[8cyVn4RJ]

I have tremendously enjoyed every single Boxer I have ever met. They are so insanely goofy that there are just no words! I had no idea until the first one I exercised volunteering at the shelter. Just wow!

They are one of the worst breeds for cancer and heart problems though... health testing is a biggie as others have said! Also their tummies tend toward being very sensitive, at least thats what I've been told by a plethora of Boxer owners.

I would never own one because of drool and I don't care for smush face breeds (except the DDB for some reason!) and I like furrier dogs. I like squishing other people's Boxer's though.

VKH - I love seeing pics of the Boxers!

[apannamma]

Love them, hate the health problems, they were my 2nd choice in dog breeds after Rotts but didn't want to buy a puppy and all the ones in rescue were old or ugly lol. I would probably only get one through a very responsible breeder because of the health problems they are prone to. They are just funny goofy dogs.

[Gcromqgb]

Like I've said in other threads, my family bred, showed and owned Boxers for years. My Uncle Johnny was actually taught how to walk by my grandparent's Boxer. Some the family had were really sweet, some were hell on wheels. Because of lack of training and exercise, no fault of the dog.

They are super slow to mentally mature and are very puppy like until around 2. They are extremely stubborn. Boxers require a lot of supervision and training because having a very large "puppy" charging through your house and knocking down kids can suck. The family saying was "Boxers are stupid until they're two." They just don't "get it" when it comes to rules and behavior until then. Once you're past the hump, assuming you train religiously, socialize with people like it's your full time job and exercise daily, you're all good!

My family Boxers were healthy, but I think that was more a matter of luck. If you go for a puppy then you really do need to make sure the breeder health tested.

If you like the look of a Boxer and want a dog not as predisposed to health problems, maybe check into American Bulldogs?

[egershna]

Like I've said in other threads, my family bred, showed and owned Boxers for years. My Uncle Johnny was actually taught how to walk by my grandparent's Boxer. Some the family had were really sweet, some were hell on wheels. Because of lack of training and exercise, no fault of the dog.

They are super slow to mentally mature and are very puppy like until around 2. They are extremely stubborn. Boxers require a lot of supervision and training because having a very large "puppy" charging through your house and knocking down kids can suck. The family saying was "Boxers are stupid until they're two." They just don't "get it" when it comes to rules and behavior until then. Once you're past the hump, assuming you train religiously, socialize with people like it's your full time job and exercise daily, you're all good!

My family Boxers were healthy, but I think that was more a matter of luck. If you go for a puppy then you really do need to make sure the breeder health tested.

If you like the look of a Boxer and want a dog not as predisposed to health problems, maybe check into American Bulldogs?

You see I like the American Bulldog too. That was my first love of all dogs. But Aren't they considerably larger though than both Boxers and APBTs? (Honestly though if I were to go back looks alone I still prefer the look of the APBT. But I would never get a dog based on looks alone) Of course the not predisposed to a lot of health issues would be a definite plus for sure. I'm totally gun shy still about getting a purebred because of what happened last time. Might be best to look into an overall healthy breed. (Doesn't sound like the case with Boxer's). I told my husband about all the health issues last night and he was like, we may really want to rethink if a boxer is really in our future. He told me my "Pit Bull" I want is sounding better and better.

I don't know, watch me end up with another lab/Terrier mix of some sort. I have a soft spot for the mutts.

[rockboyzaza]

American Bulldogs vary from 50lbs to 150lbs depending on which type you get. Most average between 65-100lbs. I fostered for ABR and the last female we fostered was 65lbs. No longer foster, but still do home checks and stuff. They are a lot of American Bulldogs needing homes. Our shelters are full of them.

I like the Boxer temperament more than I do the American Bulldog though.

[dwestemesse]

They are considerably larger!

If you do your research and get a dog from a good breeder, you cut down the chance of health issues! My parents dogs are all very smart, have their CGC certs, and have since they were a year old! They are not stupid at all, nor stubborn. They need firm fair balanced training! '

All breeds have their own set of health issues, the APBT has joint issues, allergies run rampant and IMO temperament issues. American Bulldogs have allergies, joint issues and heart issues. They key is to get a dog from a good breeder that stacks the deck in your favor through health testing and knowing their stock REALLY well.

[drgshmcm]

I hate Boxers. Every Boxer I have come into contact with has been an unfortunate encounter. They've always been spring boarding off of me and slobbering right in my face...ick. My roommate has a Boxer and honestly I'd love to skin him and tack his hide onto the side of the house. He is an extremely rude dog and shows no signs of intelligence. It took him two weeks just to master "sit"! I just don't like the eternal puppy attitude a lot of them carry. I like a dog that can be serious for at least 10 minutes a day.

My best friend had a Boxer who sadly had to be put down at four because of cancer.

[Michael-jeckson2]

Not big on them. All three times my dane was been attacked as a puppy and young adult were by boxers. Just not my favorite breed.

[theatadug]

This breeder has some good boxers from what it seems they all have a lot of titles and most are K9 cops.

http://www.bachbett.com/

[lzwha]

I have a three year old male boxer. He has an excellent temperment, very healthy, minimal slobber, zero DA or HA, he is not stubborn or stupid. He listens, learns, and behaves very well. However, when we first got him, he was a TOTAL terror. This is a very high energy breed. The key to his good behavior is exercise, we hit the dog park/hiking/running/whatever for an hour/day without fail. This is an excellent breed, but only if you can commit to alot of exercise.

[egershna]

After hearing some of the pros and cons. The SBT may still be my better bet. But I'm not going to mark the boxer off the list just yet. I need a dog that is going to have the energy to handle being around two energetic kids. But also be sturdy enough to handle two energetic kids.

The nice thing about my current dog is we already had her before having kids. So even though when I had my daughter that was a new experience for her, she was already well trained and honestly knew how to act around kids. She is very tolerant of everything my daughter has put her through from the tail and ear pulling phases to the fact that she even lets her touch her paws. For the longest time no one could touch this dogs paws without her pulling away and running to another area. Now anyone can touch her paws. She doesn't jump up on kids, she is very gentle with all kids.

She already knows the drill where with an energetic puppy, especially a big energetic puppy well that is going to be more of a challenge. I guess what it comes down too is how big and how energetic do I want to go. SBT's are energetic but hey they are in a much smaller package.

[6M8PJigS]

I second the cancer/ health problems point. My parents have a boxer and she's got a lot of problems and she has tumors all in her mouth. My mom took her to the vet to get them looked at and the vet said that it's a normal thing with the breed and he sees it all the time.

Any breed that tumors in the mouth is a "normal thing" freaks me out.

But that dog can run for miles and miles. And very easy to keep lean. She is free fed and eats a good bit but just has a crazy metabolism. And she's very friendly and loves kids.

[Rupeviv]

Honestly, SBTlove, if you're looking for a dog that has the energy to keep up with and the temperament to deal with kids, you're best bet is the SBT. No doubt. That's basically their speciality. When we fostered our staffy, she was 6.5 years old, unspayed, and had a large mass (basically a necrotized hematoma) that needed to be removed. Once we got her all fixed up, she was adopted to a family with 2 kids, 8 and 14 years old. From what we've heard from the family, that dog has made those kids "her's". She is constantly watching them, never leaves them, does everything with them, and never waivers in her temperament. I would feel better about a staffy with kids than any other dog, hands down, especially if bought from a breeder with noted temperament testing; but even if it's a rescue, as I've found, a good dog is where you find it.

[egershna]

Honestly, SBTlove, if you're looking for a dog that has the energy to keep up with and the temperament to deal with kids, you're best bet is the SBT. No doubt. That's basically their speciality. When we fostered our staffy, she was 6.5 years old, unspayed, and had a large mass (basically a necrotized hematoma) that needed to be removed. Once we got her all fixed up, she was adopted to a family with 2 kids, 8 and 14 years old. From what we've heard from the family, that dog has made those kids "her's". She is constantly watching them, never leaves them, does everything with them, and never waivers in her temperament. I would feel better about a staffy with kids than any other dog, hands down, especially if bought from a breeder with noted temperament testing; but even if it's a rescue, as I've found, a good dog is where you find it.

That is what originally what caused me to gravitate toward the breed. However there will be some obstacles (family members) with owning an SBT as well. But at the end of the day I just want a good healthy tempermentally sound dog.

[Gcromqgb]

You see I like the American Bulldog too. That was my first love of all dogs. But Aren't they considerably larger though than both Boxers and APBTs? (Honestly though if I were to go back looks alone I still prefer the look of the APBT. But I would never get a dog based on looks alone) Of course the not predisposed to a lot of health issues would be a definite plus for sure. I'm totally gun shy still about getting a purebred because of what happened last time. Might be best to look into an overall healthy breed. (Doesn't sound like the case with Boxer's). I told my husband about all the health issues last night and he was like, we may really want to rethink if a boxer is really in our future. He told me my "Pit Bull" I want is sounding better and better.

I don't know, watch me end up with another lab/Terrier mix of some sort. I have a soft spot for the mutts.

Lol, nothing wrong with a nice mutt. I just prefer knowing health and temperament of parents and knowing what I am likely to get appearance and quirk wise with purebreds. Maybe I'm a control freak or something.

Ike is 78lbs at 3 years old. He is on the smaller end of the AB scale, but I also have a guy who walks his AB in the neighborhood and a Saturday regular at the pet store who brings his AB and they are around 80-90lbs. Not much bigger than Boxers. More hefty...wider and thicker, but roughly the same height.

With AB's you really want to make sure the parents are temperamentally sound and that they are very friendly. Some AB's are very guardy and some aren't. Ike is stupidly, ridiculously, happy about meeting people. So were his parents when we went to see the pups. That was one of the reasons why I chose a pup from that litter. AB's have a rep for stubbornness, too, but Ike isn't bad. I think a lot of his biddability is due to us starting training from the day we brought him home and then taking a class and training daily. Like any other bulldog, training and socializing is key. And the AB is easy to socialize. We took Ike practically everywhere with us when he was a pup and people would go out of their way to come over and pet the smooshy faced puppy.

Out of my 4, I think Ike was probably the easiest to train. He does get kinda emo, though. If he sees a person he wants to pet him and they walk on by he will mope. If we raise our voices to him, he will mope. He seems to be very emotionally tuned in to us and our friends. Someone comes over sick or in pain and he is extremely gentle with that person and will refuse to leave their side. I had a friend fresh from an abdominal surgery come visit and I almost cried at the way Ike nursed her. I read in a book that AB's need a firm hand, but gentle or you could damage the emotional bond and I must say I totally believe that. For big lugs, they do seem to be sensitive souls.

With Boxer breeders you have to worry a lot about health. With AB's you need to worry a lot more about temperament. I knew that going into it, so when I found Ike's breeder I loved that his adults were curious, confident, friendly and calm.

Most AB's aren't velcro dogs like the APBT's are, but they sure will come and offer support and comfort if you need it.

Course, I do like SBT's, too. I wanted one when my husband was looking for a dog to take int he truck with him when he was planning on taking an over the road job. I thought "Hmm, an APBT in a smaller package. Perfect!" But a lot of runs go into Canada and all over the U.S., so I worried about BSL. That's why we got the Basset instead. Someone here gave me a few sites of SBT breeders in my general area and I still go to ogle the pics of their dogs. Beautiful.

---------- Post added at 03:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:27 PM ----------

That is what originally what caused me to gravitate toward the breed. However there will be some obstacles (family members) with owning an SBT as well. But at the end of the day I just want a good healthy tempermentally sound dog.

What is the family members problem with SBT's?

I know a lot of people would probably disagree, but I am of the mindset that I am a grown adult and I get to choose the dog I will feed. My FIL and MIL still won't come to our house when they are in state visiting and a few old Aunties and Grandma hate that I have APBT's, but I am ok with that. They are welcome to their opinions, but it's my house, my kids, my dog and my choice.

[egershna]

What is the family members problem with SBT's?

I know a lot of people would probably disagree, but I am of the mindset that I am a grown adult and I get to choose the dog I will feed. My FIL and MIL still won't come to our house when they are in state visiting and a few old Aunties and Grandma hate that I have APBT's, but I am ok with that. They are welcome to their opinions, but it's my house, my kids, my dog and my choice.

In their eyes its still a "pit bull".

[lzwha]

If you have children, boxers do very well with them. If there are toddlers or young children at the dog park, mine will run and run with them, never jumps or knocks them over. He really loves interacting with children. As for health issues, I wouldn't worry too much if you find a good breeder.

[egershna]

Oops double post

[rockboyzaza]

Not big on them. All three times my dane was been attacked as a puppy and young adult were by boxers. Just not my favorite breed.

Experiences do have a lot to do with what people like or dislike. I've had nothing but positive experiences with Boxers, but nothing but negative with Great Danes. My Doberman and I were attacked by a Great Dane, I was bit and he was ripped up pretty bad. My Amstaff was almost killed by a Great Dane. Her entire chest was ripped open. Still has scaring and you can feel where the muscle was ripped/torn even though the skin has healed over it. My friend was attacked by a Great Dane too and had a chunk taken out of her inner thigh. Her mix breed dog saved her from the attack.