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About getting a second boxer...

5K views 20 replies 9 participants last post by  BunnyBoxer 
#1 ·
Hello, I am thinking of getting another boxer friend for Bunny and the only thing I am worried about is, how do I know that she wants a friend? How would I know before committing if a second dog is right for her? Our human people want another but I don't know anything about how dogs feel with another added to the family.
 
#2 ·
I think that is a good question. I would think the dog is happy either way and doesn't necessarily "need" a companion...as long as they have their human. I actually have 4 dogs in this household right now, two chihuahua's that are bonded to one another, a terrier, who really likes her humans best, and our boxer who ..well just loves everyone and everything. I guess the real decision comes down to added work, food, vet bills all associated with another pet. If you up to it, I'd say go for it.


ps thats coming from someone who has a house full.
 
#3 ·
First good rule is always have one well trained dog, without behavioral issues before adding a second! I mean no real "issues" not the general Boxer nuttiness! :)

Opposite sexes work best, but this is "especially" true with Female Boxers! Boxer rescue policy is "No" Female Boxers in households that already have a Female Boxer! Yes it can and has been done but it's not advised!

When I added the third dog I had big time problems, two Dominate Male dogs and GSD specific issues, oops!!! Things needed to change and I was slow to realize it...so yeah.

But Struddel (my Boxer) was never involved in any of the conflicts! She got along great with Gunther and Rocky together and when, Gunther passed she got along great with Rocky!

Struddel was a balanced dog. I don't do Dog Parks but...Struddel would be the kind of Dog that everyone "assumes" is at the Dog Park! That would be a dog that is not going to the Dog Park looking to see who's Butt needs to be kicked or Humped and a dog that is not frightened by anything that moves!

Now, some dogs don't much care for being hopped on and punched in the face...but that is another story! :)

Long story, yeah...but bottom line, get a boy and I'm sure you'll do just fine! :)
 
#12 ·
first good rule is always have one well trained dog, without behavioral issues before adding a second! I mean no real "issues" not the general boxer nuttiness! :)

opposite sexes work best, but this is "especially" true with female boxers! Boxer rescue policy is "no" female boxers in households that already have a female boxer! Yes it can and has been done but it's not advised!

When i added the third dog i had big time problems, two dominate male dogs and gsd specific issues, oops!!! Things needed to change and i was slow to realize it...so yeah.

But struddel (my boxer) was never involved in any of the conflicts! She got along great with gunther and rocky together and when, gunther passed she got along great with rocky!

Struddel was a balanced dog. I don't do dog parks but...struddel would be the kind of dog that everyone "assumes" is at the dog park! That would be a dog that is not going to the dog park looking to see who's butt needs to be kicked or humped and a dog that is not frightened by anything that moves!

Now, some dogs don't much care for being hopped on and punched in the face...but that is another story! :)

long story, yeah...but bottom line, get a boy and i'm sure you'll do just fine! :)
this^^^^^^^^!!!!!!!!!
 
#4 ·
So you can't add a girl to a girl :( our bunny gets along great with her 2 best friends who happen to be girls. Our thoughts were if we added a second girl who was a puppy they would get along as the puppy will grow up with bunny who is good with other girls? Maybe not...I don't know...we were thinking if the puppy showed to be more submissive than dominant with the litter that type would mix?
 
#6 ·
You do that only if you are
1) Really good!
2) Really lucky!

Boxers and Buddies adoption policy:
Adopt :: Boxers and Buddies

The fact that she gets along with other females "who she does not live with...means nothing!"

It was news to me but this is a "thing" with female Boxers! Male dogs fight to breed, Females fight to breath! That is the difference, 12 to 14 months is when they made jsut decide they don't much care for each other??

Then you can learn what "Crate and Rotate" means. Not a lot of fun, when they are both your dogs!

Two females is not something you should "blindly stumble" into! Many folks have done it and have not had a problem!

Last link:
Leerburg | Inter-Female Aggression in Dogs

Much like my Dog Park advoiance advice all I do is inform, folks are of course free to do as they see fit. :)
 
#5 ·
The problem with two girls is that things can be fine until they reach maturity. -That's when the problems start and once girls fight with each other they don't forgive and won't ever get along well. Then you would need to keep them separated which can be difficult to do on an ongoing basis.

:)
 
#9 ·
I have a large male (80 pounds) and a small female (55 pounds) they get along well most of the time, but that little girl loves to throw her weight around and whip up on Max sometimes and he lets her get away with it most of the time. She's 18 months old and he's 5 years old. I wouldn't want to have 2 bossy domineering females in the same home.
 
#11 ·
The females are very deceptive in how the behave. What I saw with Struddel was with both her Dominate male house mates. Yep, she was pushy and kinda bossy come play time and day to day stuff.

But...Gunther when he was with us (passed on) and then Rocky was always out the door first and in and out the car first! Nothing I trained it was just what she did. And when the crap hit the fan, she would watch Gunther's flank and "see" if action was required??

Case in point, one day the dogs on the lawn I was in the driveway working on my car. I hear a yappy bark, bark, bark all of a sudden?? I get from under the car to see what the fuss was??

I look on the lawn and my eyes get big as saucers!! One of my annoying neighbors little dogs had decided to "proof" Gunther!!!

He was four feet from Gunther Barking in his face!! Gunther looks at me and back at the little dog... "what's the deal, here???"

I said Good Boy and calmly got the little miscreant out of Gunther's face!! And Struddel, she was about two feet away from Gunther's right rear, staring hard and waiting to see if "action" was required??

I have no doubt that if Gunther had gone after that dog...Struddel would have immediately helped rip that dog apart! I saw that same behavior with her again on a walk with my wife, when Rocky and I had an "issue" with two charging dogs!! Yet again she was waiting in the wings to see if action was required!

However, I saw got to see the dark side on two occasions! My mistake was with baby kittens being born! Gunther on my right three feet away and Struddel to my left four feet away so I was in the middle, both dogs down.

As the kittens where being born Struddel site quietly, and patiently watching the new births. Gunther was much more animated! He moved into a Sit and barked and smiled at each new birth, hey... this is pretty cool!!!

I never noticed that Gunther's antics were really ticking Struddel off!?? Suddenly before I knew it, she had gone past me and right after Gunther!! He yelped as she cut his nose??? She was all over him and he was trying hard to get away! I had to pull her off and carried her outside!

She was flat out insane!!! I had to literally pin her to ground with my chest, hugged tight so as not to get bit myself...she was "gone!!" I would have been just something to bite the crap out of, if precautions were not taken!! I held her for a few minuets until she finally calmed down!!

I let her up, the butt wiggles and she smiles, hey dad what's up! Happened one other time over a pig ear after we left our "Stupid" friend in charge of the dogs for the weekend! Same deal went after Gunther for trying to take her pig ear, something he had done numerous times over the years!! But this time...it was uh "NO!!!"

He was our room mate and eventually, it got to be him our my Boxer? Yeah that is not really a choice, have not heard from him in years!

My point is by and large most folks have never seen a female Boxer in the Red Zone! Trust me if you do, it is not something you will soon forget! The term "speed" does not even come close to the blur of motion at work!

Hence Boxer Rescue's policy No Female Boxers in homes that already have a female Boxer! If a display such as I described happened with a new rescue?? You can bet that new dog would be back at rescue real freaking quick!! If they were lucky enough to get the dog back!

And this was male/female an incident, not a one day, "I don't want this other dog alive in the same household with me, "every," kind of thing!!!"

Don't let the "pretty face's" deceive you! Two female Boxer's in the same household is not a decision to be made lightly!

It's nothing I ever plan on doing! The folks that can are better than those that can't! Luck or skill, you need one or the other!

So I guess you have to ask yourself..."Do I feel Lucky??" Yeah... bad pun couldn't help myself! :)
 
#13 ·
Oh, just to be clear here, my next Boxer will be a Girl! I find the boys much to eager to please, the Boys say what can I do to please "you??"

The girls are more like..."what can you do to please me??" :)
 
#17 · (Edited)
Thanks for everyone's answers here... I spent a long time googling this too. I have found other forums, posts, boxer websites that seem to indicate a bit of everything. I also contacted a dog trainer, a breeder, and a vet, all whom said that it depends on the dog's personality, training, if they are fixed etc. the vet actually recommended for bunny another female... Well I suppose we will have to see what a hypothetical new litter produces in terms of the puppies personalities. The breeder told me the best would be either a boy, or else a girl with a less submissive personality...
 
#18 ·
the vet actually recommended for bunny another female...
Just gonna say a "vet" is not a dog trainer! I go to vets for medical needs, not dog training advise!

But that's me. I only help put the information out there folks are free to do as they see fit! I will add that the 12 to 18 month range is the age in which you may see a problem if you go the two female route!

I would not do it but that's me. But I like to provide information so if it goes sideways on you...this would be good to know:

Leerburg | How to Break Up a Dog Fight Without Getting Hurt

Yep same site, Leerburgh has trained thousands of dogs..but what does he know...he's not a vet! :)
 
#19 ·
Thanks for the tip... I thought that was funny with the how to break up a dog fight link... :)

Well I understand what you say regarding a vet isn't a trainer, however I am not by any means discrediting their opinion as they are the ones who first-hand hear the stories and see the results and medically fix the problems so by any means to say that their opinion is invalid is in itself invalid.

But I catch what you're throwing, you suggest a male/female mix. We aren't set on either which way by any means yet, just wanting and hoping to hear real life opinions of folks who have actually had two boxers at the same time.
 
#21 · (Edited)
Apparently I need to address that, Chip, I wasn't being arrogant with my comment about thinking your link was funny. I meant funny because you always have a positive attitude and are full of useful info and that is why I thought it was funny that you sent that, because I made you think I really wanted another female...in which case if they fought I indeed could benefit from that article...which is funny!

Not set on a female just trying to sort out opinions. You are awesome and like I said I always appreciate your info :)
 
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