I think the personality of boxer are a bit skittish, they say if you introduce them to new things, people, and dogs that this will help. I don't remember if this was true of Pete. The only incident that I recall was the 4th of July when he was a yr old, and we shot off fireworks in our backyard. Now Pete was one of the boys and he did what they did, so of course he was right there with the boys. Now me and Tim's mom were in chairs and good distance away. When the fireworks started, Pete ran straight for me and jumped in my lap and almost knocked my chair over because he ran so fast (he wasn't so small as this point either). It was hilarious!! Still makes me laugh!!!
OK, back to Landry. If you have noticed in his pictures, there is a green blanket with santas on it- this is his blanket now and it is the SAFE ZONE. If you tell him no, he runs to the blanket, or any thing that startles him- he runs to this spot, quickly! It is also where he sits, sleeps and plays- always.
Some things that have spooked him so far:
(along with is his reflection in the sliding glass door- that gets him often)
* a crow- Tim was with him outside and a crow crowed and Tim said he tore off to the house as fast as lightening. He is still not sure of any birds, but now he just watches them closely.
*my shadow - We were outside doing business, and my shadow was on the side of the pool- oh this totally messed with him. He didn't run away, but froze and couldn't figure it out. When I would move he would jump. I finally realized that he was not getting that it was me, so I walked so my shadow wasn't there any longer. Well that just caused confusion, because now the "person" vanished. He ran the way the shadow went and stiffed around trying to figure out where it went! Finally, after awhile of searching, and me threatening to go inside without him, he did his business.
*cranking the truck - Saturday, we were getting ready to go for a ride and I when I would go to pick him up, he would run away (playing - OH this is NEVER cute - not for a child or puppy), I finally got him following me to the truck and Tim cranked up right when we were in front - Landry bolted and was at the door in a flash!
*gust of wind - The other day there was an arctic "front" blowing in (when it dropped 20 degrees in a day), and this dog does not like the cold! He was trotting back to the house when a big gust of wind blew from behind him - he stopped- turned around like who the heck was that- then started trotting again. The gust came again and this time flipped his ear- he stopped- quickly turned and was like I'm gonna kick your butt if you do it again, and flip my ear back! After his threatening look, he bolted for his safe zone- before the buggy man could get him again!
*the bucket - I decided I should do something useful outside while Landry was enjoying playing with his sticks and leaves, so I went to get a bucket to pick up all the magnolia cones and some sticks. He was unsure of the bucket, but I began putting in the cones, and looked up to find Landry no where in site! I looked everywhere and found him inside peaking out the door! Are you kidding me- a bucket! I finally convinced him to come back out and began picking up cones again. This time he watched for a minute and decided it must be ok and continued on with his playing.
*Oh the dang glass door! Saturday, we showed him he could go out the sliding glass door. He finally went out, timid and unsure of this new way to exit the house. It was the only time we went that way. So Sunday, Tim and Landry were out and about, and Tim went to the utility room. He heard a big thump and then a loud whimper. So, he went looking to see what was wrong. He found Landry dashing to the back door, so he went to find out what he had gotten into that made him whimper and dash. He found a magnolia cone and a smudge mark on the glass door! Bless him, he finally got the nerve to use the door (and trying to be quick and SNEAKY to get that cone in the house) and WAM!
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