Giving up on the breed. Boxers need help

[My Boxer]

Yes they are with us for a short time. But there is nothing like a Boxer to make you smile: at their antics, that wrinkled brow, that head tilt, those floppy ears, the woo woo, that little nub and wagging their whole body and those kisses! And when they cuddle up next to you and give that sigh, all is good and right in the world! I have not had that feeling with any other breed. lovicon

 

[FletchersMom]

I was thinking that myself but I would rather have 6 years with a boxer then without one!!!

Roma, I couldn't agree more. I can't imagine, nor do I want to even think about it, Fletcher passing but he has given me more unconditional love and friendship in the past eight months thansome people have. I wouldn't trade that for anything. I will always be owned by a boxer.

 

[RMMRKK]

I do love the bread so much. There's nothing better to see at the end of a hard day then that smiling, over excited, butt shaking, yappy, crazy little girl that greets me at the door every time. She makes me laugh and puts a smile on my face too many times in a day to count.

So, the next time we decide to get a boxer, we should consult a breeder, ask about longevity, cancer and heart disease and then we should have a better chance of seeing our companion age to 12 and possibly 13?

What about rescueing a boxer? I've alway wanted to do my part and rescue. There's no garentee there.

There is no guarantee that dogs that have been tested are gonna live to 12 or 13. Its kind of like people.........just cuz cancer or a heart problem doesn't run in a family, doesn't mean that no one will ever have a heart attack. And remember 12 is the average life span........some will pass sooner and some will pass much later. I had a bulldog who passed on at 10 months of age, but yet I love the breed and refuse to give up on them, as not every dog will have the same health problems. I know your heart is broken, but with time, it does get easier and your love for the Boxer will prevail.

 

[RoxiesEcho]

If you truly love boxers, don't give up on them. The real truth is that no matter what breed or mix dog you have, they all die too soon. Watching my mom's standard poodle pass at 16 years old from old age or euthanizing my 13 year old german shepherd last August was not any easier because they lived beyond their so called life expectancy. My dh often tells my current kids that they aren't allowed to die ever! But the truth is, they are all dogs, and dogs don't live as long as we would like them to whether it be because of disease, accident or just old age. I'm so sorry for your loss and hope that whatever you decide to do you find the love and companionship you deserve.

 

[pmari3]

There are no guarantees in life with dogs or people. No matter what breed of dog any of us choose to share our life with, we always run the risk of loosing them too early. And whether it is 8 years or 14 years, the hurt is the same.

I know when I lost Virginia Mae it was the most heart wrenching lose I have ever known. But I knew I would get another dog soon, because the 10 years of unconditional love she gave me and the happiness I felt just touching her was worth every tear I shed. And even in death, she makes me smile just thinking about her

 

[porpulane]

Thank you everyone for you input. You are right, I need to stick with the breed that I love so much. I promise to do more research next time around.

I still have that nagging question about the European breeds......Do they have all the problems we do?

 

[JulieM]

They aren't free of problems, at any rate. I'd imagine the difference cancer rates is comparable to that between humans of the same areas. AS is a problem in Boxers in Europe, and spondylosis is a much larger problem there than it currently is here. I'm not sure if they're testing for ARVC at this point, but Frau Stockmann had dogs dying of "heart attacks" so I don't for a moment believe they're going to be entirely free of it.

 

[jimseabee]

TANSTAFAL there aint no such thing as a free lunch. Every thing has a cost. Loving these Boxers as much as we do costs us. because they become so much a part of our lives, it hurts painfully so to lose such a good friend. We have become so attached to ours, I get pains in my heart think about the short time I will have with him. I will not trade it for anything. I have a friend, a companion a light of love in my life.

things I learned from him

1. every day is play time

2. Greet everyone happily

3. love unconditionally

4. cardboard is a toy

5. act brave even if you are scared


As my DS wrote and I posted a while back:

Are you

depressed?

get a boxer

sad

get a boxer

adhd

get a boxer

lonely?

get a boxer

the list goes on


boxer cures what ails you.

 

[BabyGrlTerra]

They aren't free of problems, at any rate. I'd imagine the difference cancer rates is comparable to that between humans of the same areas. AS is a problem in Boxers in Europe, and spondylosis is a much larger problem there than it currently is here. I'm not sure if they're testing for ARVC at this point, but Frau Stockmann had dogs dying of "heart attacks" so I don't for a moment believe they're going to be entirely free of it.

No they're not testing for it and it is quite expensive (around $350), but if you are concerned you can see a cardiologist and have a echocardiogram done. That's what I did with Terra, because I do not know her family history and I know that boxers are prone to all kinds of heart diseases. Now I have peace of mind and know that she is all right. If you can afford it, it mights be a good ideea to get one done every year as the dog gets older, in order to catch early any problem that might arise.

 

[joncads]

They bring such job to your life in the years that they are with you though, so loving and so funny! Life would just be too dull with out them!