We have a new puppy. A few days ago, A client at the animal hospital where Patti works gave her to us. She is a full blood boxer. Apparently the AKC requires three names, so Patti chose Ruby’s Red Squirt. To me, it sounds like a euphemism for one thing that women can do that men cannot (Thank God), but she says that was going to be our last Boxer Izzy’s name before we all started calling her Izzy.

Ruby is only eight weeks old right now, but she seems like she will be a pretty good dog. She’s no Izzy, but she doesn’t need to be.

We have a cat named Kimber who is the alpha animal. He rules the house and always has. It doesn’t matter what animal comes into the house, they all acquiesce to him. Dog, cat or small child, if they get in his face, he smacks them down. Luckily for them, he is de-clawed.

Every one has backed down. Except for Ruby. She approached him and he hissed and growled at her. She stepped back a couple of steps then started barking at him. Kimber looked at me like “What is she doing?” He hissed some more so she barked some more. Finally he just walked away.

I think she is going to fit in just fine.

I still miss my puppy.  She was the sweetest dog I have ever seen.  I know that everybody says that, but I’m the only one who is right. 

She was the only one of her litter to not be adopted out.  It had something to do with the white markings on her face not being symmetrical (or some other dog geek reason).  The “breeder” wanted to give her to us because she knew that Patti loved boxers.  As a cat person, my only response to Patti was “Just remember that this is your Christmas gift.”  Almost immediately upon walking through the door, the dog gravitated towards me.

One of the selling points that Patti made to me was that Izzy didn’t have a problem with being in a dog cage.  She had apparently been in the dog cage at the animal hospital where Patti works and was a very quiet girl.  We have a dog cage set up in the living room, so she would be able to hear if not see us at bed time.  (I’m not going to say which one of us snores louder, but I have been run out of the room on a couple of occasions.)

The second that she walked into the cage and the door closed, Izzy let loose with a heartbreaking cry of loss and pain.  She barked against the injustice of being separated from her new family and her throat was instantly raspy at the anguish of being so close and yet so far.  I looked at Patti with an expression that said “Are you kidding me?  Seriously?  Is this ‘good in a dog cage’?”  Patti blushed and sheepishly said “I swear to you, she was NOT like this at the clinic.”

Needless to say, we let her out of the cage and she immediately shut up.  I miss Izzy.