What age did your puppy become "dog"?

[ecre]

Philo, who is 19 weeks, just suddenly seems so "dog". He is still puppy, but he just seems to read our energy and mood. Oh, everyone is busy, I'll play with my toys or chill nearby. This last weekend, my husband and I were actually able to have a cup of coffee while he just lounged nearby. Prior to this, he is usually running around, getting into stuff, etc. first thing in the morning (esp. weekend mornings when we sleep a little later). I thought, well, he's growing and probably just tired, but it's continued so far this week. Yesterday afternoon, we had a huge storm and we didn't get him out for his usual 15-30 minutes of active play. Plus, I'm home with him, but yesterday, I had to go out and he was crated for about 5 hours but still, he was super chill in the evening.

I guess I'm asking this because my previous boxer was my first dog and I remember being so overwhelmed at first. I don't remember when it happened, but I think with him it was somewhere around the 6-8 month age where it just suddenly seemed so much easier. His personality and temperament was very much like Philo's. He was not one of those crazy, energizer bunny boxers and Philo doesn't seem to be either (I'm reserving judgment on this for now because we are entering the teen stage).

I was with the first dog like I am with Philo and maybe it's just the ongoing training, the time I'm able to spend with them and/or that neither of them were crated much during the day and so are able to release their energy in spurts in the day that makes them so calm; and being with me all day and the fact that I set boundaries, they both knew/know what to expect at a young age. Still, I'd be curious to know your experiences in seeing your puppy beginning to make the transition from full on puppy to more dog like behavior?

 

[Gatorblu]

When I saw the title of your post I had to laugh. "I was thinking I will have to let you know when or if it happens." After reading your post it got me thinking and trying to remember when Arabella settled down. She understood basic commands and usually listened to them by around 5 months. That didn't mean she stopped getting in trouble by them. Her whole first year was an adventure, and she literally got up with the sun. I had to get black out curtains in my bedroom to get her to sleep past sunrise. And she is still doing things that get her into trouble and she is 7 years old. On the other hand Thor was a calm puppy from the beginning and rarely got into anything he wasn't suppose to. My first, Star was so sickly at first I was so happy when she was well enough for puppy antics that I didn't do much to squelch them. Her temperament though, was somewhere between Thor and Arabella. I think she settled into a routine about the time I went back to school and then work. She was about 6 months then.

 

[sandy's mom]

My Bella is 2 and a half and is still so puppy. She always wants to play and is always up to something, always excited and happy.
So, this may be a phase your puppy is going through.
Boxers do not mature fast... well, I have never had one that did...

Good luck with your baby..

 

[Jan]

Boxers are puppies for life. They just turn into better behaved puppies.

Allie will be a year old on Apr 30th. She finally starting to behave herself.

 

[Jinnytee]

I have one of the calm ones too Luna is now 6 months old, and honestly she is the best behaved puppy I have ever owned ! She is my first boxer, so having researched, I was mentally prepared to tackle lots of mischief and uber-playfulness ..... but we have never had any issues at all with biting, chewing or taking things she shouldnt, she is obedient, responsive, and has a really placid temperement ....but still has all those playful and quirky qualities that make boxers so special.

I have training since she was small also, plus like your pup, she is not crated in the day and is around her people, and there are other things in our lifestyles, that could make me think I could take some credit for her good behaviour ...... but really, she has been like this since we got her at 8 weeks, so I think it's just genetic, and we have been lucky

 

[Cami]

Hum........
Raine will be 4 years old in a few months.
She is still 100% knucklehead puppy.
She just knows more now than she used to.

 

[Roge]

Roge is 6 and is a very sensible when he,s asleep ha ha
I saw a post on facebook a while back ,it was a photo of a dog running full speed and the caption was

"" Live life like someone left the gate open ""

and thought ha ha that's my Boy !!!!