New to boxers- questions in general

[Garrick27]

EDIT - I hit enter too early - more questions added.

Hello - I've been lurking for a time now and here's my first post. I'll expain a little of my background and then ask a few questions on the breed.

I was raised around big dogs - mostly what I call old-style german sheppherds (big, square built dogs that were spooky-smart) and dobermans too. I was always enchanted with their intelligence and stability (the dobes could be sneaky, but not with us- with people outside the family).

So, flash to the present. I'm in my 30s, I still love dogs and my wife and I have just had our first son, Zack. We are living in an apartment but a house is close on the horizon.

Neither my wife or myself fear dogs and we understand the behavior of dogs, so even a willful dog wont be a problem. I just want one that will be safe around Zack. (FYI Zack is just a month old - getting the dog is a prospect maybe 6-10 months from now)

I've done alot of research on different dogs and I've decided on the Boxer due to a number of points-

- asthetically, I love the sleek looks, muscular build, brindle coat and 'I mean business' head of the Boxer.
- ease of grooming
- stability- many of the big dogs I enjoy (black russian terrier, G. shnauzer, dobe, GSD, Shilloh etc) can have issues with sharpness and children. I'd rather hedge my bets and make sure I have a dog that is not going to go for Zack. Of course I know this is largely dog to dog, but in general from what I've been reading boxers are very babe friendly.
- intellegence and trainability - I've seen schautzhund(spelling) videos, obedience videos and the 'circus dog' lore of old on boxers. Stupid dogs can do these things ;-)
- protective instincs

All in all, for me, the boxer seems the perfect fit. I do have some questions though.
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1. I know these dogs are smart and trainable. I'm curious about how easy they train. My GSDs were always very quick to learn and eager as well. I've heard some issues with stubborness in Boxers. I can be patient so I'm not worried, I just want a realistic expectation set, so I know how demanding to be of the dog. FYI I am curious about obedience trials, but have no set plans at this time. Mainly, the training I'm talking about will be for my leisure and to ward off boredom for the Boxer (a bored smart dog can get pretty destructive - many working breeds need to feel useful or they get twitchy and can chew, dig, howl etc.)
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2. Any quirks to the breed I should know about? I.E. Rotts tend to bodycheck you (herding cattle instinct), border collies stare you down, etc. I know Boxers jump... and Woo-Woo (hehe love that term)... anything else that you can think of that I need to watch for in terms of dealing with a little kid? Rotts can be trained to not slam into you as much, so I'm thinking of things that may be unintentionally dangerous for the little guy. Of course I know to never leave pup and babe alone - just thinking ahead ;-)
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3. Brindle - Ive seen alot of really dark brindles here on the site, but I think I'm more partial to the lighter varieties - it seems the swirling stands out on them more. Are lighter brindles more rare, less desireable etc? Or did I just miss them in the gallery. Pics! I need PICS! hehe
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4. Book recommendations. I'm looking for suggestions on books to read on the breed. There are many useless dog books out there, so help me get the good stuff!
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5. Temperment - male vs females. Some breeds vary greatly, others the debate rages on. Where do Boxers stand? Are any traits in males/females more prevalent in general, or does it vary dog to dog... sweet/prey-driven/guard instinct/trustworthy/mellow-hyper/

In general terms its always seemed to me in my experiences that female dogs were less goofy, more responsible, males tend to want to wander stray away more, more aloof... again I know this can very, but this is my perspective, so let me know how Boxers fare. I guess My question more to the point is 'which sex (if any) is a more sweet, lovy-dovy, and gentle (yet protective) house pet?
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6. Price - I'm not too worried about this. I'm comfortable so its not an issue, and in fact I believe you have to pay a little more for better quality (someone that has taken the time to breed for soundness and health, knowing the genetics of their dogs etc). I'd just like to see what these dogs are going for.
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7. Breeders in Maryland/Virginia - I live in western Maryland, and work in Northern Virginia. So I'm looking for breeders that can help me select the perfect pup for our family.
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8. Any links to sites that you have found helpful to you!

Ok that's all my questions for now... no really I mean it.

 

[newmommytwin]

HI!!

I am new to the dog world - and have chosen to live in Boxer Land!!

I am a researcher by nature and have purchased "Training Your Boxer" by Joan Hustace Walker and a I will be getting "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson. There are many more experienced people on this great site and I will bow out and let them reply with more knowledge!!!!

XOXO

Congrats on your son!!!

 

[l0v1n6b0x3r5]

questions answered

For your second question I dont really have the answer to. I have only had libby for 1 1/2 weeks now.

Training: We have already taught Libby how to sit and laydown. She is very smart and willing to please. You just have to learn what their incentives are. Libby's is food. Some dont care much for a snack so their favorite toy or a pat on the head is always good. Boxers I have learned are extremely smart and learn quickly. We are starting to train Libby on the Bell to let us know when she has to go out.

Books: My favorite was Boxers for Dummys & Boxers - A family favorite.

Denver & DJ
Liberty's Parents

 

[Angie K]

Hi I don't have any real answers for you just my experiences. I grew up with Miniature Poodles (Easy to train, small etc.) The last 2yrs we have had Marine our female and just 3 months ago we adopted Caspian 2yr old male.
I have found that each seems to take training different. Female was very fast at learning what you wanted her to do. She had sit, sit pretty, shake, and roll over down pat within one week. She does not like repetition. She gets antsy and will break her stay etc. The male on the other hand seems to get everything very quick and is more focused on the human but he tends to give you a look like OOKAAY I GUESSS I'LLL SITTTT. and does it slower. Where the other will do it instantly. He also keeps his stays and downs until he is released. As far as kids go I have 2 boys 10&14, Great with both. And recently had my 2yr old nephew for a visit for 2wks. They had never been around a child so young and I was prepared for the worst. Neither of them even attempted to take his cheerios out of his hands or knock him over. They were angels. Marine the female who is the more hyper one even sat in front of him waiting patiently as if she was asking for a treat. As for jumpin up on you that is a given but to stop it we immediately ignored them when we first got in the door and they learned that if they jump I or whom ever is coming in the door will walk away and ignor them. Our female was the culprit there and she got that within 2wks and has not jumped up on me when I walk in the door since. Both of them do great KidneyBean Dances though. They look like donuts sometimes.

 

[Kali's Mom]

Welcome

Welcome to BW and good luck with your search on your new Boxer.

To answer some of your questions....I will try my best:

1.) As far as training goes I believe the obvious...every dog is different. As far as how easy it is, I guess it depends on the time and paitence you have. From your comment it doesn't seem like you're worried about that. Kali and Gia are both stubborn but when it came to training Kali it was good. She listens very well but my husband worked with her a lot. For example: We do not have a full fenced in yard. He trained her to not leave the yard. She did very well with this with maybe little slip ups here and there. To this day she has not left the yard in about 8 mo. if not more. appicon It just takes time. With Gia it was a little different training her because she was adopted. She listens and pretty much follows Kali's moves when it comes to commands. She doesn't leave the yard because Kali doesn't leave the yard. Like I said tho, they are stubborn at times. There are times where you tell them something and they act like you're not even around, . Gotta love them!:rolleyes:

2.) Not sure about the quirk thing. I've had Boxers for over 2yrs now and I think everything they do is a quirk, haha. They wiggle, they woo woo, they do things that you truly have to laugh at. We personally do not have kids but we have a lot of neighbor kids (toddlers included) and my girls are great with them. Kali is a jumper (that's been a long 2yrs of trying to get her to stop that) but if you tell her no she's good. She has never knocked down any kids. Gia is the more subtle one. Walks up to you, sniffs you and then walks away. They do truly have their own indiviual personalities.

3.) The dark brindles are usually known as reverse brindles. I have a brindle that is not reverse, which I believe is what you're looking for. I'm not sure how hard they are to find but I have noticed that when I do see a brindle it usually is reverse.

4.) Book recommendations. I know there are a lot of people that have posted some good books to read but I researched websites. Mainly this one of course before we got a Boxer and even before we brought her home.

I do wish you luck with your search. I hope I was of some type of help and keep us posted with your decision!

Melaina-Kali and Gia

 

[Smooshie]

First off, congrats on your new baby boy!

You are correct, Boxers are known for their patience and devotion to children...if you haven't already, you may want to browse thru the "Boxers and Children" section of this board...there are some wonderful threads there about raising your "kids" together.

As far as stubbornness, you are also correct What I have found with my two (I have a male and a female) is that they learn VERY quickly...if you figure out what motivates them. My boy is play motivated....you could wave a cookie in his face all day long ..he could care less, but he'll do backflips (well...slight exaggeration, but you get the picture) for a game of tug. My girl is more food motivated. When she first came to live with me (she was a rescue) she had ZERO obedience training. within 15 minutes of working with her, she caught on to "sit" , "down" and "shake"....and she retained it.

When it comes to quirkiness....well Boxers are eternal clowns...that is what makes them so special....they show human-like emotion, and seem to be able to read your mood and know exactly what you need (whether it be a laugh, a cuddle, or a famous Boxer "hug"). You will at some point witness the "Boxer burn" (running full tilt like the devil is chasing them), the WooWoo song, the "kidney bean dance," and some pretty contortionistic sleeping positions. Keep in mind they are considered a "velcro" breed...they want to be with their family ALL the time, so if you don't want a clingy dog, don't get a Boxer.

Overall they are an amazing breed...I have raised my son with Boxers, and would never consider a different dog

You are in for the ride of your life !

 

[pyermoli]

WElcome to BW. I am also in NOVA!!! There is a good book out there called "The Truth about Dogs" I think it's a good read on dogs in general. It even has a boxer on the front cover. Boxers tend to lean as well as jump, if you have a baby that might be a problem, but it seems boxers know the difference between adult and baby. For example when I take Oscar out and he encounters a child he won't stick his face in the kids face or jump on them or react in the same way that he would with an adult. Oscar was pretty easy to train, but he is the only experience I have had training boxers. Not as easy as say a lab. He is disciplined when he wants to be, but i trained him myself and he has become a very obedient and relaxed dog. Anyway, I don't know if this helps! I wish you all the luck in the world with both the new baby (congrats! by the way) and any other additions you might make.

 

[Lael]

Garrick,

You've got some great, detailed questions there! I certainly cannot answer them all for you, but I can add my 2 cents.

1. Lael knew 'sit' from 9 weeks old. She understood 'down', 'come', 'drop it', 'din din' (translation: "ok, you can eat now"), 'bano' ("go to the bathroom"), and 'no' by the tender age of 12 weeks. Of course, consistency is reinforcing these now. In our dog training class, she is by far the quickest learner. She just get's it faster.

2. Lael follows me around everywhere. I mean everywhere. She is fine being alone, and hasn't experienced any kind of separation anxiety. But whenever I'm home... she has to be with me at all times. It's a fun quirk.

Hope this helps answer #s 1 & 2. Hopefully someone with more knowledge can help you out with the last ones. And welcome to the wonderful world of Boxers.

Cat & Lael

 

[Garrick27]

The leaning and velcro sounds like classic doberman so I've been there. =) good info. keep em coming!

 

[Smooshie]

just to add on...

I went back and read your additional questions, I don't have answers to all of them, but I can offer insight on some...

as far as the male-female temperament differences, you may want to check out this thread we had going the other day.....you might find it helpful:

http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58049

I think it depends on the dog, although a lot of people , including myself, seem to find that the females are fiestier and the males more laid back. I know MY female is much more dominant, demanding of attention, protective, and prey driven than my male.....but she is also a total cuddle bug.
My male is more mellow....LOVES to play, and give hugs but is not so "in your face" as my female.

when it comes to reputable breeders in your area, or price of a well bred puppy...can't help you on that one, both my "kids" were rescues. I would contact your local kennel club for references to local breeders, or go to a dog show and talk to the breeders there...this is also a great opportunity to see the dogs firsthand. If you don't have your heart set on a puppy, you could always check out Boxer rescue in your area. their babies come temperament tested and fully vetted. Just a consideration...

Hope this helps