Daughter getting dog...what do you think? *UPDATE*

[k9krazee]

I would at least try to convince her to wait until the spring/summer. For me personally, I find it much to hard to raise a puppy in the winter. It is so much harder to housebreak a puppy, and you can't accomplish much socialization.

[Freedom]

A friend of ine has labs. One is 11, the other 12. She says it is a relief to have older labs, as they "only" need a 2 hour walk per day now! When they were younger, she thought nothing of going off on a hike with them for half a day or so, on a regular basis (4 to 6 days per week). She takes them to 3 different places with huge open fields, and they can run and run and run and . . . .

I've heard boxers are high energy, low attention span (for training). How old is the BF's dog? No need to answer, just another factor to work in the mix. If that one is older, it is not going to be helping exercise the puppy much; the humans are going to have to do it!

[Karen]

If he is considering maybe rescuing an older dog, that would be far different than a puppy or young dog, particularly with Labs. Encourage him, if you can, to give her a stuffed Lab, with a note attached that says "redeem for a real dog, when we meet the right one!" For years I kept a "baby bunnie certificate" that Paul gave me that was good for one "baby hatchling bunny as soon as we have a house with a yard." It was, of course, finally redeemed for a certain Miss Hoppy!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

Well you and I both know Labs... and I totally agree with you that they should wait til things with school slow down to get a puppy... those Lab puppy are go go go!! And need constant attention, as you know! But good luck to her with her decision!

[Vette]

I think your concerns are well founded. i think its best to wait to get pets till after ones college course/s are through for good.

but if they adopt or rescue an adult dog the chances of the dog being potty trained is high an if he/she is that should alleviate training time a good bit. however its still of course unknow to how the Boxer mix will take another dog regardless of its a puppy or not.

[happylabs]

If he is considering maybe rescuing an older dog, that would be far different than a puppy or young dog, particularly with Labs. Encourage him, if you can, to give her a stuffed Lab, with a note attached that says "redeem for a real dog, when we meet the right one!" For years I kept a "baby bunnie certificate" that Paul gave me that was good for one "baby hatchling bunny as soon as we have a house with a yard." It was, of course, finally redeemed for a certain Miss Hoppy!

I like that idea Karen!

[*LabLoverKEB*]

I second that, GREAT idea Karen!!

[Varga]

That is such a sweet idea Karen. Or perhaps I should say Paul, since I suppose he came up with it in the first place. So cute!

[Karen]

That is such a sweet idea Karen. Or perhaps I should say Paul, since I suppose he came up with it in the first place. So cute!

Yes, he's pretty darned adorable, and smart - I "got a good one" as my friend has told me many times!