WHATEVER LOLA WANTS LOLA GETS

 

I was quite surprised when I entered the house.  She was absolutely beautiful and before I could catch my breath she ran toward me and began to kiss me. I really wasn’t embarrassed just in shock because I didn’t even know her.  Suddenly, I heard a voice. “Oh, say hello to Lola.  She’s very affectionate, loving and is attracted to you”.   I looked at her and started to stroke her back.  It felt so strong and she stood there looking at me with such gorgeous eyes that I immediately fell in love with her.

 When I first got to know Lola my granddaughter was nine years old and my grandson was six years old.  They both adored Lola and she was much larger than the children but it didn’t make any difference because Lola loved to roll on the floor with them and they would sit on her and even cuddle with her.  Lola, despite her large size of about 50 pounds and 25 inches high, only licked their cheeks and they hugged her.  It has always been a complete love affair with them. 

Now, Lola is ten years old which is equal to 70 in a dog’s life and her pace is much slower.    So our family decided she might feel a little lonely and got her a one year old boyfriend, Charlie, another Boxer.  Yes, they have fallen for each other and have become great pals.  Charlie brings Lola a special companionship that really inspires Lola.  As a matter of fact, they enjoy playing together. They each have a crate next to each other and when it’s bedtime or they are tired each will go into their crate without being told to do so.  When I visit them, I sense a wonderful bonding that exists between them and the children.

I always loved dogs and as a child I once had one.  But it was much smaller and I always thought a large dog would be overwhelming.  Meeting Lola and Charlie, I quickly came to realize I was mistaken.  Yes, Lola and Charlie were once owned by other families and were adopted from a rescue center.  I became so fascinated with them that I decided to research the origin of the Boxer.

 

John Wagner’s book, The Boxer,** contains one of the most detailed histories of this breed’s development.  He explains that this breed began in Munich, Germany during the last century.  Other authors have reported that as far back as the Assyrians, more than 2000 B.C., a strain of dogs with a powerful build were used in war.  Centuries later, the type of dog was named Molassian from a city in what is now Albania.   These dogs spread across the continent and became the ancestors of the German Bullenbeisser, a heavy dog like the Mastiff characteristically with a bulldog face.   These dogs because of their agility and strength traditionally were used in hunting.  Breeding this type of face provided the Boxer to have a better grasp of its prey.  They are strong and intelligent and very devoted as service dogs, as guides for the blind, for therapy, in police K9 units and occasionally for herding cattle or sheep.  Most of all, Boxers are friendly, lively companions that are very popular with families   Lola and Charlie could be my favorite pets anytime.  

**Wagner, John P. The Boxer, Orange Judd Publishing Co., Inc. New York (1947)