Calculating age for a new rescue????

[JavaJoeyMoac]

Heya all,

Thought I would throw this question out to those with infinitely more experience than us:

We just rescued a female boxer from the local humane society...and it has been 100% perfect in every way we could have hoped for. Knock wood...she's EXCEPTIONAL with all members of the family...inclusive of our slightly obnoxious 1.5 year-old boxer boy, Joey.

I thought I would pose this to ya'll: Is there any accurate way to calculate our new girls age? The humane society paperwork says she's 3-years old...but from everything I've read lately, she sure doesn't look/feel/act like it. She is definitely playful...but nowhere near what Joey is with respect to energy and annoyance. Joey's skin is taught, hers has a bit of slack to it. Joey's jowels are barely there. I could probably swing from hers.

I know that "take her to the vet" is the best overall answer. What with teeth assessments and such, they could likely ballpark it for us. Thing is...the vet that works with the humane society apparently already has done that. I'm just not sure that she's as young as her paperwork states.

Any "magic formula" to sort this kind of thing out? We're not really worried about it, I suppose...but the curiosity is killing me...and I would hate to know that she was 8-10 years old as opposed to 3. We want her with us for a VERY long time...hence the doubts.

Drop some knowledge on me, people...I thirst to learn!

Mark

 

[johann]

From the pictures you posted in the other thread, I'd say that she looks pretty young. Maybe 2-4 years old. Her skin could be saggy because she lost weight while in the shelter (she looks thin). Some boxers are more jowl-y than others, so that could account for those differences.

Also, Johann had some pretty big appearance changes between 1.5 and 2.5 years old. His jowls got longer, nose seems a bit shorter, and he looks much more grown up.

Congrats on the adorable new addition. Hopefully your vet will be able to give you an idea of her age (maybe don't tell them the age the humane society gave you and see if their estimate is similar).

 

[srennie]

When we adopted Darby they had her at 3-4y/o. She was/is very mellow and her skin is naturally baggy. I think some are just baggier than others,. Long story short, the shelter missed her microchip(it had slid down her back) so when I went to chip her the vet found she already had one and I was able to get in contact with her first owner (who rehomed her to the home that caused her to end up in the shelter). Her first owner sent me her papers with her birthday and she was actually 1 month shy of her 4th birthday when we adopted her. So, even though she was/is a very mellow, easygoing couch potato, she was a fairly young dog. There are crazy boxers and not so crazy boxers so it could very well be that she is just 3years old. I'd say if she doesn't have any gray that she is certainly younger than 5ish. Our last boy started getting some gray around 6y/o but Darby just had her 6th birthday and she has no gray yet.

 

[EAO76]

The shelter is pretty experienced at estimating age. There is no exact science but whatever they estimated will probably be fairly accurate. Was she a stray or an owner surrender? If an owner turned her in then the owner would have given them her age (so no need for the shelter to make a guess). I will say for certain there is no possible way she is anywhere near 8-10 (as you feared). Senior boxers become very gray (especially ones that have a full black mask like your girl does). In my experience the gray starts around age 6.

 

[EAO76]

By the way her mellow personality will change a bit. There is a "honeymoon" period where she will be on her best behavior (like you'd be as a guest in someone's home) then at some point she will realize this IS home and the little devil horns will emerge.

 

[JavaJoeyMoac]

THANKS A TON, YA'LL!!! (There's the Nawlin's coming out in me again.....)

Chickory was surrendered to the shelter by a woman who took her from the original owner. I have no info on the original owner at all...but the intake paperwork from the lady who surrendered Chickory says that she is 2-3 years old. I wasn't sure if the shelter just took her at her word, or if the vet checks she's had verified the paperwork upon her being taken in.

I forgot all about the "honeymoon period" until it was mentioned here. I've read about it a few times...but it totally slipped my mind.

I CAN say that she keeps pace with Joey out in the backyard...step for step. The biggest difference comes during the time they are inside. She seems much more mellow and laid back...while Joey is constantly up her butt and trying to egg her on to play more. You can DEFINITELY tell that Joey is, mentally, still a little kid. He's loud, obnoxious, pushy, and wants to play play play play play play...sleep...play play play play play play.

Jen and I could not have imagined a better experience bringing a rescue into the house. I am interested to see her REAL personality once some of the newness wears off.

As a safety precaution, we made an appointment with our vet for Monday...to do an all-over health check. The shelter went so far as to give us a voucher for a free checkup, and our vet clinic participates in the program. So...hopefully...on Monday, we should be able to get a confirmed ballpark idea about how old Chickory is.

Thanks again for all the intel and inputs, ya'll. We appreciate it!!

Mark <---wishes you all a very happy New Year

 

[Widges]

The shelter is pretty experienced at estimating age. .

Sorry I have to respectfully disagree. They shelter told us Billy was 4-5 years when we adopted him 4 years ago, he was definitely younger by the way he acted etc. Prob around 2. He has gone quite grey around the face now so we think he is 6 now.

 

[Sablegirl]

Our boxer was a forced surrender when a puppymill was shut down. She has paperwork (purebred used for breeding purposes) stating she was 2 when we got her. Due them filing her front teeth down to gum level so she couldn't bite while being forced bred, our vet really couldn't determine age. Since it was a puppymill we don't know if the papers we have are really her's or not but we all agree that she is probably around 8/10 now. We have had her 5 years and she was mellow when we adopted her and 5 years later is still as mellow. The only thing that has changed is that she now realizes this is HER home and she barks when someone unfamiliar comes around. For the first year or so we didn't even know she could bark; because she never did. Now she is secure and knows who is and who is not a member of the family. Once they are allowed in the house she loves them to death. They are such great babies and she had a black mask but now has a beautiful gray face as well as gray going down her back and legs. She is and has always been as healthy as can be. We really lucked out when adopted her. Hope you enjoy many years with your new baby.