PingsMomNiki
Boxer Booster
BOXERS ARE THE BEST FAMILY DOGS! Just Train early and get ready to have another child!
Is a Boxer right for my family?
- Thread starter Jiffer
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ssleighter
Completely Boxer Crazy
When we were designing our website, I found a very good article in Boxer Magazine titled "Are you ready?" I liked it so much I asked if we could use it on our site and was granted the permission to do so. You can read it here: http://www.savetheboxers.com/ready.html
As a person involved in rescue, here's my insight on your household.
You have an aging female, definately get a male boxer. You could potentially have dominance issues after the puppy grows up and realizes that the aging chow isn't so tough after all. Make sure that the pup does not have 24/7 access to the chows domain. Puppies can be very overwhelming for older dogs. She'll need space to get away from the pup.
You have a cat. Get a puppy or get a rescue dog that you KNOW gets along with cats. Most boxers have a very high prey drive, so adopting an older boxer with the cat would be difficult, yet not unheard of. Both of my rescues want to eat my cats, yet Hammer, who was raised with them likes to play with them. Your cat is already used to your dog, so the transition won't be too hard on him/her.
You children are at great ages to assist in working with your boxer on training issues. Make sure to involve them as much as possible.
In my humble opinion, male boxers are much more laid back than their female counterparts. My female is a live wire and can be quite snippy if she doesn't get her way. The boys just look at me, sigh, and go do something else.
Good luck! And thank you for doing the research before purchasing or adopting. So few do. We've had 3 boxers "owner surrendered" this month to area shelters for the following offenses:
Jumping on people
Jumping on the couch
Digging
Jumping on toddler and knocking them down
The latest is an adorable 8 month old male Harley. Their only crime is that they're boxers! Without proper guidelines and training, boxers will do these things. But that's a whole other topic.
As a person involved in rescue, here's my insight on your household.
You have an aging female, definately get a male boxer. You could potentially have dominance issues after the puppy grows up and realizes that the aging chow isn't so tough after all. Make sure that the pup does not have 24/7 access to the chows domain. Puppies can be very overwhelming for older dogs. She'll need space to get away from the pup.
You have a cat. Get a puppy or get a rescue dog that you KNOW gets along with cats. Most boxers have a very high prey drive, so adopting an older boxer with the cat would be difficult, yet not unheard of. Both of my rescues want to eat my cats, yet Hammer, who was raised with them likes to play with them. Your cat is already used to your dog, so the transition won't be too hard on him/her.
You children are at great ages to assist in working with your boxer on training issues. Make sure to involve them as much as possible.
In my humble opinion, male boxers are much more laid back than their female counterparts. My female is a live wire and can be quite snippy if she doesn't get her way. The boys just look at me, sigh, and go do something else.
Good luck! And thank you for doing the research before purchasing or adopting. So few do. We've had 3 boxers "owner surrendered" this month to area shelters for the following offenses:
Jumping on people
Jumping on the couch
Digging
Jumping on toddler and knocking them down
The latest is an adorable 8 month old male Harley. Their only crime is that they're boxers! Without proper guidelines and training, boxers will do these things. But that's a whole other topic.
Hs'ing Mom
Boxer Booster
Hi and welcome!
I have 2 toddlers, a 9 year old, 2 boxers, and a cat........and we homeschool also! LOL! I have two female boxers.
Our first boxer, Harley, is a fawn and will soon be one year old. She was extremely easy to train. I do have to watch her because she is a little *overly* protective.
Our second boxer, Chloe, is a white boxer with a brindle patch over one eye. This girl loves EVERYONE and EVERYTHING! LOL! She would probably lick a burgler to death instead of protecting the place.
Both of my girls are lazy one minute and then do boxer burns the next.
Good luck in whatever choice you make!
I have 2 toddlers, a 9 year old, 2 boxers, and a cat........and we homeschool also! LOL! I have two female boxers.
Our first boxer, Harley, is a fawn and will soon be one year old. She was extremely easy to train. I do have to watch her because she is a little *overly* protective.
Our second boxer, Chloe, is a white boxer with a brindle patch over one eye. This girl loves EVERYONE and EVERYTHING! LOL! She would probably lick a burgler to death instead of protecting the place.
Both of my girls are lazy one minute and then do boxer burns the next.
Good luck in whatever choice you make!
Mama_Zookeeper
Boxer Insane
appicon Kudos to you for doing your home work 1st!
We have 3 boys (11,6, almost 2) and 1 3 yo female boston terrier who was dominant over our cat. I do not regret bringing our boxer into this mix. He is now 1 yr old and after a lot of training for everyone skin & fur alike we have a happy mix. I would lean towards a male boxer because females together can be more problematic than a mix. Stick to your guns and teach the new pup who the leader is and use a crate for the few times when you will not be home. Please let us know what you decide to do. Good Luck!
Dora
We have 3 boys (11,6, almost 2) and 1 3 yo female boston terrier who was dominant over our cat. I do not regret bringing our boxer into this mix. He is now 1 yr old and after a lot of training for everyone skin & fur alike we have a happy mix. I would lean towards a male boxer because females together can be more problematic than a mix. Stick to your guns and teach the new pup who the leader is and use a crate for the few times when you will not be home. Please let us know what you decide to do. Good Luck!
Dora
boxerlove
Boxer Booster
Just want to second or third a few here.....I'm in rescue & I find the males to be less hyper & more snuggly.
Just from the limited info...I would say a male pup...however this is going to be a WORLD of a change for you......if you could find a mellow rescue fellow that liked kitties...you might be happier with that.....but it may take a little bit of time to find a match & your female Chow... she may or may not accept him...
If you go w/ a pup...you need to find a REALLY good breeder(see Boxerworld breeders link).....when you do..he or she will take the time to get to know you & help you pick a pup that will work. A good rescue will do the same....
Good Luck !
Just from the limited info...I would say a male pup...however this is going to be a WORLD of a change for you......if you could find a mellow rescue fellow that liked kitties...you might be happier with that.....but it may take a little bit of time to find a match & your female Chow... she may or may not accept him...
If you go w/ a pup...you need to find a REALLY good breeder(see Boxerworld breeders link).....when you do..he or she will take the time to get to know you & help you pick a pup that will work. A good rescue will do the same....
Good Luck !
lambeau'smom
Boxer Booster
First of all, again, good for you doing some research first. Secondly, we have such fun with our boxer! He is just over 9 months old. However, he is pretty high maintenance, I feel like. He is so playful all the time, which is fun, but with only 1 dog and no children, is a lot of work for my husband and me!
And ssleighter, I love that "Are you ready?" page. That is great! I want to add something to the part about liking the puppy stage and not counting the days until it ends. I would think a lot of people would say, "Ah, I love the puppy stage. I miss my dog being a puppy. I would love to have a dog that stays in the puppy stage for a while." The thing about a boxer is, they stay in that puppy stage until 2 or 3 years old..which means that you have that "puppy" stage in a very big dog body!! I think people sometimes forget that. Those things that were cute when the dog is a little puppy are not quite as cute when the dog is 65 pounds!
Just my two cents. The people on this site love this breed. We all love and adore our boxers...you just have to figure out if it would be right for you!
And ssleighter, I love that "Are you ready?" page. That is great! I want to add something to the part about liking the puppy stage and not counting the days until it ends. I would think a lot of people would say, "Ah, I love the puppy stage. I miss my dog being a puppy. I would love to have a dog that stays in the puppy stage for a while." The thing about a boxer is, they stay in that puppy stage until 2 or 3 years old..which means that you have that "puppy" stage in a very big dog body!! I think people sometimes forget that. Those things that were cute when the dog is a little puppy are not quite as cute when the dog is 65 pounds!
Just my two cents. The people on this site love this breed. We all love and adore our boxers...you just have to figure out if it would be right for you!
lambeau'smom said:
Well said! appicon I think that this is the reason that so many boxers end up as rescues, and get sent from one home to the other!
We know a boxer who had 8 different homes before she found the right one with our friends and guess what she has no "BAD" habbits or aggression issues she is only an active boxer with Separation Anxiety! well no wonder after being abandoned that many times! Good job for doing your homework and good luck!Shakira's Ma
Banned
I, like you, have an aging Chow and it is a female. She is 10 1/2 years old. My Chow has tolerated alot of pranks from my boxer, which is 11 months old and female BTW. I introduced my boxer to the Chow and our household when she was just 5 1/2 weeks old, I know way to young to leave their mother, but this was a time before I knew BW and about BYB and this breeder told me that the mom had quit feeding them and they had to go. I would say that it would be up to your particular Chow if you can introduce a male or female puppy or older dog. I don't believe that things would have been as smooth with the transistion if we had gotten a older boxer, as our boxer baby can be very dominating.
Jiffer
Boxer Booster
Thanks!
Thank you so much for all of your replies and tips. I will certainly check out the web links a couple of you posted, etc. I continue to lean toward the Boxer, but now have to decide on the right timing. Maybe after the chaos of the holidays is over. Do I really want a puppy eating my Christmas ornimants?!
I'd like to hear from more of you, so keep the tips and stories coming!
Blessings,
Jen
Thank you so much for all of your replies and tips. I will certainly check out the web links a couple of you posted, etc. I continue to lean toward the Boxer, but now have to decide on the right timing. Maybe after the chaos of the holidays is over. Do I really want a puppy eating my Christmas ornimants?!
I'd like to hear from more of you, so keep the tips and stories coming!
Blessings,
Jen
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