7-8 Weeks Old.
This will be the age when
Boxer newborn is fully weaned and ready to go to his new home. His world expands at this time. Some have a difficult adjustment leaving littermates and dam and transitioning to their new family.
A planned introduction to the home will set a good foundation for introduction to other situations. Housebreaking should begin at this age. With an excellent plan and follow-through, expect it to take 4 to 6 weeks for your Boxer to be doing well in this regard.
Command training (simple commands) can be worked in with
housebreaking and other daily activities. For example a 2 month old Boxer puppy can learn to sit while his harness and leash is being put on and then learn that walking over to the designated chosen area equals a trip to the bathroom.
Sleep may be erratic at this time and a Boxer puppy can sleep as little as 9 hours per day (rare) or up to 18 hours. Most will take quite a few naps during the day and then wake up 1 to 2 times per night.
We've seen 2 month old little ones sleep right through the night, but it is rare - in these cases, the dog is able to enter deep REM sleep quickly and stay there, keeping the number of nap times to a minimum.
3 Months Old.
This is the minimum age a dog must be in order to enter a dog show event. Many clubs, such as the AKC require a dog to be 6 months old; however if you truly want to show your Boxer, you may do so at 3 months with many other dog clubs.
By this age, the pup has a good idea of his home environment and since the rounds of puppy shots are almost done, owners should plan on how they will proceed in regard to introduction to the world.
To a dog, his world is as big as the owners choose. For some, it is just the neighborhood, for others it is the entire town! The reason that we say "plan" is because how a pup is introduced to other dogs, people and new environments affect how the dog reacts and responds. A planned transition to new elements is a huge part of Socialization Training.
During this stage, some owners become a bit concerned if their
Boxer is not barking; however this is not a super vocal breed (he makes lots of noises like groans and even some purrs, but doesn't typically bark at every little thing). A quiet puppy will often outgrown this and find their voice as they mature. It is at that time that a Boxer will bark when someone comes to the house, etc.
1 Year Old.
By 1 year, if owners follow through, the Boxer is well trained, for both commands (simple and complex) and house training.
While small breed dogs have reached adulthood at this age, a Boxer is only 1/2 way there. Still, the dog has learned the basic workings of the world. He has been trained to know where his belongings are, who you consider to be friend or foe and is very used to his daily schedule.
This is a great Boxer age, the dog looks young, still has the mentality of a puppy with playfulness, etc. yet is a rather large pup! You'll have a 40 to 55 pound (20 to 25 kg)
size puppy jumping on you and acting silly.
Females will be on the lower end, males on the higher end. The body structure is slim, the chest is still relatively narrow. Over the course of this year, from the beginning of year 1 to the beginning of year 2, most will gain an additional 15 to 20 pounds (6.8 to 9 kg).
Height will increase. The most noticeable physical change will be the widening of the chest, a sure tell sign of a 2 year old adult.
18 Months Old.
It is not uncommon for a
Boxer dog to seem too skinny
during a quick, temporary phase around this mark. Generally from 14 to 22 months old, a Boxer may have some visible ribs and appear too slim as he struggles to catch up to a quick growth spurt. For most, this is nothing to be concerned about.