Getting a dog Doberman vs. Boxer. Advice?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Ironman said:
The thing is a lab needs a large fenced yard or farm, as I understand it. I don't have that.
Click to expand...
I live in North Arlington, Virginia, on a 1/4 acre lot and Kip was quite content to stay in the fenced back yard. He never tried to get out and he would bark like mad when we left, then go to his bed under the porche and sleep until our coar pulled into the drveway. He would come out and bark joyous greetings. We know this to be so because we asked the neighbors who told us what he did. They also said that he watched over the entire neighborhood and, if he saw a stranger walking up the sidewalk, he would bark at the person. OThe young mother who lives next door said she watched this fellow walking up the sidewalk, sort of looking around as if he was casing the area. He passed the hedge around her front lawn and Kip saw him and started barking. One look at a large black dog with a huge mouth raising a ruckus and the fellow turned around and headed back up the block and away. She was quite pleased with the result.

Now, don't misunderstand me. When he had the chance, he LOVED running and swimming, especxially swimming, whenever he could but he was a very easy keeper.
 
Triton said:
Recheck post #12, the story I related WAS about a boxer. He ended up with about 20 stitches if I remember right...

I don't trust them and would never own one especially with children.
Click to expand...
I apologize, I misread your post. That is the one and only story that I have ever heard of a Boxer turning on somebody. They are famous, as are retrievers, for their loyalty and love of family.
 
The thing is a lab needs a large fenced yard or farm, as I understand it. I don't have that.
Click to expand...
All dogs need room to run, and plenty of excercise. Some need more than others.

Here's some good online info about Dobermans:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/doberman.htm
Will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised, but does best with at least an average-sized yard. Dobes are very cold sensitive and are not an outside dog.
The Doberman is very energetic and needs thorough frequent exercise.
Click to expand...
I've only spent time with one Doberman. He was very attached to his family, was very sensitive, and was outwardly homesick when away from his people.

Here's the comparable info for the Boxer (beautiful dogs, but I've never spent much time with them):http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/boxer.htm
Boxers will do okay in an apartment if sufficiently exercised. They are fairly active indoors and do best with at least an average-sized yard. Boxers do best in temperate climates as the breed can chill easily in cold weather and have trouble cooling off in very hot weather.
An active, athletic breed, Boxers need daily work or exercise, as well as a long brisk, daily walk. They also enjoy fetching a ball or other sessions of play.
Click to expand...

If you don't even have a fenced yard, I suggest perhaps re-evaluating whether a large breed would suitable for your family and living situation. We have a Labrador-mix and only a small fenced yard. We "get by" with walks (twice a day, every day, rain or snow), frequent trips out of town to run and play off-lease, and occational trips to the lake for swimming. Like kids, dogs act up when they are bored or don't get enough excercise.

Also, since large dogs tend to have shorter lifespans, it would be wise to take into account the age of your children, and the age they're likely to be when the dog reaches the end.

I don't like prefer small dogs myself, but there are situations when they are best suited.

Just some thoughts,
-Bob
 
The problem with small dogs, even the Scots Terriers and the Corgies, is that they do not do all that well around small children. They may not snap at the kids, but they generally do not like them very much. At least that is my experience. Now, for an adult, either of those dogs would be great as they are really large dogs in small bodies. By that, I mean that they are not yappy little nuisances.
 
Corgi's aren't yappy little nuisances?

HAH! That's a good one, that's all they DO!
 
FullerH said:
I apologize, I misread your post. That is the one and only story that I have ever heard of a Boxer turning on somebody. They are famous, as are retrievers, for their loyalty and love of family.
Click to expand...

No worries. I have to admit that is basically my only experience (by proxy) with them... but you know with an experience like that...
 
Yeah, I hate yappy little dogs. Around here we call those "Sadie Snacks". Sadie is our 70lb lab mix. :D

But some of wife's relatives have a toy poodle, which are generally yappy and unaffectionate. But this little guy is the nicest little snuggle-dog I've ever seen. Only time he barks, the first few seconds when a new person is at the door. Lots of 20-30lb midsize dogs that would do well with children too, requiring regular walks but not necessarily daily strenuous excercise.

Best Wishes,
-Bob
 
I live in a mobile home park, currently. I will be moving to a house with a fenced yard in a year or so. I really want at least a good "medium" sized dog. I have researched the boxer and doberman on the net, that's part of how I narrowed my search.
 
Either breed is more or less an "inside" dog IMO. Either one would love you for a fenced in yard. They do need exercise to release some of that natural energy. My Boxers are crate trained and literally "explode" when they are let out. Quite comical actually. Boxers have entertainment value because they are goofy, hams, dorks etc. Can't say enough about how cool they are. The one question from people that I always hate, "are those pit-bulls?". Lots of "non dog" people can't tell the difference, so they are a bit apprehensive to approach at first. I wish you the best of luck choosing your Boxer! ;) :D
 
Never owned a doberman but my ex-sister-in-law used to raise them. She had a couple of show winners. But they scared me.
Right now, I've got a boxer and she is the sweatest dog I have ever owned. And I've never seen a dog that barks LESS.
 
The only two dogs that scare me are Dobbies and Chows. I have seen both turn on people for no reason and it is scary.
 
I've owned three Boxers in my lifetime and wouldn't have taken any amount of money for any of them - They were the best and most loyal friends any man (woman or child) could have. The Boxers I've had were very sweet natured, protective, (but not aggressive), and great with children.

I've found them to be intelligent dogs that took well to training and were easily house broken. Start training early, be consistent with them and they will respond just fine. I've recommended Boxers to many people over the years and not one of them has ever regretted getting one.
tuo.jpg
 
hiya!!
Me, here!
lotsa good points made here, especially:
"Red Dobermans are a nice alternative to the standard "black & tan" (which screams "KILLER NAZI ATTACK DOG" to the ignorant from: tyr_shadowblade (edited here to clarify that i meant i was quoting tyr shadowblade and not sayin he(?) Edited to claify a comment i made so tyr knew i was referring to something that tyr had sain and didn't mean to imply that tyr's comment was ihnorant or anything like that but i was just referring to his quote about people's pre-judged as in prejudice against certain breeds' physical appearances meaning a threat with me comparing peoples' likewise reactions as being ignorant just as if they referred to a person's physical appearance meaning something that you can "know about a person from lookinh at ttheir skin colo(rs) and heritage rather than taking the time to know them as individuals. man i hope that gets across the way i meant it... tyr, ya know what i meaned? hope so.
now i'ma gonna just drift off into the land of whipped cream clouds and puppydog smiles where children swim in chocolate syrup lakes withe grapejellymud shores known as my sleepytimeland.
g'ight or as my 23 y/o (on Sunday) first born daughter used to say until she was like ... i dunno how old but around 12, "good knack everyone (the first k was silent, although i suspect she didn't know she was spelling it right when she said it.
oh shuddup already ya brainshrunkidiot! they know what ya mean by now or if they didn't, theyjust don't care anyhow!DEAL WITH IT!!!! DAMNED HALF STRAND OF DNA FROM STILL BEIN' AN APE/JARHEAD/ SMOKESUCKER /BAND AID RESCUER PUKE!
(NOTE TO SELF: HEY IDIOT, DON'T SCREAM AT YERSELF IN PUBLIC YA CAN WIND UP IN A STATE RUN FACILITY WHER YOU'LL FERGET YER NAME AND THEY WON' TELL YA TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTHUHWTF WAZZZ++THAT?+++++++++++++++++0.............0000222222222222223---------------SORRY..FELL ASLEEP
JUST SHOUTED , SORRY AGAIN!OK, GLad i edited this so everything is clear now..?editing process is finished now (I hope!)










The thing is, if ya get a red one, people'll assume it's a member of the communist party instead of the national socialist numbnutzes. see what happens when ya get prejudiced by breed, fur color or political affiliations in canines?
that said, the bestest and mostest loveablestes dog i ever had was (as far as i could tell) a dobie/rotweiler. he was so German he barked with an accent!
"VOOFEN! VOOFEN!

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO SAID TO AVOID PET STORES BUT LEMME ADD THAT THEY USUALLY GET THEIR STOCK FROM PUPPPY MILLS MOSTLY FROM MISSOURI(SP?) DAMN THAT STATE'S WEIRDER TO SPELL THAN THE ONE THAT'S ABBREVIATED LIKE TTHIS HERE: C"T" THEY MATE BROTHERS WITH SISTERS MOTHERS AND SONS AND WIND UP HAVING PUPPY-WOOF-LITTERS WITH SOME SERIOUSLY DAMAGED GENETICS, SIMILAR TO THE ROYAL FAMILYand me4self IF YOU WILL. PRETTY SURE THAT WORD'S SPELLED WITH ONLY ONE 4 IN IT
ok, i stopped shouting, sorry bout that.
anyways my advice'd be to browse around at your nearest animal shelter and see who's there (that's wher i got two of the bestest dogs i ever had and i got the feeling thatthey appreciated me for gettin' 'em outta those damned cages, but i hear and see things that vary from my reality to the real one anyhow.
was there a special prpose in mind for he doggy-w/voofbark'nhowl?
i mean did you want a watch dog or one that'll fight for ya? or were ya just looking for a 4 legged companion?
in any event i couldn't think of a perfect species since all species would have a perfect specimen amongst them, even those rodent-sized dogs
like toy poodles, shitshoes ang peking geese could fill your (presumably)desired qualities for what it's worth, oh let me shorten that into abbreviationese so ya can get thru my response quikker(FWIW) I PRESENTLY HAVE 2 DOGS GO W/VOOFEN BARKENHOWL
ONE IS JAKE, HALF german shep, half rott JAKE half Canadian Moose and part peacock. no that's probably just the makeup he puts on in the morning. the rest is right however. he's the original specimen of THE GENTLE GIANT.
MY OTHER POOCHIEGO-ETC. IS ABOUT THE SAME SIZE AS A MED. SIZE COLLIE WITH THE FACIAL COLORINGS OF A DOBIE OR ROTT THE BLACK UNDT TAN STUFF, YA KNOW? I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT HIS FAMILY TREE SINCE HE WAS PICKED UP FROM A KID THAT MOVED IN WITH US FOR A WHIL BUT MOVED OUT SOME TIME LATER SAYING THAT HE COULDN'T TAKE THE DOG, "BUT I'LL PICK HIM UP IN A FEW MONTHS." TO WHICH I AND MYSELF RESPONDED, "I'LL PROBABLY BE ATTACHED TO HIM BY THAT TIME AND WON'T GIVE HIM BACK
SURE ENUFF 2-3 MONTHS THE KID COMES BACK wanting the dog, Baleau-what he had named himBALEAU, BUT I BASTARDIED INTO JUST, "BLUE" CUZ IT'S EASIER TO SAY AND SPELL AND IT'S in english!!! oh and a few weeks back a couple of dogs wandered down my driveway a male pitbull
and a female dobie the Dobie walked up to me and i gave her a doggie-voof treatbuiscuit. she liked it verily much muchily inDEEDnow whenever i go out during the day and i speak, she hears me and comes runnin' at me we meet and french kiss, doggy style of course. my dogs get jealous of course, but i explained to them that i still have some wild oats left yet to sew sow and they need to give me some "like space, baby"Oooohh YEAH, CAN YA IG IT? I KNEW YOU COULD

SOWWHAT'S THE FINAL POINT ONE IS TO HAVE GLEANED FRO M MY BRILLIANT YET INCREDIBLY LONG-WINDED REPONSE LET US EXAMINE, LETN'T US?
NUMBER 1: ATTEMPTING TO STEREOTYPE DOGGIBREEDS IS ABOUT AS ACCURATE AS STEROTOING HUMAN BEANS.
NUMBER B:I HAVE MET AND FELT GREAT AFFECTIONALIZED MANY DOGS THAT ARE DESCENDANTS OF DOBIES SOMEPLACE IN THEIR FAMILY BUSH.
NUMBER 13: I SUGGEST GOING TO AN ANIMAL SHELTER AND MEET SOME OF THE "PRISONERS" IF YOU GET ONE FROM HERE, YOU'HAVE PROBABLY SAVED A CANINE LIFE FOR WHICH THE PUPPY-GONE REPRIEVED SHALL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFULL
QUITE HAPPY I DIDN'T SEE THAT IDIOTIC: DOBERMEINS TURN ON THEIR MASTERS FABLE. DOGS, LIKE THE HUMANIMAL WILL ACT ACCORDING TO THEIR UPBRINGING AND TREATMENT BY THEIR HUMANIMAL
HOPIN' YA GOT MAYBE SMETHIN TO THING ABOUT also hoping ya get yeself a new buddy that don' talk but'll siff the crotches of ladies that stop by the place and the perviepup'll give ya a rbdown after she's gone.
i shall retire from my oh-so-luvable mac RES, M
 
If you want to hear a real horror story, listen up. My brother and sister-in-law were into Saint Bernards and she got into ST. Bernard rescues. She had a 250 pound male Saint that had been rescued from a VERY abusive owner. It could have been the prototype for Cujo. It was the ONLY mean and vicious Saint Bernard that anyone had ever seen and when you get a 250 pound vicious dog, it is a major problem. It is especially a problem if people tend to assume that the dog is friendly as most Saints are. They finally had to put this dog down as nobody could handle it.

Speaking of dogs that are good and loyal, a Saint is wonderfully protective of kids. My niece was walking one of their Saints, Hannibal, as in the Carthaginian general who led his army and elephants over the Alps, when she was accosted by a 14 year old boy with mischief on his mind. She was about 8 at the time. She came home and said to my brother that some boy had been bothering her and that my brother had better come and get Hannibal off of him. When they got to the park, they found Hannibal sitting on the kid's chest and growling at him while an adult who had witnessed the whole thing kept others away from them. The adult confirmed my niece's story to my brother who then called Hannibal off of the boy and told the kid that if he ever showed up around the neighborhood again, he would let the dog finish the job. The kid took off and was never seen again.
 
My first dog was a male Dobie named Angus.I got him when I got out of high school.He was from a very well respected breeder and turned out to be my best friend for 10 years.Smart,playful,obediant,gentle and protective are the best ways to describe him.Being that I was 19 living home and unmarried,we spent a tremendous amount of time together and it was reflected in his disposistion.I took a great deal of pride in the fact that he was such a happy well adjusted animal.He died just short of his 10th birthday of heart failure and I miss him to this day.

Six months later I made the mistake of "rescuing" a Boxer pup from a back yard breeder.Against my own better judgement I thought I could work with him and create a great family pet.As the months went on he started showing some very destructive behaviour,destroying things around the house,and going through kennel crates like they were going out of style.Complicating things further,my wife and I stared our family,reducing the amount of time we could spend with him.Further to that,he also developed a number of health issues ranging from allergies to kidney disease.The final straw however was when he bit my then toddler daughter.

When our family is ready to have another dog I would not hesitate to have either breed.My lessons confirm what a number of previous posters have suggested: 1.Buy from a reputable breeder and meet your pups parents to get an idea of your dogs personality. 2.Be sure you have the time to meet the needs of your pup to help him/her develop and be trained properly 3.Remember that these are animals and even the best dogs can be unpredictable.

Good luck.
 
Dogs bite kids for several reasons:

1.) Dog was not properly socialized;
2.) Dog is untrained, and running squealing children trigger instinctual "prey drive;"
3.) Dog is hyper-dominant, and child unknowingly showed "dominant" behavior by patting strange dog on head or yelling;
4.) Child was mistreating dog, unbeknownst to adults (not uncommon);
5.) Dog is ill or injured, which contributes to surliness;
6.) Dog was neglected (chained outside, or crated all day);
7.) Dog has a mental/psychological defect and should be isolated or put down;
8.) Dog is evil (due to either genetics or abuse) and needs to die.

Not trying to "blame the victim" and excuse canine aggression, but not all dogs who bite require immediate euthanasia.

Generally speaking, a healthy and well-treated dog who is raised from a pup around children will never hurt them, and would die to protect them. I've seen many Rottweilers and Staffordshire Terriers who loved "their" children -- but if a strange child wandered into the yard and started acting the bully, that'd probably be tomorrow's headlines.
 
tyr,

I think you are right on the money.In the case of our Boxer,he met a few of your criteria.I'm no dog Dr.Phil but I believe my dog had separation anxiety.He went nuts any time he was left alone.Once we set up a video camera and left the house.Watching him destroy his crate in an effort to escape was astounding.As I had mentioned he was also in the early stages of kidney disease which had to be making him uncomfortable.
This was a dog that spent a great deal of time with his family.He was exercised regularily and was included in most of the things we did.Unfortunately,once he showed aggression towards my little girl we could not afford any second chances.Euthanasia in this instance IMHO was the only responsible option.
 
Whatever dog you choose (Though I'd opt for the boxer - simply b/c I had a nice experience with a friend's dog) you have to remember that they are at their core pack minded animals.

They NEED to know and have it reinforced until it is ingrained their place in the pack/family. It is no fun having a dog around that is always trying to establish dominance as the ALPHA member. Show them their rank relative to you, your wife, and your kids, and you should have a great relationship with your companion. Enjoy!

... For the record, I grew up with two pekingnese.
I told ya I was hard core!
 
For what it's worth, this will NOT be my first dog. It will be an inside dog, it will NEVER be left alone, more than a couple hours. It can be walked and ran on-leash any time it likes. I can take it for off-leash runs once week or so. We want a dog who will not only bark, but attack to defend the family. My knives are great, but not for home defense.... Wife says "no guns" for now. I am a little familiar with training and the "the pack" mentality. I will definately check the shelters, thanks VG.
 
I have not owned a boxer or doberman but have had friends that have. Both can be great dogs. The two dobies i've known were amongst the smartest dogs i've known but can be high strung. I've not known or heard of a dobie "turning" on the owner without the dog being abused.

That being said, I would suggest as was mentioned earlier...do some research.

Decide the type of dog (large, small, companion, guard, etc.)you want and the personality type. Then get the breed that suits your desires instead of thinking you can get whatever breed appeals to you visually and train the dog to behave as you want it to. It just doesn't happen that way. Also get it from a ruputable breeder if getting a purebred.

Good luck,
Peter
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top