I am looking to buy our family our first dog. A Boxer. Is this a good breed for a first dog?

Question

I have fallen in love with this breed of dog, but I want to be sure that I am making a good choice. I am also looking for suggestions of other breeds.

Thanks

Answer 1

Boxer's are very good dogs. They're very intelligent, protect the house (not overly aggressive at it), and are playful. What's funny about them is that if they want like food they put their front feet in the bowl and scoot it around. Pit Bulls are VERY good dogs, no matter what the media says. German Shepherd Dogs are good too. REMEMBER TO SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS.

Answer 2

I would recommend a mutt first. They are usually better in temperment and very loving. We have had a lot of mutts over the years. They have all been good dogs. The best 2 by far were a golden/cocker mix and a great dane/boxer mix. Both are very loving dogs and great with kids.  

Answer 3

No.  Boxers tear stuff up and are very territorial and often aggressive.  

Get a breed that's more easy-going like a golden retriever.

Answer 4

That's a great choice, they are so lovable and gorgeous dogs.... But wait a minute, you said you are thinking on purchasing a dog? Jesse i recommend you go to your local shelter or somewhere where you can adopt a pet. You can find the Boxer kind you want or any other beautiful, friendly breed I am sure you'd fall in love with. If you go to a pet Boutique or any other establishment where you can "buy" a pet, pets guaranteed to be sick, mistreated and most often not even vaccinated or neutered. With all the poor animals that are Homeless and abused, I think you should really consider adopting rather than supporting these mean & money hungry "Puppy Stores" don't you think??

Also I am great supporter of www.peta.org, you should check it out!

Hopefully you will follow my advice, but anyhow Good Luck!

Answer 5

Boxers can be lovely dogs but are very high energy.  You would need to have a least an hour a day to run and exercise your dog if not more.  Many people don't realise that all dogs need at least this every day to remain happy and stable.  

If you're a high energy sporty type of family who has lots of time to give to your dog - then a boxer might be a good bet.  See if you can find some websites on them and talk to other owners and breeders.

Can I just commend you on actually doing the research on what dog to get.   Many people only get dogs based on what they look like and take home a dog totally unsuitable to their family's energy and needs.  Good luck!  

Answer 6

Boxers are great dogs. They are VERY tolerant and love kids. They do have a lot of energy thought. I have one that was given to me when he was a year old because he had to much energy for the family and was chewing everything and peeing on the bed. BUT, I took him in and trained him and kept up on the training, and he is a great dog. They are a working breed, so they need both physical and mental exercise. A couple things that seem to be in a lot of Boxers that I love is when they are excited or happy they wiggle their whole body, they snort, they can jump high, and they are CUDDLE bugs!!!!!

But be warned, they are a bit stubborn. Defiantly have to keep up on training.

I am a groomer and a LOT of Goldens and Boxers and Labs come in for baths., All of them are great dogs, but I have found that many of the Goldens are a bit neurotic.... this is a personal opinion, I think it's due to over breeding/inbreeding and lack of exercise. I like Goldens though, from the right lines....

Hope this helps.... I have 3 Rottweilers, a Boxer, a pit, a lhasa and a chihuahua and my Boxer is the most cuddly. You could do anything to him, he wouldn't care.

Good luck. :)

Answer 7

Yes. Boxers are fearless and friendly, and they are great with children. Boundless energy though, haha. When they wag their stumpy tails, they are TRULY happy.

Other Breeds: Golden retrievers are friendly and never a bad choice. Irish Setters are eager to please and make great companions.

Schnauzers: comes in three sizes, and are great for the family.

Answer 8

Depends on your family and how many kids and how old they are.

Boxers, like most large breed dogs are a handful. Training them takes alot of energy and practice and commitment. You also need to seriously devote time to train them right otherwise you'll have a huge tazmenian devil in the house. They can get destructive, aggressive and jealous if you don't pay close attention to them. They also need a great level of exercise per day.

They're quite strong and will pull and run off if you don't train them right, so a child (less than 10 or 13) would usually not be the safest bet to walk them. Their diet and health conditions are pretty good while they're young but you need to consider that this will be a family dog for the next 15years.

I'd recommend a golden retriever if you have children (under 10) in the house. They're friendly, lovable and not as strong-headed as half the other large sized breeds.

Try the local shelter or humane society and go with your family and see what kind of dog warms up to you.

All the best and good luck.

Answer 9

Boxers wouldn't be good family dogs they can be aggressive. If you have children it isn't a good idea start off with a boxer puppy if want to. Get a lab dog or golden retriever they are good with children. Don't take a risk with a boxer

Answer 10

Why don't you go to your local pound and adopt a dog. there are so many out there that need forever homes.

Boxers are nice dogs but need lots of attention and exercise.

Answer 11

mini labs are very sweet and adorable or golden retriever

Answer 12

Boxers are the greatest dogs but can be a hand full as a puppy. They need a lot of attention and training and are very energetic. Be sure to research carefully before you deside. Labs are great also but it sounds like you have your heart set on a boxer. Good luck.

ps. my son got a boxer but didn't have the time to spend with her as a puppy and now she is hyper and ill behaved. You will have to be very dedicated if you want a good dog.

Answer 13

Golden Retriever is a GREAT family dog- as long as you spend time with it.

Answer 14

It really depends on your families lifestyle so what I would get are one of these types of dogs, many of them are very good with children: Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Pekingese, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Silky Terrier, Australian Terrier, Tibet Spaniel, Norfolk Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Westie, ShiTzu, Basset, Dachshund, Scottish Terrier, Papillon, Whippet, Sheltie, Havanese, Mini Pinscher, Border Terrier, King Charles Spaniel, Welsh Corgi, Bichon Frisé, Cairn Terrier, Toy Poodle, Tibet Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Bedlington Terrier, Mini Schnauzer, Collie, Samoyede, Bearded Collie, Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, Flat Coated Retriever. Basset, Beagle, Cairn Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Bearded Collie, Belgian Sheepdog, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Pug, Saint Bernard, Poodle, Dachshund or an English Bulldog.

These are breeds I would not recommend at all just because most of the time they need very experienced owners: Border Collie, Chow-Chow, Husky, Airedale Terrier, German Sheperd, Alaskan Malamute, Rottweiler, Akita, Briard, Bouvier des Flandres, Bloodhound, Setter, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Weimaraner, Saluki, Bernese Mountain dog, Doberman, Afghan, Greyhound, Barsoi, Irish Wolfhound, Great Dane, Bullterrier, American Pitbull, Mastiff, Shar-Pei, South Russian Ovtcharka, Giant Schnauzer, Belgian Sheperd, American Staffordshire Terrier. I hope this helps try the AKC website they have all sorts of information on every type of breed. I had a white boxer and she was a lovely wonderful dog I just didn't have the activity level to match hers.

Answer 15

Boxers are okay but not if you have kids under like 10 they are aggressive and not easy to train

I suggest a Golden Retriever they are easy to train smart and very gentle

why do you think you see golden retrievers in all the commercials they are so smart and good with a lot of confusion and will be good with the kids  

Answer 16

I have two female boxers.  When they were old enough I immediately got them fixed so the chance of breast cancer in them went down.  There are boxer rescues all around, why not be a "foster" parent to one for a while and see if that is the right breed for you.

Just google Boxer Rescue, and email them and ask.

Good luck.

Answer 17

a boxer can be an extremely aggressive dog if not trained or cared for properly, if you have small children i suggest you get a golden retriever or Australian blue healer, they tend to be lest aggressive and very loyal if you have small children they may forget that its not ok to play rough with the dog and a golden retriever or blue healer will be forgiving but a boxer may not be.