Thanks for the advise! Another thing---the boxer KANE has not yet met my maltese, Bailey. Bailey is 2.5 years old and has been around other dogs and loves them. However i am hoping he will adjust to the new guy. the story behind Kane is that my groomers neice originally owned the dog since he was a puppy, they had children and the dog had to go. so when he was 1.5 he moved in with another couple. the wife recently passed with cancer and the husband no longer wants kane. so that is how i came in the original owners took the dog back, as they know it would be ok living with them for a while. I met him with my husband and he was calm yet happy with attention. he is currently living with another boxer, a st bernard, a chichuuaa, and 2 cats. he seemed to do fine and the lady told me she has not seen any problems with him and the other dogs thus far. i guess i am just worried that my little one can get hurt by him, but again his demeanor was graet he would come to you when called let you pet him than go and lay down, with the others dogs all around.