2nd Boxer

Question
Hi Angela:

My wife and I currently have a 10 month old female boxer Ty, she is great and we have a lot of fun with her.  But, we still want to get a second dog also a boxer to add to the family.

This weekend we are going to look at a male boxer who is 5 months old.  We did not want a younger one. The four quick questions I have are:

A. When we introduce the two dogs in a neutral place and then bring them in together what are some things we can do so they get along, although I know it may be some time before they decide to be good together.

B. We both work and want to know what do we do for the first few weeks with the 5 month old. He is not fully housebroken, and should we crate him and leave the female in another room.  We never crated the female and she has been very good.

C. What is the best way to get him housebroken, will he just pick it up from the female? How long usually?

D. Is there any advice regarding food: do we separate their food in different locations?

Thank you, we are eagerly awaiting your response.  

Answer
Hi Michael,

Congratulations on choosing another boxer for your family. I would recommend a male as this will make the transition much easier. Here are some recommendations to your questions:

A. Let nature take its course. The family should be as calm as possible and let the new guy explore his new surroundings. Dogs mirror their counterparts so if your excited the dogs will be too. Having them both on loose leashes while exploring will give you the opportunity to step in if needed to break up a fight. Boxer puppies their ages will rarely show aggression toward each other. Do expect them to start boxing each other and play mouthing each other that is normal boxer play.Take up all play toys and only have them out under supervised play. Don't make a big deal of the new fellow, the female should get your attention first. This will help reduce anxiety of the female.
B. Crate training is the best way to house train in my opinion. I would get crates for both of them and allow them to be in the same room if they are getting along. Add kong toys filled with peanut butter or cheese to help relieve anxiety or boredom. You will need to have a friend or family member let them out every 3-4 hours for potty break and some play time.
C. Yes he will pick up on the idea from the female to some degree but be ready for an accident or two. Have on hand a product called Zerodor(online only) to help remove any smell of an accident because if he can smell it he will continue to go in that area even the crate , that is the single most down fall of people house training a dog. Dogs go by smell and if the smell isn't completely out the dog will continue to go in that area. Consistency is the key, always take them out at the same times and place daily. Hanging a large bell on your door and ringing each time before you take them out will also teach them to ring the bell to let you know they want outside. The time limit to house train will depend on the individual dog and your consistency.
D. The feeding schedule should also be consistent and I prefer to feed in the crates. I personally feed puppies up until one year old three times a day. Put the females bowl in first then feed the male. I prefer not to have the dogs facing each other while eating. This method allows each dog the freedom to eat in peace.
Good luck with your new addition and thank you for your questions.

Angela Donald
Canine Behavior Consultant
http://www.hitowerboxers.com