Loki — The Brindle Boxer Who Stole Our Hearts

Loki — The Brindle Boxer Who Stole Our HeartsThere are dogs that become part of a family, and then there are dogs that somehow become part of the family’s story.Loki was one of those dogs.He was a male Boxer with a beautiful brindle coat, a strong body, expressive eyes, and a personality that seemed far too big to fit inside one dog. From the very beginning, there was something different about him. He had a way of looking at people that made it seem as though he was trying to understand every word they said. He could be goofy one moment, serious the next, and then completely asleep in the most ridiculous position imaginable.Loki had a gift for making people smile.He didn't need to do anything extraordinary. Sometimes all it took was the way he would walk into a room, stop in the middle, and stare at everyone as though he had forgotten why he came there. Other times, he would grab one of his favorite toys and proudly carry it around the house, waiting for somebody to notice.And somebody always did.That was Loki's way.He wanted to be noticed, but more than that, he wanted to be included.If his family was in the kitchen, Loki wanted to be in the kitchen. If they were watching television, Loki wanted a spot on the couch. If someone went outside, Loki believed that going outside was obviously the most important thing that could possibly happen at that moment.He wasn't just following them.He was making sure they were okay.Chapter One: The BeginningNobody could have known just how much Loki would come to mean to his family when he first arrived.He was simply a Boxer puppy with enormous potential and an even bigger personality.Like most Boxer puppies, Loki seemed to have absolutely no understanding of the concept of personal space. If there was a lap, he wanted it. If there was a bed, he wanted it. If there was a person sitting quietly, he apparently believed that person had been sitting quietly specifically because they were waiting for him.He was curious about everything.Every sound needed to be investigated.Every new object needed to be smelled.Every door needed to be checked.Every person needed to be greeted.And every toy needed to be tested thoroughly.Loki approached life with enthusiasm.There was no such thing as a small adventure.A walk around the yard could become an expedition. A trip to another room could become a mission. Finding a stick could become the greatest discovery in the history of the world.His family quickly learned that Loki had two speeds.Full speed and asleep.There didn't seem to be much in between.When he was awake, he could turn the house into his personal playground. He would run from room to room, carrying toys, chasing things that didn't need chasing, and occasionally stopping just long enough to look back and make sure somebody was watching.Then, as suddenly as the energy appeared, it would disappear.Loki would collapse.Sometimes he would stretch out across the floor. Sometimes he would curl himself into a position that looked completely uncomfortable. Sometimes his head would end up hanging off the edge of the couch.And sometimes he would fall asleep with a toy still in his mouth.Those were the moments when everyone could see the softer side of him.The goofy puppy was still there, but underneath the excitement was a dog who simply wanted to be close to his people.Chapter Two: Loki's PersonalityAs Loki grew, his personality became impossible to miss.He was intelligent, but he wasn't always interested in proving it.If Loki understood what someone wanted him to do, he would sometimes do it immediately.Other times, he would look at them.He would tilt his head.He would blink.And somehow his expression seemed to say, "I heard you. I'm just considering whether your request deserves my attention."That was Loki.He had opinions.Lots of them.Boxers are known for their expressive faces, but Loki seemed to take that talent to another level. His face could tell an entire story without him making a sound.If he wanted something, everyone knew.If he was excited, everyone knew.If he thought someone was ignoring him, everyone definitely knew.And if somebody was eating something that smelled good, Loki suddenly became the most attentive dog in the world.He could be on the other side of the house and somehow appear beside the table at exactly the right moment.Nobody knew how he did it.It was one of Loki's many mysteries.Another mystery was how he always seemed to know when someone was having a difficult day.If the house was full of laughter, Loki was usually right in the middle of it.But when someone was sad, his behavior changed.He became quieter.He would walk over and sit beside them.Sometimes he would put his head against their leg.Sometimes he would simply lie down nearby.He didn't need to understand the reason for someone's sadness.He seemed to understand that they were hurting