Citi, aka Citi Bank, City Dog Jensen, Buzz Saw, Humming Bird in a Boxer Suit-you get the idea. Citi is just about as happy a little dog as you can get. She is hyper, like me, and greets everything with enthusiasm. She is a champion wiggle butt.

"What is better than one female Boxer dog?" I asked my husband during a long distance phone call. When his answer was "TWO female Boxer dogs!" the deal was sealed. (The truth is, it was a done deal anyway, the correct response just made it better.) While on a trip, the day after Christmas in December of 1998, to visit my parents in Florida, I went to a pet shop to buy bird seed. There in a tiny box was a sixteen-week old Boxer girl. I was heart broken that she hadn't been chosen and knew that her age would soon send her to rescue or worse. There was no way I was going to let either happen. I took out my Citi Bank credit card and she was mine. Yes, she was named after that credit card.

Mouseover the photos to pause.

Oh the ignorance we were guilty of. We honestly believed all Boxers were like our Bugs. We were soon to find out that Citi was more typical of the breed, a 24/7 bundle of energy. Thus began ongoing training for both humans and dogs that has never stopped. We never participated in competition obedience but Citi did receive her Canine Good Citizen rating.

At three years of age, Citi broke her leg requiring surgery to repair it. While Citi was under anesthesia, her heart went into wild arrhythmias and the surgery had to be abandon. Citi suffers from Cardiomyopathy, a common problem for Boxers. She takes human beta blockers that control the arrhythmias quite nicely, allowing Citi to enjoy a happy, active, normal life.

When we and several others were kicked out of dog obedience classes to make room for dogs that really needed the instruction, we were in need of a new activity for Citi. We tried tracking and enjoyed it but agility was a better fit for Citi's personality and energy level. Citi began her agility training in the fall of 2003. In 2005, we began competing. We don't set the world on fire and have no designs on major titles but with each trial we are becoming a better team. We participate for the fun of working together and enjoying the experience!

If I were to choose one word to describe Citi it would be "happy." This little girl is a delight to share the day with.