Boxers are the best dogs in the world

[skygazer]

[bluethruandthru]

1. We always had boxers while I was growing up.

Wonderful family dogs! Love their people and are very protective!

[LeftyMom]

2. Yes they are.

That first pic could pass for our family dog when I was growing up.

[skygazer]

3. That's my Dixie as is the second pic

The third one is her son Jake. They're both gone now and I miss them a lot. I can't wait until I can have another Boxer.

[LeftyMom]

6. Sis and I are talking about adopting another dog.

She wants something smaller though, so her choices aren't so limited when she moves out. But we're not really small dog people, and small dogs aren't generally good with kids, so I'd rather just get another boxer myself.

We'll see.

[Schema Thing]

4. meh...

I've never been a dog person. Never had dogs my entire life.

5 years ago, my ex-wife got a couple of German Shepard mix dogs, and I've grown to love them and they me. I worked for 7 months on Katrina reconstruction, and every family I worked for had dogs and all of those dogs became quick friends with me.

Except two. Two boxer spawn from hell. I'm not a particularly fearful guy, but those evil creatures had me afraid.

I'm sure it was their human mommas fault, her relationship with them was stunningly disfunctional, but yikes! On the one hand, she was a very distrustful person, which might explain her wanting her dogs to be intimidating, but otoh, she was very tight with money, which you would think would make her realize that she is going to get her ass sued off someday when those evil fuckers take a chunk out of the local plumber's leg.

[skygazer]

5. That's very surprising

Boxers don't tend to be at all vicious. They can look intimidating as hell but they will almost never threaten or attack people. My dogs would simply stand between me and any stranger but that was all they did - as soon as I told them it was all right, they were all wiggles and "pet me!" And I had four of them.

They are extremely intelligent dogs though and they will test their limits. If they're not properly trained, they can get unruly but they still don't usually get mean - just rowdy and obnoxious.

Still, any dog can be taught bad habits. I'm sorry your only real encounter with the breed was with an anomaly.

[Schema Thing]

11. One weird thing about these dogs...

they would bark viciously and be aggressive, and she would scream at them (at the top of her lungs). They would ignore her totally. They were never even slightly aggressive towards her, but she had zero effect on their behavior. It's odd, they were no more aggressive (nor any less) if she was standing there talking with me, or if I was alone.

She was so bitchy-whipped by them that she would put them in a room (as a token to me and my partner) for a while, but she couldn't just leave them there; she had to let them out after 45 minutes or so, as if it would be cruel to lock them up for the duration of the time we were there.

[skygazer]

12. Yep, sounds like she had no control over them

That's never good with any dog. And screaming and shrieking doesn't register much with a dog - it's just a lot of noise. Clear, consistent commands are what they need.

My dogs responded to single-word commands, hand signals or even just a look. They were constantly glancing at me for guidance in any situation. Sounds like her dogs weren't focused on her at all.

Sad - not much of a life for the dogs. They like structure and predictability in their lives.

[mopinko]

9. i know someone who trains them for security work

he has to breed his own just to get them aggressive enough.
they are usually very protective, but also completely focused on what "momma" wants them to do about it.
there are lines that were bred for security work out there. they are the exception.

[ceile]

7. My neighbors had two when I was a kid.

So sweet! Cholo (male) and Preety (female). I've never seen another boxer like the female though-she was white with black spots; almost dalmation coloring.
Cholo was huge and always thought he was a lap dog.

[mopinko]

8. white is a "banned" color. even though one of the original

sires in the breed was white. go figure. but 1/3 white is the max, according to the standard. complete bullshit, as far as i am concerned.
i have had 3, #2 was white, with a few spots. but a boxer, through and through.
got one now that i rescued from the pound. still trying to get a little more weight on her.

i just hope that i never, ever have to face the world without a boxer by my side. they are the best of what dogs are for. the best.

[skygazer]

10. I love the whites

I had a white female with a black brindle patch over one eye. Very distinctive. I've never understood the breed standard bias against whites and they do pop up regularly - it's all through the bloodlines.

I can't have dogs where I live right now - as soon as I can, I plan to adopt a rescue Boxer.

[mopinko]

18. my white was hard of hearing,

and this was taken as "proof" by many of the inherent defect in white boxers. bah....

[spindrifter]

22. We had two white boxers in the neighborhood--Vanna

and Lily White.

[MissMillie]

13. sweet, sweet dogs

:loveya:

[judaspriestess]

14. Ooooohh pretty dog, His markings are the same as my

English Bulldogs in the face. My bubbeees is the best doggie too. English bulldogs rock.

[xchrom]

15. energetic as hell -- but boxers and labs

may very well be the happiest beings in the universe.

[Beausoir]

16. One week from today, I bring my new baby home.

Daisy. She will join Diva, my three year old fawn Boxer.

Best breed of dog ever. No question.

[skygazer]

20. Oh!!!! I'm in love!!!!

She's so beautiful! Look at those sleepy eyes.... :loveya:

[Beausoir]

21. I know! I can't wait to get her. She is sooooo snuggly.

I'll post up some pics when she gets home.

[MsKandice01]

17. I agree...

We ended up with one as a stray and from the very first day, she was instantly a part of the family. She was such a lap dog and followed us everywhere we went. We figured she must have been abandoned because she wouldn't even eat if one of us wasn't there right beside her. We'd take her on walks and put the leash down and she would stop cold. She was the sweetest being I've ever encountered and I miss her so much.

We eventually had to give her to a Boxer Rescue foundation because we couldn't find her owners no matter how hard we tried and we lived in an apartment and couldn't keep her.

[Roon]

19. There's a boxer at the end of my alley that always talks to me

as I walk by. She has the cutest under bite!