Question:
Boxer or Great Dane???
anonymous
2008-07-06 11:16:20 UTC
I'm moving after Christmas and I can finally have whatever dog I want (except Pit Bulls, Rotts, or Chows.) I'm VERY interested in a Boxer, or a Great Dane. Whichever breed I decide, the dog will be female. This question is for people who know either both breeds or just one. I'm kinda looking for a comparison of the two. What are the Boxers pros-cons?? What are the pros-cons of the Great Dane?? I know every dog is different but I'm just looking into the breed in general. I've already done some research of my own, but I'd love to hear from pet owners experienced with these breeds.
Thanks in advance!
Eighteen answers:
Fetch!
2008-07-06 11:44:28 UTC
~ I have 2 Great Danes. Memphis is a Merelquin and Paducah is a Harlequin. They are both awesome, beautiful very gentle dogs. However, I would never recommend one to a novice dog owner. They require a lot of knowledge to make sure you are doing what is the best interest for their temperament and health. They can have a lot of problems with their legs when while still young and some are put on medication up to a year old. You have to consider if you have the finances and the resources to handle this. Also, they eat a good amount of food and if you think you can get away feeding these dogs store bought doggy junk food in a bag you are going to have a very sick dog on your hands! Danes have a short life span because people don't know how to correctly take care of them and many pass away much to young due to bloat. Everything has to be taken into consideration diet, exercise, socialization (they can easily become neurotic dogs)! A lot of Dane overs will talk about their dog developing a lot of phobias and usually this is just due to lack of training and development. I would recommend visiting the Great Dane Forum and reading about what other people say about theirs. I think Boxers are a bit more less maintenance. Boxers may also shed less, I have only been around two a lot and they never shed as much as my Danes!



Danes are very wonderful, loving, gentle big dogs and are great for people that understand them and only give them the best. When you own a Dane you never stop researching and learning how to improve their quality of life. To many of them end up in rescue because people aren't aware of how difficult they can be. A Dane does not fully mature until 3 years old (size) and can act like puppies far past the 1 year adult mark for other dogs.
Sonny-Licous
2008-07-06 18:40:57 UTC
I can tell you that anyone who says that Boxers don't need as much exercise is wrong. They are energetic dogs and need just as much as a Great Dane (don't let the size difference fool you). Boxers are normally friendly but still able to protect you. They can also be stubborn so stay on top of the training. Boxers also have a little longer life span. Also, keep in mind that if the dog is going to be inside a BIG dog has a big wagging tail that can easily break or spill something (and Boxers don't have tails : ) Good Luck!
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:40:29 UTC
I have had two male Danes a "Boston Black" and a Brindle and loved them both. Pros.....they are well tempered,intelligent and affectionate. Cons, they will trash your furniture. Short lifespan(7) years average. If you need to take them somewhere they won't fit in a small car and likewise will trash any car you put them in. When they get sick they are too big to pick up so you will have to have a vet come to your home(extra $) They also will eat you out of house and home though feeding a Dane is really among the least of your expenses. Though I love this breed unless you are wealthy I would not recommend owning one. My current dog is a 35# mutt, free from the dogpound, well behaved, does not destroy anything and though I say this about most of my previous dogs, he IS the best dog in the world and I would not trade him for a 100 Great Danes. Oh, something strange but true, both my Danes loved to watch TV, go figure.
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:29:05 UTC
Great danes need a whole lot of room to play, so if you're looking at living in an apartment, it wouldn't be fair to a large breed to have him in such small living quarters. I'm not just talking yard space to run in, inside they take up an entire couch or bed by themselves!

A boxer is also a fairly large breed who will need lots of room to run and play, though it won't take up as much space as the dane would. Danes do not live as long as boxers, they live only about 7 years because they are so large. The smaller the dog, the longer the life span. Have you considered a hound or beagle? They are medium size, very loving and wouldn't need as much exercise and room in your place :)
tatum
2008-07-06 18:42:29 UTC
Well, Boxers are far more active than Great Danes. A lady has a Great Dane in her apartment complex and it is fine. A Great Dane is more laid back than a Boxer. They both aren't much of good guard dogs. They both love people. It depends on your excercise level and how much food you can afford to feed. Obviously, a Great Dane will cost more to feed. These are your pros and cons.
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:27:27 UTC
With either one you will need a lot of room and a place for the dog to run. Great Danes get very large and the food bill will be expensive. Boxers are not far behind.

Of the 2 I prefer boxers for their temperaments and personalities.
ajschwarz06
2008-07-06 18:52:45 UTC
great danes are good in a smaller place they are very large but are usually clam in a house as long as they get out and exersice. they do love to lounge around on furniture, but of coarse can be trained not to if they have a large soft bed to lay on which is omportant to their joints since they are so big. boxers are high energy! i live in an apartment and own one and shes calm most of the timebut loves to go to my moms and run around the yard. boxers are also great with kids, i sure danes are too but are very large and dont always know how large they are around small children. danes are very expensive to feed so take that into consideration, for my boxer i get a 20lbs bag of food every 3 weeks or so. most boxers are very friendly and think everyone is there to play with them but also know when they need to protect. either breed needs proper training though just as any dog large or small. this is much more important though with such large breeds. good luck!! they are both beautiful dogs and i dont know about danes but my boxer sheds like crazy, im beggining to wonder how she isnt bald! lol but that can be a prob. especially if they are white like mine
k
2008-07-06 18:30:06 UTC
I had a boxer growing up. They are the best dogs in the world ! I dont really know that must about great danes. But you should get a boxer ! they are smart, loyal, loving, and great watch dogs !
reddanpizza
2008-07-06 18:26:51 UTC
hi there i can only tell you about a boxer as i have one she is called spunky but like you i am interested in great Danes as well.

the pros of owning a boxer are:

loyalty

protection

not very bark some people say they are real hyperactive but mine is really calm

i would just like to put in a comment to the first answer as they said Danes need more exercise which is totally wrong they are big dogs and people think that because they are big but it is totally wrong only about 20Min's aday a boxers about 45 to one hour.

full of beans

get on great with any type of animal

train them quick

they listen all the time

cons are:

they malt alot but whats a few hairs

and you said you have done some research then you would have come across they fact that they aren't really that healthy well so far spunky has only really suffered from a mange not like a mag-er dose the vet just said that boxers seem to suffer from it as puppies its from their mum.
?
2008-07-06 18:32:05 UTC
i adore my boxers great dogs very hi energy if left to thier own they will get into trouble...my 4 yr old learned how to open the fridge when i am not home now we have to lock it



danes are great dogs also though a tad hard to train they are less energetic than boxers though

boxers are prone to cancer

danes are prone to hip problems





good luck
anonymous
2008-07-06 20:12:58 UTC
You know whats weird i have a boxer and a great dane and they are both great but to tell you the truth great danes are better they learn faster and have a better temper.



hope i helped.
charitydowling
2008-07-06 18:59:53 UTC
Boxers are the best. They do need a lot of room to play and exercise in though. They are very energetic and smart excellent guard dogs as well. Con are few mainly if they get bored they get into stuff.
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:26:26 UTC
boxers are great dogs. the one i know loves people. but they can get lonely.



great danes require a lot of exercise, and are really big! unless you train it really well they can be big and aggressive adults. luckily great danes are easy to train along with boxers.
Bailey
2008-07-06 18:22:50 UTC
Great Danes probably need more excercise then boxers,because their semi-athletic,and very active.

If your looking for a sweet,playful,cheerfull,and peppy dog,a Great Dane's for you.

Im not all that sure about Boxers.
Cindy
2013-11-28 04:53:46 UTC
I've had mostly boxers since I've had my first child 13 years ago and boxers have been the best fit and that includes a Doberman and a mixed dog. I've been nothing but satisfied with boxer male or female. They are active at one point but with the right guidance they are very good and loyal. Loyalty is important and they seem to know when there is true danger don't just react for anything.
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:28:35 UTC
i personally like great danes better i find that boxers can be aggresive sometimes and the great danes just look lovely
Bama Bully Rescue
2008-07-06 18:55:45 UTC
While continuing your research on these breeds, be sure to read about them on Great Dane & Boxer rescue group websites. Rescue groups want to find forever homes for the dogs and will be brutally honest with you about the downsides of their breeds as well as the positives. Also, rescue groups have constant, firsthand experience, many times for several years and more so the experiences are not just regarding one dog.



I know several Great Danes and Boxers personally and these breeds share many traits. Both can be very comical with great senses of humor who love to entertain people. ;)



Both do require outlets for energy but honestly, the Danes do not require much more exercise than any other active dog. They also do not consume massive amounts of dogfood as many people believe they do. It is important to feed a very high quality dog food and learn as much as you can about bloat and torsion in regards to Boxers or Danes as both are deep-chested breeds making them prone to this many times fatal occurance.



Great Danes are known to be leaners. They can easily knock someone over unintentionally and because of their size you must be careful when they get the case of the zoomies. A 150 pound dog with poor brakes can be a hazard for some people, elderly and children and even other dogs.



Danes can also clear a coffee table with their tails on one swipe so if you have precious breakables, you'll learn to elevate them considerably. You also will need to commit to lifelong training and start as early as possible to avoid raising a huge dog which can be impossible or even dangerous if allowed to develop poor manners. They can easily reach anything on counters or tables and they usually consider themselves lapdogs.



They have a booming bark and can become too territorial if not properly socialized and trained. You also will likely meet many, many people who are simply terrified of your dog based on its size. Something some new Dane owners are not prepared for. You should also consider the size of your vehicle, as funny as that may seem. If you plan to take you pet places often, he should be comfortable with enough room.



Danes are amiable, friendly if well socialized, a joy to watch and interact with, very intelligent with little grooming necessary. They would thrive on large areas to be able to get out and really stretch their legs and usually enjoy other dogs of similar size to play with.



As for some cons: They can be very prey driven as they are sighthounds so extra vigilance must be taken when out and about. They many times are driven to chase anything that runs (cats, squirrels, small dogs, etc). Their vet bills will be higher as dosages will be higher for vaccines/heartworm preventative and external parasite meds.



They are prone to hip dysplasia and bloat and orthopaedic issues. They also can be quite short-lived, many times to ten years old or less. They can drool, when/if destructive, they are VERY destructive.



Boxers share many of the same fun-loving qualities and genetic tendancies such as hip dysplasia but add in the issues which can be problematic for brachycephalatic (pushed in nosed) breeds. They are adversly affected by heat and humidity which means you will need to protect them from too much exercise and activities in these conditions. They are prone to optical issues such as early cataracts.



Boxers can be easily exciteable so early training and socializing is important (as with any dog). They enjoy people and usually enjoy playing with other dogs. Their playstyles can be rough and very physical. They are an intelligent breed and thrive on mental stimulation.



They require little grooming and are considered a medium to large breed.



Boxers can also drool and can be mouthy.



Boxers are also sometimes feared by people based on their appearance so its very important to help your dog become a friendly, well-mannered dog.



You have taken the first important step towards successful dog ownership by determining the breeds you like and that fit your lifestyle. By doing as much research as possible and acquiring your dog from a very reputable source (breed rescue, extremely reputable breeder) you will save yourself and your dog heartache down the road by making the right choice of breed AND the right choice of individual dog.



Contact rescue groups, ask questions and be realistic in your decisions.



Good luck!
anonymous
2008-07-06 18:23:45 UTC
i would say doevermen

1. because they dont shed a lot

&

2. they are very good guard dogs


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...