My passion and dedication to the Boxer breed started as a young child. My life has been all about my Boxers. Generation after generation I worked to insure that each litter I produced would result in the healthiest puppies with the best temperaments, while also following the standard as I interpreted it.

Thousands and thousands of hours upon hours were spent researching lines for the parents of your puppies. Researching breeder after breeder, choosing the best possible combination for each and every litter. Worrying if you'd be happy, if I had chosen correctly and your puppy would grow up healthy and happy. Evaluating puppy after puppy, running over my program, adjusting as I went, determined not to miss anything. Tracing lines back as far as I could, learning the ins and outs not only for my knowledge but so that I was informed, prepared to go over every detail with you, to answer the questions that sometimes you don't even ask.

Decades of watching each generation grow. Loving them and enjoying them as part of my family. Taking them every where I could, training them, socializing them, watching how they develop. As I chose the parents for each litter, asking myself if I had made the right choice in both of them. Insuring their health testing was top notch, scrutinizing their conformation, their movement, and their temperament.

Finally came the time to put your puppies parents together. For the next 63 days I worried, I obsessed, I grew excited. I watched your puppies mom like a hawk. Making sure my baby was okay, monitoring her diet better than I did my own. Concerned that she was getting enough of the right nutrients and that your growing baby was getting the best start possible. Every aspect of her life monitored to give her the best possible outcome and easiest delivery.

As the time grew close I spent nights in the nursery with her. Making sure she didn't go into labor without my knowing, in case something went wrong and one of our babies needed help. When labor started my whole life stopped. I spent every second with her. Your baby was born into my hands. I held my breath as I cleaned them up, insured they were breathing, checked them over, and wondered if you'd love them as much as I already did. I helped your babies brother when mom got tired and he was stuck. I cried when your baby's sister didn't make it.

For the first 8 weeks most of my life was filled with your baby. Watching them grow and making sure I was doing everything possible to insure they started their lives the right way. Making sure each one was getting enough to eat, enough socialization time, that they were parasite free, and given their vaccines. I was the first person they saw when they opened their eyes. I spent my weeks interacting with them and keeping them safe.

You found me and I interviewed you. As you spoke I tried to read your character. Would you love them as much as I do? Would you bring them in as part of your family? Would you care for this tiny life that I brought into this world that I am responsible for? Always very difficult decisions, some of you were welcomed into our Encore family.

The day you took your baby home was harder than I'd ever let on. I was excited for you but I was also concerned. Had I chosen correctly? Were you who you seemed to be? Would you know how your baby communicated? What he needed? And when? My love and worry didn't end there. I thought about your baby regularly, saddened when I didn't get updates, ecstatic when I did. I hoped you were caring for your baby the way I care for mine. I answered your questions happily and answered them again just as happily to your baby's siblings new parents.

When your puppy's sister ate a couch I stayed up that night she was at the vets, waiting to hear that she was okay. When their brother's parents decided he no longer fit in their life I welcomed him home, saddened that I had chosen wrong for him and promised him it wouldn't happen again. When your puppy came to his end I grieved with you. Each and every time one of my babies passed I grieved.

Know beyond a shadow of a doubt, I loved your baby first. They are my life.

~ Author Unknown
Revised by Encore

Back