Pro's and Con's

[GIJohnny]

As I mentioned in my Introduction thread I have been around many boxers and have never had a bad thing to say about them. Now that I am actively looking to own one, I wonder what lies behind the closed door, so to speak. I mean, I'd imagine its similar to what people say about having children. They are wonderful until you have your own. LOL

So, what are the Pro's and Con's of owning a boxer. What are their common health and behavioral issues? Are there differences between the breeds, etc?

Any input is appreciated.

 

[Cami]

As far as I am concerned (and many here) there are NO OTHER breeds! I know that isn't politically correct, especially given that I work with animals for a living (all types/breeds). But there is just something about a Boxer....

That being said I will be the first to admit that they are not for everyone.
The majority are not only high energy and need more exercise than most healthy, fit adults can provide but some are just over the top hyper. I am on my 2nd hyper Boxer. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Most are stubborn to a fault....all will be at certain times in their life. Factor in their intelligence and it is a bad combination. My girl Cami was brilliant. Super smart and quick to learn. She kept me on my toes on a daily basis for her entire life. She just knew things and we had no idea how. My new pup, Raine.....her level of intelligence has yet to be determined however she studies things more than Cami ever did and I can literally see her wheels in motion as she tries to figure things out. I haven't decided if that is good or bad yet!

They are overloaded with MANY health problems. Cancer, heart, thyroid, digestion issues, allergies, etc....some health problems are easily managed with meds or other means but eventually it isn't out of the realm of possibility that you will deal with a major health crisis at some point. It isn't often (I didn't say unheard of), that a Boxer will just slowly fade away like some other breeds or even more often mixes. A much higher percentage can be expected to be stricken with a disease. It isn't IF but more often WHEN.

Certain Boxer lines have been known to live well into their senior years, reaching 12, 13 even 15 years of age but this isn't the norm. If you read through the various pages about health and then visit the Rainbow Bridge area you see that too many members here are losing their babies long before age 10. This is a sad reality. I have had multiple vets tell me that I need to pick another breed! No. Can. Do.

Some drool. Most have gas and the intensity varies. I have been lucky in this department with both of my girls. A little toot here and there with minimal smell... if at all. Some Boxers can clear a room or even the entire house!

They shed. Even though they have short hair you still have hair to deal with. You won't see big tumbleweeds floating through your house but you will be cursing the small hairs attached to things that don't like to let go of them!

They can provide you with hours of entertainment. They like an audience. The things they think to do are often times hilarious. They have many facial expressions. It is fun to learn what each mean.

They area not known to be big barkers however make up for it with a ton of other noises they make. Get two or more together and people might think you have a dog fighting ring in your yard!

They are obnoxious. Sometimes not in a good way. They can be quiet and almost cat like one minute and then create a ruckus in your house as they are bouncing around on furniture seeing how far they can get without letting their feet touch the floor. You will use many terms to describe them on any given day. Insane, crazy, nut-so, hyper, freak, etc...the list is endless.

They love to learn but seem to do so differently than most other dogs. Most people are taught to train dogs by repetition. Boxers tend to get bored with repetition. They will learn what certain sounds mean by repetition like when you get ready to feed them. They will know that it is time to eat but to get them to learn a behavior it is best to re-think the repetition thing. A bored Boxer is not a GOOD Boxer. A tired Boxer on the other hand is a sight to behold!

They can be destructive if they are allowed to get bored. Remember their high intelligence? When you put a smart dog in a bored dogs body you will not like what happens!

A happy, well trained, well exercised, TIRED Boxer is a wonderful thing. Nothing more precious in the world than a warm, cuddly, smooshy faced Boxer to share your life with and love. lovicon

My 1st Boxer literally changed my life. My entire world is a much better place because she was in it. I would NEVER in a gazillion years ever give up loving her and being loved by her. She made me a better person. A better pet owner and a better pet care provider. If anyone could have 1/2 the experience with their Boxer as I had with her then your life too would be better off because of those 5 letters....B-O-X-E-R.

 

[johann]

Pros:
*They are the goofiest, happiest dogs. I find it impossible to not smile when I'm around a boxer (unless Johann has done something on the "cons" list :).
*Smart
*Love to be around people (especially their people)
*They keep you active with their energy
*Good alert system (usually)
*Great at cuddling
*Slobbery boxer kisses
*Pick up new behaviors/tricks very easily (in my experience)
*Usually good with children and other dogs
*Ours can amuse himself with the simpliest things- a newspaper, cardboard box, new toy, etc
*Sweet and loving
*Low maintainence for grooming

Cons:
*You'll always want 1 more boxer than you have
*They drool and fart, but you get used to that quickly
*Prone to heart disease, cancer, and thryoid disease. If you decide to get a puppy, please, please go to subforums on puppies and how to choose a breeder.
*Require quite a bit of exercise and attention
*Can be stubborn
*Bratty adolescent period (9 months to a 18 months for Johann) when you wonder why you ever wanted a boxer
*Can be destructive (we lost a couch, coffee table, window sill, and kitchen cart. All our fault for lack of supervision and exercise....but still, big dogs to bigger damage to furniture)
*Hard to go for a walk anywhere without someone stopping to talk about boxers (OK, that's not really a bad thing :p )

Overall, they are certainly not the breed for everyone...but I cannot imagine having another type of dog. Johann was my husband and I's first dog (I had a GSD growing up, but she was more my dad's dog). It's been an experience, but we wouldn't trade him for anything in the world. He always wants to be with us, and will follow us from room to room. He was a terror as a puppy, but looking back, the majority of that was our fault and iinexperience with puppies.

It seems like the most common behavioral issues (based on the behavior and training forums) are jumping on people and teaching bite inhibition to puppies. It can also be tough to teach them that a polite dog greeting does not involve a right hook to the other dog's face.

They are great dogs and a lot of fun. Are you thinking of getting a puppy or an adult?

 

[Gatorblu]

Boxers are IMO the best dog ever! The biggest pros for me are they are fun loving, full of personality, loyal, playful, intelligent and when need be, protective. That being said, the intelligent and playfull can turn around and cause problems. Boxers need exercise and stimulation. If you are a couch potato type person, a boxer is not for you. If like to go for long walks, play ball and in general goof off and play, this is the dog for you! If your boxer doesn't get enough exercise and becomes bored, he/she will find something to do, and there is a good chance you won't like it. When I was in the hospital for a week and my husband would come to hospital after work and the dogs were home alone for way too long, I came home to a destroyed office. Their intelligence is sometimes mind boggling. My youngest at 8 mo's old had learned to work the latch on the gate, and the front door. Everything was locked down at all times after that. They can be willful and stubborn, which can make training...interesting and challenging. Boxers are also very social and want to be with "their people", so if you are looking for a "family member", one who will go places with you and curl up and snuggle with you, instead of a "pet" a boxer is a good fit.

As for health concerns there are a few. I read a statistic somewhere that 40% of all canine cancer is in a boxer. My vet said that unfortunately sounds about right. So if you get a boxer anytime you see a lump or bump that doesn't go away in a week or so have it checked out by your vet. Boxers also have a higher incidence of heart problems. many of them have allergies or sensitive digestion. Because boxers have short noses they also don't handle heat well. They can overheat faster then most breeds. Because of their lean bodies and short coats they don't do well in very cold weather either. Because of these two things boxers are not outside dogs! Both can be dealt with easily enough. In hot weather play early in the day or late in the evening. In the winter you can put a coat on them.

The best thing you can do if you decide to get a puppy is find a reputable breeder who does health tests. This will not guarantee a perfect dog dog totally free of any health issues, but it could lessen your chances of dealing with some of it. Better yet you could rescue a dog. There are far too many boxers in shelters because people didn't do their research and weren't prepared for all the attention and exercise a boxer might need.

I hope this helps. After all is said and done, even with the health issues, and the energy they need to burn up, I wouldn't have any other kind of dog! There is nothing like having a 70 lb lap dog full of wiggles and kisses! I have my 2nd and 3rd boxers now, and anything they have put me thru has always been more then paid 10 fold in the love and joy they have given me.

 

[GIJohnny]

Reading these replies brings a smile to my face. As I read through I was having flashbacks of my brothers boxer leaping from couch to couch and room to room as fast as he could. I have to agree that they are an amazing breed. My brothers dog now stays with my mom and he is sharp as a tack. He knows that every Sunday he gets to go for a car ride with my mom to the bagel shop after she gets home from church. He is even trusted enough to be let outside alone in an unfenced yard and stay within our property. He likes to sunbath under the palm trees and come in at his leisure. Our neighbors love him.

As I read through the con's I can honestly say that I am unafraid of the slight health risks. The flatulance is nothing new to me..and besides..who doesn't appreciate a good fart every now and again? HAHA The energy a boxer has is something I look forward to. It will provide me with a jogging/hiking buddy as well as give me a reason to go toss the ball at the park.

I just hope I am smart enough to keep him/her in line and entertained. I am thinking we will have to enroll ouorselves into an obedience class so we can learn the basics on how to train a puppy. The one thing I did not appreciate about my brother boxer was how he always pulled when I walked him. It was as if he was dragging me down the street. When I was younger I wisened up and would let him pull me around on my skateboard..he seemed to really like that.

 

[srennie]

I did a boxer puppy...once! And I will never do a puppy again. It was tough. We've had 3 boxers...our first was a rescue...the 2nd was the puppy....and of course the 3rd is a rescue. If you want to skip over the super crazy, psycho, destructive phase then check your local rescue. You will be amazed how many amazing, already trained boxers are waiting for a forever home. The strange thing was that I really thought I'd have a stronger connection raising a puppy but the 2 dogs I've had the deepest connection with were/are the rescues. Our first dog was so in tune with me that it was like I could talk to him in complete sentences and he knew exactly what I was saying. Our current girl is just my heart. We chose her because she had the energy level we knew our boston could handle and we could handle. When we were 'interviewing' dogs they brought them out one at a time. Darby was the first dog they brought out and it was love at first sight but we didn't want to leave without meeting a few others. Some came bounding out like kangaroos and we had them bring them right back in because we knew that energy wasn't for us. One other we really liked but when all was said and done we knew Darby was our girl.

Boxers are truly interactive dogs...they want your attention, they will literally 'talk' to you in their funny noises and there is nothing like it when you can get them to 'sing'. Get used to having a 'shadow' because they always want to be in the same room or as close to you as they can get...hence the term 'velcro dog'. The biggest con for us is the fact that we lost our first 2 to brain tumors. It is sort of a blessing and a curse though. Symptoms come on quickly so really they are just fine...until they aren't fine at all.

 

[johann]

Obedience classes are a great idea. There are quite a few no pull harnesses and head collars on the market to help you teach the dog to walk on a loose leash. I can't imagine if Johann really wanted to pull me around....I'd fall on my face.

The health issues can be decreased by getting your puppy from a reputable breeder that does health testing. Getting an adult or teenage boxer from a rescue is a great thing too, and you can skip the bratty (but cute) puppy stage.

It takes attention on your part to entertain a boxer, but it's always fun. Johann gets either an hour long walk a day, or a shorter walk and then play time in the backyard. We play fetch with him while we're watching TV or play tug during commercials. Going to obedience classes or agility tires him out quickly too. He has definitely made us more active, which is a good thing.

 

[GIJohnny]

We will consider the rescue option and see where that leads up. I think we are leaning more towards a puppy though. Mainly because I won't be home to go around and "interview" the dogs with my wife, she is looking to get a companion to keep her company until I return home. And I figure this way the pup will only be 6 or 7 months old when I get back. We aren't afraid to endure the bratty stage, in fact, to me it is an important part in learning who the dog really is.

 

[x19er]

Boxers are generally a fun loving happy dog. They stay young at heart till their old age and even then it's only their body that stops them from running round at high speed. Yes they have lots of energy, need plenty walks and attention but they are devoted to their family and we've never had one that slobbers or farts a lot! They do have health issues so make sure you do your research before getting your pup and good luck :D

 

[Sansal]

I think I remember from your introduction that you like hiking, camping and such, those are all great things to do with a Boxer and I am sure you will have lots of fun with your new companion.

There is some really good information here Boxer Dog FAQ - Meet the Boxer (choosing the right breeder/puppy)

Good luck!