Hi there
Just thought I would get some opinions on whether or not you think this breed could be right for me
I'm 22, married with a 5 year old son
My husband is in the army so granted we will probably move around every 3-5 years
I've just qualified as a mental health nurse and I'm not planning on going to work untill my son starts school in September so I will be around for a good 2-3 months to settle the new pup in
When i do go back to work it will only be on a part time basis so the dog will never be left on it's on own for more than a couple of hours (even then my husband can pop home on his breaks to check on the dog)
I have researched this breed a lot as I was desperate for one before I started my nurse training but obviously I put that on hold as it wouldn't have been fair to go to Uni full time leaving a dog on it's own all day
All opinions, good or bad will be most welcome
thanks

Boxers have many wonderful traits and I have loved and owned them all my life BUT in my opinion, their least lovely trait (and very common) is a tendency to suffer from severe separation anxiety.
Many breeds have this tendency but Boxers express their symptoms by doing rather a good job of tearing your house to pieces when left. Being at home all of the time when your pup is young, then suddenly going out to work after the first few months, could really be setting him up to have severe problems. Over the years I've had many teachers ask for pups because they have the long school holidays to settle the pup in, I've always said no for the above reason.
So, speaking as a breeder of many years standing, given your circumstances, I would say no. Sorry.

Hi Morgan B

My friend brought herself a boxer and he is now 18 months old. I look after Rodney when she goes away and has stayed with my lot 2 dogs/2cats + son for about 7 times over night and for a week. He is a brilliant lad I personally have never been into the boxer breed as they are very bouncy and well for no reason really just like a lot of other breeds- but I can say that I love Rodney to death. He has needed firm training as when a 15 week old pup growled at his Dad when he tried to move him off the sofa so he is banned from that now. they have a baby gate to stop him going up stairs. He is walked about 2 hours a day in 2 sessions. They are a very intelligent breed and know how you are feeling my friend can and does get angry when he does not come back only because he knows he is going to get a telling off- but for me he does which drives my mate made. He is always wanting to play and I had to stop rough play with my son as he grabbed his arm and broke the skin but that was my sons fault for letting him climb up on top of him and not setting any boundaries. He went for my 2 dogs over his red food bowl so give him a metal one like mine now so that stopped . When he wants to charge for my cats I just block him and he goes away so is very good with them now. My friend had a baby daughter about 2 weeks ago and the meeting went very well he was interested but after telling him to be gentle and steady and giving the baby to mum to hold as I was holding the baby when he first met her he was OK > I was worried about him being jealous but he has taken to the baby well and just gives the babies leg a lick. You have to be boss of this breed but with love and kindness and then they understand and except the authority.

>I've just qualified as a mental health nurse

this will help for sure, they are full of fun but don't know when to stop 

I know it's not for everyone but I was planning on crate training so for the hour or so the dog was on it's own for it couldn't get up to too much trouble

No advice on boxers per say, not my breed - but what I would say is that if you want a pup, to get one from a decent breeder you will more than likely have to go on a waiting list so although you may have 2-3 months free now, by the time a good pup shows up you could well have started work.

There may be a fair few pups around to buy immediately but unless the parents are healthy and health tested - heart being the most important for boxers I believe (they are prone to heart problems) - I would steer clear.  They seem to be gaining popularity at the moment so there will be a lot of adults being bred from that perhaps shouldn't be.

Hi Nikita
I am currently in contact with a breeder who was recommended to me through another breeder I contacted via the Kennel Club
she has a litter ready to go in 3 weeks
I've only visited them once as they are in Scotland but I do speak to them pretty much everyday on the phone and via email
Obviously I've told her but my personal circumstances and she's happy to offer me a pup but I just wanted other peoples opinons

Fair enough, I stand corrected!

toolz could the op not address this by ensuring that after a while she starts leaving the pup for increasing lengths of time? starting with nipping into the garden and sneakily listening for howls/destruction, then 5 mins doing something else, 10 mins run to the shops etc... while this is a suggestion to the op it is an actual breed specific q for you toolz (boxers are one of the breeds on my bf's "you can get into showing but i want for me at some point..." list)

Hi Astarte that's what I was kind of hoping to do
Just get them used to being apart from me for small periods of time then gradually build it up

It depends how dedicated you are as an owner.

You do realise that pup won't be able to hold themselves for long periods of time,
so you could have toilet training issues. It could take longer than normal to toilet train.

Yes when bored and lonely Boxers do chew, they are very good demolition experts with seemingly
no effort. Yes they are very people orientated so hence potential seperation anxiety issues.

They do need a firm hand and you will need to put the effort in to training them and taking to training classes.
But the effort you put in when they are young you do reap the rewards as they 'grow-up' although Boxers never grow up...
Remember what seems funny and cute as an 8-12 week old puppy certainly isn't funny when they are a full grown adult and weighing
potentially upto 6 stone in weight.

The only other thing that hasn't been mentioned what will you do if you have an overseas posting?
Will Boxer come with you under the pets passport scheme?

Although I would be new to Boxers I am not new to dogs in general
I've always had my heart set on a boxer but was brought up with Sibes instead so I'm very familiar with destructive dogs etc

As for the postings overseas this is obviously could happen at some point and of course the dog would come with us no matter what

> Astarte

Yes very likely most problems could be addressed by positive association tactics but I have a feeling the OPs title should be " I'm buying a boxer- any tips" an entirely different question.
I don't know anyone employed by a health authority being allowed to pop out every hour to let their pup out of a cage so my answer would still be no.
But that's just me and I've gone with my instincts for a long time now and they've served me well.
To the OP : good luck with your new pup - no offence meant but you asked for opinions.

i think they'll do ok, shes has sibes before- not the easiest! and i'm sure they'll come on ok. at least shes planning ahead

I don't know anyone employed by a health authority being allowed to pop out every hour to let their pup out of a cage so my answer would still be no.

I did say it would be my husband going home
He would be there on his Naaffi break at 10 in the morning then again at lunch time then I would be home
Even then it would only be a couple of times a week as I'm only going to work pt

and the reason I'm didn't use the title 'I'm buying a boxer' is that nothing is set in stone yet
all I was after were some opinions, and if a anyone thought there would have been a serious issue with my owning this breed then I would have reconsidered
Fact is I'm not going to reconsider all because the issue of leaving a pup on it's own maximum of 2 hours!

Amazing dogs, amazing breed, mine was (nearly) perfect.

Excuse my thickness, but what is a SIBES?

My sister has a 2yr old female boxer named Pip Pip is one of the most friendliest dogs you could wish to meet she loves everything (people, dogs, cats etc...) and has an endless amount of energy, she especially loves it when I visit with my children, she will play in the garden for hours with the boys my sister doesn't have kids, so it's like a treat for pip to have energetic 'play-mates' visit.

For the first year Pip didn't do too well being left alone for any longer than about an hour (she didn't destroy things, just got upset), but she was brought in as an 8 week old pup & got used to 24/7 company, if she was taught to be on her own from the begining she would have accepted it sooner. As she has got older the time she has been left has been increased, she can be left for a good few hours without it bothering her - she will greet my sister like she has been missing for years, but she's like that all the time, lol !!

I am suprised at how smart Pip is, she is such a crafty monkey!! She has taught herself how to open the garden gate (aswell as all doors in the house), which means she has to lift the catch with her nose while supporting her weight on the fence with 1 paw and at the same time pulling the gate inwards with the other paw!! Needles to say, the gate now has to have rope looped over & through it to stop her getting out, at first thier was just a loop of rope hooped around the top, but Pip didn't have to think too hard to realise she could just lift the rope off!

> Excuse my thickness, but what is a SIBES?

SIBE = siberian husky

I think you'll be fine, I'm no expert but the same as with mine, if you aren't there 24/7 when its a baby pup you should be ok, thats what I did, I popped to the shop for 15 mins then increased it until they got use to being alone (mine in a big crate)

What I would suggest, when an adult to take the dog for an nice walk before you go out, even if its early in the morning and raining, this then gives them the chance to relieve but also stimulates thier mind and should tire them out so should hopefully just sleep when left alone. Once again I'm not expert but this has worked for me.

Why are people saying no? whats 2 hours? what about boxers in kennels? If boxers can't be left alone for 2 hours then no boxer owner should be working right?!?! So then all boxer owners would either be chavs living of taxes, extreamly wealthy or retired?
If some one can suggest to me a way of being a dog owner & exhibitor without working AND still being able to pay for it all, please shout up lol

I consider myself a good owner, I'm 22, not wealthy nor am I a chav, I'm a normal person who has to work & owns 2 dogs, who I look after exteamly well, my dogs are happy & I love them very much!
Good look MorganB.

Good Luck* not good look lol