We are CONSIDERING getting a dog. It's a 4 year old female boxer. The thing is we have 2 cats and a 6 year old and 1 year old. All have been around dogs, infact my daughter walks around the house with her stuffed puppy and yells puppy! She did really we around my brothers 2 Pitt bulls as well. Any tips for proper introductions? We have had dogs in the past and the cats did do well.
Yes the dog we are considering has been around cats & small children. And those who commented on getting a dog cause my baby says puppy....really? We have talked about getting a dog for a few years ever since we had to put our rotti down when my son was a baby. She was 10 years old and had really bad hips.
you set the boundaries....not the dog, nor the kids.
I used a leash for quite some time, & I taught the kids to properly respect that this was a real dog....not a toy.
M.:
Boxers are GREAT dogs...rate right up there with Pit Bulls (who have a bad reputation - it really is how they are raised!)....now my question is - has SHE been around cats?
If she has not - it might be odd. Your cat and the dog need to be introduced slowly. Preferably via a gated room, dog on leach; cat on other side and being held by one of you...let them smell each other through the gate.
However, if the only reason you want to get a dog is because your daughter holds a stuffed animal and says "PUPPY" - not a good reason. A Boxer is a GREAT dog!! They are high energy dogs...keep that in mind before adopting ANY dog...check the breed out...thoroughly.
Boxers are "jumpers" - my Boxer/Pit mix can jump (from a standing position) and kiss me - I'm 5'8" tall. He only weighs 57 lbs but he is all muscle and uses it to his advantage! He loves to play.
Good luck!!
Think it Through.. Why are you getting a dog? Becuase your kids like them? Because you have been thinking about it for a while? Who is going to watch it when you go on vacation? Are you thinking about the year round bug issue there is down in FL.. the sand fleas etc. Once you have made your mind up truly...
Teach the proper intro to any dog, Hand palm up, let dog smell. No fast moves. etc..
Pick a spot in the yard for the dog to do its business (so you are not cleaininng up the entire yard, just one section). Define the rules for your 6 year old, and come up with a chart.. are you doing the clean up? or are you anticpating giving that responsibility to you 6 year old.
Have a family meeting to decide, if something happens to this pet, what is the max we are going to spend to "help" it. This may sound cruel, but my MIL had to file bankruptancy becuase she spent over $10k fixing her dog when she did not have it..
This is just a few things to consider wile trying to decide.
Good Luck
Okay, just know that Boxers are great dogs, we had one.
BUT, they are jumping beans. Boxers are known, for jumping and liking to jump. And they can jump, high. Our's used to jump over our fence. And it was just having fun. Not being a 'naughty' dog... but boxers like to jump and can do it very well.
But they are nice dogs.
But, you already have pets... 2 cats.
I would not get a dog just because your daughter walks around with a stuffed puppy and plays with her Uncle's dogs.
But if you are not minding, the extra costs, and having a dog and 2 cats and you also have 2 kids... and not minding the increased upkeep, then that is your call.
Dogs... need more upkeep, than cats. ie: walking it, training it, more pet food, vet costs, etc. Cats are more independent.
I have had both cats and dogs all my life.
We know have a rabbit, a bird, a frog, and a pill bug and fish as pets.
But these are 'easy' pets.
Has the dog ever been around cats or small children??? IMO, 4 is old to introduce to cats and small children. I think you could be asking for problems. Many great dogs aren't good with small children or cats. Dogs will generally learn to adapt to other dogs - same with cats but not always true with each other.
Also, you could be setting up your children in a hostile environment while the animals decide if they will adjust or not.
If you're set on it, introduce separately. Meaning, do NOT have your kids there when you introduce the cats and dog. Keep a leash on the dog in case it tries to eat the cats. If the cats have claws, they can probably defend themselves, but can do some nasty damage to the dog in the process.
We put a baby gate up and kept our dog in just one room for a while. The cats could walk by and see her (and hiss and spit). The dog could see them.
Then we took down the gate and kept Sneakers (dog) on a leash around the house for a while so she could see the kitties, but not chase them down. We let her be curious, get close to the cats, and let the cats respond with hissing, spitting, and swiping with their paws. Cats tend to stand their ground for a long time, so it's likely that your dog might get scratched if she's too pushy. But she'll learn to leave the kitties alone.
Now Sneakers and the cats are at the point where they can be in the same room with nobody running off or chasing. One of the cats still growls if she gets too close, but that's about it.
