Hey all..I am new here, but love the idea of having a place for my fellow boxer-lovers to chat. I have a question. My husband and I are expecting our first child in about 7wks and I was wondering how boxers are around babies and kids. He's about 2yrs old and the vet says he's probably not getting any bigger which is a relief..but how are they around the children?? Please respond..just to ease my mind...thanks-you guys rock!!
Boxers and Kids
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Suzanna828
Boxer Booster
Boxers are LOVE children. They are very protective (but not too protective). I've heard some amazing stories about boxers who protected children from falling down stairs and other potential dangers. BUT they are big, high-energy dogs so you do have to worry a little about jumping and stuff. Jake can be pretty crazy around my 4 mo. old niece, but he's easily corrected. Best wishes with your little one. I hope the delivery goes well and he/she brings you nothing but joy. 
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Suzanna - Mom to Jake, 2 year old fawn male, floppy ears, docked tail
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Suzanna - Mom to Jake, 2 year old fawn male, floppy ears, docked tail
Linda
Boxer Insane
Boxers are great with kids! But, of course, that does not mean that they can be left unattended or always assume they'll be good. Be sure to teach your child to respect the dog (don't touch him while he's eating; don't pull on his ears, etc.--although my daughter learned to walk by pulling herself up on Remy's jowels! 
)
I think boxers are the ultimate kids' dog. They are rough and tough and can take kids rough play, but they are also very gentle when they have to be.
Good luck on the arrival of your new baby! Do you know if you're having a boy or girl yet?
Oh, another thing, be sure to give you dog lots of extra attention when the baby comes home. Praise him like crazy when he behaves well around the baby. Make his interactions with the new baby fun for him. You don't want him to become jealous of the new family member.
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Linda
Remy -DOB 6/2/92; white male w/brindle patches;
Bailey - DOB 10/16/99; flashy brindle female
Shannon - 1992?-12/7/99 Flashy fawn; We miss her!
)I think boxers are the ultimate kids' dog. They are rough and tough and can take kids rough play, but they are also very gentle when they have to be.
Good luck on the arrival of your new baby! Do you know if you're having a boy or girl yet?
Oh, another thing, be sure to give you dog lots of extra attention when the baby comes home. Praise him like crazy when he behaves well around the baby. Make his interactions with the new baby fun for him. You don't want him to become jealous of the new family member.
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Linda
Remy -DOB 6/2/92; white male w/brindle patches;
Bailey - DOB 10/16/99; flashy brindle female
Shannon - 1992?-12/7/99 Flashy fawn; We miss her!
Boxers are wonderful around children. But they are big, strong, exuberant dogs. I am sure you will use common sense with both your *babies.*
I think most of us put little babies on the floor to play and watch the world - I would not do that (with any dog) until a child is strong enough to move himself around on the floor. I shudder to think of a heavy paw coming down in the middle of a little back or tummy.
I also think you should encourage a little one to hand feed your dog as soon as little hands are able. I have always handled and *bothered my dogs* while eating - just to make sure there will be no snapping involved with food or toys. My little grand daughter hand fed the dog his food last night - one bite at a time.
I think most of us put little babies on the floor to play and watch the world - I would not do that (with any dog) until a child is strong enough to move himself around on the floor. I shudder to think of a heavy paw coming down in the middle of a little back or tummy.
I also think you should encourage a little one to hand feed your dog as soon as little hands are able. I have always handled and *bothered my dogs* while eating - just to make sure there will be no snapping involved with food or toys. My little grand daughter hand fed the dog his food last night - one bite at a time.
C
Cheri
Guest
:cool: I agree with all of your responses, boxers and kids are awsome together !! There is nothing like seeing a boxer with a child, the fit is just awsome, they relate so well! I have 3 children and have had a boxer in my family since my youngest was still in diapers. They were best friends, as he and the others are with our new one. He is one of the family, and always will be...
Please keep us posted on how things are going, and good luck with your new addition :D :D
Cheri & Jazz
Rude;forever in my heart: RB Jan 8/00
Please keep us posted on how things are going, and good luck with your new addition :D :D
Cheri & Jazz
Rude;forever in my heart: RB Jan 8/00
C
ChrisM
Guest
Welcome to the board! Where in Texas are you from? We are near Dallas. ANyway.....I have four children and two Boxers. I will never have another breed, never! They are the best with my children, who are all different ages...12, 7, 5 & 20 months. Tess (7 mo. old fawn female) is already protective of the children, especially the baby. She runs right to him if he cries and jumps up to his crib if he fusses when he wakes up. Zelda is just 10 weeks but is also fine with the kids. She already knows just how much each of the kids can and will take from her.
I would suggest, and this is just my opinion, that you allow your dog to be close the new baby right away, WITH SUPERVISION, of course. Don't shoo him away and make a fuss if he licks the baby in the face....big deal!
Best of luck with your new addition!
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Mom to:
LADY - White female, natural ears. Rainbow Bridge February 2000
TESS - Flashy Fawn female, born Dec, 1999, natural ears
ZELDA - Semi-flashy Female, natural ears, born May 31, 2000
I would suggest, and this is just my opinion, that you allow your dog to be close the new baby right away, WITH SUPERVISION, of course. Don't shoo him away and make a fuss if he licks the baby in the face....big deal!
Best of luck with your new addition!
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Mom to:
LADY - White female, natural ears. Rainbow Bridge February 2000
TESS - Flashy Fawn female, born Dec, 1999, natural ears
ZELDA - Semi-flashy Female, natural ears, born May 31, 2000
My boxer baby would rather hang out with a bunch of kids than with adults!! Its so wierd, they are the only dog I know of that prefers the company of kids. He is also very protective of by two boys.
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Carol
Champ 5 year old fawn Male, neutered
He is the greatest
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Carol
Champ 5 year old fawn Male, neutered
He is the greatest
First of all - congratulations!!!
Now, a little background - I have two boxers of my own and a 12y son. I am also a foster home for Boxer Rescue here in Indianapolis. I can tell you from personal experience that boxers are wonderful with children, most with any age child. I trust my 6 1/2y with any child of any age.
At one time I had my doubts about my 'wild child'. Satin is now 2 1/2y and can knock a grown-up on their butt in 3 seconds flat. But to my great surprise, she is able to understand what level of activity is acceptable in different situations. One of her favorite things to do is sneak out the front door and go for a run through the neighborhood with mom chasing behind.
Well, over New Year's some friends of ours babysat Satin for me. Amazingly enough their TWO yr son was/is able to walk her on a SLACK leash. She knows not to pull on him or she will hurt him.
One of my last fosters was a 1+yr boy that we saved from the pound. We got a hold of him right before some known dog fighters were trying to adopt him out front while we snuck him out the back. They were going to use him as a breeder. But his wonderful disposition would have turned him into bait.
Anyway, I had Lucas with my for over 12 weeks. We had him neutered and then he developed a swelling on his face that turned out to be a malignant mass cell tumor. According to Rescue rules, he was supposed to be put down immediately. I could not do it. I personally paid for his surgery out of my own pocket because they could not classify his cancer without taking out the tumor. Classification was necessary because his life expectancy could have been anything from normal to weeks. It turned out to be a stage 1, so his life expectancy was normal.
Anyway, the family that adopted Lucas have three children - a college age daughter, a high school son, and an 8 yr daughter with Downs. Lucas has been with his new family for a little over three months. He knows that he can wrestle with the high school son, AND the 8y daughter can walk him on a leash BY HERSELF. He is devoted to her and has protected her several times. Even to the point of stopping her from crossing streets.
So a long story short, Boxers are intuitative about activity levels and they people that they are with.
Good luck to everybody. Hope everything goes great. Don't worry about the Boxer and the baby. In no time, the boxer will gladly give up its life for the baby. No questions asked.
Now, a little background - I have two boxers of my own and a 12y son. I am also a foster home for Boxer Rescue here in Indianapolis. I can tell you from personal experience that boxers are wonderful with children, most with any age child. I trust my 6 1/2y with any child of any age.
At one time I had my doubts about my 'wild child'. Satin is now 2 1/2y and can knock a grown-up on their butt in 3 seconds flat. But to my great surprise, she is able to understand what level of activity is acceptable in different situations. One of her favorite things to do is sneak out the front door and go for a run through the neighborhood with mom chasing behind.
Well, over New Year's some friends of ours babysat Satin for me. Amazingly enough their TWO yr son was/is able to walk her on a SLACK leash. She knows not to pull on him or she will hurt him.
One of my last fosters was a 1+yr boy that we saved from the pound. We got a hold of him right before some known dog fighters were trying to adopt him out front while we snuck him out the back. They were going to use him as a breeder. But his wonderful disposition would have turned him into bait.
Anyway, I had Lucas with my for over 12 weeks. We had him neutered and then he developed a swelling on his face that turned out to be a malignant mass cell tumor. According to Rescue rules, he was supposed to be put down immediately. I could not do it. I personally paid for his surgery out of my own pocket because they could not classify his cancer without taking out the tumor. Classification was necessary because his life expectancy could have been anything from normal to weeks. It turned out to be a stage 1, so his life expectancy was normal.
Anyway, the family that adopted Lucas have three children - a college age daughter, a high school son, and an 8 yr daughter with Downs. Lucas has been with his new family for a little over three months. He knows that he can wrestle with the high school son, AND the 8y daughter can walk him on a leash BY HERSELF. He is devoted to her and has protected her several times. Even to the point of stopping her from crossing streets.
So a long story short, Boxers are intuitative about activity levels and they people that they are with.
Good luck to everybody. Hope everything goes great. Don't worry about the Boxer and the baby. In no time, the boxer will gladly give up its life for the baby. No questions asked.
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