picking out the right dog!

Question
I have a 17 month old and I would like to get a dog. I was considering a boxer. I have alot of questions as far as are they good with children? If this not a good dog to consider then which kind is? Is it better to get a male or female? How old is too old to get a dog when we do pick one out? Thank you  

Answer
Hi, Yes boxers are great dogs for children.  As far as sex, it really doesn't matter.  Age also doesn't matter, sometimes getting an adult is easier to deal with because they are more mature and set in their ways whereas a puppy goes through many stages until they reach adulthood (about 2 yrs of age).  These include a testing stage, and even a teenage stage, which would definitely require that you seek some sort of professional training to learn to deal with these stages.  Also, puppies consider children their equals, so sometimes you can have problems with that.  The bad part about an adult dog is that you don't know their past history (abuse, neglect etc.)  If they have been teased by children in the past, it is hard to say if that may come through when they move in with you.  So again, there are pros & cons to getting puppies as well as adults.  If you have anymore questions, feel free to give me a holler.

Good Luck,

Dawn