Posted: 6/18/2002 11:07:04 AM EDT
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My Wife and I have picked out a Boxer puppy. I keep hearing good things about them. We have been advised to take obedience training very seriously to produce a fine family dog. Anyone have experience with the bread? [img]http://home.attbi.com/~markl32/wsb/media/79255/site1.JPG[/img] |
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Phew!! I thought this was going to be an underwear thread. [:D] I've never owned a Boxer, but I have a couple of friends who have them. Pretty cool dogs. From what I understand, they aren't "naturally nasty", but obedience training is a must for any dog, IMO. Also, every Boxer I've been around has had a propensity for farting. I'm talking, "put on your mask now or clear the room", kind of stink. Aside from that, they seem to be very even-tempered dogs and receptive to training. Probably a good choice if you don't have the time to devote to working with a "higher-maintenance" breed like German Shepherds, Dobies, Rotties, APBT's, etc. |
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Great dogs. Yes, they need training like any other pooch, but they are pretty well tempered, and great around kids. One piece of advice that I don't give lightly: Make sure that you have some small dishtowels around for when they eat...their jowels will acumulate a large amount of foamy spittle and food bits on the ends that they will then try and wipe off on any convenient surface, such as your couch or pants. Those dogs love to run a lot too...give 'em space! |
| I have a 5 year old Brindle male, who is looking at me right now and wondering why the hell I am not play with him. Boxers are considered to be the peter pan of dogs. They never grow-up, acting like puppies for most of their life. Mine is one of the smartest dogs I have ever known. He knows locations of the house, names of all his toys, and where to look for various vermin to chase when I tell him. A male that still has his nuts will definitely require a bit of strong and early discipline. You picked a good breed and have fun wiping that mouth after eating!! |
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Boxers can be somewhat hyper active, but are great dogs providing you do some fairly serious obedience training and exercise him daily. (No, I'm not joking) Get a crate and use it...it is the best thing since indoor plumbing...it it NOT cruel to the dog! Do as much training as you can with non-compulsive methods...i.e. food or toy rewards for correct behavior. (Not just corrections for incorrect behavior) Get the book "Purely Positive Training" by Sheila Booth and use the techniques she outlines...you will always be glad you did. If you must correct him, be fair, but serious...don't nag him with wimpy little tugs while saying "no...no...no". Give one hard correction and make sure he knows what it is for. Socialize him early, expose him to all sorts of different places, sounds and smells. (Extremely Important between 8-16wk.) If he seems a little fearful of something, don't pet him and say "It's alwight Fluffy"...let him work it out on his own...just don't force him to do things he is obviously hesitant about. Be careful around other dogs that your puppy is not injured or bullied too much. PetSmart, etc. are great at about 7PM on weeknights...not on Sat. mornings. Do your OB training at home first, then at other places without too many other people/dogs present, then you can take him to OB class to PROOF him. (No real trainer ever takes his dog to these "yank the dog in a circle" classes...too often taught by idiots...to train him, only to proof him after he has been trained.) With a little work and some time, you will have your friends saying "I wish MY dog would behave like that". Good Luck. |
| The Boxer is the greatest Dog, but it will need lots of attention, it will slobber, and it will need plenty of exercise everyday rain or shine. The only bad part is that the boxer is not known for longevity, so you need to make everyday count. If you decide on obedience training, do not over do it and turn the boxer into a robot, you will take the fun right out of him. |
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Quoted: My wife has a ten year old female and a four year old male. They are her best friends. When she gets home tomorrow. I'll see if she wants to add anything here. You'll love this pup! Post pics MDS! I cannot have pets where I'm living right now, so I must enjoy thru others....... [>(] |
| I've got a female. I just can't force myself to call anything this loyal, loving, and intelligent, a bitch. She is great with kids. Doesn't bark unless something IS wrong. Great breed! I wish I could get 2 more! Yeah, they do fart, and you will want to wipe its flews when it eats, but mine doesn't drool. Cock strong for their size too. When mine was 10 months old, she ran across the yard with a 50 lb sack of landscape rocks! |
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Boxers are wonderful. My vet calls them "Walking Tumor Factories." They have one of the highest rates of internal and external cancer. Mine had 6 removed. We loved ours, and she died young (lifespan 8-10 years) Hip problems as well. Lots of unreputable breeders out there, so be very very choosy. |
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The gratuitous puppy pic: [img]www.ar15.com/members/albums/GeneStoner%2FMVC%2D801F%2EJPG[/img] This is "Punchy" my Boxer. Outstanding dog. The farting and slobbering is part of the "Boxer Charm," although my dog doesn't do either too much. [img]www.ar15.com/members/albums/GeneStoner%2FMVC%2D803F%2EJPG[/img] |
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A friend's family use to raise cattle when we were in high school. One day his mom was out feeding the cows and got to looking at one cow in particular. Something didn't look quite right. The cow didn't have any ears! Over a period of weeks a few other cows turned up missing one ear or both. Couldn't figure out what was happening until they were coming home one night and the head lights caught a cow out in the feild swinging it's head side to side with their boxer hanging on to it's ear for dear life! Apparently when a cow would lower it's head and charge him he'd grab hold of their ear. Had to give the dog away to another family. Other than that he was a good dog. ...you ought to ask me about his Pit Bull sometime! [:D] |
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Post pics MDS! I cannot have pets where I'm living right now, so I must enjoy thru others....... [>(] [/quote] I got pix this morning. My typical welcome home at 0630. My lovely wife asleep and the two boxers (canid)in my spot on the bed! I'll try to figure out how to post them Saturday night when I'm off. |