I know exactly when I got hooked on Boxers it ‘twas back in 1947 as an eleven year old on holiday with my cousins in Ruislip for the summer. My uncle came home from work with this brindle bitch which had an ugly face, not very big with a very short tail. He told us he was the new owner of this pedigree dog, having rescued her as her owners were going to have her put down for although she would let people into their flat, she wouldn’t let them out!

The final straw came when she bit a burglar when he attempted to leave with their solver, and they have become afraid that she might bite again. Or at least that was the story he told my auntie. He was an electric meter reader for the London Electricity board, and I think he just saw a chance to go one better that their next door neighbour who had recently bought a pedigree Collie pup. Here was a chance to own a much rarer pedigree Boxer, and one up on next door!

She was about 2 years old and had been spayed and wherever we were so was she. Sheba never did bite anyone again although she didn’t like the dustbin men or anyone in uniform. Sheba was the one to get me hooked and I went home determined to have my own Boxer. I had a very long wait as money was in short supply and my father’s lorry driver’s wages barely covered bringing up four children let alone a dog.

In 1956 I met my husband to be on a blind date, making up a foursome. He owned a car (a man of means) and a drive up to the dales and a picnic was planned. Sunday came which was a lovely day and what did I discover? Not only did my date own a car but also a big butch Boxer called Bruce. Arthur says to this day he is still not sure whether I married him for his car or his dog, as I took over both. (I did marry him for himself really but the Boxer was an added attraction).

Arthur's Parents with Bruce

Bruce was a Stainburndorf Vanderlion son, bought from Mrs Ridley in 1953 for 10 guineas. The local kids called him a piggy dog and a real slobber chops he was, gentle as a lamb with children but he would roar down the garden at the milkman and postman causing mane a fright. He was also very possessive of Arthur as I found to my cost. One Whitsuntide I was dolled up in my new clothes, pale grey grosgrain coat dress, large black and white picture hat and black suede stilettos. Hand in hand we strolled down the lane, Bruce off the lead doing his own thing when suddenly he came thundering down the road, hit me behind the knees, put me flat on my back, did a U-turn and then jumped all over me. He was not a popular dog, my hat went flying, laddered my nylons and muddy paw prints all over my dress, however he wore such a hangdog look as only Boxers can that he just had to be forgiven.

We married and as we both worked Bruce stayed with Arthur’s parents, so I still only had a Boxer to share. He lived to be 15 and gave us so much love and many a laugh during his long life.

Time moved on and we added 2 little girls to the family and I finally convinced Arthur that we should have a Boxer of our own now that Bruce was gone but it had to be a bitch, so enquiries began. We rang the Stainburndorf Kennels and were quoted 40 guineas. We nearly died of shock, our total income was about £15 per week with 2 kids and a mortgage – it was out of the question.

So I got my first show bitch, Cherryburton Beauty Spot. She did very well, nearly always placed at the shows entered and I still have her cards. We mated her to Ch Wardrobes Huntersmoon and she produced a litter of tem which had to be hand reared as she had acid milk, another trauma. From this litter came Hilthorn Golden Shot my first Crufts Qualifier where he was placed third in Special Yearling, another treasured card. Golden Shot also made it into the Stud Book and was the sire of Reserve CC winner, Sheila Law’s Tycha of Blupines.

My first Show Puppy aged 8 weeks old
Cherryburton Beauty Spot

Like many novices I got carried away and got another bitch on breeding terms from Jane, Cherryburton Tiger’s Joy, a black brindle. She was one of the early bitches to be mated to the Ward-Davies’ America Import Kreyons Back in Town of Winuwuk. Jane took a dog and a bitch from this her only litter and was showing the dog. Adonis of Cherryburton, when she collapsed in the ring at The Midland Boxer Club Championship Show. She later died and so I lost a good friend.

I had let beauty spot go as she and Blaize had started to fight, so she went as my first attempt at breeding terms but the laugh ended up on me. I mated her to Blupines Troubleshooter (a Huntersmoon son) and on the due date she went into labour but was getting nowhere so down to the vet for a section. The vet said to ring in an hour when he told me we had a lovely litter of seven, four black and white and three white ones! I could fetch them home. “They can’t be black” I said “They must be dark brindles”. Beautifully marked they were, but not a stripe in sight. Home they came, tails were docked, and all was going well I thought. My friend Betty Bottomley (Magna) had taken three white ones as she had an old Beardie bitch who could produce milk at the sight of a puppy and I had not had any whites before and felt it cruel to put them down – after all they didn’t ask to be born. Well after a week she rang me to say they were coming out in black spots and that their ears had black tracings around the edges.

I kept looking at the four I had and the noses were getting longer and longer and no stripes were appearing. Yes you’ve guessed it, she had been ‘got at’ by a Dalmatian that lived next door to her owner, she had been playing in the garden the day before we mater her. So I had a lovely litter of ‘Boxatians’ to find homes for, and that we the end of my breeding terms for many years.

Through the seventies and eighties I continued to breed and show and got more involved, becoming a committee member of our local NBC branch and then Secretary. I then became a committee ember of the Northern Boxer Club and finally the Secretary and area delegate for the Council of Docked Breeds. I do all I cam to ensure that we keep our breed as it always has been – short tailed and happy!

I have met so many nice people and a few not so nice over the years in this world of Boxers. I count myself lucky to have been able to listen to some of the great characters of our breed. Talking Boxers I have learnt a lot but still I find more to learn. I have bred two Finnish Champions and one English CC and Reserve CC winner.

I now have Champion Hilthorn Gold Blend who not only became my first English Champion but also Best of Breed at Crufts.