Remembering the First Pet I had as a Child

Having a Boxer as a Pet

My first pet was a boxer named Bruno, and he was a dog I absolutely adored. When I think back to my oldest memories, I truly can't remember a time before Bruno. We got him as a puppy, but this was way back before people were as encouraged to train their dogs from the puppy stage.

Bruno was a very large and handsome boxer that my Dad got for our family. He was a character for sure. I have to say that I will share my experience here, but I don't know a lot of information about boxers in general. So double check what is shared here if part of your reasoning for reading is to make a final decision on a boxer or not.

My beautiful boxer Bruno loved me very much, I truly believe this. It was also as if he had quite the personality with different sides to it. First of all, he was a huge dog, but perhaps this was due to my own very small size, a toddler really. I will tell you a couple of stories that reflect on our life owning a boxer, to let you into what it was like.

Such a Caring Dog

Bruno allowed me to do almost anything to him without ever getting mad or distressed. He never snapped or bit, or barked at me. Not even a little bit. I was little, and I thought it would be great idea to try to ride Bruno like a horse. I mean why couldn't I just sit on his back and he take me around, right? The poor dog loved me so much, he never seemed to mind. This matters a great deal for particular reasons, and I will tell you why shortly.

Also, Bruno had huge big brown eyes. I loved to pet him, and he followed me all around all the time. He would sit down when I told him to, and I loved those big brown eyes. I loved them so much though, that I just wanted to touch them. My mother and dad told the stories, rolling their eyes and saying, "poor Bruno.." I didn't know, I was just a very small child. The point is, that dog loved me so much, he tolerated me even trying to touch his eyeballs! Now that is a loving
and loyal dog!

A Crazy Dog

Now why those two stories mattered so much, is that he was a wild and almost out of control dog at other times. We had large "beware of dog" signs around our house, just because this dog was so very strong, and could be set off by anyone he didn't know, especially if they were in a uniform of some kind. He was known to tear through screen doors and break them
down if he wanted to.

I had an aunt, who he also would go crazy with just at the sight of her! Same thing, we went through screen door after screen door! Scared people of all kinds, half to death with that bark, growl and speed and power! Truly a watch dog, and no one wanted to mess with him.

One of the Stories of Bruno that Makes Me Cringe Still!

Once, he was out on a walk with my dad, on a strong leash of course. My dad had control of him, or so he thought. This little old woman was walking her poodle down the other side of the road. My dog bolted away from my dad even with my dad holding onto him with all his might. My dad had been pulled down, and when he looked up the dog had reached the woman and both
dog leashes were quickly wrapping around her legs as the dogs ran round and round. She fell over. Oh, that is the most horrifying story with our dog, and my dad made it over there quickly, profusely apologizing and making sure the woman was OK. Oh Bruno, we loved him so very much, but he was a tough dog to handle!

Now, you can perhaps see why that the side of Bruno that I knew, as a little girl, was all the more sweet. He let me do anything I wanted. He probably had tea parties with me and my dolls, and I know he laid and watched TV with us all the time.

That is my first pet, and I will never forget him. I loved Bruno the Boxer. He will always be the most handsome and lovable dog in the world, never mind the most loyal to his family that he loved so much.