Boxer's

My good friend got a boxer one month before her second son was born. They are very hyper as puppies but they do have a very loving and loyal temperment. She said the first few months with the puppy and new baby was tough but they are getting along better now. She also has a 4 year old who gets along very well with the boxer. They are always playing together!

I have a 1 1/2 year old male boxer, and I can not take care of hime any more, he is very good with kids. If you are interested please e-mail me at ____@____.com I will not sell him it will be free.

My husband and I have had 4 boxers, and they really are one of the best dogs that you can have around kids. As puppies they get a little goofy, but all in all they are wonderful dogs. I want some more boxers, and a couple of great danes.

PLEASE READ. You may want to get a lab :-) Our boxer is a sweetheart but kind of neurotic sometimes. Can be snappy. Boxers are supposed to be good with children (I have always heard this) and our boxer for the most part has been pretty good but we have had our moments. He is not good around other children besides my own. He gets snappy when we walk him and a kid walks up to him. So we don't let that happen. He snapped at our daughter and nipped her.

Any dog can be unpredictable. They are animals. Training is the key and not letting the kids get too rough with the dog and always watch them.

If you get a boxer from a boxer resue group, they are usually good about letting you know the history and behavior of the dog because they don't want to see you and your new family member happy and a be a good match. Plus the foster parent has been around the dog, worked with the dog and "knows" the dog really well. So I recommend a rescue group.

I think Labs have better temperaments and are better with kids.

Let me know if you have any questions. Happy to answer them.
____@____.com

I don't have one, but a friend does, she's got 6 kids and says her boxer is terrific with them.

Hello

My sister in law raises boxers and sells them. They are wonderful with kids and very loving. You have to watch them as they get older because when they see little kids they like to play with them and they get really excited and knock them down unintentionally. If you would like I will give you her email address and you can ask her anything you would like. Her name is Tiffani and her email is ____@____.com Just tell her that her sister in law G. sent you to her. I hope this helps! Good Luck!

Boxers are GREAT with children!! They are a little hyper in the puppy stage but they calm down quickly. They are easy to train and people pleasers. You will enjoy having a boxer!!

My husband and I were interested in getting a boxer, too, because they're wonderful with children. A friend of mine has 3, so we asked her advice. She said that although we have a relatively large yard, the pool & deck take up quite a bit of room. She said that boxers have a large amount of muscle, and need LOTS of room to run. They need LOTS of exercise everyday, to support all that muscle. We still love the breed,, but now we won't be getting one because we don't believe we can offer the dog what it needs to be happy. Good luck on your decision!!

My inlaws and sister-in-law had boxers throughout their lives (all in total of 5 or 6). I've been around the a lot. With all dogs, especially high energy kinds, training is much needed. My husband has had boxers his whole life. Personally, I would not get a boxer but here are some information about what I've observed. Almost all of them have developed tumors as they aged and died eventually from tumor overgrowth. As they grew old, they can become aggressive even towards their owners. I'm sure other breeds can have that happen as well. FYI, they had no medically determined problems for their aggression. People just said it's from "old age"...sorry-- not much logic there. There were a couple of incidences that a younger (eg. 5yr old) boxer showed aggression (growling and showing teeth) towards our toddler son when he stood beside her. Outcome was not bad since I put a stop to her aggression and distanced my son from the boxer. A few of the boxers (esp bigger ones and males) have a lot of saliva and slobber quite a bit, often sticking/staining on walls and furnitures after they shake. One of them tend to mark his territory inside the house as well as bark endlessly if put outdoors (may be an individuated issue). I personally do not trust my son around many big dogs. I believe that boxers are (generally) better than the temperament of german shepherds, akidas, or sharpeis when it comes to having them around kids. Sometimes it's so hard to say because animals will always have their own animal instincts. I know that golden retrievers are excellent family dogs, but then again, every type of dog and the individual dog can be different. Good luck w/your choice.

My ex-brother in law had a boxer and two children under the age of 3 and she was sooooooooo good with the kids. They tried to ride her, bit her and everything kids do and she was the sweetest dog. Good luck!

C. I would have to say that it is not best to get those types of dogs . Their temperments are not at all great with CHILDREN in general. Unfortunately thats my oppinion.Many peeps say it is based on how they are raised well ya but when children are at play they dont know their limitions to a dog never the less the dog may not like it and might take a nasty bite that s/he (dog) is defending himself and yet does not know his own strength or limition as well . I think those boxers as well as Rotts should only be with couples or a single individual. WELL Good luck .

Boxers are great family dogs. They are good with children when raised with them from when they are a puppy. They can be hyper when they are young, but your three children will probably wear it out. They can be prone to certain types of cancer and certain heart disease. I would try to find a reputable breeder and get proper veterinary care throughtout its life.

Hi C.! We have three boxers and they are super friendly, very gentle, yet somewhat protective. All three of them are loving and nurturing (they take care of our kittens). We have three children and they are fantastic with them as well. They are similar to Labs as far as how sweet they are, but I have found Boxers to be a bit more laid back than Labs. Our boys are more laid back than our female and the dad is our nurturer. The female is far superior in brains than the boys and definitely rules the roost! They are known to be a little gassy and I can attest to that;-) Hope this helps and good luck!

Boxer's are very hyper dogs. If you do not have time for them and give the attention that a small child, baby to 3 years child, needs. Do not get one.

i love the breed and have had two boxers. the first, female, raised my two boys. you didn't say how old the children were? they are great with kids, but they need a lot of attention and exercise! my first boxer lived to 13 years old and the second male lived to be 9 years old, both died of brain tumors and i'm told this is common. i have two mutts now and they are great also, rescue dogs/ they have a boxer rescue in lago vista so check it out. depending on the age of your children it might be better to get a more mature dog, but the pupies are irrestable too.

they have really good temperments and are extreamly loving dogs. They love children and are a good pet in general to a family.

Boxers are very hyper dogs, but also very sweet. I'm not saying to get one or don't get one, though. Since they're known to be hyper dogs, my opinion is that they may be a little too active for a baby or young children who may get trampled or scratched. On the contrary, they are well-known for their sweet temperament towards children. But the term "boxer" was given to them for the way they use their front paws for everything as if they're boxing.

C.:

As a former dog agility, obedience and conformation enthusiast, I can say that Boxers make wonderful pets. Just make sure you buy from a reputable breeder who asks YOU as many questions as you do them! Ask them about the temperament of both the sire and dam, and if you and the breeder feel her puppies may be a good match, I'd set up a seperate meeting (go alone the first time) for the kids to meet the puppies (if you're going the puppy route). Watch the puppies and see which ones interact well with your children. Some things to keep in mind so that your 10+ years with the dog is a positive one is to: consider the age of the children and educate them as well on the proper handling of a dog, consider how much time you have to devote to the training, care, etc. of a dog, and how your new pet will mesh with the family. Keep in mind that dogs are pack animals, and always do best when allowed to be a part of the family. A dog that is kept outdoors predominantly will most assuredly become a very frustrated, destructive animal who'll claw your children in desperation the moment they enter the backyard just to get some attention - not to mention stinky from being outside all the time!) If trained properly, a boxer would make an ideal indoor, family pet. They are wonderful! Great with families, love being in the center of it all, they have a short, easily maintained coat, and a great personality. If you choose well, train well and welcome the dog as a family member, you'll have years of fun with him/her. Good luck! Let us know how it goes, and if you'd like any advice on finding a well-bred, well-balanced dog, let me know; I'll try to offer some suggestions. :-)

My vet friend would say, "Please do not get a boxer in Texas...they have breathing issues and the climate here is very tough on them."

My mutt Bud E is the best dog in the world!

Good luck!

C. -- Boxer's are GREAT for families with kids!!! Four years ago, it was time for my husband and I to get a new dog, but we wanted one that was "family-friendly" as we were trying to start our family at that time . . . anyway, of our research, Boxers were the best (in the "larger" dog category. He's big enough that my husband can roughouse around with him, but smart enough to know to "be gentle" when our 2 year old daughter just wants to pet on him or hug him. The only thing I would change, personally, is having bought a slightly smaller female boxer instead . . . LOL!! Oh, well, we will definitely be buying another Boxer when the time comes . . . Hope this helps. L.

We have a 4 year old boxer, and he is great with our 16 month old daughter. He would rather stay away from her actually. When she gets going, he gets a little nervous, but he has never been aggressive with her. He was already 3 when the little one came along, so i don't know how a puppy would be, but I have heard from other boxer owners that they are great with kids. The only thing that concerns me with a little one is how powerful boxers are. Ours is 90 pounds of pure muscle. They are boxers and like to use their front paws, and he has "batted" his front paws playing with our daughter and knocked her down, but he was just playing.
I personally love boxers and would definitely not worry about ours around our child. They are very loveable and our daughter climbs all over our boxer and he could care less. She loves to use him as a step to climb onto the couch and he lets her. I hope this helps!

I work as a Veterinary Nurse for a Small Animal Practice in Dallas and feel that boxers can be a great breed for kids. It is a breed that should be introduced to kids as a puppy. They are hardy dogs and can be rough so training early is recommended especially around young children. Older boxers tend to be set in there ways and fall prey to the "can't teach an older dog new tricks" rule. They are very intelligent, trustworthy, loyal, and proud. If you know of someone that has a boxer (especially one with kids) find out if you can spend some time with them to determine if it wound work. They do need space to run and play but can be major house dogs and couch potatoes.

As far as health problems they are mostly known for heart disease. Often not occuring until age 8 or older but can start when they are puppies. They are a breed known for PDA (Patent Ductus Arteriosus) and if you are looking to go through a breeder then do some research into the family lines before purchasing a boxer puppy. This is a congential defect and is a serious problem. The only other major issue is tumors. Boxers are well known for lumps and bumps. Sometimes cancer, sometimes benign. But they are known for some big cancers like Lymphosarcomas, and Mast cell tumors. Other minor issues include skin and allergy problems (almost every breed in Dallas has this) and some dental problems due to shape of mouuth.

I am the owner of two boxers and they are absolutely great with children. My two year old niece pulls their ears and is basically all over them all of the time, and they do not even flinch. They are very athletic dogs, that love to play and snuggle, yet they are very protective over family members. I know a lot of people who own boxers, as well, and they love them!! You will not be dissapointed! GOOD LUCK!!

Hi C., I used to work for the SPCA and I remember being told that Boxers are known for getting cancer. If your children are very young, I think Boxers are a little rambunxious, more suited for older children. But that is my opinion.
After I read responses from other people, I see that at least one agreed with me on the cancer tendancy, and at least one agrees with me on the hyperness.

We have our second boxer. They are very loving dogs but need a place to run. The one we have and had, have wonderful personalities. They are very smart. Rascal is the boxer we have now and he is solid white. Spanky is the boxer we had in the 90's and he was solid white. They love to play, they just have a tendency to throw their front paws up, like their boxing. They remind me of gentle giants when it comes to children. Our dogs have never hurt our children. We have 2 boys, and 2 girls. Be sure to keep them on heart wormer. We have not had any major illnesses with either of our dogs. Hope this will be of useful information.
T. P

We got a boxer when we were pregnant with our first boy. A very active dog that doesn't realize it's own strength. I am a big dog lover but realized the size of the messes during "potty training" and then the messes that needed to be picked up in the back yard to even let the kids play was a much larger task than anticipated. I am NOT a tiny dog person, but am much happier with my Yorkie/Westie, than I was with our Boxer.

Unfortunately 5 years after we got our boxer and were trying for our second child, the Boxer's temperment changed and attacked me one night resulting in stitches and a tetnus shot in my right hand and then attacked my husband two nights later. After 2 weeks of quarantine the vet could not determine the personality change in our pet and he had to be put to sleep. I'm sure this is an isolated case as we are avid pet lovers and never abused our dog who went to dog school, housebroken, crate trained, walked daily, etc. He just snapped one week. We miss him, but are much happier with a 5 pound pet as opposed to a 50 pound one.

If you go to www.animalplanet.com , they have a dog breed directory that will tell you all about the breed you are interested in.

A dog's personality has to do with the way he or she was raised. If you want a boxer, get one and treat it right. I know plenty that are wonderful dogs, but I've met mean ones too. It is all about the upbringing.

Hello, I am new here. My husband & I got a boxer puppy for our then 2yr old. It was a great choice! Boxer's are great with kids - they are kids themselves. She was clean and sweet, I would highly recommend a Boxer.

I have a boxer, and they are wonderful with kids. They love kids. My brother has had several of them and you can't get a better dog for kids. My 6 year old daughter learned to walk by holding on her back. They are great, we love ours!

I grew up with a boxer and we have had a boxer with our kids. Love them. GREAT with kids - one of the things they are known for. I would get another one if we were going to get a dog. They need a lot of attention, they are not good being left alone for long periods of time, but are great family dogs and will want to be part of the family.

They do have some health issues - more than a lot of other breeds, ask vet for better info on that.

We have had our boxer for a year now and he has been a blessing. He was difficult at first because boxer's are extremely hyperactive, but we work with everyday. He is wonderfull with the girls and wants to spend every second with them. The only trouble is the 60 lb. dog thinks he is a tiny lap dog and tries to sit in there laps. He has no temperment at all. Anyone can tug on him anywhere, pet his head, play with his ears, anything while he is eating. And that is usually when dogs become the most possesive. As far as we know there isn't any common health problems with boxers other than the norm of arthritis in all large dogs. But he is a great family pet.

We have a 9 year old female who is convinced she is a human. She is our 3rd child (really, she's the 1st, as we got her 3.5 years before our son was born). She is the sweetest, most loving, respectful dog. She will play with the kids when they want to and when she doesn't want to play, she will just walk away from them - never growls or snaps. She is an excellent guard dog. Even though she would never bite, she certainly gives strangers a good scare. We currently have our house listed for sale and have to take her with us for showings or she wouldn't let the strangers into our house!

We had a male that we had to give away because he just needed too much attention and exercise. He was not a good fit for us because of that. (He was 2 when our son was born).

Make sure you can give your boxer lots of exercise - outside. I have a friend who is involved with Boxer rescue if anyone is interested in going that route.

We have 2 girls, ages 5 and 2- and we own a boxer. We got Hannah (our dog) when she was a year old, so not fully puppy, but not adult either. We missed out on the chewing phase. My husband once had a boxer, from the puppy stage on, that ate their entire living room couch. We kennel our dog during the day, which is probably a good thing.

Boxers are very playful by nature and even tempered with the children, but look out- their rambunctious-ness can sometimes knock your children for a loop. If they get really excited they can push you back a step or two if you're not careful. While Hannah may be oblivious to her "bull in a china closet" ways, she is also extremely docile with the girls. Our baby can pull on Hannah's lips, mess with her dog food and basically crawl all over her and Hannah eats it up.

Boxers are protective dogs, preferring to put themselves in-between you and what they perceive to be harms way, but they normally won't attack. Our dog is more bark than bite, but the bark goes a long way. Our female is roughly 60lbs, so be prepared for a large dog.

I know that the Boxer breed can sometimes have heart problems later in life or allergies. You'll want to make sure that you purchase from a reputable breeder and do your homework before buying. Beware of the puppy mills. We came about our dog by happenstance, but apparently her first owner bought her from a guy who appeared to be on the level, but then turned out to be a shady character. To this date we have never seen papers or vet records on her, though were assured that "they were coming". This isn't important to us as we have no intentions of breeding or showing her.

In my opinion, Boxers are wonderful family dogs and great companions.

OOOPS! I must have hit the enter key twice on accident. Sorry for that!

Hi there! I looooooove Boxers. I have a boxer mix (boxer and lab/hound) and he is the best dog in the whole world, really! I am pregnant right now but we have been bringing my friends baby over and he does really well. He loved all kids, little dogs, etc. I have heard that full-blooded boxers often have some health problems, as pure breeds do, like tendency for little tumors, etc, there are lots of mixes out there. Boxers are well known for being fantastic family dogs, very loving and quite the clown personality. They do get to be really big, ours weighs 70 lbs and he thinks he's a lap dog! I highly recommend boxers--just something else you should know--they have very short hair/thin skin and cannot tolerate extreme heat/cold very well so you would have to commit to having them indoors most of the time, as opposed to outside only dog. They want to be inside all the time anyways, right at your feet! And as with all dogs, they need to be walked a lot. Good luck!

they are great when trained right. we have a female boxer that stays inside. We have her crate trained. Her crate has become her sanctuary. No other beings are allowed in there, except for us, of course. She receives no punishment while she's in the crate. They can be a bit overprotective when another dog is near, but other than that, she's been a great inside dog.

I grew up with a best friend whos family had several boxers through the years. ( still friends ) Boxers are great for families and with children. It is one of their best traits. In some states ( ohio years ago) they are too inbred and don't carry all the best natural traits. I recomend looking at the lineage to ensure a good dog. Boxers are prone to cancer in their older age. (friends lost four to cancer through the years) A friend in Huntsville bought an expensive puppy and it ended up with a genetic deformity that kept him from breeding the male and the male developed sinal spurs in less than a year old. The breeder should have and most likely did know the puppy was going to have problems. So Again I would say do your homework but it will be worth it to have the kind of pet a boxer makes.

I will suggest you go to your local library and read a few books about the breed to make sure that a boxer will fit into your family and lifestyle.
Also, kennel training your puppy from the very beginning will save you and your home many heartaches. I did this with my dog (10 years ago) and he was very disappointed the day I took his kennel away. Dogs love having "their own space." Good luck to you.
J

alot of people say that boxers are horrible dogs but ive never known a bad boxer and ive been around boxers, pits and rotts and never seen a bad dog. as long as u teach them how to act and dont punish them with smacks on the head and stuff they are good dogs. take them to obiedence school.

Most people who have boxers love them. Having said that I would never have one. :-) Can have high, high (did I say High?) energy. Not all, but some and especially through puppyhood which lasts approx. 2 years and may not stop there. They are usually very good with children, but train early for obedience and not jumping on people, etc. They are prone to cancers, but so are a lot of other breeds. Hope this helps!

We LOVED our boxer, BUT as he grew, our kids could not even go into the backyard because he would knock them over. When he was on his hind legs, his paws would be on my husband's shoulders. They are just too big for small children. We went to Boston terriers next. They are GREAT with kids, and their size is perfect.
FYI

My neighbor has one male boxer and he was very easy to train. He is very sweet to kids, but Max is almost five and he is still very active, and we see us, he just want to leak and leak with his huge tongue!!

We have two labradors, and they are great to my son.

I suggest that you have to train him since the beggining, and teach him not to jump over the kids. And remembr that puppies need a lot of love, attention and you need to have some time to make them exercise! Dogs parks are great !!

I have a friend with two boxers in Maine, and they are adorable.

Right now I have two DASCHUND mix that I have found about seven months ago, and I am trying (not really hard) to find them a loving home. They get along with my labs and with my son, so if everyone is interested please let me know!

Good luck with the puppy!

K.

Dear C.-

I have had quite a bit of experience through the years with many types of dogs. Boxers are, generally, great with kids and have good temperaments. They are VERY energetic, though and require quite a bit of exercise. If they get bored, they can become destructive(chewing & scratching of doors, furniture, etc.). As far as common health issues, they have a tendency toward various types of cancer. Talk to your local vet and do your research. Good luck!

Boxers are generally great dogs for a family. They are loyal and like to be obedient. The only issue will be the size - they are fairly large, stocky dogs. With a toddler or young child there will be unavoidable bumps. Not intentional or to hurt, but they are very strong and stocky.

I would not hesitate to get one - they are great dogs.

J. C.

Oh my gosh!!! I have two wonderful girls, sisters from different litters. They have truly changed our lives. They are wonderful with kids. I have two boys 10 and 7 and never once an issue unless you consider the girls getting excited and knocking them over. They are protective against those they do not know. They show emotion on their faces like no other dog I have seen and they sit at my side every second when I am sick. Now the downside.....they are big and think they are lap dogs and thats not the worst part. They have destroyed my beautiful back yard. I miss my backyard, but I can't imagine the yard without the boxer sisters.

Go to www.AKC.Org that is the web site for the American Kennel Club. Click on Breeds, then scroll for Boxers. Lot of information there.
Also Check out the breeder you are thinking of looking at. Make sure you see the Mother, at least, also, check for the housing of the puppy, Is the place clean, puppies,free of running eyss or nose. Does it have it first shot and dew claws removed. etc. Boxers are a great family dog, but full of sprit. Will need training and make sure it is at least 8 weeks old. Much better baby and ready to bond to a new family. Good luck.

they are great family dogs! but they are very high strung! if you have small children, i would suggest to wait a while. if you have kids that are old enough to play with him, and throw a ball, then its a great move.... they are awesome watch dogs, and will protect the kids like crazy. but since they are very high strung (especially when young) they would probably accidently hurt a very small child

Our boxer was teh sweetest, most loving guy. Just be careful if you get a white boxer because they sunburn and the outside is not good for any of them full time. Ours loved my kids and grandbabies. They are really smart and learn fast. Good luck!

We currently have a male boxer, adopted from rescue. And we've worked in the rescue area ourselves for over 15 years, having probably 8 boxers come through our home. All of the larger boxer rescues in the DFW area know their boxers very well. So another poster's statement that a rescue won't know the dog's temperment is absolutely false. I would highly recommend a dog 18 months or older for you. Boxers tend to mellow out around 2 yrs of age.
PLEASE listen to the people at rescue. They can and will fit your family to the right dog. It may not be the one you think! Also the other poster's statement about generally aggressive boxers is just not true. Of course, there are bad boxers, as in any breed. Any dog can become aggressive. On the flip side, I've had 4 dalmatians in my home thru fostering, and never again. lol Too unpredictable, too hard to train, and not good with my kids.
Many boxers are deemed aggressive for their natural tendency to "box". If you see one jump up wildly and "paw" at someone, he might actually be trying to play, not fight. That's where good training comes in. I wouldn't want any of my dogs jumping up on someone, play or not.

C., when I was a little girl, my parents got a Boxer, and he was a great dog. We never had any problems with him at all. I think you'll find that you'll be very happy with a Boxer, especially if you raise it yourself from a puppy on up. I'm not too sure about getting an older Boxer that belonged to someone else beforehand. As with any breed of dog, if you get one that someone's had you may find that the pet may have issues. So I do recommend the puppy. Hope that helps. Good luck to you.

They tend to "fluffy" (pas gas) ALL THE TIME and it is haneous. Probably the worst smell ever and it doesn't go away. Same with boston terriers.

Other than that, they are great dogs!! they get pretty big. But they are very LOVING!

They need ALOT of exercise. Do either of you run? That would be ideal. Placing the dog in the back yard isn't going to cut it for exercise. Neither is a couple of throws of the frisbee. He will tear everything up in your home and yard if he doesn't get exercise. Don't get one if you live in an apartment.

I've never owned a boxer myself, but I've known several from visits to the dog park. Boxers are great dogs, but they are very rambunctious and slow to mature (i.e. they still act like puppies at 3 or even 4 years). They require lots of exercise and discipline. Your kids might be able to help with the exercise!

My 7 yr old boxer has always been a little hyper, but when my neice would have 'tummy time' on the floor as an infant, he was the most gentle thing. My male (neutered) boxer has always been great with my friend's kids (ages 2-9) and now that my neice is 5 yrs old, he's still friendly with her. Only problems have been him wanting to jump up to the kids' faces to lick them. Mine's an outside dog, so his hyperness comes from being so excited when me and my husband come home from work, that we let him in and he RUNS around the house. He doesn't know that his claws hurt when my foot gets in the way. My husban would say boxers are dumb, but mine was easy to potty train, kenel train, and teach to sit and shake. Mine's real quiet unless there's something 'bad lurking outside' (a cat, a stranger). Again, my boxer is an outside dog, so a primarily inside dog might be different. I just know that boxers like and need a lot of run space (they're just about all muscle). I've heard from numerous people that boxers are prone to cancer. My vet says I should look/feel for lumps when I bathe him. As for overall health, I've only taken my boxer to the vet for reg. shots, he's had hook worms a few times, and his eyes get red from allergies. Boxers, also, in general, can droll more than a little dog would. Hope this helps!

Hey I have never had a boxer but I had several close friends who grew up with them and loved them! They have said there is not another type of dog they would get to be around their children and family, so I think that is a pretty safe choice. I have a wheaten terrier who is two and we are still working on appropriate manners with children due to energy

Hi C., I currently have 2 adult boxers and 9 boxer puppies. They are WONDERFUL dogs for children. They have great temperments and tons of energy. They are considered to be the dogs that never grow old because of this never ending energy. They do need plenty of exercise and training to keep this energy in check but with 3 kids you should be fine. We have an acre of land here for our dogs to run on, sometimes I even chain my male dog to a brick or other heavy object and let him pull it around the yard, this makes him good and tired lol. I also suggest if you get a male, have him neutered before he's a year old to prevent him from running away or becoming an escape artist. Good luck on your dog search! Email me if you have any more questions... ____@____.com

C.,

We rescued a boxer puppy last March and she is awesome with our boys (both age 4). She has just turned one. Prior to her, we had a male boxer for 13 years. He died Thanksgiving 2006. Boxers are great with kids (both of ours are), they are extremely loyal to their family. They are lap dogs and very people friendly. We will always have a boxer in our family. I recommend Austin Boxer Rescue - great organization, good people.

I have been involved in training and showing dogs off and on for 20 years. Mainly herding breeds. However, food for thought ...

Boxer's are lovely dogs, particularly if you find one with the right breeding (important in a highly bred dog such as this), but think long and hard about getting a high energy, large dog while you have children. This is particularly true if you have young children in the house.

No matter what breed you choose, I strongly discourage a rescue dog if you do not know a detailed history of its previous home life and its personality, specifically and only because of the presence of children. You are doing your family and the dog a dis-service if you have to find a new home again. Instead, I reccomend doing research on best dogs with children (I do not know your kids ages and your breed preferences), and then find a reputable breeder, should you choose to go with a purebred. One GREAT way to get a good dog is to find the breed you like and purchase an adult dog from a breeder. They will often keep a puppy for showing, only to find out when the dog is a young adult (9-12 months old) that it is not suited to showing. They will then find a family for the dog. It is trained, you know its background, and it is an almost guaranteed good fit.

Regardless of your choice, make sure to consider your family's preferences in choosing a breed (pure or mixed). If you have a small house or work, a large, energetic breed is likely not for you, for example. Taking these considerations to heart will make for a great fit.

Good luck! Pets and kids are a great fit!

I have never had one, but I did some research on them when my daughter wanted one. They have a shorter lifespan than a lot of other dogs, have a tendency towards hearing loss and one or two other conditions that I can't remember. You might want to research this on the web before purchasing one.

Good luck.

They are precious puppys and wonderful dogs. Great with children. A bit hyper sometimes. Our female dog died of a brain tumor when she was about 5. We were then told that they have a tendency to cancer or tumors. But, we loved her so much, that when we do get another dog it will be a boxer.

They are GREAT Dogs. We got Tiger when he was 3 months old he will be 1 next month. Came right into the house an fell in love with our 3 kids. He is so Friendly that when ppl jumped our fence an broke into our house. We came home to find him up stairs in our room chewin on a barbie. (smile) We havn't had any health issuses with him. But one thing I did when we got him was take the kids to the library to check out books on Boxers. My 10 yr old an I read them out loud to my 2, 4 yr old. Like any dog they need trainin. But they are jus REALLY LOVABLE dogs.

Boxers are great family dogs and good with kids. They do have health issues though. Life expectancy is only 8 to 9 years with boxers. Most dogs will live to at least 15 years old. My husband researched them a lot when we shopped for a family dog. He wanted a boxer so bad, but we wanted an indoor dog and boxers do tend to get big. I love them, but hubby doesn't want a big dog inside even though he adores the boxer breed.

We just got our first boxer puppy 3 weeks ago. She's an absolute doll, she thinks she's a lap dog, very well behaved and so darn cute. I have two children (13 & 8) and the puppy is perfect for them. My grandchildren visited this past week and except for licking them, she was perfect. We have a female brindle and when I took her to the vet he said they are his favorite dog breed. He said the only drawback is the tendency to lick people and life expectancy is not as long (12 yrs) as other breeds due to respiratory problems and they are prone to tumors.

We got our pup from friends who have the mom. Their boxer is 5 and has had 3 litters and no health problems yet.
So, if you can't tell I highly recommend them. After having a mutt (who was awesome) and labs, the boxer is ideal. She's calmer, loves to be us (doesn't wander) and is very smart. I've noticed she is very sensitive though. If you raise your voice to her and say no loudly she seems to pout. Good luck. Hope I helped.

My brother used to breed boxers. They are a wonderful breed. They are called gentle giants, and that is true! My nephew and his first boxer were best buddies and my nephew was an onery four-year-old!

There are two different noses that you find in the boxers. The ones with the shorter nose (looks squished in like a pug) tend to slobber a bit more. The longer nosed dogs don't seem to have that problem as much.

If you decide to go with a Boxer, I don't think you'll be disappointed. They are very smart dogs and really form bonds with their humans. I believe their life span is around 10 years. My parents had one that lived longer than that, however.

We have a boxer, and I was raised with one...and they are great around kids..except for their size. They have to be trained really well to stay down and listen because they are very playful, but also big, so they can be scary to a kid if they aren't well trained.

Our boxer is a male and he is about 85 pounds, and they usually grow big and fast. My older son is more scared of him due to his size, my youngest son loves him even though they are about the same height.

Hi
We had a boxer for eight years. She died last year of cancer. They have very active temperments and are like puppy's their whole lives. They are very loyal and sweet dogs and are good with kids. They need a lot of social time with you.

Hello my name is M. i also live in rosharon i have a boxer she has the sweetest temperment and is very smart she was on the local news last year for finding a mans wallet at the store next to us and bringing it to our door step unchewed or messed up we contacted its owner and everything was returned like she found it the man gave her 40.00 as a reward she got a pretty new collar treats and all the praise we could give her. Her name is kaylie pooh. The only thing about boxers is they are very playfull and need to have plenty of room to run.oh as far as the health so far so good no issues as long as you see a vet for check ups etc. Should be ok. I hope this helps you out. Good luck

Hi there. To answer your question about boxers: it depends on the age of your kids. Boxers are VERY energetic. I don't think you would have to worry about the dog being mean but you would have to worry about it getting too excited and jumping and smacking with it's tail. Hope this helps

This my frist day on and I saw your request. I am glad that you have chosen to get the boxer. My neighbor has one and he is great with my kids.

We have to beautiful Boxers and yes they are high energy dogs who need lots of attention and love. They are very protective and sweet. These are some of the best friends I have ever had. Boxers are traditionally great with children although I would suggest that you not leave your child unattended with ANY type of dog. Our vet told us that Boxers usually live to about 10 years. We have an eight year old and a five year old who where are my first children! :)

I just got one about a month ago and I have a 17mo old and they are great together she lets my daughter climb on her and she listens when my daughter tells her no or to move she is big about 50lbs at 6 mo. but she does dig and chews on stuff in the yard they are hyper dogs and she likes lots of attention but we also have a border collie so they play together outside and that also helps wear her out. Try your best to find one hat isn't inbreed, they can be mean regardless the breed. I honestly think muts make the best pets.

Hi C.,
We have had 2 boxer pups and have only one now. They are hyper active dogs but GREAT with children. Our boxer has never tried to hurt our son and he alerts us when anything is out of the ordinary. They are very overpowering dogs, so when you take them for a walk, it feels like they're trying to pull your arm off! As far as common health issues, i'm not too sure, but our boxer had heartworms and we just had him treated with 3 days of shots that cost us under $300.
Hope this helps!!!
D.

We currently have 3 boxers, ages 7 and 1 (the puppies are siblings). They have a great temperament and are great with kids. HOWEVER, they do like to jump up on you, and they are diggers. So, if you can be firm enough with them to train them not to jump, and not to dig (if you figure out how to do this one, let me know!!) then I would say go for it. They also will eat your plants--so be sure you're prepared to have a "dog yard" with very little landscaping. They are really wonderful dogs. We had one live to be 11 and one died of spleen cancer at age 5. They also do tend to have high rate of hip dysplasia (sp?) and joint problems. They are very sweet, lovable dogs, though and we absolutely love them. Oh, one more thing--hope you don't mind having a 70 lb dog in your lap!!! :-)

I had one. They are wonderful. They can be a little hyper at times and very gentle at others; mine would let my 9mo. niece ride him like a horse and not even blink an eye. I will say that I have never met one that has a fondness for cats or water. So if you have a cat or cats near by, I would be careful. They do tend to have sensitive stomachs. They are pretty smart and can scale any fence to get to what they want. So keeping them in the yard may be a challenge. Other then that my boxer was the absolute best dog I ever had.
Check out this website for the general overlook of the breed: www.dog.com

JC

Hey C.!

I raised Boxers for 5 years and have owned them for over 13. I absolutely love this breed of dog. They are wonderful dogs. Very loving and patient for the most part, but it is extremely important that when buying a puppy you see both the mother and father if possible. Most temperment issues are passed down from the parents.

You don't say how old your children are but I wouldn't advise getting a puppy for a child younger than 5 yrs. All puppies chew and nip to some degree and that can cause fear in a small child. Also, younger children don't quite understand the concept of being gentle with a puppy.

Boxers are high energy dogs that require daily exercise. Please don't think that just because you have a large yard that the dog will get what it needs. This breed is very social and needs to be with people on a daily basis. A good long walk and a game of fetch will help burn off the energy that can cause destructive behavior in any breed. Provide your pup with adequate chew toys to avoid unwanted chewing. Boxers can be quite hard headed and difficult to train, but once trained they are very obedient pets. They are also an extremely intelligent breed (part of what contributes to the hard headedness...lol).

Good luck to you and your family!

The only boxer I've ever met was also a wonderful loving dog. From the minute we met him he was friendly and kept trying to give my 20 mnth old kisses. The lady that owned him adopted him from a rescue group. She just couldn't beleive anyone had ever given up such a loving dog. She's also in her 80's and has never had any issues with the dog.

Good luck in your doggie search!
~N.~

My family has 2. The male is FABULOUS and the female is a grumpy bi**h. They tend to be big oafey lap puppies.

When you go to select one, do all the temperment tests that you can. Meet the parents. And research research research.

As far as health, no issues really.

Good luck.

We have a boxer and my in-laws have 3. They are GREAT dogs!! Some are hyper and some are not. Our's isn't hyper at all. They are WONDERFUL with kids, too! You can google them and find out that they are very loving, obedient dogs and are suggested for children. Good luck!!

Oh and there are many different looking boxers. Flashy fawn, brindle, albino, black, etc. They are all beautiful.

Boxers are great dogs. They have wonderful, fun loving personalities and lots of health problems. The most serious being their tendency to have heart problems and be prone to cancer.

Good Luck
Dr S., DVM

I've heard that everyone that bought a boxer was thrilled...great pet...great around children. The only red flag is their health. Boxers tend to get tumors in the jaws. I've heard this from several people I used to work with. I think if you are diligent about vet visits, everything would be treatable if caught early. Good Luck!

We're looking at the breed as well. When I was visiting my mom, I met 2 rescues and talked to the owners. According to them, they have a good reputation as a family dog and can be very protective of children. I noticed both were calm and very tolerant of my 3 yr old. Like any dog, they do require training but, since they are a working breed, usually respond well. I looked at the AKC web site, and it mentioned that they are high energy.

Have you found a good breeder?

Hi C.! I have several clients with boxers and they're excellent dogs! Feel free to email me directly at this email address and I'll answer any questions you may have :)

____@____.com

Boxers are great dogs that will be great with kids. They have tons of energy though so make sure you either take them on long walks or have a backyard for them to run around in. They will jump up alot and sometimes can be prone to tumors. Besides that they are fun, smart and loving dogs. When my husband and I get a house I want a boxer. I was raised with them and they are great fun. Good luck!

I was raised with boxers. My parents had one even after all the kids left home. It was so impressive to see my dad's boxer around the grandchildren often several on the floor crawling, on blankets, or toddling around. (I come from a family of 8 children, so grandkids were abundant.)
Boxers are very gentle, protective dogs. Dad's could hear the doorbell ring, jump up, charge across the room, and never step on a baby who was mobile or not. They could often be found using him as a pillow, sitting on him, or following him around holding on to his nubby little tail. The would put their hands in his mouth and never get bitten. They even tried riding him.
The boxer we have now is the best of the 4 dogs we've had. He is intelligent, gentle, a great guard dog, protective, and easy to train. I would suggest that every family who wants a dog get a boxer.

Well, just thought I'd share the experience of my best friend.... they rescued a boxer from a bad home and have since had to re-home her. She was very sweet and loving, but as the poster wrote about the AKC description, she was very high-energy. So much so, that she would knock down or slam into gates or whatever their 2yo son. She would never mean to, she just couldn't control her excitement. They tried and tried to train her to be better behaved, but then she started peeing whenever she was reprimanded. I'm sure it really depends on the dog, and it's not all dogs in the breed, I would just warn that when you look for one, maybe look for an older one or just a very laid-back one. If it's jumping up and stuff, at all, it may get worse when it's at home and comfortable and happy (that's what happened to them). She was the wiggliest, craziest, strong and jumpiest dog ever. They loved her, they just couldn't handle her (esp. with a young child in the home). Like, I said, I wouldn't discount the breed, there are very hyper dogs in all breeds (well, except the very large breeds- they tend to be the most laid-back). We have a Jack Russell and they are known for being crazy hyper, though she's not.

Hi C.!
We have a boxer that we have had since he was 5 weeks old and my son was 3 yrs. at the time. He is a GREAT dog! Verry patient with my son. My son is really tough on him and all he does is sit on him!! My in laws have had 2 boxers and they are great! Ours is really prtective of our son and us as well! Some have allergys, they can be prone to cancer, but not until their later years. The average life span is about 10 years, although my in laws dog lived about 14 years! I say go for it and enjoy!
God Bless,
K.

All I can say is my bro and sil have a boxer that is almost 3 yr old now and still quite high strung. She is very hyper around the children, but she has calmed a little since she was a puppy. She doesn't hurt the children at all, but my kids sure don't like her bouncy jumpy personality. They just had triplets and it will be interesting to me to see if she calms down anymore as the babies grow.

Boxer's are great dogs with children, as long as they have simple obedience training. They can be a little hyper when they are young and can accidentally knock a small child over. They are very prone to cancer however. Working for 2 yrs as a vet tech, we always found tumors in boxers. Most were able to be removed and no further treatment is necessary. You just need to be on the look out for it. A friend of mine has grown up with boxers and thinks they are the best dog breed of them all.

Boxer's are great dogs. They are happy, friendly, overall great with the family, tend to adore kids, they do wonderful with the multiple owner family. Meaning they are not just a one owner to answer to dog. Do your temperment testing for each pup, find a reputable breeder (please don't fuel the puppy mill fire, by buying a puppy from a pet shop or on the side of the road.) Cancer, some eye problems, some skin problems, and sometimes some joint problems tend to run in the boxer's list of health problems, cancer of course being the worst. Always be aware that kids and dogs must be suppervised until you know your kids will treat the dog properly (always an issue that tends to be overlooked when a dog is aggressive or uncomfortable with kids.)

We have a 7 yo female Boxer that is truly the best family dog I have ever seen. When we brought our newborn daughter home from the hospital 5 years ago, our dog started sleeping just outside of the nursery and today, she sleeps in my daughter's room. She is protective, but is also extremely friendly to anyone that she senses is harmless. Boxers definitely love children. I agree with the others that Boxers do need an outlet for their energy. As for health issues, we have had 3-4 benign tumors removed just as a precaution. This is something common among Boxers. I think a lot of people are scared by Boxers appearance, b/c they can look intimidating. Good luck with your search.

We have two dogs - both rescue dogs, one who is 12 and another one who is 7. We've had them both since they were puppies. Our son is 14 months old. I've never had experience with boxers and children, but the only thing I can tell you is that before kids we would take our dogs to the dog park to play. Our Dalmatian mix would ALWAYS get attacked by a boxer. I will be the first to admit that our Beagle mix is a little territorial and can be quite aggressive, but our Dalmatian mix is the sweetest dog and more scared of you than you could ever be of her.

I see that you have received a lot of positive feedback on boxers, so I don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but I feel the need to share this info because it is your child you're talking about. Good luck with making your decision. If it were me, I would never own a boxer.

my mom has a boxer. she was living with us when our son was born and and the dog was great. she was always coming in to check on him when he was crying and was always really gentle whenever she was around him. And they still have a special bond between them. they do like to lick a lot. i don't know of any health issues except if they are white. if they are white, they have have more health issues and a shorter life span.

Boxers are absolutely wonderful dogs for everyone. They are so sweet and gentle. If you are wanting a smaller breed, Boston Terriers are great. Boston's are hyper with much energy. I am looking for a Boxer pup right now. If you know of a good breeder, please let me know
J. R
1 daughter 5 and twin boys 3 1/2

Hello,

One of my good friends had a boxer, and it was his best friend. They are SO social, and require a ton a attention. He doesn't have kids, but I know the dog was great with his neices and nephews.

The sad thing is.. when the dog was 5 he got cancer and died. I have heard that cancer can be common with Boxers. BUT, he loved his Boxer so much, he replaced her with another Boxer.

Good Luck!!

We had a boxer for 10 great years when our kids were young. We got him when the kids were 4 and 6. He was the best dog ever. I will tell you that they are definitely a roudy puppy but they will calm down with a little training. Boxers are fiercely loyal to their family and watchful of the kids. Our dog would step between the kids and any percieved danger -like if we had a fire going in the fireplace or someone new came to our home, he literally stood in front of the kids with his body shielding them. Boxers are generally very smart and easily house trained. I would suggest not picking the leader of the litter. The runts are usually a little more docile and not so strong willed. I would recommend a boxer to anyone with or without children.

My grandmother had two boxers and although they're supposed to be good with kids, I beg to differ. When I was three, one of them jumped on my to 'play' and I have been scared of dogs ever since. It scared the living daylights out of me even though she wasn't purposely being aggressive.

I am manager at a Texas Animal Hospital and have been for 10 years. I can tell you that boxers are definitely an excellent family dog especially if raised as a puppy with your family. I will tell you that boxers are called the "walking tumor" dog. Boxers are very susceptible to tumors as they get older wether it be internal or skin tumors. They are very good pets but develop problems as they get older and are prone to hip dysplasia and tumors as I said.

Hi,
Boxers are the most awesome breed of dogs. The first boxer I ever had was almost a year old when I got her. I was living in the country at that time (snakes!). My niece was outside playing and my boxer (Zoe) positioned herself between a baby rattlesnake and my niece and took the bite. She killed the snake and off we went to the vet. She survived this lived another 6 or 7 years. She was a great dog. Boxers are very loving, protective, smart, and gentle with kids. They do need room to run and play, but love being with the family. We currently have 2 (Zoe's son and another female). They are members of the family-not just pets. We do keep them in at night - they sleep in the den - and we do not leave them outside when the weather is bad or really cold. Their coat is short so they are susceptible to the temps. Also, they tend to snore (one reason they sleep in the den!) because of the short snout. They are not barkers, but do sometimes if the doorbell rings or someone is up against the fence. They are very curious and need alot of love. I hope this helps you out - I do not see me ever having anything but a boxer!
C. W

had a boxer as a teenager, and they are just big babies. with love attention and are very loving and gentle. great chose for your family. another great breed for kids is labs. my grandkids 3 yr old twins have one and they are always trying to ride him, they like to lay there heads on him, and lots of hugs. when he has had enough he just goes and lays down in his bed in the corner of the living room. they know thats doggies nap time.he also never gets agressive if they put their hands in his food, he will just eat the piece off their hand and go back to his bowl. very mellow dogs once you get past the puppy chewing stage

I don't have any pets, but my neighbors have 2 boxers and four kids. They are the sweetest dogs I've ever met. My 2 year old LOVES them but my 7 year old is a little scared of the puppy because she likes to jump up on him.

We got our boxer last September. Duke was 5 months old and our son was 16 months. They are best friends. I've never seen anything so sweet in my life. My son (being only one) throws things at him, pulls on him, anything you can imagine and Duke just has the happiest face on knowing that Nolan is playing. No common heath concerns that we know of. We just posted new pictures on my son's website...babyhomepages.nte/noisynolan You can see for yourself how friendly they are!

I know it has been a while since you posted this, but I just wanted to tell you something that was not told to me by the breeder when we bought a boxer. Boxer's are real likely to get cancer. So just be aware that if she starts acting sick to get her to your vet. I too had pits for about 12 years and my daughter wanted a boxer, so we caved and got one, sweetest dog ever!, but at about 1 1/2 years old she started dropping weight like crazy, she had cancer. It progressed very rapidly and she died with in 2 weeks of her diagnosis. So just a heads up so you can talk with your vet about it because the breeders tend to keep that to themselves. We went back to a pit by the way. Hope this helps

We have a 1 year old Boxer named Duke and he is a clown. Our baby is 7 months old and he's really good around her. He will lick and sniff her but that's about it. The only problem I have is letting him know that her toys are not his. Other than that he's great. A little messy when he eats and drinks and boy do his farts smell like a small animal died!

OMG C.!!!
I absolutely love Boxers!! We had a male and a female when our teenagers were growing up. They were the BEST! They were so great with the kids. They didn't care what our kids did to them. The female was so gentle and loved to hug. She was the best guard dog too. If she barked, we knew it was serious. The male barked at everything. He was the sweetest thing though. And when they had puppies (on accident) the female was the best momma. I was worried about the male because sometimes males don't like their puppies, but he was the best daddy. He played tug of war with them and when he would sleep on the porch, all seven of the babies would sleep on top of him. The down side is that they are known to get cancer. That's what happened to our female and we had to put her to sleep at 8 years old. Two weeks later the male died of a broken heart. He would cry at the back door for her. It just killed us to loose them and after 6 years we finally got a doberman puppy. I wanted a Boxer, but hubby didn't because he was afraid he would compare it to them.
Oh, and they were easy to train. We knew other Boxer owners and their dogs were great with kids too.
Sorry so long! I could go on and on. Contact me anytime if you have other questions.
S.

I have a friend who swears by them. Says they are the most gentle dogs and absolutely the best with kids. Good choice.

My uncle has had these for years. His have always been great with kids, very protective and gentle. Also they have never had any health problems. He is careful to get them from reputable breeders that have the mom and dad's hips checked for hip dysplasia which is common in all larger breeds of dogs. hth

It's been a while, but I had a boxer a while back. I loved her, and boxer is still my favorite type of dog. She was wonderful. They're only bad tempered if they're taught to be that way, I think.

I have a boxer that I inherited when my son died. My son rescued him. He's the best dog. They are high energy dogs but great with children. They have very gentle natures and a gentle mouth. You will have a dog who will be a puppy for several years. They are smart and train easily. I have never seen a dog who can play with his feet the way Bear does. He also thinks he's a lap dog. He gets along great with my other dog. As with every big dog you must teach them where they fit into the pack but I am very happy with my boxer and he's so lovable. He was neutered early and never had his tail cut or his ears so he's really cute. The only health issue I've had is they cannot eat people food as they tend to get gas easily and that can clear a room, if you know what I mean. I think you'll love a Boxer.
Good luck,
R.

I use to work for a Vet here in Texas and they are the sweetest pets but you need to be aware of hip problems,due to their body structure. There is 2 places that do the surgery here, one in Houston and then TX A&M. Just aliitle bit of info. for down the road.

Hi, I am a mother of triplet girls. We got a boxer puppy last May and he is great. The girls were a little afraid of him initially but now they love him and want to kiss and hug on him. I would recommend getting the puppy and exposing it to the kids as much as possible so that they will get use to it and the puppy will get use to the kids. Rocky, our boxer, was very curious of the girls but never tried to lick, jump, or bite them. Boxers are great family dogs, my husband did alot of research before we got Rocky. Hope this helped.

Obviously you've gotten some great comments on boxers already. I would just like to add since I own two (both adopted from a rescue), that depending on the age of your children, I recommend an older boxer. My boxers are 7 and 2 years old and the 7 year old is so much calmer with my five year old son. I agree with another poster that boxers stay puppies longer than other dogs. They really don't calm down until about three. And having volunteered with Legacy Boxer Rescue and adopting both of my dogs from them I can tell you that they do know their boxers. When they rescue a dog from a shelter, that dog is brought up to date on all shots put into "foster care" where the foster parent observes the dog for temperment and any health issues. A good foster parent is trained to know the right fit for their dog. Not only that, but adopters have a screening process too. We're not going to put our dogs in a situation that is bad for them with a family who will ultimately ignore their dog. I highly recommend going through LBR. Their website is www.savetheboxers.com.

I don't have Boxer's but have heard they're great dogs.

Please look at Boxer rescue groups. You would not believe how many people buy purebred dogs, only to give them up 6 months later. It's really sad to see how many end up in shelters or are destroyed. I'm not a fan of puppy sales at Petland or other places.

And if this is you're first dog for the family, I advise against puppies. Get a dog that's 6 months to a year and a half.... life will be easier for you and your home belongings.

A boxer is a perfect choice for children. I have one at home who is now 5 years old. He is very protective of the kids. He doesn't like it when they cry. Temperment is great. They are active when they choose to be.Every once in a while he does these laps around the yard, but settles down upon request. Most of the time he just sits around and watches everyone. Kinda lazy. Health concerns: Mine has a nervous stomach. Anytime anything out of the ordinary goes on he makes himself sick. But, with a little effort he usually does fine very quickly. I hear alot about cancers and bad hips. Do not have a dog whose most of the day is on concrete is the best i can tell you about that one. But, yes, a boxer is a perfect choice.

we've had two boxers (both females) and they are WONDERFUL! Blanca was a white boxer we rescued as a puppy @ 6 weeks (the white pups are usually destroyed as it is a defective gene that causes them to be white) and she was great! She was an indoor/outdoor dog and she really did not take long at all to housetrain, although I do recommend crate training. One health issue we had with her was that boxers, as well as other big barrel chested dogs such as great danes (also a great breed for children), run the risk of their stomachs flipping over inside and causing internal problems. (Sounds weird right!) Ask your vet about this risk. This happened to Blanca twice. The first time, we did not know what was wrong but the problem resolved itself. The second time, was more serious and in combination with an intestinal infection, resulted in emergency surgery. (She died post-op from a bloot clot but she was six years old). A few months later, we rescued Lily, a 2 year old red boxer and we've had her for about two years now. She had been an outdoor dog (on a chain -- how cruel!) but, surprisingly, was already housetrained. She had been living with a rottweiler and we were concerned that she would be aggressive but just like Blanca, she has the sweetest temperament and is wonderful with both my 5 and 6 year old girls. All this to say...JUST DO IT! ADOPT A BOXER TODAY. You'll never get another breed. Hope this is helpful.

Boxers are AWESOME as family pets. They are hyper til they are about 2 yrs. Also, they have separation anxiety, so you need to crate train them and crate them when you leave. We have to put ours up or outside when we leave, but she sleeps with my oldest at night and does fine indoors. My 4 yr old pulls her around the house and she just goes right along---Never has growled at her. Poor thing! I would suggest them as a family pet, just be patient through the chewing stage---it lasts about 2 yrs!!! Good Luck E.

Hi there C.! I have had a boxer for over 8 years. We got her from a rescue group in '99. I told them our family situation and she picked a wonderful dog out for us! At that time my youngest was a handful, he was a 2 year old who was extremely rowdy. Also I had 4 older children, a very busy and noisy lifestyle and lots of activities. The dog we got from rescue was perfect for our family! Peggy (boxer) is a flashly brindle who was taken out of a shelter, sick with sarcoptic mange and heartworms. The rescue group cured her problems and evaluated her, so by the time we got her she was totally healed and ready for a family. Peggy is a fantastic dog! Very loving and loyal to our family, excellent with babies up to grownups. She has allowed 2 babies to pull up and toddle around her, she never made a move, she's as gentle as a lamb with babies!

One thing about boxers, you can pretty much forget about them being much of a guard dog, our Peggy is very friendly towards others. Boxers do not bark much. They do however need regular exercise. The younger the dog the more often you'll need to take them for a walk. Our Peggy needs a daily walk for 30-45 minutes, but when she was younger she needed a longer walk. If you get a puppy be prepared because it's just like getting another baby. Potty accidents, chewing, destruction, etc. I STRONGLY recommend you go through a boxer rescue group or a shelter and get an adult dog, especially since you have a family. An adult dog will be a ready-made family member who will fit in right away without the potty training and related problems. Most backyard-bred or puppymill boxer puppies are not well-bred (I blame the popularity of the breed) and some might even grow up to have personalities that wouldn't go well with children. Every shelter in the area has more than 1 boxer. Some people cannot handle their exercise/energy needs which is why most of the boxers are in the shelter. Another reason to go through a shelter is this month they're offering 1/2 price adoptions at SPCA, Houston Humane, CAPS, City of Houston (BARC) and Harris County. So their adoption fees are about $27 this month. (It's usually $55.) Pasadena's shelter has 4 boxers however their adoptions are around $90. This includes spaying/neutering and a health check. Find dogs at area shelters and rescues by going to www.petharbor.com and www.petfinder.com

Please don't let your boxer have puppies! Overpopulation is ruining the breed. Also boxers frequently have problems whelping which will result in about a $900 c-section.

Be sure to research the breed further. They are great dogs and my family adores Peggy. She is a wonderful companion but you need to be aware of their needs and issues. They cannot be fed cheap grocery-store dog food. (I feed a raw diet.) Also remember you'll need to crate train your boxer so that you can avoid problems with destruction, chewing, etc. Boxers are *indoor only* dogs and cannot stay outdoors very long. They have a shortened snout and the humidity and heat here can give them serious respiratory problems. Also they cannot withstand real cold weather without a sweater because of their coat. Even though their coat is short they need brushing or the use of a shedding blade to keep down the indoor shedding.
Have fun and post when you find your dog!

I think boxers are wonderful dogs. They are high-spirited, playful, curious and energetic but can be stubborn and sneaky. They are constantly on the move and require lots of exercise and they love to jump. They usually bond very closely with the family, are loyal, affectionate, and often good with children. With obedience training and proper socialization they will get along with other dogs and other household pets. They require lots of attention and human companionship. Training should start young and be firm and consistent. This breed requires a dominant owner. Some major health concerns are cardiomyopathy, sub-aortic stenosis, and hip dysplasia. They are sometimes prone to epilepsy. From age eight on they are more likely to get tumors than other breeds. They have a tendency to develop allergies and are prone to heart problems. These dogs may drool and/or snore and often have excessive flatulence. Some white Boxers are prone to deafness. The best thing for you and your husband to do is to check out a book on the breed and see if it fits your families lifestyle and your idea of what you want from a family dog. Another option to consider besides a puppy if house training and obedience classes were not what you had in mind is an adult. Many rescue organizations can match you with a boxer whose disposition and personality fit perfectly into your family. I hope this helps. Good luck:)

C.,
Boxer's are like the best family dog you could have. They are very loyal and good with kids. They like being with the family alot. I have had two boxer's one past away at age 13 and the other one I have is almost two. My step son has a boxer and they just had their first baby last April. His dog watches over little JJ all the time. He is very good with him. My daughter has a boxer and she has two beautiful girls that just love that boxer to death. My boxer is great with my grandkids. I wouldn't trade him for any other breed. I'm sure you can go online and find all kinds of info about boxers too. We will be breeding ours soon (sometime around June) Boxer's are great! God bless you!
PV

Boxers are something I know about. I have four. The two girls were gifts from my husband and the two "men" are rescues. They are absolutely one of the most wonderful breeds you will find. If you have children make sure you get one as a puppy. You don't need any breed that brings luggage around children. All of ours are fixed because there are already too many unwanted dogs in the world. One of the health problems is cancer. Get on Google and do your homework. Good luck to you and your family in finding the right one for you.

I would check out this site to decide what dog is right for your family...there are numerous sites that can help you make a match. http://www.glowdog.com/bestdog/

T.
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Make your body & health your top priority this year!

Hi! Just wanted to let you know that my sister had a boxer and she was the sweetest dog I have ever known! She was wonderful with kids and just loved everyone! Great temperament! Unfortunately they had to put her to sleep last Dec. 7th. She was only 2 1/2 years old but had heart failure! It was beyond devastating and my sister is still having such a hard time with it. The only thing I know as far as health issues is that they are prone to having tumors. Of course this isn't all boxers but my sister told me this. They are just wonderful dogs though so good luck if you decide on one!

I had 2 boxers when I was a child. My parents picked them because the veterinarians always said they were great with kids, so good that they could almost babysit. They were right. Our boxers were wonderful dogs and great with kids. They never tried to bite and were very protective of me. We never had any health issues with them other than they ended up getting heart worms and at that time they were too old for the treatment and it was really expensive. They played especially together often standing up to fight (which is supposedly where they get their name). I would totally trust them but dogs do have personalities like children but the experiences we had were great.

M.

My husband and I have two boxers. One is 5 years old and one is 3 years old. His brother has a boxer for 14 years. The same boxer. They are great with our kids. We did get training with both, but just at petsmart. I didn't pay a fortune for a place like Mans Best Friend. They are very proctective of their family. Big barks which keep strangers at bay, but in reality they would just wag them to death. They are very happy dogs. They were wonderful during my pregnancy and have just been great with both our kids. My daughter used to sit on my brothers dog like a horse and he just took it. My son now does that with ours and it is so cute. He also sits in the floor and pulls on them and loves on them and even will just use them as a pillow. Never a growl, snip or anything. I love boxers. At the end of my brothers dogs life he did have cancer. However, he lived for 14 years which is amazing. He had cancer for 1. You do have to watch their hips. If our oldest runs to much her hips hurts and she limps. We give her motrin and tylenol and all is better in a day or two.

Hi C.,
We have a 10 year old boxer, 2 kids, ages 3 and 1 1/2, and we are about to get another boxer puppy. They are fantastic family dogs! They love their family, and are very good with children. When we got ours 10 years ago, we got him because they are so good with kids. He wasn't even around kids for the first 6 years of his life, and has been so patient and loving to both of my kids (as well as their friends). They do have a long puppyhood (like 3-4 years), meaning they really think they are puppies for that long. You will need to be diligent with their training early on, because they are very smart and can be stubborn, but they want nothing more than to make you smile! Once you have a boxer, you won't be able to imagine having any other kind of dog ever again! Hope this helps!

As far as the health issues, I am unsure, but htey are WONDERFUL pets! I don't have one, but we have very dear friends that do, my mother does, and we have a couple of neighbors that do. They are VERY intelligent, very trainable dogs. I do know there are alot of great resources available online. Try googling "boxer health issues". Good luck!

When I was little, my next door neighbor had a boxer. The dog was so intense and playful. The bad thing was, one day my friend and I were playing basketball, and the ball rolled in front of my neighbor's front window. The boxer literally jumped/broke through the glass window to get the ball. Maybe it was just this one boxer. Poor thing...later it was on a leash and jumped over the high fence, and hung himself to death. Of course, this is just my one and only experience with a boxer. Maybe if he had been trained or played with more, it wouldn't have acted like that. I would call local vets and pet stores and ask them also about their knowledge of boxers! Good luck with the dog search!

Boxer's are:
With family and friends, their temperament is fundamentally playful, yet patient and stoical with children. Deliberate and wary with strangers, he will exhibit curiosity, but, most importantly, fearless courage if threatened. However, he responds promptly to friendly overtures honestly rendered. His intelligence, loyal affection, and tractability to discipline make him a highly desirable companion.

You need to know that boxers are called boxers because of the way they play, with their paws. Since they get quite large you have to make sure you train them at a very young age not to paw when playing around small childern. And of course it is important to start training from the day you bring them home.

Where do you live? My daughter is a dog trainer.

S.

I had a boxer mix puppy, and the one thing I suggest is be sure if you get a pup, is to buy a puppy chow for large breed dogs. They grow so quickly that they need that extra calcium, and yes, be sure there is plenty of room to run. Large muscles need large areas in which to exercise. Unfortunately, mine was mixed with Pitt, and got very aggressive. He loved my grandkids, but was very aggresive with other dogs. I was afraid that agression would transfer to my grandchildren, and I had to put him down. IN all honesty, I think it was the Pitt in him, not the boxer. I got to know several people with boxers, and all had sweet dogs.

Like I said, the thing to remember is lots of room to run and a puppy chow for large breed dogs. We chose Hill's Science Diet, which is expensive, but just seeing how well he grew and the sleek muscles was worth it. He did great on it, as do our other dogs.

I have a 4 year old boxer. He is absolutely wonderful. Yes he is high energy and loves to run and play (when he's outside). However, when he's in the house he is very calm and observant. The only time he gets hyper inside is when my husband or one of my children let him know "it's playtime". My kids are 14, 11 and 10 and we got him when my youngest was 6. I can only speak for my own dog. He was easy to housebreak and he easily learned the simple commands such as sit and stay. When he hears the words "go outside" he goes directly to the door and sits. When he hears food being put into his bowl, he comes over and sits and waits until you have put everything in its place and stepped aside. My kids love him and I would get another boxer if I had it to do over again.