- The Beginning -
My first involvement with Boxers started at a very young age. Before I was born my parents owned a red Boxer called Lola. She was extremely naughty and only obeyed my father. When my mother was pregnant with me Lola became a handful and mum forced dad to give her away. Almost every day when he was on his way to work he saw Lola with her new owners. I can imagine the pain to go through that over and over again. Then when I was five and it was time to get a new dog, my father said: "- It’s either a Boxer or no dog at all".
So the Boxers started coming one by one.
In 1982 the first litter of Boxers were born in our home and that was the start of my parents’ kennel; Boxertorpets.
We were often at dog shows, but I was never allowed to handle the dogs until 1985 when I was
little over ten years old. My puppy, Cimona was placed third Best in Show, and I was, as they say, hooked.
With my parents approval I started handling Boxers and other breeds and soon I became a successful Junior handler. I twice won trips to compete in Jersey Team match in GB, which enlarged my interest for the sport. I was also chosen together with some British Junior handler's to represented Britain in a handling competition in Malta.
Cimona and I struggled through obedience classes and tried agility. I often thought Cimona had a hearing problem, but she was only good at ignoring me. Cimona had an endless energy so I really learnt how stubborn you have to be to train a Boxer.
In 1988 my first own dog was born, Boxertorpets Dream for a Lady (Dallas). Dallas and I won five certificates, 12 Best of Breeds, three CACIBs and was several times placed in the group.
In 1990 Dallas first litter was born and my parents kept a bitch pup; Boxertorpets Inpraise of Paris, called Vanessa.
She was to be the mother of Handler's first litter. Vanessa won six certificates, one CACIB, one BOB and five BOS.
When I was in Jersey at the Team match in 1991 I visited Noirmont Kennels. They had a five days old litter. I immediately picked out a male and said it would be interesting to follow his career. That little puppy was named Noirmont Northern Star (Skittle). He later came to stay with me in Sweden. Skittle was enormously successful, for example he was the first Boxer in 20 years to win Best in Show at a Swedish Kennel club show. Today, 16 years later, it still has not been repeated!
The first litter of Handler's (three brindle boys) were born 1992 and was by Tyegarth Boski and Vanessa. Two of them came to be very famous both in and out of Sweden, Handler's High on Life (Marwin) and Handler's He’s a Rebel (Lord).
Then in 1995 I had the privilege to visit Tyegarth Kennels. There a young puppy bitch caught my eye, and I could not stop thinking about her. It was Tyegarth Kestrel (Coral).
After a few days Sheila agreed to let Coral come to Sweden. I was thrilled as she was the most beautiful Boxer I had ever seen. And I loved her from the first glance at her. She will always have a special place in my heart.
Coral’s first litter was born in 1997 (x H High on Life). I kept a bitch pup Handler’s Heaven Sent (Laura) and she
proved to be a nice asset to my kennel.
In 1998 we showed at the World Dog show in Finland. Laura was third in junior class, and her litter sister Handler’s Her Majesty (owned by kennel Marikarlos) was Junior World Winner. The first ever with tail! Coral won the Open class and Marwin was fourth in Champion. A Fantastic day for us!
Coral was later that year Runner-up top boxer in Sweden, Ringside’s Chanel won. The following year Coral gave birth to her second litter and only entered four shows. Result; 3 Best of Breed’s. She also won Dog of the Year at the Kennel Club stakes in our region.
In 2000 Coral and Glenfall Fly Away Rubigo ended up with the same score in the Top Boxer competition. Although Coral had more wins against Ruby, Ruby had beaten the most dogs and won. 2001 Coral won Top Boxer with a good margin to the runner-up.
Coral was mated to Roamaro Heatwave in 2002. We had tried the combination before but it did not take. (He was then used on Laura and we were very pleased with the result.) In Coral’s litter Handler’s Princess of Sweden (Hilda) was born. Unfortunately three in the litter died of e: coli. One of Hilda’s two brothers moved to my best friend Åsa and we kept Dosh & Hilda. We soon had high hopes on Hilda, as she looked like a young Coral.
2003 was a year with both joy and sadness.
We were happy to buy Handler’s Last Revelation (Roamaro Heatwave X Laura) back as his owner had family problems. After two months Ozzy and I competed in obedience and tracking. He soon won his obedience diploma and had the merits needed to compete for the CAC. On his first Boxer club show he won Best of Breed. What more can you ask for? Then in end of July we suffered a hard blow as three of our dogs were poisoned. Laura and Dosh survived, but tragically Coral died. It was the worst thing we have ever experienced. To this day we still do not know what substance they were given. Despite top veterinarian attention and tests no answer has been found. Still life goes on and Laura was well enough to have her last litter. She was mated to a Ringside’s Chanel son, Ringside’s Exotic. To be the first kennel to have both Chanel and Coral in the same pedigree felt very honourable.
A breed we had kept our eyes on for many years was the Mastino Napolitano. After Coral died we decided to buy one, so in 2004 Fosco came from Norway.
As our son was to be born in August we were not out and about so much this year, but Hilda still managed to be Runner-up Top Boxer, winning two Best of Breed's and two Best of Opposite sex at Boxer club shows in Sweden and Norway. She also gained her Norwegian title
Three months old Petter then followed mum and dad to the Swedish Winner show in Stockholm. We only brought Hilda and Ozzy, but that was all we needed as they won both Swedish winner titles and BOB & BOS. It was fantastic! We have had so many runner-up placings since 1993, so to finally win with both dogs at the same time felt very unreal. By that they both qualified for Crufts 2006. Ozzy also won Dog of the Year 2004 at the Kennel Club stakes in our region. A trophy his grandmother Coral won 1999.
2005, Ozzy completed his Swedish, Norwegian and International titles & Hilda continued to win big at Boxer club shows. Our mastino Fosco started his show career with a bang, Runner-up in the group at the age of 20 months. That is one of the breed’s best results ever at a Kennel Club show in Sweden.
2006 was to be another fantastic year in the show rings!
We started off making history at Crufts.
Hilda was third in Open, after winning Breed Record holder Ch Sulez Black Magic, and by this HIlda is the first foreign bred Boxer who wins a studbook number. By this, Hilda was also the first Boxer with a tail to be placed at this, one of the World's most prestigeous Dog shows. Ozzy was not placed but we were so proud of them both!
Back in Sweden Hilda won 4 Best of Breed's out of five tries at the summer's Boxer Club shows. With Ozzy Best of opposite on three occassions! A record of doubles in Sweden. It was even named "making a Linda" by our fellow competitors.
These top placings made Hilda and Ozzy the top 2 show Boxers in Sweden 2006.
Fosco gained his Swedish and Norwegian titles.
2007 was quite the opposite to previous year.
In the coldest January our new import, from Sue and Les Drinkwater in the U.K touched ground; Sulez Fancy That. A dark brindle little sunshine!
Just before the summer Fosco and Hilda was put to sleep with only three weeks apart due to poor health. Words can not express our loss! Such wonderful dogs and lovely memories that we will treasure always!
During the summer I completed my judge education and was authorised on Boxers, Dobermanns and later
Giant Schnauzers b & s/p.
In 2008 our second son, Nils, was born. This was also the year Sweden hosted the World Dog show. I was very happy to see friends over from Australia, Greece, Iceland, U.K and Norway!
Fancy won several Best of breed this year, was Best in Show in Sveg and was placed in BIS three other times during the year, which was super as we weren't at many shows.
2009, another lovely Boxer of Sue Drinkwater's came to stay with us in Sweden, Sulez Showdown.
We hope Kitty and Fancy will be the new platform for Handler's Boxers in Sweden.
I judged my first Specialty show with a record breaking entry. What a thrill!
2010 Fancy had her first litter and they were spread over Europe. Kitty had a super year, ending up as Runner up Top Show bitch. I judged another Swedish and Norwegian specialty show.
2011 I judged an Open show for the first time in England. I am also judging a specialty in Sweden this summer and Klubsieger in Finland. Very exciting! I just started my own business and we will see if I get time to enter any shows myself. I plan on mating Kitty in September.
Hope Your heart is filled with Boxer love as You leave the website.
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Take care!
Linda
