Day 1 with Magnus the Great

It has been six years since we had a puppy. (Our Husky is going on seven years old.) Last night, we brought home Magnus, a ten-month-old brindle Boxer (he looks similar to the one at the top of the AKC breed page). A woman in a nearby town needed to find a home for him because she said she no longer had time for him (she has two other dogs and two cats). Although she got him as a puppy and hated to part with him, she was glad to see him go to a good home.

I was nervous about taking in a new dog. We picked him up last night and didn't get home until almost 9:30pm. (That was rather late for DD to stay up, and be out gallivanting.) Magnus was excited to check out the house and our other dog. I have to say that it's going to be awhile before our Husky gets used to him. She wasn't nearly as territorial as I thought she would be. There was no growling or barking, just some play. However, I think he will try to be the boss--which is not what I wanted to have happen, but apparently, the Husky has no backbone. *shrugs* Time will tell.

Here is a link to the American Boxer Club for more information on this adorable breed. This page discusses the Boxer's temperament.

Magnus needs some training--at least to sit and stay. He is crate-trained, and there were no overnight accidents. Unfortunately, he did have a small accident in the house last night before we put him to bed, and also this morning because I couldn't get him hooked up to the tie-out lead fast enough. He was unsure of the stairs, because his former owner's house didn't have stairs. I'm hopeful that he'll settle in fine once the newness wears off and he gets used to the new routine in our household. After he settles in, I will get him neutered. That should help behaviorally.

DH got home around 11:30pm, after he got off work, and when he came in the house, Magnus barked in warning. DH said it gave him pause. :) Now a Boxer's bark is not like a Husky's bark--it's much deeper and louder. Magnus will definitely let us know if anyone ever tries to break into the house.