Boxers

[Richie Rich]

I'm really close to pulling the trigger on a 3 month old, pure bred, male Boxer. He's fawn colored and has been wormed and has all his shots. My only concern is I'm wondering if this is going to be a good breed of dog for my family which right now consists of the wife (she's scared to death of dogs but willing to give this one a try), my high energy 3 year old daughter, and myself. No future child additions are planned.
Basically I'm wondering if this type of dog is going to do well in a house when he will be alone during work hours and he will need to be forgiving of my kid if the play accidently gets too rough. I have a fairly large townhome with a decent sized backyard and direct access to the common areas in the neighborhood. My only expereince with any other type of dog was when I was single. I had a Great Dane that was one lazy SOB. So I'm looking for any owners of Boxers out there to share your thoughts and experiences on this particular breed.
The asking price is pretty high (pet shop purchase) even though the dog has a 5 year warranty and health insurance built into the price. I still want to know what to expect before I lay out that kind of coin for a dog.
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for the advice and input.

[Huckleberry]

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/2550The_Pups_PS-med.jpg
We have two boxers. A 3-year old female, and a 14-month old female. They are both completely different personalities, but great dogs. Boxers LOVE to play! Thay have more energy that you, your spouse, and your child combined! They are also very intelligent and MUST be trained because they are also kinda stubborn. Our pups have had kids of all ages pulling, tugging, pushing...on them. They're very tolerant of it. My boxers LOVE playing rough with me too! They can truly box! They make loud growling sounds like they are mean, but it is just part of their playing. They know who they can play this way with, and who they can't. They will not rough house with my wife of my 12-year old daughter.
Boxers take about two years to get out of their puppy phase and start to settle down. During those first 2 - 2 1/2 years they become very efficient at landscape destruction and removal if you leave them unattended in your back yard for long periods of time. Our pups also liked to roam the casa and find things they think need shredding while we were away for the day! We solved that by crate training them. They now LOVE their crates. It is their own little retreat. All we have to do is say "Cages" as we are gettng ready to go and they trot into the room where their crates are and walk right into them. We often find them sound asleep in their crates when we are home. They're also lap dogs if you let them on your sofa with you.
I'd say go for it! Boxers are great family dogs!

[Tequila-John]

i HAVE A 2 YEAR OLD MALE. hE ROCKS BUD!

[Roxysnow]

It's the perfect dog for family! Just alot of energy in them when young!

[purrfecttremor]

We have a 10 mo. old brindle boxer and is very very good with kids even though ours are gown and gone.He is our 3rd boxer they all have been great family dogs.This is our 1st experiance crating a dog and has been a good one!BOXERS ROCK! Go for it you wont find a better breed.

[socalmoney]

Why would you support a pet shop when there are so many unwanted pets out there for a lot less money?
http://www.boxer-rescue-la.com/available.htm
You know if they dont get adopted they go to doggie haven.
http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx
I agree with purrfecttremor, crate training is the way to go.
Don't mean to bring the thread down but I feel pretty strong about adoption, for animals anyway.

[flatnfast]

once the puppy works the way out of any boxer it will be the best dog for you,
I have a 6 year old female and a 2 year old male, i just recently brought in 2 girls i am adopting and they took to them as if they were always here, you wont be disappointed
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339daisey_and_billy.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339billy-9.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339dook.JPG

[Tom Brown]

I've worn boxers before but find they don't provide as much cupping as I prefer.

[nyeti]

I have a 6 year old pure bred Boxer that comes from champion lines.......its a pet to me and by far the dumbest dog I have ever owned. She is also the sweetest thing in the world with my 4 year old daughter. As a family dog, they can't be beat. THey look mean, but are generally very sweet.
Crate training is very important, it was great while it lasted.........If you leave town for a business trip and your wife lets the dog sleep in the bed while your are gone, just pack up the crate. They will not use it any longer.
Mine hates Havasu, and hates the boat. Others have much better luck. She does love the dog park behind our condo, but every dog other than other Boxers don't appreciate getting the tar boxed out of them. Boxer's play rough with other dogs, but they are just playing. Ditto on all the growling and talking. Mine growls like she is killing you, and has the softest mouth in the world. They are also very stuborn in training. When we went to obedience school, the instructor warned the class about the Boxer in the class and that we would have to be patient. She graduated, barely.
Be prepared to have a puppy forever. They slow down, but always have sort of a puppy like play drive, which is cool. I can't believe nobody mentioned the so excited to see you that they make a hair pin out of their bodies. They are just very good natured and happy. Mine was never particularly destructive in the yard, but loved flip flops. Overall, great family pets for an active family.

[Kilrtoy]

I'll skip the stories.
YES THEY ARE GREAT FAMILY(I.E. men, women, kids , YOUR KIDS) dogs

[Rexone]

Why would you support a pet shop when there are so many unwanted pets out there for a lot less money?
http://www.boxer-rescue-la.com/available.htm
You know if they dont get adopted they go to doggie haven.
http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx
I agree with purrfecttremor, crate training is the way to go.
Don't mean to bring the thread down but I feel pretty strong about adoption, for animals anyway.
I agree wholeheartedly with the adoption vs supporting pet shops (in many cases puppy mills). For every dog purchased from a puppy mill another will replace it from that puppy mill and a grown abandoned dog will die in a shelter as a result. Not saying this pet shop is this type of operation but many puppies in pet shops come from this source. Many puppy mills (disguised as breeders) are in the U.S. and many in Mexico. I'm so adamant about adoption vs purchace from store (unless you're in need of an akc reg dog that you know is legit bred) that the link above is a permanent part of my signature here.

[Richie Rich]

Why would you support a pet shop when there are so many unwanted pets out there for a lot less money?
http://www.boxer-rescue-la.com/available.htm
You know if they dont get adopted they go to doggie haven.
http://www.brightlion.com/InHope/InHope_en.aspx
I agree with purrfecttremor, crate training is the way to go.
Don't mean to bring the thread down but I feel pretty strong about adoption, for animals anyway.
Socalmoney I hear ya loud and clear. Funny you should mention adoption because my wife and I were just talking last night about doing more research and saving a dog via adoption as opposed to supporting the local pet store. Thanks for the link. I've already begun researching Boxer rescues in my state (Maryland) and plan on contacting someone this morning.
Everyone lese thanks for the positive responses. Huckleberry your reply was enough to win the wife's vote which is exactly what I was hoping would happen with somebodies post here. Despite the rumors floating out in cyberspace about the guys on ***boat.com I still think you all are a pretty damn good bunch!! :rollside: :rollside:
I'll dig this thread up and post pics when the new addition to the family arrives.

[bruddah]

one of my best friends has a 3-4 year old male fawn and he is the best dog ever. probably one of the lazier boxers i have ever seen. all he does is eat, sleep, and play, and even if there is no one back there for him to play with he ends up entertaining himself. def. great dogs and as soon as i am ready for a dog i will be purchasing a boxer myself.

[Big Kahunaa]

i 2nd every thing said here i love mine but they fart all the time and don't care about it
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/AzRiverChic/100_0291.jpg

[socalmoney]

Rich, start watching The Dog Whisper or go to obedience school. Your wife, not being sure of owning a dog has the potential of being bossed around by your new dog. It is critical that your wife establish her role in the house as the leader. She should not be afraid to correct unwanted behavior from your boxer. This will be key in having a happy healthy dog. Good luck.

[MR HARLEY]

Great Photos!
Did you personnaly have this sign made? If I may ask where did you find a sign like this? Thank you :)
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339daisey_and_billy.JPG

[Richie Rich]

...Mine hates Havasu, and hates the boat.
Would the above statement be considered the acception or the rule when it comes to Boxers and the water? I own what I like to call my "off the rack" boat. It's a 23' Stingray with a cuddy. Its my 1st boat but the family spends a LOT of time out on that thing and I would love it if the family dog could enjoy as much as the rest of us do since a upgrade of the boat is planned within the next year or 2.
Thanks again for everyone's advice. I just keep e-mailing my wife with the replies. I think you guys broke her down. :) :)

[OutCole'd]

I have two, best dogs I have ever had. Neither is a big fan of the water, but I never brought them out as pups. Might be a different story if I did.

[jscarab]

Excellent dogs.......As far as the water, start young and stay with it. My Daisy Mae loves the water but, I just about had to teach her to swim.

[Ultra5150]

My boxer is 10 and a half years old. Best dogs for a family, fantastic around children. You have to be patient, no one is understating their energy and knack for playing, digging, tearing, ripping things for a few years until they grow out of that puppy stage.

[Big Kahunaa]

mine goes up to her chest thats as far in the water she will go i know most can't swim because of there body type so a vest my be a good idea

[Big Kahunaa]

i want one to
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339daisey_and_billy.JPG

[MR HARLEY]

i want one to
Found something like it that you can personalize.
Click me (http://www.signswithanattitude.com/breeds/bulldog.html)

[OldYeller]

I had a boxer for a while, she was without a doubt, one of the most loving dogs i have ever had. I would not hesitate for a second to get another boxer.

[Boozer]

Before choosing a Boxer there are a few things you need to understand about the Boxer breed that I have not seen mentioned.
While Boxers may may seem stupid they are probably one of the most inteligent dog breeds out there. Don't let that dopey looking face fool you. Because Boxers are so inteligent they require that their owner challenge them constantly. If you do not keep the dog challenged it will become bored and find things to do on its own, like eat your cell phone or knock down the fence in your backyard.
Boxers have TONS of energy. The dog will wear you out before you wear it out. You should take the dog on walks and to the dog park regularly. If you can not do either of these things it would be best if you had another dog in addition to the Boxer so the Boxer has a playmate. If the dog doesn't get enough excercise with your help it will resort to destroying things.
Boxers are arguably one of the most stubborn dogs in existance today. I don't care how much obedience training you have given or time you have spent with your Boxer. There are going to be times that you are going to want your Boxer to do something and the dog will not do it PERIOD! That is just the nature of the Boxer.
Housebreaking a Boxer is almost impossible. It is an absolute necessity that you have a doggy door when you own a Boxer. Boxers can be house broken to the extent that they will not do their business in the house if they have immediate access to the outdoors when they need it. If they do not have that access immediately they will do their business on your carpet.
Boxers drool. You will probably want to put your Boxer outdoors when you are eating. If you do not, prepare to have your Boxer staring at you with drool pouring from its mouth and also blowing spit bubbles out the side of its mouth. Also when running around playing your Boxer is going to foam at the mouth as if it has rabies. Some people may freak out at the dog park and think your dog is rabid, when in reality it just foams at the mouth when its playing and excited.
Be prepared to dedicate a LOT of time to your Boxer. I would say that you need to be prepared to invest at least 2-3 hours of your day EVERY day in your Boxer.
If you are willing to invest the time and energy into your Boxer you will be rewarded with the most fun, loving, and loyal dog ever. I have a 3 year old female that I have now had for a little over a year. When I got her she was absolutely out of control, today I can take her on a walk just about anywhere and don't have to put a leash on her she will just stay by my side at all times. I can have friends come over any time and not have to worry about my dog attacking them however, in the event that my dog ever felt I was threatened she would attack like crazy and protect me. Growing up I always had dogs and my Boxer is by far my favorite dog EVER. She is worth every bit of the time and energy I have to invest in her. Speaking of my little girl I think it's time to head off to the dog park.

[Aqua Boogie1]

once the puppy works the way out of any boxer it will be the best dog for you,
I have a 6 year old female and a 2 year old male, i just recently brought in 2 girls i am adopting and they took to them as if they were always here, you wont be disappointed
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339daisey_and_billy.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339billy-9.JPG
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339dook.JPG
I have that same sign but mines is for a Rottie!!!! :crossx: :cool:

[OutCole'd]

[QUOTE=Boozer
Housebreaking a Boxer is almost impossible. It is an absolute necessity that you have a doggy door when you own a Boxer. Boxers can be house broken to the extent that they will not do their business in the house if they have immediate access to the outdoors when they need it. If they do not have that access immediately they will do their business on your carpet.
[/QUOTE]
I would have to disagree with this statement. Both mine basically trained themselves. My older dog might have had 2-3 accidents in the house before she figured it out and my younger dog was even easier.
And neither have been very destructive at all. Been some of the easiest dogs I have ever been around. I guess every dog is different.

[Big Kahunaa]

"I can have friends come over any time and not have to worry about my dog attacking them however, in the event that my dog ever felt I was threatened she would attack like crazy and protect me."
I watched my boxer when i was a kid get very pissed when some drunk stumbled into our yard at like three in the morning if my dad didn't have a hold on that dog he would have went off and yes you must spend alot of time with them and i have a doggie door so house breaking was only a problem for about two weeks when we first got her

[Her454]

I've worn boxers before but find they don't provide as much cupping as I prefer.
I'm terrified at the fact I am starting to think like you. This thread isn't what I expected.
Im doomed.

[Richie Rich]

I've worn boxers before but find they don't provide as much cupping as I prefer.
I'm terrified at the fact I am starting to think like you. This thread isn't what I expected.
Im doomed.
LMAO!! I titled this thread "Boxers" on purpose thinking that title would increase the number of people who would actually view the thread and chime in with good info on the dog after being let down when they found out the thread had nothing to do with my underwear.
Tom Brown probably doesn't remember that he harassed me on my very 1st post here so I wasn't at all surprised as his response. :) :)

[Her454]

I really take offense at being "baited" into a thread. :)

[Richie Rich]

I really take offense at being "baited" into a thread. :)
How else is a guy from the east coast with an "off the rack" boat gonna pad his post count? :crossx:
With that many strikes against me I need to use every tactical advantage I can think of short of posting pics of my wifes boobs up here. :)

[Her454]

How else is a guy from the east coast with an "off the rack" boat gonna pad his post count? :crossx:
With that many strikes against me I need to use every tactical advantage I can think of short of posting pics of my wifes boobs up here. :)
You had my sympathy at "East Coast". Bait away. :rollside:

[sleekcraft78]

Heres some pics of our son. Love him to death. Very loyal. My nephews are 3 and 6 right now, and he loves to be around them. When my youngest nephew was born Brutis (Son) would just sit by his side and stare at him.
You can't go wrong.
When training a Boxer be very patient and don't make them do something for a long period of time. They have a very short attention span.
Good luck and post some pics when you get one.
I don't have many action shot beings he likes to do alot of sleepin.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/15191CIMG1157-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/15191CIMG1461-med.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/15191CIMG1649-med.JPG

[flatnfast]

I have that same sign but mines is for a Rottie!!!! :crossx: :cool:
I got the sign at raining cats and dogs in cambria cal, i think it is now called precious pet,

[flatnfast]

This is when we were insane and had 3 at one time, 2 are no longer with us.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339bcd2.JPG

[Big Kahunaa]

This is when we were insane and had 3 at one time, 2 are no longer with us.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/2339bcd2.JPG
thats one big dude right there

[moparjet]

wouldnt trade mine for the world....its all about how much time you spent with them....he always want to be with me...and hes lazy

[Havasu1986]

Bump for RVR6Pac