hello, i am new here. i have a doberman, he's 2. he was supposed to be my trail dog, but he has a deformed leg and can't carry a pack. i am looking at getting another dog at some point and have been researching. my doberman we all love, but he is a little high strung/nervous around people. i would like a dog i can take out on the trail, hiking, camping, and be around people without worrying, but at the same time guard me if / when it is needed. i love the doberman breed and would like to look at a few others, before i decide which one i want to settle with. can anyone tell me if they have been around both breeds, compare the likes and differences? thanks in advance.
doberman vs boxer
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K8IE
Boxer Insane
We fostered a Dobe for a while and he was great, although he was very young while we had him. We had two Boxers at the time and they got along pretty well, although Zeus, (the dobe) was in the obnoxious puppy stage and got on the Boxers nerves at times wanting to play and not realizing what a big clumsy goof he was, very similar to a Boxer pup. 
He was a very good boy though and I sometimes wish we could have kept him.
We have our third Boxer now and I am of course very partial to the breed. (That is an understatement really...) I am sure that you would find a Boxer to be a wonderful partner for an active lifestyle, keeping in mind, however, their limitations as far as temps go, expecially heat. I don't know what type of weather you hike in, but Boxers overheat much easier because of their short noses, so that would be something you would want to be very aware of. As far as protection goes, Boxers are typically friendly to everyone, but are also very intuitive as far as threats go and will not hesitate if they feel the need to protect a member of their "pack" from danger. I am sure you will get lots of feedback from others... Just my 2cents.
He was a very good boy though and I sometimes wish we could have kept him. We have our third Boxer now and I am of course very partial to the breed. (That is an understatement really...) I am sure that you would find a Boxer to be a wonderful partner for an active lifestyle, keeping in mind, however, their limitations as far as temps go, expecially heat. I don't know what type of weather you hike in, but Boxers overheat much easier because of their short noses, so that would be something you would want to be very aware of. As far as protection goes, Boxers are typically friendly to everyone, but are also very intuitive as far as threats go and will not hesitate if they feel the need to protect a member of their "pack" from danger. I am sure you will get lots of feedback from others... Just my 2cents.
i have my limitations also, as far as hiking. so i doubt i will wear the boxer out. i live in texas, and it does get hot, and cold. the doberman is similar, in the extreme weather category, so i am aware of those factors. i have had a schnauzer for the last 13 years as my trail dog, and she was fun, but i wanted a bigger dog to carry a pack and go with me. are boxers accepted at camp grounds?? i have read that dobermans and rotts and such aren't, but i have lost the site where i found that at.
RoxiesEcho
Boxer Insane
Every campground is different about whether they allow dogs and if they do what breeds. If that is a concern might I suggest obedience training towards earning the Canine Good Citizenship award. More and more public places are requiring it if you want to take your dog with you. It is more prevalent out west but is moving eastward - not too many places require it here in Ohio but Bella has hers so now we are prepared.
WeasleRocky
Completely Boxer Crazy
seems my 2 cents were stated by another poster, my main concern would be the heat, the breathing thru their short snout, and overheating, I live in California and I guarantee you in the summer months my boxers were indoors 95% of the time due to the heat and humidity... I didn't blame them one bit, cuz their mamma was right beside them...
I am glad you are taking the time to do the research instead of just jumping into a commitment of a pet with blinders on like other people do...
I hope you find a great companion to go hiking and camping with...
keep us posted what you decide...
I am glad you are taking the time to do the research instead of just jumping into a commitment of a pet with blinders on like other people do...
I hope you find a great companion to go hiking and camping with...
keep us posted what you decide...
catcrazy56
Boxer Insane
I love dobermans too Foremans best friend is a dobe that lives across the street he is the most calmest well trained dog I know they love each other both are great dogs have the same climate expectations Foreman is liitle high strung but can out run the doberman Cooper my other boxer is not as fast but way more friendlier. My advice is find the right dog for you whether dob or boxer you need to find one that is not high strung and more friendlier my 3 are all so different all from different breeders find a breeder whose dogs have the personality you want. Both my dogs that I got from my favorite breeder have the best personalities the one has passed away and I now have his nephew and they are off the same personality and the most favored of my 3.
I won't buy from foremans breeder again because his personality isn't as good as Cooper and my angel at the bridge Harley. my other is a rescue from a puppy mill so she has issues but is still friendlier to strangers then my foreman.
I won't buy from foremans breeder again because his personality isn't as good as Cooper and my angel at the bridge Harley. my other is a rescue from a puppy mill so she has issues but is still friendlier to strangers then my foreman.
Shane72
Boxer Booster
I'm not too familiar with dobermans so I can't really compare the breeds but I can say that my two year old boxer absolutely loves hiking. We've hiked since he was a puppy and he's totally at home in the woods. We mostly hike the mountain bike trails where I live and he gets at least three times the exercise I get. We'll walk for two or three hours over fairly rough terrain and it doesn't wear him out. There is always a creek flowing close to where we are so he gets all the water he needs - plus he loves to play in the water. If we meet someone on the trail, I just whistle and Rocky runs back to me. Otherwise he just explores, always staying within my line of sight or just around a corner. He's always very friendly to anyone we meet.
I think as long as you make sure he/she has plenty of water and doesn't get too hot or cold, a boxer will probably meet your needs and then some. But of course every dog is an individual and I think boxers are more unique than most, so as far as their personality around people, they will vary by their particular temperament, training, experiences, etc.
I think as long as you make sure he/she has plenty of water and doesn't get too hot or cold, a boxer will probably meet your needs and then some. But of course every dog is an individual and I think boxers are more unique than most, so as far as their personality around people, they will vary by their particular temperament, training, experiences, etc.
i have a boxer and a dobie my boxer is 4 and we think kane the dobie is around 2 they are both great dogs but my boxer is the shy one,he runs and hides on people and the dobie loves everyone, they have had a few spats with each other but nothing to bad..
i live in iowa and i tell ya in the summer my boxers only want to go outside for short periods at a time one lap around the yard and thier ready to come in..i would suggest alittle more seserch into breeds that can take the heat better, i know you said you don;t go long but it realy would not take long for them to over heat..
good luck
i live in iowa and i tell ya in the summer my boxers only want to go outside for short periods at a time one lap around the yard and thier ready to come in..i would suggest alittle more seserch into breeds that can take the heat better, i know you said you don;t go long but it realy would not take long for them to over heat..
good luck
Shane72
Boxer Booster
I should definitely clarify my last post in that I just meant to say that the hiking itself shouldn't be a problem at all. I agree with all the previous posts about the temperature limitations. I generally will not take Rocky hiking if it gets above the low to mid 80's. And even then, it's because it's usually cooler in the woods and as stated we hike near flowing water so he can regularly cool himself by drinking and playing in the water.
Temps in the 70's, he can run and play for hours, no problem. In the 80's he wears out more quickly so we keep walks short and i make sure I have plenty of water either carried or available. In the 90's he pretty much goes out to potty and is ready to come back into the AC. Now cold weather doesn't seem to bother him near as much. Maybe it's because I'm not good with cold weather and he's less affected than I am.
Temps in the 70's, he can run and play for hours, no problem. In the 80's he wears out more quickly so we keep walks short and i make sure I have plenty of water either carried or available. In the 90's he pretty much goes out to potty and is ready to come back into the AC. Now cold weather doesn't seem to bother him near as much. Maybe it's because I'm not good with cold weather and he's less affected than I am.
chrystel
Boxer Insane
i live in Texas with 2 boxers...
hmmm... Snatch almost died of heat stroke in october 2005 :eek:
we were hiking in the paloduro canyon.. it wasn't that hot at all... we had plenty of water...
it just was too much after maybe.. 1hour.... he was dragging behing me on his leash.. and then suddenly collapsed!! :eek: we got so scared!!!! :(
i would consider another breed.. because the ability of "hiking, carrying backpack and protection" really depends on the individual boxer...
Snatch is a good watch dog.... but he can be a really sissy at times!!
hmmm... Snatch almost died of heat stroke in october 2005 :eek:
we were hiking in the paloduro canyon.. it wasn't that hot at all... we had plenty of water...
it just was too much after maybe.. 1hour.... he was dragging behing me on his leash.. and then suddenly collapsed!! :eek: we got so scared!!!! :(
i would consider another breed.. because the ability of "hiking, carrying backpack and protection" really depends on the individual boxer...
Snatch is a good watch dog.... but he can be a really sissy at times!!
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