Valarocque said:
My husband has a friend that's giving away a boxer and before I give him the go ahead I figured you guys could give me some info... generally speaking, do they make good family dogs?
Excellent family dogs.
valarocque said:
Will she eat my 2 year old?
Not likely. But they are very exuberant dogs. They love, love, love kids. They could hurt the child by jumping.
valarocque said:
Will she eat my pomeranian?
Doubtful, but you should always use caution when introducing a new dog.
valarocque said:
Depends on how she's been raised from a puppy. But she could have some anxiety in a new home.
valarocque said:
Will she dig a big hole in my yard?
Likely. Bored Boxers are destructive Boxers.
valarocque said:
Not if she sleeps with you.
valarocque said:
Will she smell really bad or drool or shed a lot? Thank you, that is all.
They can be drooly, especially when they are waiting to eat or get a treat. My Boxers have a Boxer smell.
And they do shed.
Take a look at the following:
The Boxer is an amazing breed ut not for everyone. Please take a few minutes to read this short list to see if the Boxer is possibly the right breed for your family.
Are you an outdoorsman?
Boxers do not tolerate extreme hot or extreme cold. Actually our Boxer Max does not tolerate anything above 72 or below 70 degrees. If your ideal companion is one that hikes through the trails in winter for hours on end, the Boxer may not be your best choice.
Do You Have An Exercise Plan
What are your plans for exercise. Boxers are very intelligent and active so they need a good amount of mental and physical exercise. Being a larger breed they are not able to get the energy all out indoors so you have to take into consideration if you have time to walk the pup each day. In addition the Boxer needs mental stimulation through training and learning new things. Remember, a bored Boxer can e a bad Boxer.
Do you want a serious breed?
Although Boxers are workers they are also clowns. Even those awarded Schutzhound have been known to give a good kidney bean when preparing to get petted. This can frustrate some owners and you must decide if this is something you enjoy about the breed. This is a staple of their personality and part of what makes so many owners of the breed love the so.
Are You Looking For A Gaurd Dog?
So many Boxers end up being abandoned because they are often sought to be a guard dog. Although very capable of protecting their family, the breed is not aggressive by nature and bad owners often can not train them to be aggressive leading to them being abandoned. If you are looking for surveillance invest in a security system, not another living creature.
Do You Have Children
If you have children I must say Boxers are a great breed. As with any breed, you must put forth the effort to train, train, train but the Boxer is a great family pet. All of the Boxers I have owned have seemed to sense a child is small and would typically lie on the floor allowing the child to be taller and play gently. What you must take into consideration is the time restraints and if you will be ale to both care for a young child and train any breed of dog.
Do you mind a 60 pound lap dog?
For me, I would have it any other way! Boxers are very affectionate and need constant interaction from its family. If you prefer a dog that is independent and often goes off on it’s own to play you are looking in the wrong place. The Boxer will follow you from room to room and can not stand it when it is not by your side. I can not remember a time Max has ever been alone other than we are at work and he sleeps.
Can You Give Unconditional Love
This goes for any breed and is a must. One of the most amazing things about dogs is that they are capable of giving unconditional love to their owners no matter what happens. You must be willing to give the same back in return, as this is what a dog really wants.