet, the barking, bouncing monster might surprise you with a calm demeanor once she gets to your home and starts feeling safe.

For most of us getting a dog from an animal shelter is an emotional process. Go to a shelter, look at the dogs in their cages, find a cute dog with sad eyes, begging for your attention by wagging her tail enthusiastically, take her home.

You just picked a dog because of it's looks and superficial first impressions. Not a good foundation for a lasting relationship. Chances are this dog will be back in the shelter.

So, how do you find the best dog for you among all the dogs in the rescue shelter?

By starting at your home!

Sit down with your family and list what you expect the dog to be: Breed, size, age, puppy or mature dog, male or female, small or large, active or sedate, fetcher or runner and so on. If you get a dog for the “kids”, keep in mind that an adult will most likely end up caring for her. Once all agree on the 'ideal' dog, you are ready to go to the animal shelter and look at adoptable dogs.

There are always many adoptable dogs in an animal shelter. Most are not very desirable because of looks and behavior, some more appealing and only a few that potentially meet your expectations.

Now it is time to find a kennel attendant and ask for the dog to be taken to a socialization area.

Please refrain at this time from interacting with the dog.

No look. No talk. No touch.

You do not want to excite the dog in any way. Instead watch!

Watch carefully when the attendant approaches the kennel run and how he deals with the dog. Also watch the dog's body language when approached in the run and on his way out.

Does the dog charge other dogs in their runs?

Is he afraid? Of dogs? Of anything else?

Position of his tail? Up, down, between the legs or straight back?

Pulling hard on the leash?

Does she listen to the handler?

Does she know commands (which?) and does she obey them?

The kennel attendant's body language can also tell you a lot. Chances are she knows more about the dog than she wants to tell you. Is he overly cautious? Or does he physically interact with the dog in a positive way?

How does the dog react to it?

Does she offer treats to the dog? How does the dog take the treat? Snap and swallow (including the hand that holds the treat)?

Does he become aggressive when the treat/food is tampered with?

Does the dog give up his ball or toy when asked to?

I generally ignore the dog and wait till he has relieved himself. It may take a while. But it also can give you a hint as to whether the dog is house broken or not. Most dogs avoid soiling their living quarters. Therefore, chances are that she is when she has a very, very urgent need to go in the outdoor area.

This quiet observation period is most important. It will give you very good insights into personality and demeanor of the dog. Wait for the dog to approach you on his own. Let him sniff you out. When she has initiated contact, you can freely begin to interact with her.

Play a little, check whether he is willing to accept your discipline, throw things to fetch, carefully give treats (protecting your fingers!). A good dog will approach you, gently sniff and touch you to initiate affection.

You do not want a dog that is racing around in the outdoor pen like a maniac, barking as if noise was going out of style, trampling on your feet, jumping up and putting his soiled paws on your white blouse and attempt to bowl over you or your child.

That dog does not necessarily make a good companion for young children or mature people. The incessant noise will wear you out quickly – and make your neighbors angry.

The most important and final test is also the most difficult: The test for dog aggression.

Animal shelters and rescue shelters generally do not allow dogs to be tested for aggression one on one. Yet that is the only way to determine with certainty whether a dog is dog aggressive or not.

Fortunately, shelters do temperament testing. Part of it is testing for dog aggression. However, since it is not always done, you still have to come to your own conclusion. I parade the dog up and down kennel rows and past as many different dogs as possible. It's not foolproof because dogs act not normal in a kennel environment.

Find the kennel attendant who is most familiar with the dog of your interest. Talk to her. They can tell you a lot. Most attendants have a favorite dog. They will be most accommodating when you are interested in 'their' dog.

Follow these procedures with every dog on your list. Carefully observe and compare all of them before you make a decision. Then sleep on it at least once.

Adopting a shelter dog is a lifetime decision. It is cruel to pull the dog from a shelter only to return her a few weeks or months later because 'it didn't work out'.

Haste makes waste! In this case it wastes a life.

Barking small dogs drive me nuts!

By Windsor, King

Boxers are medium sized dogs. I am a medium sized dog. My Lord Protector is a medium sized dog. We do not bark, at least not without a very good reason.

Very good reasons are quite rare. How often does a person have to fend of a home invasion? Or a prowler in the bushes? Or a purse snatcher?

A cat on the fence is not a very good reason.

Yet, my protector and I cannot go for a leisurely walk without a small, ratty, fluffy little thing barking madly at us, snarling, screeching, hissing and howling. It never fails. We know it: Whenever there is a little dog around noise envelops him or her. Little dogs are walking noise generators! They live in a bubble of noise.

Another thing: Why are small dogs invariably on one of those long Flex-Leashes? Leash fully extended and the noise maker criss-crossing in front of his human. They take up an entire sidewalk, ensnaring pedestrians and animals alike. They are walking trip hazards.

Why?

Is it because humans consider minute noise makers cute? What is cute about a noise machine?
Or is it simply because little dogs are afraid of everything – anything? Moving or not.
Maybe their egos are grotesquely inflated and they perceive themselves as super dogs - huge monstrous, dangerous.

Whatever motivates them, to us large dogs little dogs are a nuisance. Because of them we often get treated unfairly when we encounter one of these undisciplined, untrained yappy things. We get punished when we want to touch someone – the source of the annoying noise.

They in turn get scooped up by their owner and cradled. It is not fair.

If the small excessive barkers have the right to bark at all dogs and most anything else, then we large dog must be allowed to lay a paw on them. Mind you, not bite, but just lay a paw on the little noise machine. To teach them the manners their guardians neglected to teach them.

Before the firestorm fanned by enraged owners of cute little barkers completely engulfs me, let me share with you a few explanation for the incessant yapping of small dogs. I found them in the Guardian Weekly. Jake Sigg compiled this list of opinions.

“Loud things can come in very small packages

Why do small dogs bark so much?

Most small dogs have a nervous disposition and are fearful of things going wrong. Remember Bush's poodle? Ceaseless yapping. Despite changing kennels, he's still at it. Still scratching at the White House door.
John Bridglan, Adelaide, South Australia

Because their bark is bigger than their bite.
Les Dreyer, New York City, US

They are tired of being stepped on all the time.
Jack Sullivan, Claremont, California, US

The frustration of being miniature in a world that is too big for its own shoes.
Maya Bachmann, Auckland, New Zealand”

Well said.

But even this will not stop the endless noise emanating from small dogs.

If you know better, please tell me.

Food Banks for Pets - A new development

Rising prices for gasoline and food are putting the big squeeze on people. The mortgage crisis is taking the homes of more and more families and putting more people on the streets. And a deteriorating economy is fueling the fire.

Many of our pets are suffering in the process as well. Where do the pets go when their family loses the home to foreclosure? Foreclosures are at their highest in 25 years! How do pets get fed when food is scarce even for humans? How well do pets fare when the choice is gasoline to go to work or food for the dog or cat?

Common sense says that in many cases pets are the big losers. Before one takes food out of the mouth of a child, food is taken from the dish of the family pet. The cat is asked to hunt for her food and the dog kicked out to scrounge up some morsels of food from garbage cans.

Indeed, animal shelters especially in urban areas are braising for an influx of displaced pets. Many of them are 'donated' to the streets, left behind tied up in a backyard or turned into a shelter as a stray. Right now it is still a trickle, but if the economic downturn continues it could swell to a stream of displaced animals into our shelters.

Food banks are already experiencing increased demands. They also see a new class of customers more often: Middle class families. Traditionally the poor, disabled, people on disability or on fixed income used the services of food banks. Nowadays they are joined by people able to work but without a job.

Many of them are taking food off their plates to feed the family pet.

Consequently, an increasing number of food banks is now also offering pet food. They hope to stem the expected tide of abandoned pets.

Some of these food banks have seen the number of customers seeking pet food increase between twenty and fifty percent. They could contribute even more but many of them face more demand than they can satisfy.

Discount veterinary clinics also are experiencing an increase in middle class clients. Traditional vets are confronted with pet owners who are much more reluctant authorizing tests and treatment than in the past. Preventative care for the family pet is the first thing to go.

Where will all of this lead? I do not know.

But you can easy the pain of having to choose between resources you require to make money, food for the children and food for pets by finding a food bank in your area that dispenses pet food. More and more of them do.

Just google for 'food bank for pets', 'pet food banks' or similar key words and you will find plenty of links. Many lead you to food banks for families. But you can call them and ask whether they also hand out pet food.

Here are a few leads to get you started in your search:

1. The Pet Food Bank collects and distributes pet food for distribution to animal rescue group all over the United States.

2. In Los Angeles you can contact the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for information on pet food banks.

3. The California Food and Justice Coalition could also give you additional information on pet food banks.

4. The Petco Foundation, though not primarily engaged in food assistance to needy families, makes grants to animal shelters and other organizations and helps families that are in danger of losing their home to keep their pet by giving food assistance.

5. Contact your local SPCA and asks them for referrals to pet food banks. Maybe you can even get some from your local SPCA. If not, they can refer you to the Santa Cruz, CA SPCA. They distribute pet food and certainly can give you some good leads.

6. The Animal Welfare League in Chicago Ridge, Ill., distributes large quantities of pet food to needy pet owners.

7. Do not forget to contact some of the local rescue groups in your area. They can help you out with food or send you in the right direction.

8. Vancouver, Canada, SPCA has a mobile pet food program.

If all else fails and you are a good organizer and promoter, you could also form your very own not -for profit pet food bank that collects and distributes free pet food to the needy.

Whatever you decide to do, before you turn your pet over to an animal shelter or just abandon him somewhere on the streets, do a little research to locate a source of free pet food. There is no shame in asking for help in sustaining the life of a dear family member.

PJJ