Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pets

Join our community on the Pet forum to discuss anything related to pets.

Original poster

Boxer or Bulldog

31 replies

londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 10:35

Hi,

Hoping to get some advice.

We are looking at getting a puppy in December after deciding for months and planning doggy daycare etc.

We are looking at boxers and British bulldogs, just looking for some advice and recommendations really as we are torn we love both breeds, the dog would be in obidience training as soon as 2nd jabs are done and will be exercised twice a day.

I've heard that bulldogs can be mega lazy and also heard boxers can be hyperactive - can anyone give any personal experiences with these dogs please?

Thanks

OP posts:
Regularsizedrudy · 14/10/2022 10:38

Neither breed can breathe properly so be prepared to pay out for airway surgery

DrDetriment · 14/10/2022 10:40

Please consider another breed rather than encouraging the breeding of dogs with breathing problems.

whereamu · 14/10/2022 10:45

What specifically draws you to these breeds?
I'm not sure about Boxers but we see a few British Bulldogs on our daily walks. You can hear them coming. They really can't breathe properly. It is cruel. They are walked everyday so it's not like you can avoid it.
Make a good choice before you get a dog because once you get one you will love it so much and you are setting yourself up for lots of heartbreak by buying a breed that isn't healthy.

spiderlight · 14/10/2022 10:46

Please don't buy a brachycephalic pup :(

DrDetriment · 14/10/2022 10:49

whereamu · 14/10/2022 10:45

What specifically draws you to these breeds?
I'm not sure about Boxers but we see a few British Bulldogs on our daily walks. You can hear them coming. They really can't breathe properly. It is cruel. They are walked everyday so it's not like you can avoid it.
Make a good choice before you get a dog because once you get one you will love it so much and you are setting yourself up for lots of heartbreak by buying a breed that isn't healthy.

It's probably because the OP loves their 'cute' squishy faces 🙄.

Rockingcloggs · 14/10/2022 10:49

When you say two walks a day, how long are these walks going to be? A boxer needs a lot more than a bulldog.

But, I agree with others, please have a rethink about choosing a puppy that will have health issues purely because you like the way their faces look!

MrsTuxedo · 14/10/2022 10:57

My very first boyfriend had a boxer. She was fun and shoes-obsessed. If you left a shoe anywhere, she would destroy it. BF didn't last long, so can't recall any breathing issues, but the drooling is something you need to be aware of!

TedMullins · 14/10/2022 11:10

Bulldogs are so inbred that vets and experts put out a public plea to stop breeding them. Their lives are pain. Their airways are so scrunched up they can barely breathe and their nostrils aren’t even as wide as a Capri sun straw. Please do not pay someone to keep breeding a deformed dog. If you must have a bulldog, rescue one. Boxers are also squashed although to a lesser degree. Ideally don’t get a puppy at all, and rescue a dog - and don’t choose it based on looks.

Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:11

Thanks all for the feedback will do abit more research in regards to breathing issues, no not drawn to "cute squishy faces" to the "Dr" , we're actually drawn to how highly they are rated as family dogs from online forums and pet websites and how they have great temperaments with children...

OP posts:
fortifiedwithtea · 14/10/2022 11:26

We have a boxer and we were first time dog owners. That was a baptism of fire!

The reality is they are super bouncy and strong. Do your research and join the boxer owner Facebook groups. Ours is a KC pedigree bitch. That does not guarantee a healthy dog. Ours is very allergic to many foods and the environment. Very itchy. We then found out the sire also has allergies and discovered he has produced many litters of itchy pups. Our girl also has a delicate pancreas. Pancreatitis is painful. Prone to yeast infection, ear infection.

Breathing has not been an issue but we are very sensible with her.

Ours has a beautiful long tail. That she is very expressive with. Personally I don’t like the bobtail boxers. They are born that way, short tails have corgi in them. Boxers are prone to happy tail. Basically they bash their tail, it splits doesn’t heal and needs to be amputated.

They plus side. Ours was super easy to toilet train, we got her early December too. Do not use puppy pads for any breed. We crate trained. We were also very lucky that she didn’t cry for her mum. Breeder did give us a blanket with mum’s smell.

Boxers are very affectionate with zero idea of personal space. They sit on you , they snuggle and lick you.

A lot of dog don’t like boxers because of the flat faces,. Ours can’t meet other dogs because she bounces on them and we have not been able to train her out of it. Recall it sketchy so we never allow her off lead in public.

She loves her walks in the woods and we have a nearby dog field that is hired out by the hour for off lead play and we have a big garden. She hates water, we’ve never taken her to a beach.

We love her loads

Stellaris22 · 14/10/2022 11:31

It's probably too late to change your mind, but there are so many other breeds that have fantastic temperaments and are great with children that won't have breathing issues.

It's great that you're putting the research in, so perhaps looking at other breeds could still be an option.

We chose our breed because they are known for being calm and great family pets, she's fantastic with our daughter.

SarahR2022 · 14/10/2022 11:32

Ive had a boxer and he was ace....was a bit daft and hyper when young but slowed down with age (I could be describing myself there lol) never had a bulldog so cant comment....
Have you considered a boston terrier....theyre like a smaller boxer which is why I got mine....hes a real character....full of beans but likes to snuggle up with you on the sofa (and under a blanket)

Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:33

@fortifiedwithtea Hi thanks so much for your response it's great to hear back from somebody who has one of the breeds.

Yes I've read they are very excitable but I kind of love that about boxers I like the goofiness and how friendly they are, we definitely have some research to do regarding the skin conditions, I've read on breeder forums it's all to do with their diet supposedly? Anyway thank you for the advice it's very much appreciated!

OP posts:
SarahR2022 · 14/10/2022 11:33

PS....our boston is fab with the kids....loves to play with toys and balls....and they love a bit of rough and tumble....very obedient but just a bit loopy

Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:35

@Stellaris22 Hi! No not too late I'm 100% open to other breeds, we do also love labradors which I've had my whole life but they molt so much so that's what put me off - defo a lot to think about we won't make any quick decisions It needs to 100% be the right fit and we will look into other breeds also after all this feedback ! Thank you for your help Smile

OP posts:
SarahR2022 · 14/10/2022 11:36

The pooch in question

Boxer or Bulldog
Stellaris22 · 14/10/2022 11:37

If moulting puts you off a breed then you definitely don't want a basset then!

Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:38

@SarahR2022 Hi Sarah thanks for this - I'll look into bostons now Smile

OP posts:
FanTaill · 14/10/2022 11:44

If it’s specifically the temperament you’re interested in then is there any reason that you’re not looking at rescues? If you go through a good rescue (breed specific rehoming charities are usually good but you’ll get good recommendations here in the DogHouse if you ask) then they’ll be able to match you with a dog who suits your needs. They usually live with fosterers, not it kennels, so the families really get to know their charges.

SarahR2022 · 14/10/2022 11:46

FanTaill · 14/10/2022 11:44

If it’s specifically the temperament you’re interested in then is there any reason that you’re not looking at rescues? If you go through a good rescue (breed specific rehoming charities are usually good but you’ll get good recommendations here in the DogHouse if you ask) then they’ll be able to match you with a dog who suits your needs. They usually live with fosterers, not it kennels, so the families really get to know their charges.

Thats actually a great point....there are lots of "lockdown" dogs in rehoming centres....

Thekormachameleon · 14/10/2022 11:48

If you're looking for a fun dog that's good with children you could do a lot worse than a retired greyhound

Stroopwaffle5000 · 14/10/2022 11:49

My 10 yr old niece has a bulldog. It poos in the house, can't run after a ball, isn't very intelligent, slobbers everywhere and she finds it really boring so I don't think they are great for kids tbh. I have a German shepherd and she spends hours playing with it, running around with a ball etc, not that I'm saying you should get a GS, just that you can see such a difference with how she is able to interact with it as opposed to the bulldog.

Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:49

@FanTaill Hi, as much as I'd love to rescue a dog, we had a few rescues in my childhood and one was very scared and would not come near anyone and was just very scarred for life from whatever he had previously been through and he never seemed to recover and the other was abit violent - obviously through no fault of their own they obviously had terrible owners before but I just find rescues to be abit unpredictable I'd rather have a pup that we can train from day 1 as I have small children I couldn't risk having a dog that could turn violent (I understand this is possible with any dog, but the risk is less if we have personally trained the dog from 8 weeks old and it has been socialised with children)

I really would love to re home a rescue dog over going through a breeder but it just isn't the right path for us with young kids I don't think sadly :(

OP posts:
Original poster
londongirl2701 · 14/10/2022 11:51

@Stroopwaffle5000 Hi! Yes that's the downside to the Bulldogs I've heard they are very lazy and not very interactive - maybe not the best fit for me and my children if I'm being completely honest - this forum is really helping me so thanks all for the opinions and advice !

OP posts:
Whatevertheweather · 14/10/2022 11:58

We have an absolute 2yr old boxer - he is an absolute joy! No breathing issues whatsoever. Largely calm at home and happily snoozes and potters about most of the day as long as he’s well exercised. Zero sense of personal space and will try and perch on peoples shoulders like a parrot! He’s walked 1-2hrs a day in the week, longer at weekends combination of on and off lead. Recall was great, has become a little unreliable in adolescence so he’s back on a long line at the moment!

Gets ridiculously excitable when visitors come round which we have worked hard to train him on, have found he calms quickly if he picks up a toy to greet people with and if they don’t fuss him until he’s over the initial excitement. He can still jump up when excited so we manage this very carefully when people first come, am hoping with age that will continue to improve! He’s amazing with our children who were 8 and 14 when we got him, think it would be hard work with children much younger than 6 to start with just because they are bouncy and excitable and have no concept of how big they are!! He’s okay with most dogs but will occasionally take exception (he really doesn’t like dobermans for some reason!!) so we generally don’t let him ‘play’ with other dogs when out. On lead it took a lot of training to get him not to pull but think (!) we have this cracked now and he’s 95% easy to lead walk now. He barely moults and doesn’t require any grooming other than a brush with mitts every few weeks. His tail is a lethal weapon and he was it a lot!! He has had split tail once but healed within a few weeks. He’s happy coming on days out and is good is pub gardens etc

Boxers are definitely the clowns of the dog world, he has us in stitches every day with his funny little human like ways and mad zoomies. Definitely not the easiest breed you could choose but super rewarding