So you’ve made the decision to purchase a boxer but what should you need to know before you set out in search of your new Boxer puppy? The first thing you should do is research some reputable breeders on your area that have a reputation for breeding quality Boxers Dog. There are many ways to do this including contacting your local Boxer club, searching the internet and even contacting your local pet shop and asking them. An important consideration is the puppy’s bloodlines eg.Its mother and father. Make sure you check out the parents of your new puppy for unbecoming traits like aggression, hyperactive and extreme shyness. Experienced breeders will be able to give you a clear and honest background into the parents characteristics and usually have the parents on hand to view.
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Be sure to use extra caution if you are purchasing your boxer from a pet store, as they often get their supply from breeders of unknown reputation. Unfortunately some pet stores purchase their dogs from "puppy mills" as they are called and do not seem to put much emphasis on the quality, characteristics and health of Boxer puppies they offer for sale in their stores. In most cases reputable breeders and those that are members of such organizations such as the American Kennel Club, adhere to the accepted standards for Boxers in terms of uniformity in the breed, good health, temperament, size and color.
Be sure to ask your Boxer breeder for documentation detailing the pedigree of the Boxer puppy and registration papers. If the parents of the puppy are not available for viewing at the time, make sure to ask the breeder for photos of BOTH parents. You will find that most breeders are very cooperative and upfront and will usually provide these things without you having to ask for them. Professional breeders are also there to produce dog show champions or prospects so the quality is normally of a very high standard.
Even if you are not looking to raise a show champion Boxer Dog, known breeders can provide you with some "best buy" Boxer puppies because not all the Boxer puppies in a litter are show prospect/champion materials. But the full litter would have had benefited from the same proven bloodlines,nutrition and medical care. So you can choose from among the good looking brothers or sisters of a potential champion for a bargain price.
Buying a boxer as a puppy is only one option for you if you want a new pet, but what if you don’t want the challenges of owning a puppy? Well your other option is to adopt an older boxer from an animal shelter. These shelters receive up to 12 million homeless dogs and cats every year in the US alone, and about 25% of them are purebred. It’s also a nice option for those that don’t want to pay a premium price for a quality pup from a breeder as the shelter fee is usually a lot less, and not to mention you will be saving a life.
The definition of good stock or purebred must include beauty, and in a Boxer Dog good look means the coat is fawn and brindle, with the white markings or "flash" covering not more than one-third of the entire coat. Sometimes the distribution of the "flash" alone may make the difference between a show champion and just a pet Boxer. The all-white Boxer or "check" is unfortunately prone to blindness and deafness, and as a result the American Boxer Club members are not allowed to register, sell or use the "whites" for breeding purposes.
If you are deciding weather to choose from a make or female, there aren’t too many differences between their personalities. At times, the male is calmer, more tolerant of other dogs, willing to hold still for those hugs than the female. But at other times, the female can be so. Some female boxers have been know to get aggressive tendencies as they get older, but as boxers have such strong personalities each dog will certainly differ.
Boxer Health Problems
The main health problems faced by boxer dogs is that of the excretory system which are the organs responsible for regulating the chemical composition of body fluids and discharging waste. This problem concerns many boxer owners as in some instances, it can cause the dog to have future problems walking and running. The juvenile renal disease and the congenital rental disease can make the boxer dog very lame and in a great deal of pain. Proper prevention of breeding such dogs that are prone to this disease requires screening at an early age so it’s important to talk to your breeder about this prior to purchasing your Boxer dog.
As a boxer dog owner, you need to be aware of the treatments and dietary needs when caring for a Boxer that has such a disease. The common renal dysplasia is congenital and may show signs as early as one or two weeks after birth. X-rays will confirm any type of dysplasia in your puppy if you suspect it to have this problem. There are many speculations as to the cause of this disorder, all being linked to a gene. The autosomal dominate gene or the autosomal recessive gene contributes to the rental dysplasia in a Boxer.
As a boxer owner you are responsible for proper care and medical treatment when necessary. Remember that you Boxer is essentially a member of your family and requires nurturing and proper diagnosis when attempting to treat a medical condition. Many veterinarians prescribe a low protein diet, which helps lower the production of uremic toxins, in turn making the dog feel better. Dr. Kenneth Bovee, DVM, researched a protein diet on the boxer and discusses that a low phosphorous level is a way to reduce the risk of kidney failure, whereas a higher level tends to speed up the affects of kidney failure in your beloved Boxer.
To extend the life of your boxer it is essential that a well-balanced low protein diet that contains low levels of phosphorous is strictly enforced. If your Boxer has juvenile renal disease, a veterinarian will prescribe a diet of three to four feedings a day as a prevention measurement. This way of feeding your dog cuts down on the risk of vomiting after consuming the lower protein diet.
Most owners including you will find the egg and potato diet healthy for the Boxer dog because of the low protein and phosphorous levels provided. The diet will consist of the daily-recommended sodium levels as well as potassium. When making a meal for your Boxer, you will mix a large cooked egg, three cups of boiled potatoes with the skin, and recommended vitamins together for the perfect meal. The vitamins may include multiple mineral tablets, only half, two calcium tablets along with one teaspoon of chicken fat. This recommended meal fits the needs of a Boxer dog with renal failure.
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