Boxer Information Center
Your Subtitle text
How To Find a Good Boxer Puppy
Overview
You have decided that you want to bring a Boxer into your home. Now what? How do you find a good Boxer puppy? Where do you find the best place to buy a Boxer? Should you purchase from a pet store? Individual advertisement or Boxer breeder?
Follow some guidelines to help you find a healthy puppy who was bred to become a healthy adult dog. You will have your Boxer for quite some time and this dog will be a part of your family. Finding just the right Boxer is vitally important.
You have decided that you want to bring a Boxer into your home. Now what? How do you find a good Boxer puppy? Where do you find the best place to buy a Boxer? Should you purchase from a pet store? Individual advertisement or Boxer breeder?
Follow some guidelines to help you find a healthy puppy who was bred to become a healthy adult dog. You will have your Boxer for quite some time and this dog will be a part of your family. Finding just the right Boxer is vitally important.
Five Boxer puppies waiting for homes
Pet Stores
It used to be very common for people to go to pet stores to "pick out that doggy in the window". It turned into a multi-million dollar business for most and that is when the problems began. Puppy Mills started forming. These are basically dog factories whose only purpose is to breed dogs in mass quantities and ship them out to pet stores. While the puppies in the stores are going to look cute, what you can not see is the torture that their mothers endured and the ill health of most of the dogs. Puppy Mills are not concerned about the health of the puppies, they just care about top dollar. Female dogs are bred over and over until they die from exhaustion.
There are a few Boxer breeders who will place a couple puppies in a store. This is the only time it is suggested to buy a Boxer from a pet store and you must be given proof that they obtain their puppies from a reputable Boxer breeder. Don't listen to a sales pitch. Ask for the name, phone number and location of the breeder and visit them. At that point, follow the guidelines below for finding a quality breeder and make sure those guidelines are met. If not, walk away...you will find plenty of quality, purebred healthy Boxers at reputable and established Boxer breeders.
It used to be very common for people to go to pet stores to "pick out that doggy in the window". It turned into a multi-million dollar business for most and that is when the problems began. Puppy Mills started forming. These are basically dog factories whose only purpose is to breed dogs in mass quantities and ship them out to pet stores. While the puppies in the stores are going to look cute, what you can not see is the torture that their mothers endured and the ill health of most of the dogs. Puppy Mills are not concerned about the health of the puppies, they just care about top dollar. Female dogs are bred over and over until they die from exhaustion.
There are a few Boxer breeders who will place a couple puppies in a store. This is the only time it is suggested to buy a Boxer from a pet store and you must be given proof that they obtain their puppies from a reputable Boxer breeder. Don't listen to a sales pitch. Ask for the name, phone number and location of the breeder and visit them. At that point, follow the guidelines below for finding a quality breeder and make sure those guidelines are met. If not, walk away...you will find plenty of quality, purebred healthy Boxers at reputable and established Boxer breeders.
Individual Sales
Buying from a individual is risky. The owner of a female Boxer may have not had their dog spayed and suddenly find themselves with a litter of pups. The precise proper breeding and effort that it takes to breed high quality dogs will not be present. Again, the puppies will be cute and adorable; however you must look at the long term picture. You will want a puppy that is not only cute, but has an excellent bloodline, a better chance at long term health and a good temperament.
Why Buy a Boxer From a Boxer Breeder?
How to Know if a Boxer Breeder is a Good One
Once you have found 2-4 breeders that are located close enough to you to visit them, you can begin your search for that puppy that was meant to be part of your family. Consider your visits to be inspections and interviews that you will be making. If a breeder does not seem happy to oblige, move on to the next one. A good breeder of Boxers will be more than happy to show you around and answer all of your questions.
Check out the breeding facilities. Forget what you saw on the web; now it is time to see for yourself. Ask to see where the parents are kept, where breeding is done and where the puppies and dogs are kept. It is essential that all areas are clean. If there are foul smells, feces scattered around and/or the puppies or dogs are living in confined quarters or dirty areas, move on to the next breeder.
If the puppies are kept quite a distance from the breeder's home, ask if or how often they are brought into the home. The answer you want to hear is that the puppies are routinely brought inside. This is vital to the socialization process of pups. They must have exposure to other people, understand an inside living environment of a home and receive attention from people of all ages.
Medical Tests that Should be Done Before Breeding Boxers
Since the Boxer breed is predisposed to certain disease, professional Boxer breeders will have the following tests done before breeding a dog. These tests will check for diseases that are passed are hereditary (passed on through the genes of the Boxer dog).
All of the tests that regard the dog’s heart should be done by a board certified veterinarian cardiologist.
Questions and Answers
A good breed will ask you just as many questions as you will be asking them. You do not want to choose a breeder who simply keeps telling you how wonderful the pups are. They should ask you what you know about the breed, if you understand how to care for a Boxer and what your home environment is like (size of the house, if you have an enclosed fence, if there are children in the home, other pets and how much time you will have to spend with the puppy).
You will know a Boxer breeder is a good one, if they educate you about the breed and talk about the care of having this type of dog. They will not rush you and they will take plenty of time to ask you questions and discuss the option of having a Boxer.
You should ask:
Choosing the Perfect Puppy
When you feel confident that you have found a great Boxer breeder, it is time to choose your puppy! You will want to check the puppy for several things:
Buying from a individual is risky. The owner of a female Boxer may have not had their dog spayed and suddenly find themselves with a litter of pups. The precise proper breeding and effort that it takes to breed high quality dogs will not be present. Again, the puppies will be cute and adorable; however you must look at the long term picture. You will want a puppy that is not only cute, but has an excellent bloodline, a better chance at long term health and a good temperament.
Rescue Groups and Shelters
Boxer rescue groups have 1 concern: Saving the lives of Boxers. This is a noble cause and obtaining a Boxer from a rescue can be a wonderful method bringing a great dog into your home. If you are looking for an older dog, this may be the best resource for you. Why get an older Boxer? If you wish to by-pass the puppy stage, which requires an abundance of time and care. Older dogs are also usually house trained; another big step in owning a Boxer puppy. Most rescues will evaluate a dog; they will do standardized testing to see if a dog has a good temperament. They will test to see if a dog has a tolerance for cats, dogs and smaller children. Good animal rescues will know exactly which dog to place with a particular family. An experience rescue will also make sure the Boxer is completely vetted: this includes being tested for worms and other conditions and up-to-date on all shots. How do you know a rescue is serious and concerned about the health of the dog? They will not allow you to adopt until they have visited your home, talked to you and your family and they offer to take the dog back if you decide things do not turn out as expected.
Shelters are usually "Kill Shelters". Sometimes very good dogs are brought in because of the wickedness of owners to a perfectly fine dog. However, do keep in mind that many shelters do not have the financial means of keeping the dogs healthy. Kennel cough, fleas, and other health issues are usually present. Many shelters are not able to have the dogs vetted, they may be in need of medical care and vaccinations. If you have the financial means of treating a dog and the time to devote to a dog in need, you will be saving a life. However, you must also keep in mind that you will have no idea if the dog is socialized, house trained or healthy. Once you take the dog home, if things are overwhelming, the only option is to bring the dog back to the shelter and they will most likely be killed. Shelters are very depressing, sad places for animals who do not deserve to be there. However, when looking for a healthy, family pet this is usually not the way to go.
Boxer rescue groups have 1 concern: Saving the lives of Boxers. This is a noble cause and obtaining a Boxer from a rescue can be a wonderful method bringing a great dog into your home. If you are looking for an older dog, this may be the best resource for you. Why get an older Boxer? If you wish to by-pass the puppy stage, which requires an abundance of time and care. Older dogs are also usually house trained; another big step in owning a Boxer puppy. Most rescues will evaluate a dog; they will do standardized testing to see if a dog has a good temperament. They will test to see if a dog has a tolerance for cats, dogs and smaller children. Good animal rescues will know exactly which dog to place with a particular family. An experience rescue will also make sure the Boxer is completely vetted: this includes being tested for worms and other conditions and up-to-date on all shots. How do you know a rescue is serious and concerned about the health of the dog? They will not allow you to adopt until they have visited your home, talked to you and your family and they offer to take the dog back if you decide things do not turn out as expected.
Shelters are usually "Kill Shelters". Sometimes very good dogs are brought in because of the wickedness of owners to a perfectly fine dog. However, do keep in mind that many shelters do not have the financial means of keeping the dogs healthy. Kennel cough, fleas, and other health issues are usually present. Many shelters are not able to have the dogs vetted, they may be in need of medical care and vaccinations. If you have the financial means of treating a dog and the time to devote to a dog in need, you will be saving a life. However, you must also keep in mind that you will have no idea if the dog is socialized, house trained or healthy. Once you take the dog home, if things are overwhelming, the only option is to bring the dog back to the shelter and they will most likely be killed. Shelters are very depressing, sad places for animals who do not deserve to be there. However, when looking for a healthy, family pet this is usually not the way to go.
Why Buy a Boxer From a Boxer Breeder?
How do you find a good Boxer puppy? The answer is a good Boxer breeder! Most breeders choose to bred dogs for 1 main reason: They love the breed. They understand what it takes to carefully select 2 dogs that will produce great puppies. As they gain experience, they work toward producing better and better Boxer puppies. Their goal is to have Boxer puppies with good temperaments, good solid bloodlines and optimum health. While no one can predict the future health issues that may occur as a dog grows older, starting with a puppy from a quality Boxer breeder is the way to go.
How to Locate a Good Boxer Breeder
The easiest method is to search the Internet. Almost every quality breeder has a website. The key? Look for a smaller website; one that does not use flash and fancy distractions to appear as if they need attention. A good Boxer breeder will earn a great reputation by word-of-mouth.
You will want to choose a handful of breeders that are within viable driving distance from your home. It is not recommended to buy a puppy from a breeder that you are not able to visit. The visit is an important part of knowing you are buying a good puppy.
How to Locate a Good Boxer Breeder
The easiest method is to search the Internet. Almost every quality breeder has a website. The key? Look for a smaller website; one that does not use flash and fancy distractions to appear as if they need attention. A good Boxer breeder will earn a great reputation by word-of-mouth.
You will want to choose a handful of breeders that are within viable driving distance from your home. It is not recommended to buy a puppy from a breeder that you are not able to visit. The visit is an important part of knowing you are buying a good puppy.
How to Know if a Boxer Breeder is a Good One
Once you have found 2-4 breeders that are located close enough to you to visit them, you can begin your search for that puppy that was meant to be part of your family. Consider your visits to be inspections and interviews that you will be making. If a breeder does not seem happy to oblige, move on to the next one. A good breeder of Boxers will be more than happy to show you around and answer all of your questions.
Check out the breeding facilities. Forget what you saw on the web; now it is time to see for yourself. Ask to see where the parents are kept, where breeding is done and where the puppies and dogs are kept. It is essential that all areas are clean. If there are foul smells, feces scattered around and/or the puppies or dogs are living in confined quarters or dirty areas, move on to the next breeder.
If the puppies are kept quite a distance from the breeder's home, ask if or how often they are brought into the home. The answer you want to hear is that the puppies are routinely brought inside. This is vital to the socialization process of pups. They must have exposure to other people, understand an inside living environment of a home and receive attention from people of all ages.
Medical Tests that Should be Done Before Breeding Boxers
Since the Boxer breed is predisposed to certain disease, professional Boxer breeders will have the following tests done before breeding a dog. These tests will check for diseases that are passed are hereditary (passed on through the genes of the Boxer dog).
All of the tests that regard the dog’s heart should be done by a board certified veterinarian cardiologist.
- The Holter Monitor Test – this test checks for an Boxer Arrythmic Cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition.
- Doppler Echocardiogram – this test checks for Aortic Stenosis – a canine heart condition.
- Cardiac Auscultation – this test also tests for Aortic Stenosis
- OFA Heart: This test will certify your dog as having a clean bill of health for Aortic Stenosis. Most professional Boxer breeders will not breed a dog without this documentation.
- OFA Hips – this test will check for Hip Dysplasia, a serious condition affecting the Boxer’s hip joint.
- OFA Thyroid this is a blood test that looks for thyroid issues.
- CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) – this is an eye screening test to check for Progressive Retinal Atrophy and other hereditary eye diseases. This test is done by a certified canine ophthalmologist.
Questions and Answers
A good breed will ask you just as many questions as you will be asking them. You do not want to choose a breeder who simply keeps telling you how wonderful the pups are. They should ask you what you know about the breed, if you understand how to care for a Boxer and what your home environment is like (size of the house, if you have an enclosed fence, if there are children in the home, other pets and how much time you will have to spend with the puppy).
You will know a Boxer breeder is a good one, if they educate you about the breed and talk about the care of having this type of dog. They will not rush you and they will take plenty of time to ask you questions and discuss the option of having a Boxer.
You should ask:
- What possible health problems can a Boxer have? You should read our Health section to know this information ahead of time. This question should be asked to see if the breeder is honest about possible health concerns of this breed.
- Ask if they have health and bloodline records of both parents. Ask if they have all health records and papers for the puppies.
- Ask for references. A good breeder will be more than happy to give you a long list of previous customers. Use the list and call those owners. Ask about their Boxer's health and temperament.
If you are satisfied with all of the above criteria and wish to purchase a Boxer puppy, the breeder should have a contract for you to sign. Read it over well. A good breeder will offer to take the dog back should any problems arise. If the puppy does not fit Boxer conformation 100%, the breeder should ask that the dog be spayed or neutered. This may occur is the Boxer is sold as a pet, not as a show dog. This is to ensure that over breeding does not occur, which leads to an overpopulation of dogs, many who find their way into shelters.
Choosing the Perfect Puppy
When you feel confident that you have found a great Boxer breeder, it is time to choose your puppy! You will want to check the puppy for several things:
- Alertness - the puppy should be active and willing to play with you. A puppy who lays still and is uninterested in play may be ill, not socialized or not ready to leave mom
- Aggression - While you want an active dog, if you have children in the home do not choose a dog that nips. While this is usually caused by teething issues, it is best to choose a pup that comes over to you, licks your hands and allow you to cuddle him without gnawing on you.
- Heath - A puppy should have clear, bright eyes without excessive discharge. Ears and nose should not have discharge. The pup should show that they can hear you well and react to your voice. Limping is a red flag sign to steer away from. A healthy puppy should romp and jump around in a good natured way, without nipping or barking out of frustration or fear.
Created by Dreamz4Duppy Designs, owned by Alisa Chagnon. Copyright . contact@AllBoxerInfo. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy
