Hello, I'm from Southeastern Massachusetts. My husband and I finally bought our first (and last!) house about a year and a half ago and have discussed a dog at length. After a LOT of discussion, we decided we both were drawn to Boxers and so here I am with some questions for all you Boxer owners.
First, some background about me and dogs. I had two dogs when I was growing up, the first a Beagle who died at age 16, the other a Collie/retriever mix who died at age 15. Both were considered to be "mine" and I was the one who trained them (sit, stay, heel, etc.) and those dogs were my best friends! When I moved away from home at 24, it was to an apartment where I couldn't have a dog, so I had at first a dwarf rabbit, then a cat, and eventually three cats, (still have all of the cats), but I've always longed for another dog.
Anyway, two of our cats are 12 years old (one male, one female) and the other (a female) is 6 years old. The male cat is a Siamese mix and my baby. He's had a rough last few years and spent three weeks in the hospital in Fall 2002 after a close call with a UTI and an incompetent vet:( He is an unusual cat who has more of a dog personality than a cat personality (and is very protective - we tell people he's part Pit Bull/part Siamese).
We're contemplating adopting a Boxer through a rescue organization, but I'm leary about introducing a grown dog to my cats (moreso my male cat than the two females, who are typical aloof cats). They've heard dogs in the neighborhood, but have never met one face to face. I grew up with both cats and dogs and know they would adapt (and in fact the two older cats have adapted over the years to the addition of another cat and my stepson moving in), but I would like to make the transition as smooth for everyone as possible. [Not that Junior (the male cat) is vicious and would "attack" the dog - I know he wouldn't and I wouldn't allow either of them into a situation where that would happen anyway].
In discussions with my husband, I had leaned toward a puppy, while he was leaning toward a dog a year or two old. One advantage to a puppy is that he/she would grow up with the cats. Also, I think the cats would be more receptive to a little newcomer as opposed to a great big one. My husband eventually won the argument, mainly because I don't see many puppies on the rescue sites; but then again, opting for a young dog also presents its limits in that we'd need a dog who's already been exposed to, and gets along with (or at least tolerates or doesn't bother with) cats. I couldn't really in good conscience try to adopt a dog that has no experience with cats - it wouldn't be fair to the dog, the cats, or us.
I guess my question would be - I'm sure there are some folks out there who've experienced this and could probably advise which would be a better situation. As to availability, I do now have the option of puppies - ironically, a friend mentioned that her co-worker has two Boxers and the breeder she got her dogs from has nine puppies (three brindle, three fawn, three white) that will be available in a few weeks.
Can anyone offer some insight?
First, some background about me and dogs. I had two dogs when I was growing up, the first a Beagle who died at age 16, the other a Collie/retriever mix who died at age 15. Both were considered to be "mine" and I was the one who trained them (sit, stay, heel, etc.) and those dogs were my best friends! When I moved away from home at 24, it was to an apartment where I couldn't have a dog, so I had at first a dwarf rabbit, then a cat, and eventually three cats, (still have all of the cats), but I've always longed for another dog.
Anyway, two of our cats are 12 years old (one male, one female) and the other (a female) is 6 years old. The male cat is a Siamese mix and my baby. He's had a rough last few years and spent three weeks in the hospital in Fall 2002 after a close call with a UTI and an incompetent vet:( He is an unusual cat who has more of a dog personality than a cat personality (and is very protective - we tell people he's part Pit Bull/part Siamese).
We're contemplating adopting a Boxer through a rescue organization, but I'm leary about introducing a grown dog to my cats (moreso my male cat than the two females, who are typical aloof cats). They've heard dogs in the neighborhood, but have never met one face to face. I grew up with both cats and dogs and know they would adapt (and in fact the two older cats have adapted over the years to the addition of another cat and my stepson moving in), but I would like to make the transition as smooth for everyone as possible. [Not that Junior (the male cat) is vicious and would "attack" the dog - I know he wouldn't and I wouldn't allow either of them into a situation where that would happen anyway].
In discussions with my husband, I had leaned toward a puppy, while he was leaning toward a dog a year or two old. One advantage to a puppy is that he/she would grow up with the cats. Also, I think the cats would be more receptive to a little newcomer as opposed to a great big one. My husband eventually won the argument, mainly because I don't see many puppies on the rescue sites; but then again, opting for a young dog also presents its limits in that we'd need a dog who's already been exposed to, and gets along with (or at least tolerates or doesn't bother with) cats. I couldn't really in good conscience try to adopt a dog that has no experience with cats - it wouldn't be fair to the dog, the cats, or us.
I guess my question would be - I'm sure there are some folks out there who've experienced this and could probably advise which would be a better situation. As to availability, I do now have the option of puppies - ironically, a friend mentioned that her co-worker has two Boxers and the breeder she got her dogs from has nine puppies (three brindle, three fawn, three white) that will be available in a few weeks.
Can anyone offer some insight?
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