Our Boxers

My Boxer Companion, My Loyal Friend, On you I know I can always depend. To be there for me without a care in your eye Day after day, as the years go by..

You greet me when I come home like no one else would, I mean more to you than anyone could...

A bond was built from the very start, You bring a smile to my face, You bring joy to my heart I think that you must have been sent from above, To watch over me and show unconditional love...

I love to kiss your slobbery face, Your so beautiful when you prance at that majestic pace, So gentle yet so strong, Lean and Muscular, with legs tall and long..

Boxer's are a breed like no other, They are loyal, energetic and fun, They are caring, compassionate loving creatures, Who will stand at your side until there time is done...

No other breed can even compare, To the love that an owner and their boxer share...:)

My name is Vickie Clarke, and my husband David and I are the proud parents of 3 wonderful Boxer boys, Boogity Boo, Leo Lionheart, & Top Hat's You R Maximilian.."Max" This is the story about our boys & the boxers before them. ..I honestly don't know what I wold do without my boys.

My love for boxers started many years ago, before I knew of backyard breeders, health testing, and the boxer standard. This was before most everyone had a computer, so I wasn't able to do any research. All I knew was, I loved the boxer looks, it's size & color. I had many dogs while I was a kid. In fact I can't remember my parents not having a dog, sometimes 3 at one time. All was loved & spoiled rotten. All were mixed breeds, and all females. I knew I wanted male boxer. My 1st boxer, and pretty male fashly fawn, was bought at a flea market, from a back of a pick-up. My the time I was this man selling his pups, only one was left. A cute little wiggly, kissy face, male. I fell in love instantly. I paid the man 60 dollars, plus he had AKC papers. I was a proud parent of a boxer puppy..:) I knew I wanted his ears cropped, because all the boxers I had ever seen had cropped ears, that was the one thing I loved about the breed. So the search was on to find a vet, and one who cropped ears. Found one, made an appointment. My parents was keeping him for me, because I was living in an apartment, but planning on moving in about a month. The day before I was to have hios ears cropped, Mom let him out to potty. She had always stayed to watch to him, but this time the phone rang, so she pop in to answer it, gone for just a minute or two at the most. I keeping thinking this was planned, because it all happened so fast. But when she returned JoJo was gone, the back gate lock was cut. My happy, wiggle but, kissy face boy was gone. We searched, call all the vets in the area, searched some more, asked anyone & everyone if they had seen a boxer puppy, and of course no one had. He was gone...:( We all was very heart broken. I also knew I would have another boxer one day, but at the time I didn't realize it would take years to finally live my dream. I learned my lesson that day, my boys are never out without either me or David watching/playing, for many reasons..

This is their story and pictures...please take the time to have a look. I have my breeder's pages, and other helpful info on the bar at the top of the page...and have a wonderful day...:) 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

         

 

When the time was finally right, David & I decided to look for a boxer puppy. By this time I knew not to buy from a pet shop, or newpapers. I was looking for a show breeder. I contacted Tampa Bay Boxer Club, they gave me some breeders names. I got on a few waiting lists. I finally found a breeder with pups on the ground & available. Top Hat Boxers, they live near Tallahassee Fl, which was about a 4 hour drive. Debbi told me if I wanted to see the puppies, they would be at a show in Ocala Fl. This was in Nov of 2002. David & I drove up to Ocala, found Debbi without a problem. The pups were in a X-pen playing, barking, & growling. We knew we wanted a male, I believe there were 4 males out of 7 pups. All plain fawn, with white markings, some more than others. We were able to pick from 3 males. The moment I held Boo, I knew he was the one. He was the only one who put his head on my shoulder, plus he was the biggest. They were 7 weeks old at the time, we had to wait another week before we could take him home. We were planning a trip to Cleveland for Thanksgiving so we would pick Boo up on the way back. By then he would be 9 weeks old, and already 16 pounds.

Over the last 5 years,almost 6, Boo has brought so much love & happiness to our home, we consider him as our son with 4 legs & fur. He is truly a very special boy, with so much love. He is a big Mama's boy, and my shadow. He has to know where I am all the time, & if I am OK. He is a big boy. Taller than the standard, at almost 28 at the withers, and pushing 80 lbs. He is not fat. His vet once told me that Boo reminds him of a professional basketball player, tall & lean.

We had a scare with Boo in Feb of  2006..on valentine's day. He bloated. :( Not a pretty site. I thought we were going to lose our happy boy. Luck was with us tho, he did not twist, we got to the vets in time, but we still had the bloat surgery to tact his stomach to his chest wall...just in case. That day changed my life forever. I am always watching for signs, and hoping after we are gone more than a few hours, that everything is OK when we return home. For this reason, I am afraid to kennel my boys. They have never been kenneled. Even if that means hubby & I take different vacations, so be it. I'm not taking that chance.  

 

In Dec of  2004, a friend of mine e-mailed me a picture of a boxer puppy that needed a forever loving home, and did I know of anyone who was looking for a puppy to adopt.  Well,  the second I saw his picture I knew he belonged here with us. Boo needed a play mate. I gave it some serious thought, for a 5 minutes, then I talked with David. We both decided it was the right thing to do. I e-mailed my friend back saying I knew of a wonderful, loving home for this sweet puppy, who the pervious owners did not want. I told her we wanted him. She was thrilled. So on Dec 27th 2004, we brought this happy , wiggle butt boy home. His name was Leo. We thought about changing his name, but his name fit him. So now he is Leo Lionheart. He is absolutely the sweetest thing, has the most wiggliest butt I have ever seen in a boxer. Full of love & kisses. These boys are the best buddies you could ever ask for. Thank you Ashlie for bringing this wonderful boy in our lives...we love him to pieces.. 

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

Top Hat's You R Maximilian.."Max".11/19/07....Our 1st show pup...I really don't know where to start. All I can say is, very long awaited, well planned, only when the time was right, and the right breeder and pup, health tested parents. Wonderful blood lines. I have a great breeder/mentor-friend, that I know & trust, and that is so important. Pictured at 12 days old....!

                                              

To learn more about Max..visit his site on the link in the nav. bar at the top...it's under construction, so come back often..