[9mm_fan]

Well a first help me have

Been wanting a dog for years. As lived at home haven't been allowed one.
However I'm moving out and hopefully in the future will be in a position to have one.
The dog I believe for me will be a boxer.
Although they have their genetic problems I still feel that's the dog I want and have wanted one for many years.
Any feed back on whether you think they make a great dog?
Or other suggestions?

[Onervemurce]

Boxers are great dogs, full of personality and I'd definitely recommend one if you're prepared to put in endless amounts of work. Our Toby is 2 and a half now, training him has been the toughest challenge and it's still ongoing now, but it's worth it for the reward and although his behaviour still isn't perfect when we're walking him, he is a million times better now than he was as a puppy.

As a puppy he destroyed our house when left alone. Chewed through kitchen units, scratched wallpaper off of walls, messed all over the floor if alone for more than a few seconds, stole food, opened cupboards, pulled out anything and everything he could (a lot of the time through the mess he'd made), pulled down our net curtains, pulled the bits and pieces off the hob. We lost a brand new expensive blender, sandwich toaster, utensil set, and a whole cupboard full of animal products. Also ate boxes of washing powder, washing up liquid, weed killer (yes, really) to name but a few! It was a living nightmare for a while but crate training and a LOT of effort has worked wonders.

The thing with boxers is they take a long time to mature, but they're a big bundle of stupid fun and you can't stay mad at them when they look at you with those eyes!

So yeah, if you're up for a challenge - I'd say get one

[9mm_fan]

Hey Hayley,

Thanks for your experience with your boxer. I have friends who have boxers and they have always been the dog that has appealed to me.
I believe i would be able to put the time and effort into training one as I work from home so would near enough always be about as well.

Did you train Toby personally or did you have outside help? such as classes or a trainer?

They are the kind of dopeyness that I'd want in a dog. Not a little dog with short man syndrome really.

Did yours have any problems with night time such as being kept outside of the bedroom? I hear alot of dogs are hard to break in with the sleeping situation.

[Onervemurce]

We trained him ourselves, when he was at the worst of his behavioural problems I was on the verge of having a trainer come round but I went into great detail in my emails to a couple of them and none replied haha. Not long after that we invested in the crate though and everything seemed to get a lot better then!

He's always had pretty bad separation anxiety which is why I think he used to mess so quickly if we left him. We could literally have closed the kitchen door, waited 20 seconds and if we'd go back in there'd be a poo which he'd then roll in as soon as he saw the unimpressed reaction (usually me having a nervous breakdown). So he used to have to be bathed every day as well! He's never been particularly fussed about bedtime as he likes his sleep and seems to enjoy being in his little enclosed area!

I always wanted a boxer too since I was little and my Nan had one. He was so placid and well behaved. Despite all the stress that Toby's put us both through I think we'd both get another boxer pup tomorrow because the hard work is just so worth it! Working from home is a bonus too!

[johnstylet]

I hear you should get a german shepherd.

[9mm_fan]

Staffy! :P

I'd probably only get a staffy if it was the one you have :P

[tomspoumn]

Staffy! :P

[johnstylet]

I'd probably only get a staffy if it was the one you have :P

You don't want that one, he's insane :P