On his first full day in foster, Chief, Duchess and I went for a walk, where Chief showed us a trick he’d learned along the way.  He’d grab his leash and run in circles with the  leash extended as far as possible.  Chief weighed about 85 lbs and holding on to him while he spun me around was unnerving!  I overcame momentum by sitting down on the driveway, I then called him to me and we “talked.”  Chief talked back, through howls, barks, woo-woos, and sneezes, he let you know exactly how he felt and usually what he wanted, as well.  We tried the walk thing again and had better success, although he did tend to carry his leash upon occasion, and had no clue what “heel” met.  Thru our time together, Chief was trusted to walk off leash – when the law allowed – stayed with us and helped control the kids and smaller dogs that accompanied us…another of his “bestest” traits.

Another trick Chief taught us was how to play “bot.”   We’d take a gallon plastic milk bottle and toss it as far as possible – Chief got to chase it.  He’d leap into the air to catch passes mid way, and constantly boot you in the butt with a bottle if you tried not to play the game…like maybe you could wash the car or hang the laundry when he wasn’t in a playing mood, for heavens sake.  Duchess was allowed to play too, but couldn’t take the bot…all bot’s belonged to Chief.  If there were more than one tossed, he’d gather them up and stand on all but the one in his mouth.  He’d shake his head and growl if you tried to separate a bot from him.  He’d never bite, however, so games usually ended in a tie rather than a win for “The Chiefers” – as he became known.  The Grandkids were constantly harassed to go out in the yard and play, they usually accommodated him as bot was a favorite game for all.

Boxers are wonderful with children, and Chief was no exception.  When we first got him, the grandkids – all 6 of them that live close by, visited at the same time.  They were instructed not to run near Chief.  Not because I thought him aggressive, I just wanted to be prudently safe as I did not know this dog well. About 5 minutes after my impassioned safety speech, my granddaughter Kasey went flying around the corner of the kitchen and into the living room with Chief hot on her heels.  When I asked her what part of “no running” she didn’t understand, she said, “Oh, Mom Mom, we were all outside playing football and Chief was too.  He’s fine so don’t worry.”   Actually, she was right, but to be on the safe side, I decided to go into the game room with them to monitor the situation and come to my own conclusions.  Everyone was watching TV.  Chief was laying in the middle of the floor, stretched out and in Anthony’s way.  Anthony, a five year old skinny kid, decided to use Chief as a bed, and laid on him, using his head as a pillow and his body as a mattress.  Chief never moved, actually never even woke up…what he did do, however, was expel all the intestinal gas he’d been storing for about a year, in short, noisy and stinky bursts.  Anthony thought it was great…the rest of us abandoned the movie and the game room for less odiferous areas.  Anthony and Chief bonded without an audience!

About a week after the movie incident, an application came into Adopt a Boxer Rescue for Chief.  We were devastated, and knew we couldn’t give him up for adoption.  So, despite our good intentions of fostering and helping many Boxers, we adopted and loved  Chief.  We were allowed to share in his life for only 3 ½ short years…we’d loved to have had many, many more.  Chief was a joy – even in his illness (the left side of his heart had all but stopped functioning) Chiefers was a champ.  He loved to be kissed and would lift his nose and wiggle his head to let you know he was ready for some smooching.  Early Saturday afternoon on August 21^st, Chief  went over to my husband – I was at work – and signaled for a kiss.  He then put his head on the arm of Bob’s chair to be petted.  Bob was petting him when Chief’s legs collapsed.  He landed on the floor next to Bob’s chair, dead.  Gone from our sight, but always in our hearts….we love you Chief and miss you desperately.