Boar's Corner: Blog
- Boar and Family
- Mar 31, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
How a Game of Fetch Changed Boar's Life
Most people think of fetch as a fun game between a dog and their favorite human. It provides exercise, builds trust, and creates joyful memories. But for our family, a dog toy and a playful game led to a discovery that changed everything.
It all started when we brought home a new chew toy for Martha, our illustrator Cindy's energetic dog. Martha was excited about her new treasure and immediately began tossing it around, chewing it, and playing with all the enthusiasm only a happy dog can possess.
But there was something unusual about this particular toy.
Every time Martha pounced on it, shook it, or chewed a little too hard, the toy let out a loud squeak.
At first, that seemed perfectly normal. After all, squeaky dog toys are designed to make noise. Martha certainly thought it was great fun.
Then something happened that made us look a little closer.
The squeaks did not sound quite like a toy. They sounded frightened.
As Martha continued her rough play, the little squeaks became more desperate. Suddenly, we realized that what we thought was a squeaky toy was actually someone very much alive.
That "toy" was Boar.
The Day Boar Became Family
Once we understood what was happening, we quickly rescued Boar from Martha's enthusiastic play session.
Boar was small, scared, and understandably shaken after her encounter with a dog who thought she was the newest chew toy in the house.
From that moment on, everything changed.
Instead of being Martha's toy, Boar became our daughter.
She found a home, a family, and people who would protect and love her. What began as a frightening experience became the first chapter in Boar's remarkable story.
In fact, that memorable day inspired the adventures that would eventually become Book 1 in the Boar series.
Boar's Lasting Impression of Dogs
Although Boar learned she was safe with us, first impressions can last a lifetime.
Even today, Boar remains a little wary around dogs.
Most dogs mean no harm, but Boar has never completely forgotten being mistaken for a chew toy. Whenever a dog yawns and reveals a mouth full of teeth, Boar becomes cautious and keeps a watchful eye on the situation.
To most of us, a yawn is simply a yawn.
To Boar, it's a reminder of the day Martha's playful grin looked a lot more intimidating.
What Fetch Teaches Us
The story of Boar and Martha is a humorous family memory now, but it also highlights something important about our pets.
Dogs love to play fetch because it satisfies their natural instincts to chase, retrieve, and interact with their families. Play keeps them healthy, mentally stimulated, and happy.
At the same time, every pet has its own personality and its own story. What looks like simple fun to one animal may seem very different to another.
Martha was never being mean. She was simply enjoying her new "toy." Boar, however, had a very different opinion of the situation.
A Happy Ending
Today, Martha and Boar are both cherished members of the family that inspired the Boar and Family Books series. Their unlikely first meeting has become one of our favorite stories to tell.
Whenever readers ask where Boar came from, we smile and remember the day a dog chew toy squeaked a little too convincingly.
After all, if Martha had not played quite so rough, we might never have discovered that Boar was alive.
And if we had never discovered Boar, there might never have been a Boar and Family Books adventure to share with the world.
Sometimes the best family stories begin with a game of fetch, a squeaky toy, and a little boar who was determined to be heard.
Comments