After my recent post re losing 2 Boxers in a week I thought I would let you all have an update.

The children were all devastated ( as we all were) as this is the first time we have been without a Boxer in our 'gang' so we promised them we would get another rescue Boxer asap to try to fill the gaping hole in our lives.

Well.....  we saw and applied for a Boxer, but at the same time our hearts were stolen by a young Bulldog bitch ( 15 months) She had been returned to the breeder and she was looking for a good home for her.

Then....  the Boxer turned out to be 2 brothers ( 18 months) that needed rehoming together ( litter mates) as their previous owner had developed health problems and couldn't keep them.

So..... We ended up getting the 2 Boxer boys AND the Bulldog which now makes our gang 8 dogs ( we must be mad)

2 Patts, 1 Cocker, 1 Beagle, 1 Dalmation, 2 Boxers and a Bulldog, ( all rescues) and they all get on really well The 4 smaller dogs play well together and the 3 large dogs play well together and the Beagle changes from one group to the other as the mood takes her.

ps we have the papers for the Bulldog and the original price was £1800. I really cannot understand someone paying that sort of money and then returning the dog - did they not do their homework first to make sure that she would fit in with their family as apparently she was too boisterous for them. Some people never cease to amaze me ( our gain though)

OMG !!  well done to you, bet you have your hands full ,  so pleased for you,  we are waiting for the right time to bring a rescue boxer into our home, (when this hooligan settles down) its been to long without one ,  so an very envious of you at this time,   I am sure  they 3 of them have now found their forever home  x

Then....  the Boxer turned out to be 2 brothers ( 18 months) that needed rehoming together ( litter mates) as their previous owner had developed health problems and couldn't keep them.

I don't' want to put a dampener on good news, but I think that was really stupid of whoever rehomed them. The very best for those dogs would have been to be split up. They are still young enough to have been able to deal with it, and would have ended up with a better life because of not being together. Littermates are a nightmare and the risk is so big that they will fight once they hit 2 or 3, and if they stay friends, then when they grow old and one dies it will be so difficult for the one left behind to cope.

I have littermates now aged 12, the oldest set. We took the bitch to a fun show today and left the dog at home, who instantly started howling the moment his sister left.

Our Patts are litter mates as well but because we have such a large family of dogs that merge together, should one die then the remaining dog is not alone. We split them when they go for lead walking to make 4 at a time, so they are used to some going out and some staying, however we have enough land that they can all run free with loads of room ( when not doing lead training)

If we had any doubts about the 2 boys we would not have taken them  as the last thing we want is anything to upset the applecart with this number dogs. The 2 boys that died had been together all their lives and we had no problems.

The Boxer rehoming centre know us well and know that we are capable of handling these boys, that s why they asked if we would like to take them on. We have had Boxers from them on many occasions.

We did not accept these dogs blindly as we are fully aware of the care they all need, but I suppose because they are joining an established gang of dogs they just slot in.
They are very rarely left alone as we work from home so I think we are very lucky to have this much animal love in our lives

Well done :)

>I think we are very lucky to have this much animal love in our lives

That is exactly how I feel with my house full of canines.  I once had a work mate say oh I couldn't put up with all these.

Yet, when I get round to sitting down in the evening, and all my mates are hanging out with me, I feel total contentment.  I look around at all the wagging tails and need nothing more.

I salute you for taking on these dogs, litter-mates or otherwise :-)

You obviously have the time and resources to do so.

Shame on the breeder (and I use that term loosely) that sold 2 litter-mates to an owner and then did not take responsibility for them for the rest of their lives.

I wish you good luck with your new additions :-)

Shame on the breeder (and I use that term loosely) that sold 2 litter-mates to an owner and then did not take responsibility for them for the rest of their lives.

That`s assuming the breeder declined to take any responsibility... its not always so black and white,  a breeder can only take responsibility if the owner makes them aware.

> xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">That`s assuming the breeder declined to take any responsibility... its not always so black and white,  a breeder can only take responsibility if the owner makes them aware.

The dogs were only 18 months of age.  Eighteen months is no time at all.  The breeder should most definitely have still been in touch.

>The breeder should most definitely have still been in touch.

Sometimes it's owners who don't want to keep in touch; no matter how many times the breeder contacts them they don't always reply. :(

A breeder who will sell litterbrothers to the same home doesn't sound like the type that would keep in touch, as it doesn't sound like a responsible breeder.........

The breeder in question seems very reputable as we have all the paperwork except the family chart. I have looked at the website of this breeder and they have won many well known championships, in the UK and Ireland. They are definitely not BYB or PF in fact we are very impressed with them and their dogs.
We have the certificates to show that the tail docking was permitted and this shows the pedigree names of each of the dogs. The breeder is not on the mainland uk so when the previous owner found out his wife had aggressive cancer he contacted the Boxer rescue rather than make the journey across the water to Europe. He suddenly needed to give all his time to his wife and I suppose the thought of returning to the breeder would have been too time consuming, or else he didn't think straight at that moment in time.

Our vet has thoroughly checked the dogs over and has said they are excellent quality dogs ( we also know that they had every necessary test done as we have the results) I have no doubt the breeder would have taken the boys back had she been asked, but they are our gain, and a wonderful gain at that.

I don't have a problem with the breeder allowing 2 dogs to the owner as he had waited until he had finished working so that he could have time to dedicate to the dogs ( he was an experienced Boxer owner) but as ever things did not work out the way he planned and he did what he thought was best for the dogs when his wife became ill

edit to say that the dogs have been very well trained, walk beautifully on the lead and have great recall, so he had been working well with them.

These boys sound lovely, Sillysue - and they are very lucky to have found you.  Here's to many happy years together!

B  X