Originally posted by calibox559
Hello everyone! My girlfirend and I are thinking of buying a boxer pup. However we have a big dilemma about how to raise our pup. People buy dogs for all kinds of different reasons and I believe that the boxer being a working dog we should raise him to behave a certain way, i.e. to protect us and to follow our commands without questioning them. Now, hold on a second here I am not trying to create some narcotics-snifing superdog. I just have high expectations from a working breed like a boxer. Now on the other hand my g/f being a woman she says that she will overspoil him to death. Needless to say I don't think that would be the greatest idea on earth, and frankly it kinda upsets me. I believe that ANY dog should be loved but it seems to me as if she is mistaking loving a dog with overspoiling it. My argument with her is that if she wants a dog to spoil she should get a little one like a I don't know whatever the small ones are. So my question is (especially to the owners who are females) when you were raising your puppy did u overspoil him like my g/f wants to, and if you did how did they turn out? My biggest concern is that my dog is going to grow up to be a sissy if he's been overspoiled as a pup. It doesn't matter what the sex of the dog is but we are thinkin of buyin a male so I'm thinkin of raisin him even tuffer than if we were to get a female. Thank you for your feedback and advice.
Ok, you're not going to like what I have to say, but I'm going to say it anyway. THIS IS MY PERSONAL OPINION, so take it or leave it.
You have received some good advice above. I hope you are reading and taking notes.
IT IS MY OPINION, HOWEVER, that neither you nor your girlfriend are suitable people to own Boxers.
First off, if your g/f wants a dog to spoil, she should have done her research and if she had done so, she would have found that the "toy" breeds are best for her. These dogs are bred to be spoiled and pampered and if that is what she wants, she should look into those types of dogs. Also, she should have done some study on canine health and the specific breed's medical and genetic disease history before deciding that she wants to feed a dog table scraps. This is not always a very healthy thing to do and could lead to all kinds of problems for any dog.
She should get her own dog and you should get your own dog. Two dogs can get along under the same roof.
No, as to you. You say because a boxer is a working dog you expect this and that from him. WRONG!!! Boxers are bred to be INDEPENDENT GUARD DOGS, not attack dogs, and not sporting dogs, police dogs (although they can be trained for that sort of work). More research on your part is needed on just what constitutes a "working class" dog. ALL DOGS NEED A JOB and it is our responsibility to give the dog a job that he is bred for and can handle with ease and efficiency.
As said above, a Boxer is not a breed that will follow your command always, the instant you give it. If this is what you expect, you don't want a boxer. Boxers require continual, life-time reinforcement of their obedience training. They are very smart, but they are also BRED to be INDEPENDENT in their jobs (guarding and warning), so they don't always obey immediately nor will they ever since their breeding sometimes will override what you may want at the time.
Again, I think you need to do A LOT MORE RESEARCH and STUDY of dogs and dog breeds before making a life-altering decision such as getting a dog or dogs. Make SURE it is the right dog for what you expect. From what you've written, boxers are not the right dog for you or your girlfriend.
As for the male/female issue. Females are less affection (generally speaking) and more aggressive in protecting the home and hearth. Males seem to be more laid back and affectionate. So if you think "overspoiling" a dog will make him a sissy, you need to do more research.
Dogs are like children. Each has its own personality and as it grows and matures, taking into account the environment in which it was raised, the dog will become its own "person" so to speak. Just as children, they are individuals and have some traits of each parent, but overall, they are their own distinct person. Same with dogs. Not much you can do about that. So, basically you are taking your chances with a dog that you may expect to be "macho" or whatever you consider the opposite of "sissy" to be, who may turn out to be a big ole mush who rolls over on his back at the first sign of trouble. This is not something you can train out of a dog. A dog is who a dog is. We can only teach them to make associations to certain behaviors and perform those behaviors when given the command. And even then, what with individual dogs' personalities involved, you may get a brilliantly obedient boxer, or you may get one who seems to never learn and never follow your command. Just read some of the stories and posts by members here of the problems they have with their "working" dogs.
And another note: If your major concern in owning a dog is that he will "grow up to be a sissy" then YOU need to grow up a whole lot before you even attempt to own and raise a dog. Buying a dog to assert your own "macho" attitudes is just plain wrong! Dogs do not think in those immature terms and therefore don't understand "sissy" from any other personality trait. They simply are who they are. They have strong and deep emotions and express them in many ways. OUR job is to provide a loving, PROTECTIVE and nurturing HOME for our pet, not to gratify some ego quirk or displace some sexual identity problem we may have. This is not the burden of a working class dog, this is the job for you and your mental health professional.
If you want some snarling protective dog, then don't get a boxer because you'll be very, very disappointed. Look into other breeds that are perhaps more suitable for your ego. Boxers are LOVING dogs, not fighting dogs. FAMILY dogs, not snarling guard dogs. PEOPLE LOVING DOGS, not biting, chasing and attacking dogs.
Please do as much research as you can on dogs in general, dog health, and any and all breeds that might be of interest to you. But from what you've written, I think you need to rethink Boxers long and hard before going out and getting one, especially sharing one with another person who has totally opposite views on dogs as you do.
And while you're at it, do a lot of study and research on YOUR OWN reasons for wanting a dog. Is it for the dog, for companionship, for fun, or do you just HAVE to have some snarling guard dog for protection because you live in a crime ridden area or something. A dog should be best suited for your life and lifestyle, and should be the breed that is BRED for the type of "work" you expect of him. Make sure you know all you can possibly know about a specific breed before making a decision that you will have to live with for many, many years thereafter.
Sorry if I came across harshly, but I feel very strongly about this and would truly hate even more to read you got a boxer, then found out it wasn't the dog for you or your g/f (as it likely won't be) and you have to get "rid of it." If you do your work before hand, you will have a life time of enjoyment from the right pet that you select. If not, you have started a dog out on a very horrible path in life of abandonment, distrust and fear. Is that fair to do to a dog because he turned out to be a "sissy?" I think not.
Good luck in your research.
, have to agree with Jac,
