Put me off getting a boxer puppy!

[Applestreet]

We have been waiting a long time for what we think is the right time for our family to get a dog (I’m a SAHM, my husband can WFH, kids are young but settled and used to being around dogs, we have a nice garden). DH grew up with dogs but I’ve never had one.

We’ve done a lot of research and think we’ve settled on a Boxer but are very keen to hear personal experiences from boxer owners, and any dog owners who are in a similar position to us. We want to make sure we can offer a dog a happy home and so would love to hear any disadvantages or worries dog-owners have had (as well as good stories ofc!)

I've only personally known four. They were all so sweet, friendly and enthusiastic about life! All lived with children with no issues. Sadly only 1 is still with us, the others died fairly young at 9, 10 and 11. I would be looking at the history of the parents and be very thorough with health clearances.

That is the best post ever. How proud he is in his pyjamas!

My dog walker /home boarder had one and he was beautiful, very sociable with dogs and people .Very well trained but she is qualified trainer (postive training ) etc so suspect from.sounds here he was rare compared to most

She sadly lost him age 10 to brain tumour ,my boy still looks for him every time he goes

I totally agree!!

Such gorgeous dogs, I don’t have one but have a couple of friends who both have them. One quite energetic but the other is older (don’t know how old!) and less bouncy. They are absolutely mad and always so happy to see me mainly because they know we are going for a walk 😂 even the older one likes a good run around still.
My dad got one when I was little, he literally came home with it and my mum was raging (I don’t remember this part!), he was in the army and she was left alone with 2 young kids, 2 jobs and a puppy she never wanted. She rehomed it after it spent a week destroying the house. They need a lot of time (true of all puppies) and she wasn’t prepared to give it.

Boxers are fantastic dogs, they are super with kids and great fun. I grew up with them. As a young adult I owned two of my own.

First one was the most well behaved dog ever and super easy to train. I used to hack my horse miles and she would when told just walk right in next to horse. Honestly she was awesome

I then got her grand daughter and she was easy to train also but not as reliable as the older one. Sometimes her ears would turn deaf.

Boxer can be very well trained but you must work hard with it and make it fun. I've even come across a boxer who worked as sheep dog before - honestly.

Boxers worked in Germany as police dogs. So people who have unruly ones simply haven't put the time into training them.

What I would say is they can be known to be destructive in the house if left alone too long. They expect to be part of the family and want to be with you lots. So please take that into consideration.

Fabulous dogs though and life will be fun with one around. They can be buggers for fighting other dogs though also so again something to be aware of.

I grew up with Boxers and my sister has had a few. As PP have said, they are mad, full of energy and very often naughty! They are ok to train and ours always had excellent recall. They always want to be with you. A Boxer will be your DC's best friend - they are amazing with children.

Oh heart mummers can be a issue and 2/6 is the most I would accept in a pup. Any higher and I wouldn't take it.

I think he’s hoping to get a job as a model, the only time he sits still is when he sees a camera!

No no no. Not with young kids. They are very strong bouncy and boisterous you would be mad

Here was my last two.. grannie & Grand daughter

My mum has had boxers all through my childhood and beyond, the one she has now, like the others are fab with the kids and grandkids. They are very bouncy and excitable but also at the same time very aware of what humans are children and have never jumped up on them and knocked any down (accidently knocked over as they have whizzed past yes...but never intentionally and never enough to cause tears). We have always found them quite easy to train, the current one she has now is amazing at learning new tricks an picks them up quicker than my poodle!!
Although they look intimidating by their size and muscle they are dopey things who don't realise their size, try having a 6st slobbering mess trying to sit on your knee thinking its a lap dog!

I’m surprised at people saying not with kids, I grew up with boxers & although they are very energetic I’ve never known them not to be good with kids.
They are definitely not a dog to have if you’re out of the house a lot - they very much expect to be part of the family, if you are in the kitchen the dog is in the kitchen, if you go to the living room the dog will follow (and try to sit on your lap)
None of ours were ever destructive but my mum didn’t work so none of them were ever home alone for long periods (plus they had a huge garden to gallop round)

I second this, perfect family dogs.

Boxers are far too high energy for me, too slobbery and most importantly prone to cancer.

I think the best example of boxer behaviour I ever seen was walking past a man on a drive way hoovering his car with a Dyson . his Boxer was happily chasing the dust and dirt going round and round inside the hoover , doing this crazily and clearly enjoying himself . Nuts .😆

We had one when I was a child. The breeder told us that " boxers are puppies till the day they die". Loved that dog so much but I'd never get one now - so loveable but so much hassle!

Ours took the floorboards up.

Why have you chosen a boxer of all the thousands of breeds out there?

I never understand first-time owners who apparently do research and then settle on really difficult, high-energy breeds. Why? 🤷‍♀️

Here is my boy who is no longer with us and my current boxer. Both have very similar temperament. The biggest lap dog ever I am typing this with him sat over my knee.

I love all these boxer pics!

I only know one boxer, one of my favourite dogs in the world.
Beautiful temperament, so gentle sweet loving and playful
Really well behaved and well trained. Always walked off lead and comes back at one word from the owner.
Obsessed with her ball.
She was my old dogs best friend.

BUT she is walked about 2 hours per day, owner has just the dog and no other family so she is her whole world.
and
she has back/spine problems and has to be on long term pain meds
she has had digestive problems since a pup. She is now on a very carefully controlled raw food diet that costs and arm and a leg and her digestion seems to have settled.
I think her owner has spent so much at the vets she needs to re-mortgage.

Because they are fantastic dogs with beautiful temperaments? People surely choose them for all sorts of reasons.
My first dog was a boxer and she was also deaf so even harder work.
If someone is willing to put the work into training them, they are amazing dogs.
This is my current little gang who aren't 'difficult' because I've put the time and effort into training them!

We were looking for a lab 4 years ago and ended up with a boxerdor (she’s 3/4 lab and 1/4 boxer). She is amazing. She was high energy as a pup but from the age of 2 has been such a loving, chilled dog. Unless there is a ball or a river in which case she is your typical lab! Maybe a Labrador or boxerdor might be easier to train?

for those saying get a labrador.

I know a few beautiful labs
I also know a few large labs with too much energy and poor temperament.

As with any dog, if you get a puppy, the most important thing is to find one with parents with good temperaments.

You could do what we did. Look at rescues and fall in love with one. In our case a springer, and now a polar bear. (well, he is mixed breed, some large mix of white fluff...)

We had one from when I was about 11 for about 12 years, god I adored her and took her everywhere with me as a teenager.
Mental, slobbered all over, lovely family dog but she got (and needed I believe) a lot of exercise.

Friend had one, very, very high energy. She had to wipe walls and surfaces down all the time due to flying spittle. I got covered with it every visit - just strings of drool. Friendly and got lots of exercise, but she turned her back and it chewed the top of the doors. Also died young 🙁