overweight female boxer dog

Question
QUESTION: I am getting a grossly overweight 5 or 6-yr old (not sure as she is a rescue) female boxer dog in 2 days. I know this unhealthy for her.
How can I help her lose weight safely?

ANSWER: You didn't give a weight to judge "over weight."

Females weigh average 50-65lbs. but can weigh below or above that depending on their stature: small framed, medium frame, or large frame, from their genetics (which I know you don't know her genetics).

Considering her age, I would feed her a good quality, natural diet (no by-products or corn) for older, inactive dogs, and supplement that some days with cooked rice and skinned chicken (de-boned: never give a dog chicken or pork bones) and fresh carrots (baby carrots are good) cooked and cut, season with a tad of garlic POWDER (NOT SALT) for flavor...

The cooked rice and chicken concoction is healthy and non-caloric for her.

Keep a weight chart, take her to the vet every month for a weigh in and quick check (vet checks eye color and other signs of anemia, etc.)

When she reaches the vet's targeted weight, either continue that diet or just keep her on the adult in-active diet.

You can feed her a low-caloric dog food IF she is grossly over weight.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The female boxer has been with other dogs for 3 weeks at the rescue. One of the dogs is a 4-month old male Lab mix (very docile and well-behaved). They get along very well. The boxer only growled once (according to the woman  who is looking after the abandoned dogs) when the boxer wanted a bone that was in the room.
I thought it would help the boxer to have a familiar dog with her in my house when I bring her home in 2 days. Is this a good idea? Or is better to have her adjust to living with me first and then add a second male dog later?
I admit that I am a bit nervous about walking her in my neighbourhood as I don't think she has had experience with this in the past. Apparently, she is has a very good temperment - maybe it's the reading I've done and aggression issues with Boxers. This is my first rescue boxer. My other dog (Korean mix) died 3 wks ago at the age of 12yrs and 4 mo. I want this to work with the Boxer as she really needs a good home.

Answer
The Boxer growling for the bone is normal for any Boxer, especially a rescue Boxer because her life must have been bad.

You can easily stop that with training.

If you can take care of the Lab mix and want him, I would take him as well. Just remember, he is a male, and she is a female, so you will need her to be spayed or him neutered so they don't mate.

Boxers are loving, good souls. They are not any more aggressive than another breed, but their being abused causes aggression as in any dog.