Boxers in apartments

[myfunkyself]

I searched around the forum, although maybe not as extensively as I should have :D but I couldn't find the exact spot to post this in, so forgive me if this topic has come up before.

Currently, I live in a condo/apartment. It is fairly large, and within close distance to several parks and dog parks. My boyfriend and I would like to have a dog, and we've narrowed it down to the boxer. Ideally, we would like to adopt a 3-4 year old, as we are both gone for 8-10 hours a day (standard work days), and while we will make time for one, I don't think we could devote the necessary amount of time one would need for a puppy. I have done some research and read that they are very energetic, but I am getting mixed opinions on whether or not they do well in apartments.

My questions are these:

Generally speaking, do you think (for people who live in an apartment with one or two :D) that they cope well to apartment living? And as a whole, do they tend to bark a lot?

Thanks in advance

 

[rayofsun]

Well, I live in an apartment and I've seen at least two other people with boxers. I wouldn't say that it's the ideal conditions for a boxer (Sadie loves to run around the apartment since she can't run off leash outside). She doesn't bark a lot...only when she wants my sister's dog to play with her. I don't think that living in an apartment is a negative though...if you make sure that your pooch gets the correct amount of exercise, it shouldn't matter if you live in an apartment or if you live in a house. The only downside is there isn't a backyard your dog can run offleash in, but you said there are a few dog parks around so it shouldn't be a problem.

I hope that you find the perfect boxer, even as a resident in an apartment building.

 

[Gatorblu]

Over the years I've lived in several apts., with one and two boxers. Tho' it is not ideal, it can most definitely work. Most of them had some place near by that I could let them run off leash. I agree getting an older dog would be better, because trying to housetrain a puppy when you have to walk down two or three floors would be no fun. To me the biggest issue I had was when we lived in a third floor walk-up and I had to carry a 30lb bag of food up!

 

[whiskers]

Absolutely they can be apartment dogs. The key is providing exercise. You can live in a huge house with a huge backyard, but that dog will be no better off if they are just expected to exercise themselves in the yard. As long as the dog gets walked daily and is given the opportunity for some off-leash running, you should be good. Mental exercise is good too!

In my experience they are not barky dogs. They bark if someone is at the door and that's about it... and it's truly just as an alert bark, the boxers I've owned and the boxers I've been around know that a couple barks are sufficient enough, and then they are quiet.

 

[sargboxerluv]

I live in an apartment and have had no problem. There are also 5 other boxer owners in my apt community. But you definitely see us walking our dogs! I have the most laid back boxer out of all of us, but I've never heard of any of the others having any probems with theirs either.

I've known many boxers, and none of them are barkers - unless it is play time. So as long as you guys can make the commitment to exercise, you should be fine. Especially since you are going for an older one, if you go through a rescue than can be vrey helpful with personalities etc.

I brought Harley Girl home from a pound when she was around 1, she has been an angel.

 

[Sansal]

I agree with everything that has been said. A boxer can definitely do well in an apartment if enough exercise is provided. I have to say though, my boxer girl Sky is very alert and she will bark when she hears something (for example the neighbors coming home, someone walking up the stairs or a door slamming). But she usually calms down quickly.

 

[myfunkyself]

Hey, everyone!

Thanks for all of your input. I really appreciate all the responses and I feel much more confident about owning one in the near future, depending on whether or not our landlord will be okay with it. Worst comes to worst, we're going to be buying a house in about two years, so if I have to wait, that's okay. Plus, my sister just got a lovely boxer named Juno and she asked me if I was up to dog-sitting from time to time, of which, of course, I said yes!

In answer to BadAxe: I totally agree about the bit about puppies. I really don't think we would have the time to properly train one, which is why, if we are to get a boxer, we'd rather adopt an older guy or girl :D. Mind you, my boyfriend works in construction and construction companies usually shut down for a few months during the winter, so there is that possbility if we get a youngun'. I'm hoping that we get one through a boxer-rescue 'cause the folks at those places match the right dog to the right owners.

 

[xmastime]

Hi there, We live in NYC and have a 2 1/2 year old boxer boy and just added a (now a little over 4 months) boxer girl. They do great! They go to day care Mond, Wed, and Friday's (make sure u do your homework on the ones which do tempermant testing, etc. to make sure safe and pups are being watched) and then Tuesday and Thursday - I walk them for 1/2 to 45 minutes before work or dog park. The puppy then gets 2 half hour walks during the day (until she gets older) and Maximus gets a 1 hour walk in the middle of the day. After dinner we bring them to the dog park where they run off leash and they have a blast playing together too! They do not really bark unless playing. Also on the weekends we usually take them to the woods outside the city so they can run around off leash. They are the happiest well socialized pups! I must say I really think they have the life. =) Lots of benefits to being a city pup too because you have no choice but to make sure they are getting a LOT of exercise, have good manners with people, dogs of all sizes and kids. All the best to you!!! Boxers rule!

 

[Niko Chao]

I live in an apartment w my boxer!!!!

Living in an apartment with any dog requires lots of work... if you are ready for the commitment go for it!! its not that hard... I live in a small one bedroom apartment w niko since he was a lil puppy!!! ppl ask me how can I live, with such a large dog, in such small apartment?? haha... well I have seen other friends have a lot more problems with their small dogs than I do with my Niko!!! of curse i did had accidents when he was a puppy and he did destroyed some important furniture and expensive shoes.. but now he is completely house broken...=) First things first!! your dogs will want to go to the badroom everytime he drinks and eats water, so prepare your self to take him out all the time!! my dog thankgod lets me know when he has to go!! sometimes when he is sick we go outside every hour or so... so if you live in a high rise I would not recommend getting a big dog.. just imagine yourself everytime you want to go pee having to wait for an elevator... not me and my niko.. -_-" he doesnt bark a during the night unless he hears a weird noise.. boxers are very protective... he doesnt get into the trash or any of my furniture, he is calm during the day he only barks if he is bored.. thats why we go on regular walks and dog parks, we watch tv together and go everywhere together.. he loves to ride in the car! I hope this helps you...

 

[happycamper]

When we first got Zeus we were still in our condo. We found the hardest part was housebreaking. We were on the 7th flr. Sometimes the wait for an elevator was a bit intense As long as the dog gets out at least couple times a day for a good romp (not just pee breaks), there's no problem with Apt. living.