B

oxer health is an important issue for the British Boxer Club and currently three committee members serve on the Health Sub Committee of the Boxer Breed Council. They are Marion Seeney (Secretary of the British Boxer Club), Laura Clarke and Amanda Jinks.
Anyone seeking information on disease in the boxer is strongly recommended to visit the Health section of the Boxer Breed Council website, where a large amount of information is available.
The Health Committee has set up a dedicated e-mail address for communications about health issues in the boxer. Breeders or owners who can provide specific information about any cases which are of current concern, such as aortic stenosis, cardiomyopathy or juvenile kidney disease, are invited to use this address to communicate their information to the Health Committee. The address is
boxerhealth@btinternet.com
BOXERS AT 'DISCOVER DOGS', CRUFTS

If you have ever wondered about the use or value of the Discover Dogs area of Crufts, you might be interested to know about some feedback that we received shortly after this year's event. It came completely out of the blue in the form of an email from a gentleman and was forwarded to the British Boxer Club by the KC co-ordinator of Discover Dogs. We found it extremely moving and are quoting it here verbatim:

"I visited Crufts last Saturday and enjoyed discover dogs. There was a lady there with a boxer bitch and the dog and I enjoyed a long cuddle. I live in sheltered housing and suffer from depression. This means I am not allowed to own a dog. I wonder if you can tell this lady how grateful I am to her for coming and sharing the love of her dog with me. It meant more to me than I can say and I will remember this with gratitude for ever. Doggy cuddles are the best treatment for depression.Please pass this on for me. thank you"

Usually we are very busy on the stand at Discover Dogs and probably talk to hundreds of people over the course of the four days. It is always a surprise to us when people come back, having visited us the previous year, and remember the names of our dogs!! With so many people having camera phones the dogs get photographed many times each day, especially by young people, and we in turn are frequently shown photographs of their boxers at home. What is particularly rewarding about this event is the opportunity to help people who are thinking of getting a dog, but are not sure what breed, to decide whether a boxer would be the right breed for them.It also always amazes us how well the dogs respond to a day of close attention from strangers, somehow they seem to understand that their job is to greet everybody and to lick any faces that get close enough to lick. They also respond brilliantly to small children and toddlers. Pictured here with a group of young admirers is Rita and Henry Clarke's 'Misty' - Sarsbrook Fashionista, 1 RCC (Ch Manic Gok Wan ex Walkon Cover Girl for Sarsbrook, d.o.b. 24.02.2010).
Some exhibitors at Crufts might not be aware that on the Working Group Day our team manning the stand are also called upon to do some showing. Di Wild with Roly - Sarsbrook High Roller (Ch. Lanfrese Surething at Manic ex Sarsbrook Some Like It Hot) have been in the Activities Ring for the display of ringcraft. Certain breeds from the Discover Dogs area are asked to 'show' in the Activities Ring, the object being to explain how the breed is shown so that the general public can appreciate what is involved in showing. Di took Roly in and stood him for the 'judge's' examination while the commentator explained what Di was doing and why. Roly duly received a round of applause. Following this he took the opportunity to make many friends by sitting on various laps around the ring!