Boxer dogs and newborn babies?

[Alisa KM]

Hello all,

My husband and I have a fawn Boxer, who is turning 6 this December. He has had a lot of exposure to toddlers and children, and some exposure to infants (but not as much as with older children). However, he does have a very high prey drive, chasing cats and squirrels like crazy, although with training over time, he has learned to ignore or tolerate these creatures, and will respond to our calls. He is better with the squirrels than with the cats however.

Anyway, the point of this board is to ask, that although we are not planning on having any children for another few years, I am already worried as to how our Boxer will react to the infant. I hear a lot of horror stories on the internet and from other people about how dogs' prey drives can sometimes make them confuse infants for prey, even infants they already seemingly know well. Others say their protective instinct overrides this prey instinct, and that Boxers are especially good with kids and know the difference between them and animals.

I also know that a lot of parents take their dogs through extra training and to behaviorists for more help and to be 100% safe, they never leave the dog and child alone. I am just worried I'll be super stressed about it, and what with Bucky's hyper nature and extreme aversion to cats, I don't know if I'll be ripping my hair out by then or what. It will also take awhile by the time the child is old enough to walk around on his/her own, so I don't want to be a nervous wreck for 3 or 4 years.

My main question is do boxer dogs know the difference between prey and babies/toddlers inherently or is it something that needs to be trained for? Is their prey instinct something that we just have to accept and can't be trained for?

Please help! Feeling so nervous and confused....

 

[LILYLARUE]

Boxers in general are very good dogs for children. With infants, most are extremely gentle. Most just watch the baby and protect them. But overly protection behaviors can be very dangerous. Very rare that a boxer attacks a child, young or old. It's just not in their nature - but, with bad breeding practices, some boxers have poor temperments or genetics. Some boxers are leary of active children. Rarely, if ever, a threat to kids though. Adult boxers can have the patience of a saint. They are bothered by very few things. But as any dog, they have their limits. It's up to their owners to monitor their signals and let them rest out of the way of kids when they hit their limit.

In your case, in a couple of years your pup will be a full grown adult, physically and mentally. So, I doubt there will be much issues. If anything, boxers make great babysitters! There have been boxer hero's where they save drowning kids, they attack wildlife that threatens the child, they have stepped in between a raving dog and the child, they have fought off bears, and they have even pulled on the back of a diaper to prevent an infant from falling down the stairs. Many have given their lives to save their people. They are very smart and protective with their people. I would never worry about a well trained, monitored adult boxer around children. Of course, never leaving them alone without supervision. Things happen.

 

[x19er]

Our boxers had no real experience of children until our son arrived they
would have chased anything that moved in the garden, barked at noises & all the other stuff that dogs do and they both accepted him with no problems at all. We preferred not to exclude the dogs from anything with our son, they were very much part of raising him and still are. As for leaving them alone together well babies are always pretty much right at your side, it's not till the baby becomes mobile and your boxer realises they can move around that the fun starts :D and even then you can't leave your child unsupervised or every CD & book you own will be all over the floor!

Yes things do go wrong sometimes and those are the stories we all hear about. Often it seems there are other factors involved where the dogs environment, lack of socialisation or lack of responsible people around have created a bad situation. What we don't hear about so often are the millions of dogs living happily with children/families.

 

[johann]

Johann had limited experience with kids and none with infants when we brought our son home. He has been great, a bit overzealous in licking him....but nothing aggressive or out of the ordinary.

I'd make sure your dog has an excellent grasp of obedience commands (especially leave it and off/down), those have helped us a lot. I know a few dogs with a crazy high prey drive that sucessfully live with indoor cats because it has been clearly taught that chasing the cat is not allowed.

Also, no matter how good your dog is or how much you trust him, dogs and babies/kids should never, ever be left alone together. Especially during the newborn stage. We are honestly struggling more now that Ian is 8 months old and very mobile....he loves his doggie and is always trying to crawl over and cuddle or pull on his ears. We are constantly redirecting the baby and feeding Johann a cookie for being a good dog.

 

[Alisa KM]

thank you

Thank you all. I guess my main concern is that a few years ago, when my mom had him with her at the countryside, he chased after a neighbor's cat that had gotten onto our country house's lawn, and he did bite it, and I'm sure if my mom hadn't been there to pull him off, he would have killed it. So, his potential to really hurt or kill a cat is what I'm worried about - if he misdirects that onto babies or small children, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself. Would any of you recommend I take him to a behaviorist/vet/trainer to evaluate him?

Thanks so much again,
Alisa

 

[LILYLARUE]

Well, that cat just didn't belong in HIS yard! LOL Sorry, but dogs will do what dogs do.

I wouldn't be too concerned over that one incident. I would think any dog, no matter how meak, would chase that cat. And yes, dogs do know the difference between small wildlife and human offspring. So no need to worry that he will confuse a cat with your baby.

As for an evaluation, on the info you gave, you are concerned and rightously so. Wish more owners were so aware of potential problems. But, I wouldn't jump to an eval just yet. Though your proactive concerns are commended, I just don't hear anything to really concern yourself with, as long as you are just as diligent when a baby joins the home. With proper introductions and boundries and limits set, consistant monitoring and watching behaviors, I think you will be just fine.

 

[Alisa KM]

Thanks, LilyRue

Thank you again Lilyrue. I also remember that when my parents got him (we adopted him from them, sort of) they got him from an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania, a place called xxxxxxxx (removed by moderator. Please do not name that kind of place here. Thanks). That was 5 years ago. Today, they have a website and sell all kinds of designer breeds. Could our Boxer be a product of a puppy mill? And if so, will this affect his behaviors in any negative way? So far, he hasn't had any big health complications, but was just curious as to poor breeding can lead to poor behavior as well. Thanks.

 

[Dieselsmum]

Personal expirence

I have a 10 month old daughter.

Diesel (fur baby) was born Feb '11. Lilli (human baby :p) was born December '11. They are BEST FRIENDS. Not lying at all. He was introduced to me while I was pregnant. He was always around my belly and was very protective of me. When she was born, I would sit on the floor, and have him lay near me. He fell in love with her as well. Just start getting him/her used to the fact things are changing. Like getting on the couch and what not. Diesel will rough house with Lilli, and I say "Diesel be gentle!" and he'll turn around and kiss her. LOL

So long story short, I was also very scared about Diesel, a growing boxer, being around an infant. But it's really trial and error. The boxer just has to realize what is okay and not okay, but they are AMAZING for kids. All my nephews and nieces love him as well!

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j6/katie_kat_101/292454_3985816799051_1637352077_n.jpg

 

[FawnMomtoMax]

We adopted Max from a friend of my nephew. She was going through a divorce and moved into an apartment with 3 kids and 2 boxers. Max was 7 mths.

I was preg with my daughter so Max had never been around an infant before, the kids he lived with were 8, 12, and 14. I was also a bit nervous as well but he was a dream come true he just accepted her into the family and never once had any issues with her at all. I swear for the first 6 mths when I would get up and feed her, he did too. Max followed me downstairs and would lay on the couch next to me and then follow me right back upstairs to put her back in her crib.

I think one thing that really helps is that I really never made her off limits to him..he could walk in her room, be near her and give her those boxer kisses of course all with supervison. I never could shut her door al the way because he would nudge it open and go in and check on her in her crib.

Then my 2nd daughter came along a few years later and she learned to walk holding onto him.. She is constantly hugging him and

He is now 11 and still so wonderful with kids...he has the patience of a saint.

Boxers are really a unique breed with children...I am sure your boxer will be great when you have your baby.

 

[Alisa KM]

many tahnks

Thank you all so much for your responses. I truly appreciate them and they've given me a sense of hope and confidence, although I was already 99 % confident in him. It's just hard when you have the in laws talking in your ear, and these crazy news stories being spun around all the time (though none of them involved Boxer dogs). I wasn't so much worried about aggression; more worried about whether or not he'd be able to recognize her as an infant/baby and not a chew toy or a squirrel? Lol. But thank you all!

We adopted Max from a friend of my nephew. She was going through a divorce and moved into an apartment with 3 kids and 2 boxers. Max was 7 mths.

I was preg with my daughter so Max had never been around an infant before, the kids he lived with were 8, 12, and 14. I was also a bit nervous as well but he was a dream come true he just accepted her into the family and never once had any issues with her at all. I swear for the first 6 mths when I would get up and feed her, he did too. Max followed me downstairs and would lay on the couch next to me and then follow me right back upstairs to put her back in her crib.

I think one thing that really helps is that I really never made her off limits to him..he could walk in her room, be near her and give her those boxer kisses of course all with supervison. I never could shut her door al the way because he would nudge it open and go in and check on her in her crib.

Then my 2nd daughter came along a few years later and she learned to walk holding onto him.. She is constantly hugging him and

He is now 11 and still so wonderful with kids...he has the patience of a saint.

Boxers are really a unique breed with children...I am sure your boxer will be great when you have your baby.