Introducting new boxer to lab

[shouse]

I'm going to be the proud owner of an 11 month old white boxer on Friday!! Can't wait! She's non-altered. I have a 13 year old toy poodle, Samson, who is an altered male and has accepted many animals into his life with the greatest of ease. I also have an 8 year old altered black lab, Hotdog, who has also accepted other animals very well. I'm taking in a boxer who has grown up with an 8 year old boxer female and has just been introduced to their new chihuahua and all went well. She new it was tiny and treated it like it was tiny. She's also grown up around 3 kids and has done well with them. She's been introduced to me at my friend's gatherings at her house but it's been long enough that she probably doesn't really remember us well.

In your opinion, how do you think this new introduction will go? Sounds like things should go well. I'm just not totally up on the boxer temperament to know what to expect. Should I keep her inside away from the lab for a bit? I've never known Hotdog to have any aggression.

Thanks,
Susan

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

If they are meeting in neutral territory, that is the best situation. Ideally an off leash park where they can take their time and get acquainted without restraint or fear and can either take their time or do what they individually need to do to be comfortable with the newcomer.

The one thing to remember about boxers is that they love to play and are very, VERY exhuberant and vocal and physical in play. They sound terrible at times and are very energetic and get up on their hind legs and box and so forth. We boxer owners are quite used to it and know it to be normal Boxer Behavior.

HOWEVER, other dogs (and people) don't always understand and show signs (often very subtle and hard to distinguish for humans) that they want no part of the Boxer's antics. Boxers are pretty stubborn as well and some may not read those signs and continue trying to engage another dog in play until fighting breaks out.

So it is important to remember to watch carefully the body language of the other dogs, make sure that you redirect over-exhuberance of the Boxer to another activity if the other dogs show stress or discomfort or fear or any other emotion/behavior that is troubling.

Best of luck with this house o dogs!