I have, on occasion, talked about Daisy, the Christmas Tree Ball Munching Boxer From Hell – and I thought it finally time to introduce that maniacal bundle of cyclonic canine cuteness to the folks around here.
Daisy is as typical a Boxer as you could possibly hope for, cute in a squashed-face, sad-eyed sort of way, incredibly full of energy, and absolutely in love with her people. She is, by and large, a very good doggy. But last Christmas, she was apparently convinced those shiny things on the Christmas tree were Doggy Toys put there for her enjoyment, and the damn dog managed to ruin not one or two of the nice glass balls, but more like one or two dozen of them. Her holiday hi-jinks prompted this post:
There is shredded wrapping paper all over my house, boxes strewn everywhere and gifts tossed willy-nilly all around. There’s a suspicious stain on my living room carpet, the tree looks slightly askew and the dining room table is a mess. The lights and stockings that once hung so nice and straight are crooked and drooping, the pine garland that was wrapped around my banister is hanging drunken-like over the couch and the candles that were on the table are nowhere to be seen.
No, it’s not the aftermath of a Christmas party, and it isn’t the day after Christmas. It was just last night. I had some errands to run, plus had to get my nails done for Christmas (what’s the holiday without sparkly red nail polish right?) and when we came home, Daisy The Christmas Tree Ball Munching Boxer From Hell – she who had denuded the lower third of my tree – had turned into some cyclonic whirl wind of hyperkinetic doggy energy and had somehow:
~Pulled presents off the dining room table – knocking everything there all over. (most gifts were in the closet – these had just come in from my Sister.)
~Chewed said wrapping and boxes apart – spreading the havoc all over the lower floors.
~Tossed the contents into the far reaches of the living room, dining room, office and kitchen.
~Somehow in her running around – knocked into the tree, pulling more lights and the tree askew.
~Somehow pawed the stockings that hang on a mantle that is 5 feet above the floor – hello, how in the world????
~Decided the pine garland on the banister needed to be played with and pulled it half off and onto the couch.
~Apparently got overly excited – or overly tangled? – and had an accident on the living room floor (that hasn’t happened in a long time…)
~And I don’t think I want to know where my candles are, OK?
It’s not like she doesn’t get exercised daily. It’s not like she doesn’t get played with and it’s not like she doesn’t have doggy toys!
However, she is a 1 1/2 year old Boxer and I know that means bundle of nearly uncontrollable energy combined with doggy who wants to be named Class Clown.
When we got home – she was standing at the top of the steps, wiggling, waggling and “kidney beaning” to beat the band – and looking rather sheepish while she was at it.
So, she’s been banished to the dreaded Minimum Security Laundry Room Doggy Penitentiary – Doggyville – until we can get the mess cleaned up and figure out how to better Daisy-proof the house. (She does have the run of the laundry room – which ain’t too tiny – and at least she’s not in the Maximum Security Unit of Doggyville – The Crate.)
The bizarre part is this is not her normal behavior. I really think it’s just that last Christmas, her first, all the Christmas stuff was kept in another room – where she was not allowed (different house – I was able to close off the dining room) and my ex would keep her in the crate all day while we were away at work, and all night while we slept.
This year, I can’t close off the stuff, and she’s been having the run of the downstairs area for six months now – she had never taken to the crate, and my ex always had to force her into it, so as soon as she came here – I was leaving the crate open to see what she would do. It wasn’t too long before the crate was abandoned. She has a doggy bed and a favorite spot under a table.
Ah, the joys of being owned by a dog.
It remains to be seen what this year will bring. I’ve already put up some decorations, but the tree will wait until mid-December. I’m seriously considering simply not decorating the lower three or four feet!
And this loverly shot – let’s not discuss how long it took me to unwind her from the maze of guy-lines she had weaved herself through.
It has to be said, though – she’s really a damn good dog, and most of the time, knows her doggy manners very well.
And I thought I had a Chihuahua from hell! Nope.
This fella looks SOOO adorable in his cute, naughty ways. You should be posting of him more!
What a funny story! lol I’m currently owned by two birds, but my Conure (Baby) is a jealous birdie! lol I’m not allowed to speak on my phone without her (loud) input! and then she has to go into her cage for me to gain the upper hand! lol wish you alot of luck trying to train Daisy! she sounds like a handful. I had a dog for 14 years and i still miss my Buddy..I remember the shoe chewing lol! It took 3 years to cure that! lol But now I would gladly give him all my shoes to eat to have him back! I still miss him and it’s five years later.
i know how you feel
My family and I have the absolute pleasure of having 2 wonderful boxers. Dakota 11 and Cheyenne 7. Dakota was a rescue dog who we brought home when he was about a year old. We were very fortunate that he was never a terror. Cheyenne however we brought home when she was 7 weeks old and have had many similar experiences. I won’t even mention the infamous “bird incident” that resulted in a house full of feathers nor will I elaborate on her many attempts at furniture rearranging. I will however say that with nearly a dozen years of boxer trials and tribulations I would not change one single minute of the time we have been given with our quirky, inquisitive, energetic boxers!!! We have found that although the crate was not the favorite place to go in the beginning, (Dakota never had the need to be crated–he was always an angel when we were out) Cheyenne now and has for many years now gone straight to her crate when we are preparing to leave the house and that came from alot of positive reinforcement and a few cheeseburgers along the way as a means of bribing her upon returning home. As for the Christmas decorations, every time our boxers felt the need to maul the tree, we found it very effective to give them a chewie after a very stern no and have not a had another “downed tree” in several years. I will say that it does get better with age and will also say that we are discovering that with age also comes a severe case of selective hearing and beligerance seeing how Dakota our 11 year old boxer now does whatever he wants and when told no lifts his chin and grumbles at us and does what he wants anyway. But hey after 11 years he believes he has the right to do and “say” whatever he wants and as much as we shouldn’t we wholeheartedly agree with him. Enjoy Daisy because there is no love as complete as the love a boxer has for it’s people.
Tonya ~
Thank you! Oh so true – boxers are incredible critters… and we’ll not even touch the bird stories I now have… Yeah.