Could this be true?

[sandy's mom]

My parents met Napoleon for the first time this past weekend.
We are still having a few dominance problems with him, but we feel they are minor.

My dad told me that when Napoleon gets older and stronger and learns he can over power Sandy, he may kill her. He has just turned 1 and she is 3.5.
She let him know from day 1 she was the boss and he seems to respect that most of the time. She is only 50 lbs and he is about 80 lbs.

Has anybody else ever heard of this before. I am really concerned.

Thanks in advance,
Debbie

 

[gmacleod]

For dogs, heirarchy is not determined by size and strength. LOL - if it was, how many 80lb boxers do you think there would be bowing down to the likes of a chihuahua? But that is exactly what happens if the chihuahua is the senior/more dominant dog

Moreover, despite being larger, males are more frequently ruled by females - so I don't think you need to worry unduly about Sandy.

Finally - whether dominant or not, dogs do not habitually try to kill each other just because they have the physical strength to do so :rolleyes: There'd be no chihuahuas or other rug-rats left in this world if that were the case

 

[sandy's mom]

I think I already knew that, I just needed someone to re-assure me.
You know how you feel when somebody puts a seed in your head.
I really don't think Napoleon has it in him anyway.

Thanks for making me feel better!

Debbie

 

[Indy's mom]

Debbie,

Indiana is our 3rd boxer. We got the first, Rocky when my children were 4, 2 and 2 weeks. He let them sit on him, lay on him and use him for a footstool. Never so much as growled at any of our children.

This doesn't mean that I believe children should ever be left alone with a large dog of any size, including boxers. A neighbor girl, around 2 yrs old, once bit our Rascal on the face! I was right there, but not fast enough to stop her, Rascal cried but didn't move at all. I was in the room, and that may be why I don't know. The fact is that kids, especially small ones, do things like fall on sleeping dogs, poke around those neat wrinkles or pull on those incredibly soft ears. Just being little and clumsy means they could do something very un-dog friendly. Can't blame a boxer or any other dog for acting like a dog if it jumps up, or is startled awake and snaps in reaction. Those are the things I've always believed in being aware of.

Big dogs/children, a beautiful combination. Just gotta watch them both.
Sandy

 

[sandy's mom]

I am sorry Indy's mom, Sandy is my other boxer, not my daughter. I didn't say that, my bad. I was raised with boxers, I know how much they love children and other dogs.

My Dad was saying that about Napoleon because he is so big and plays really rough, he also has a temper. We have only had him 5 months and do not know what happened to him before we got him. He is pretty tempermental but we are working daily with that.

I totally agree with what you said about dogs and children. Always supervise, no matter how sweet the dog is. Cats too.

Debbie

 

[Zannie]

i have 2 males and 1 female my female is small about 50# and she rules the roost she pushes my 115# akita around and they all let her have her way she is the middle child.......

ann

 

[Lizzie]

i have 2 males and 1 female my female is small about 50# and she rules the roost she pushes my 115# akita around and they all let her have her way she is the middle child.......

ann

Being a middle child myself (with one older and one younger brother) we middle children, particularly female, do have a tendency to sometimes be a bit on the bossy side!! LOL

 

[kassa]

Dad can relax -- and so can you!

At 1 year old, playing rough is absoutely natural -- he's a big dorky boy! (Though at 80 lbs, he sounds very heavy -- can you see some ribs? Otherwise he's probably overweight, and cutting back his food a bit will do his bones and joints a big favor and possibly save lots of vet bills down the line) An extra 10 lbs on a boxer is like an extra 50-75 lbs on a petite woman.

He may take over as boss, but the day he does, she'll probably accept it. There aren't usually struggles to the death over power between males and females. Most likely she'll always retain the power, no matter how big and important he gets.

 

[sandy's mom]

You can feel his ribs, but not really see them. He is not overweight.
I keep an eye on that. But, yes he is very big and dorky. Sandy runs like a deer. It is so funny to watch them chase each other. She is so feminine and he is so clumbsy.

My vet told me a couple of months ago he may end up being the alpha. I guess if it happens, it happens. I just don't want anybody hurt in the process.