good ole fashioned puppy love.

well blogging has taken a back seat to the craziness that has consumed my life the past 2 weeks. i moved into my own apartment :] (there's a blog coming with pictures & decorating ideas). Bristol loves the new place and has become even more attached to me than i ever thought possible. she constantly has to be laying by me or making me play with her or taking her outside. apparently this is a strong trait in boxers. i would highly recommend a boxer for anyone looking for a dog right now. after looking on several different websites i have found:

The Boxer is happy, high-spirited, playful, curious and energetic. Highly intelligent, eager and quick to learn. The Boxer is a good dog for competitive obedience. Constantly on the move, bonding very closely with the family (told ya). Loyal and affectionate, Boxers are known for the way they get along so well with children. A well brought-up and properly socialized Boxer will also get along with his own kind and other household pets such as cats. Animals such as rodents, ducks, chickens and other farm birds may be too tempting, however, they can be taught to, "leave it" but it is still not reccomended they be left alone with them. It has been said that the name Boxer came from the way the Boxer likes to use is front paws for just about everything. If you have ever watched a Boxer go about his business you may have noticed the way he paws at his toys, food bowl and you for that matter, in a very playful cat-like way. While participating the sport of schutzhund, Boxers are known to jump up and use their front paws as if they are boxing. They are very clownish and playful. The Boxer's nature is to protect you, your family, and your home. Known visitors will be welcomed. They are always keen to work and play. Boxers need lots of human leadership. Teach the Boxer not to be boisterous and especially not to jump up at people. This breed is noted for courage and make great guard dogs. Boxers have a wide use in military and police work. An excellent watchdog, the Boxer will restrain an intruder in the same way a Bulldog does. They are extremely athletic, sometimes even in their old age. This dog needs to go on a daily pack walk. Daily mental and physical exercise is paramount. Without it, the Boxer will become high strung. This breed requires a dominant owner. Training should start young and be firm and consistent. The objective in training this dog is to achieve a pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined. You and all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. That is the only way your relationship can be a success. Meek Boxer owners will find their dogs to become stubborn. If they do not take you seriously they will be sneaky, demanding, boisterous and hard to control. Teach the Boxer dominating another dog is not acceptable. Any signs of dominance needs to be immediately corrected by the owners in a calm, but firm, confident way. 

even though Bristol isn't a full-blooded boxer, she shares SO many traits with the breed. she is definitely mama's little girl but also listens to others when they tell her "no" or "sit". training her has been rather easy. she is stubborn at first but she knows when i'm being serious with her. i could not be more pleased with her and i feel 100% more safe living by myself knowing that she is there with me.

xoxo