Boxer Dog - Help

[npope]

I am looking to get a dog, this will be our first dog as a family, I have three kids and 2 cats. I would love a short haired dog and have always loved Boxer dogs since I was little. Anyone out there got a boxer and if so are they a good dog for a fmaily and also fun to be with.

I have a good size garden but my house backs on to national trust land so lots of walking, my wife is at home so no leaving the dog alone.

Thanks

[Famous Graham]

Lovely dogs. Utterly bonkers though, they never really grow up

[npope]

Famous Graham said:

Lovely dogs. Utterly bonkers though, they never really grow up

My wife was right, she thinks they look like me and if what you say is true act just like me

Thanks

[m3ser]

Friends have a Boxer......gorgeous dog, great with the kids, but banned from the local park due to her inappropriate behaviour

[SeeFive]

Fantastic Dogs. Completely dopey, loyal, great with kids, playful and become very protective of the family unit.

Downside - can be a bit slobbery - come in from the rain for a shake and blast slobber all up the hall walls.

Neither the white one nor the brindle I have experience of liked alsatians or golden labradors. Other than that, very sociable with other dogs - unlike my current antisocial brat of a westie!

[Reidy10_0]

Great Dogs, good personality but bloody crazy.

I think famous graham is spot on, they never grow up.

How about a Staffordshire bull terrier?

They say that if your write a list of things you would want in the perfect dog it will tick more boxes then any other.

Short hair, low maintenance, good with kids, loyal, loving, they don’t eat much, they don’t need a lot of exercise. Etc etc.

Edited by Reidy10_0 on Tuesday 2nd September 13:37

[ali_kat]

Famous Graham said:

Lovely dogs. Utterly bonkers though, they never really grow up

Tend to be a bit stupid too - really don't like playing hide and seek

[C C]

Lost one of my boxers, Molly, aged 11, a few weeks ago. She was a fantastic dog, a real character. Mad as a box of frogs but very clever, she could open the fridge - but would only do so if you were in the room and if there were sausages in there (she wouldn't help herself - too polite- but would stick her head in and out of the fridge then look at you repeatedly, basically shamelessly begging until you handed over a sausage). She would also tap on the bedroom door at night if she needed to go outside. Molly used to visit school with me sometimes and loved being around children and loved to play, they make great family dogs. Boxers have such human eyes and expressive faces. They do snore loudly though and are not a dog for the house proud. Not a dog hair issue as with some breeds but the slobber is quite something especially when they shake and spray it up your walls or wipe it on your jeans.
I have a second boxer, Charlie, aged 6 and I am still waiting for him to calm down (boxers stay puppy like for almost all their life and then suddenly go elderly overnight and slow a tiny bit - so a few more years of madness left yet I suspect!). He is completely mad and very excitable, especially if he sees another dog, but is also one of the nicest natured dogs I have ever met. He is so soft and gentle and loves his cuddles. In my experience boxer bhes (stupid swear filter!) are little easier to train and handle than dogs - but that might just be my two!
I have owned other breeds but cannot imagine not having a boxer in my life & I can't tell you how much I miss Molly - she was a hugely important part of my life.
Finally if you do want a boxer please consider rescue - there are loads in breed rescue needing a new home. Most are there through no fault of their own due to family break ups and the good breed rescue folks usually home foster boxers so they really get to know the dogs temperament and can assess their level of temperament. My french bulldog was a rescue, I got her when she was 6 months old - fully house trained, well behaved, fab with my other dogs, no issues or problems and she is now a therapy dog (visits schools and hospitals etc). Look at this poor boy in Battersea - just a year old http://www.boxerrescue.co.uk/Rescues/benson.pdf

[RDMcG]

I have a had three. Agree on utterly bonkers. Play maniacs, fabulous with kids, utterly reliable,good guard dogs too.

Downside can be that they can be iffy with other dogs. Also they need to be trained properly as they are so playful. Spend the time to train them as pups and it will be well repaid.

[spivvy]

echo everyone else's sentiments a lovely family dog but loopy and jumpy and don't grow up

http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=digitbo...


some videos's of our new baby she is 7 months old now and still daft

Edited by spivvy on Tuesday 2nd September 14:08

[npope]

thanks Everyone just need the wife to be 100% sure now hopfully reading this she might change her mind

Edited by npope on Tuesday 2nd September 15:58

[NickFRP]

i have a 2 1/2 year old White boxer called molly. she is ACE,

[npope]

C C said:

Lost one of my boxers, Molly, aged 11, a few weeks ago. She was a fantastic dog, a real character. Mad as a box of frogs but very clever, she could open the fridge - but would only do so if you were in the room and if there were sausages in there (she wouldn't help herself - too polite- but would stick her head in and out of the fridge then look at you repeatedly, basically shamelessly begging until you handed over a sausage). She would also tap on the bedroom door at night if she needed to go outside. Molly used to visit school with me sometimes and loved being around children and loved to play, they make great family dogs. Boxers have such human eyes and expressive faces. They do snore loudly though and are not a dog for the house proud. Not a dog hair issue as with some breeds but the slobber is quite something especially when they shake and spray it up your walls or wipe it on your jeans.
I have a second boxer, Charlie, aged 6 and I am still waiting for him to calm down (boxers stay puppy like for almost all their life and then suddenly go elderly overnight and slow a tiny bit - so a few more years of madness left yet I suspect!). He is completely mad and very excitable, especially if he sees another dog, but is also one of the nicest natured dogs I have ever met. He is so soft and gentle and loves his cuddles. In my experience boxer bhes (stupid swear filter!) are little easier to train and handle than dogs - but that might just be my two!
I have owned other breeds but cannot imagine not having a boxer in my life & I can't tell you how much I miss Molly - she was a hugely important part of my life.
Finally if you do want a boxer please consider rescue - there are loads in breed rescue needing a new home. Most are there through no fault of their own due to family break ups and the good breed rescue folks usually home foster boxers so they really get to know the dogs temperament and can assess their level of temperament. My french bulldog was a rescue, I got her when she was 6 months old - fully house trained, well behaved, fab with my other dogs, no issues or problems and she is now a therapy dog (visits schools and hospitals etc). Look at this poor boy in Battersea - just a year old http://www.boxerrescue.co.uk/Rescues/benson.pdf

I love the link looks a great dog thanks and sorry to hear about Molly

[NickFRP]

spivvy said:

echo everyone else's sentiments a lovely family dog but loopy and jumpy and don't grow up

http://uk.youtube.com/results?search_query=digitbo...


some videos's of our new baby she is 7 months old now and still daft

Edited by spivvy on Tuesday 2nd September 14:08

Boxers with tails look odd although will be the norm now for them

[Hyperion]

They're nice dogs, but can suffer a number of health problems due to breading methods.
Expect big vets bills if you get a 'duff' one.

[bcfc_fan1]

I've a white Boxer bh called Roxy. She's absolutely awesome. So lively but so friendly. She wouldn't hurt a fly. Before her I had an alsation who wanted to attack any other dogs/cats but Roxy just wants to play. If anyone walks into the house she's all over them wanting to play. She's not vicious one bit but may upset small children as she's very excitable. Get one. You won't regret it!

[Mark Benson]

Grat dog for families, but make sure any dog you get is socialised well with other dogs. They can get iffy and protective and the last thing you want when you take your dog for a walk is to be worrying about whether it's going to go for someone else's dog (and the last thing you need is to be known for having an aggressive dog).

For this reason, I'd be wary of a rescue unless I'd seen it happily playing with other dogs.

[BoRED S2upid]

I hear they don't like being left on their own, need a lot of attention. True?.

[siscar]

Reidy10_0 said:

How about a Staffordshire bull terrier?

The Wiz said:

I seem to be seeing a lot of people out walking Staffordshire Bull Terriers at the moment, especially round Council Estates and the like. I'll be honest, I really don't like them. They are ugly, muscular, vicious, unintelligent and seem liable to attack you for no reason. Their dogs, on the other hand, I quite like.

[doddze]

Margo our boxer is great with our children and everyone elses. Yes she can be a bit lively but boxers have a personality and are great fun. Totally agree about training them from a puppy and you must socialise them with other dogs from a young age. She is good company and we have never had any problems with her.