I have been continually amazed at the developing relationship between my boxer and my chi. The chi had been in a home with her 2 siblings before she went in the shelter so she definitely knows a chi from a boxer. There are still some growling moments over my attention but otherwise their relationship is amazing!

They wait for each other at the door, they want to go outside together. If the dogs outside are barking and the chi happens to be outside alone, the boxer runs out, touches her nose then takes up the barking. If it's going on while they are both outside, the boxer gets between the chi and the barking. The chi grooms the boxer's ears. They always have issues and the chi stands on a stool, softly chews on one ear then the boxer turns around and gives her the other ear. They cuddle together on a blanket out on the lawn (not inside, the chi only does laps).

The chi doesn't like other dogs. The neighbor dog comes by to say hello and she's all teeth and snarl. The odd thing is the boxer and the neighbor dog used to be friendly. They got in a fight the other day, mild scuffle really but it was over the chi. The boxer got between the two and the neighbor dog didn't like it.

Our only issue now is the growling over my lap (chi gets told no and put down) and now the elderly boxer is acting like a puppy again. She never acted like one even when she was one. she was hyper but didn't know how to play since I got her at 4 weeks old (bad breeder, had to take her then because they were moving and new place wouldn't take dogs, was a c-section, bottle-fed, etc). She never fetched and only played chase games with the puppy from next door. Now she's going into play stance and trying chase games in my house! In the house I police it because the chi can get cornered and a playful swipe still hurts. Outside the chi has the advantage of speed, agility, and size for hiding under plants.

I can see why matching size of dogs is good. I plan to get a yorkie-poo after the boxer passes (or before if DH is willing, doubtful). Or maybe another shelter chi mix. but the big/small combination has been cool to watch!

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My 2 dogs, Bindy the boxer (8.5yo) and Juliet the Chi (born 7/11)

We rescued 2 amazing boxers while my boys were growing up. Both from homes that couldn't feed them and obviously they were neglected emotionally and medically. 1st one was one of the most amazing animals I have ever been around. 2nd one was almost as cool, but for the fact he was obviously abused by children so it was difficult to have a dog with that much size and power being nursed back to health with my boys and a neighborhood full of kids. I did manage and my youngest son does still have most of his backside They were at an age where they knew it was difficult to be around him but wanted to help him so we were careful. Had I lived in a more isolated area I have no doubt we could have worked with him and at some point he would have enjoyed kids. I just couldn't risk him taking a munch on neighbor kids, so he was neutered, brought up to weight, neck healed from a chain imbedded in it and we found a nice home for him child-free. They sure are an amazing, protective, lovable breed. I do wish she had a fun size one to noodle around with, but I honestly cannot bring a second little one with me to the office each day so we're just going to have to hope there are little ones in Kinder Puppy and then look for a group once weather breaks. By that time I am convinced she will think she is a cat, because her and rescue kitty "rumble in the jungle" heavily each night.

We have to socialize with larger dogs because all of the family and neighbors have larger breeds. She gets right in there and plays with them and we haven't even had a close call, but she didn't take real kindly to the tongue action across her face. She is actually the pistol when they all get together, what an instigator ~ it's so fun!

battyjac - I think that is adorable they way they care and love
one another!

DKT - Thank you for rescuing!

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Life is but a dream...



"Saving just one dog won't change the world, but it surely will change the world for that one dog." - Richard C. Call

It just so happened we found them I wasn't on a mission to do so ~ I just don't have the heart for it, we get too attached when it comes times to rehome. Our latest "rescue" is laying on the bed behind purring ~ her bed I just really enjoyed Battyjac's story about how the boxer and the chi are getting along and how the boxer has found a bit of puppyhood in her elder years ~ it's very cool.

my chi and gsd is exactly like that too! except my chi has a husky, aussie mix, and another gsd also living in the same house, she's the only small one.

My chis adore my daughter's lab/pit mix. It is so funny to see him laying on the couch with three or four chis on him, play fighting. He and Smoke are especially close, Smoke is like his pilot fish. lol And since I got the chis, he's in his second puppyhood, doing zoomies in the backyard as the chis run circles arond him. I just have to watch him because he will run over one of the littler ones if he's not watching where hes going and he doesn't like Tico, the only unfixed male here, and will woof in his face. Tico is blind and only 4 1/2 pounds and the woof almost knocks him off his feet.

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Thank you Jan for the wonderful siggy!

Lavender, at 5.5 pounds, is best friends with my Bichon, Cosmo, who weighs 12 pounds. Not a really big dog, but much bigger than her. Cosmo is 13 years old and suffered with sadness and crying after we lost his best Bichon friend, Lacy, in 2010. Lavender helped him get over his grieving and she brought new life to him. He romps and plays with her and although it took a long time, he's happy and himself again. Lavender isn't around other dogs much, but she lived with other dogs before she went into rescue and then came to live with us, so I'm sure she would be fine. She's very sweet and friendly. Chihuahua's rock!

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Jeanette, Cosmo, and Lavender (and Angel Lacy, who now has her wings)
http://members.aceweb.com/LadyJ/Lavender.html


................. Lavender ..................

It's so cool to hear about other people's chi's getting along with big dogs! I found my first chi, Izzi, and my Australian Cattle Dog took right to her and even had a false pregnancy shortly after we found Izzi! They play and wrestle together and I like to joke that Izzi is Moxie's dog. Then I got Lexi, a little 2 pounder, and Moxie just adores her as well. Izzi and Lexi do most of the playing now but Moxie still gets in there some times. My next addition was 2 year old Rottweiler, Isis, the chis were not impressed with this new dog in the household but they got over it.... though Isis did try playing with them both once and Izzi nipped her nose (I think she is too big and overwhelming to them). But now Isis is respectful and doesn't try playing with them and goes about her business. We're one big happy family! I just have to say one of the cutest/heart warming things is seeing a chi play with a big dog!

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Jessica