I'm just wondering if anyone here can point me to a checklist of things I
should be looking for when selecting a boxer puppy..

We have decided that our home is comfortable enough and established enough
now for a dog, and we've decided on a suitable breed ( the boxer ) that will
suit our lifestyle and budget..

The hard part is knowing what to look for in a puppy in this mid sized
breed..

- Chris
http://www.kwinanafrs.com
( Perth, Western Australia )

"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
I'm just wondering if anyone here can point me to a checklist of things I
should be looking for when selecting a boxer puppy..

We have decided that our home is comfortable enough and established enough
now for a dog, and we've decided on a suitable breed ( the boxer ) that
will suit our lifestyle and budget..

The hard part is knowing what to look for in a puppy in this mid sized
breed..

Some general guidelines:

1. Puppy who is *not* shy/timid/skittish
2. Puppy who is not the most energetic/fiesty of the litter (unless you're
experienced and need this kind of energy)

Those are about the only two things you can determine from the puppy itself.
The rest lies in the breeder you choose. Choose a breeder who has health
test results on the sire & dam. By health tests I don't mean vaccines and
passing physical exams.

You want a breeder who has bred two dogs who've been tested for
cardiomyopathy by holter or other means of cardiac testing. Hip dysplasia
should be as important a test. Some breeders check the eyes but Boxers
aren't overly prone to eye issues. If a breeder has done the eyes then
he/she went the extra mile in testing.

Hypothyroidism is a problem that is known to plague Boxers and I'd
guesstimate that about 50% of testing breeders actually test for this.
Cancer is the biggest problem the Boxer faces and while there's no test that
says a dog's offspring will or won't get some type of cancer the breeder
should know if there's been cancer in the lines and where in the lines.

Boxers are super-friendly, hugely affectionate and extremely human-needy
dogs. They shouldn't be aggressive, reserved, timid or fearful. The
breeder should, IMO, be able to tell you funny stories about her dogs and
their antics & neediness. Breeders whose dogs only live their lives in
outside pens won't know them as well as breeders who live with them. When
asking about health test results also be sure to ask about the dogs'
individual personalities.

I've found that rescue websites in the US often give more information on
living with and raising a Boxer than most breeder or breed club websites.
You can do some research that way. You can gain breeder contacts from breed
club websites.

--
Tara

I am in Australia, but I'll keep that in mind.

I had no idea they were prone to heart condition's and cancer.. that's
something I'll keep an eye on..

we were originally looking at a weimaraner - after talking to a couple of
nice breeder's - we decided it wasn't fair to the animal as we work many
hours and they need decidedly more time and attention than most other
breeds..

not to say the dog wouldn't get a nightly walk.. but I want a dog that's not
going to punish me for being away too long - I've seen and heard about what
weimaraners get up to...

- Chris.


"Tee" wrote in message
...
"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
I'm just wondering if anyone here can point me to a checklist of things I
should be looking for when selecting a boxer puppy..

We have decided that our home is comfortable enough and established
enough now for a dog, and we've decided on a suitable breed ( the boxer )
that will suit our lifestyle and budget..

The hard part is knowing what to look for in a puppy in this mid sized
breed..

Some general guidelines:

1. Puppy who is *not* shy/timid/skittish
2. Puppy who is not the most energetic/fiesty of the litter (unless you're
experienced and need this kind of energy)

Those are about the only two things you can determine from the puppy
itself. The rest lies in the breeder you choose. Choose a breeder who has
health test results on the sire & dam. By health tests I don't mean
vaccines and passing physical exams.

You want a breeder who has bred two dogs who've been tested for
cardiomyopathy by holter or other means of cardiac testing. Hip dysplasia
should be as important a test. Some breeders check the eyes but Boxers
aren't overly prone to eye issues. If a breeder has done the eyes then
he/she went the extra mile in testing.

Hypothyroidism is a problem that is known to plague Boxers and I'd
guesstimate that about 50% of testing breeders actually test for this.
Cancer is the biggest problem the Boxer faces and while there's no test
that says a dog's offspring will or won't get some type of cancer the
breeder should know if there's been cancer in the lines and where in the
lines.

Boxers are super-friendly, hugely affectionate and extremely human-needy
dogs. They shouldn't be aggressive, reserved, timid or fearful. The
breeder should, IMO, be able to tell you funny stories about her dogs and
their antics & neediness. Breeders whose dogs only live their lives in
outside pens won't know them as well as breeders who live with them. When
asking about health test results also be sure to ask about the dogs'
individual personalities.

I've found that rescue websites in the US often give more information on
living with and raising a Boxer than most breeder or breed club websites.
You can do some research that way. You can gain breeder contacts from
breed club websites.

--
Tara

"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
I am in Australia, but I'll keep that in mind.

I had no idea they were prone to heart condition's and cancer.. that's
something I'll keep an eye on..

we were originally looking at a weimaraner - after talking to a couple of
nice breeder's - we decided it wasn't fair to the animal as we work many
hours and they need decidedly more time and attention than most other
breeds..

not to say the dog wouldn't get a nightly walk.. but I want a dog that's
not going to punish me for being away too long - I've seen and heard about
what weimaraners get up to...

Considering that you work many hours and won't have alot of time to devote
attention to your dog (or, put another way, need a less-needy dog) you
should scratch the Boxer from your list unless you are willing to start with
an adult over the age of 4-5 years. Boxers are incredibly needy &
demanding. They don't require the exercise level that a Weim does but they
do *not* do well when left alone much of the day or on little attention.
They are very much like 2yo children. They want to be where you are,
involved in whatever you're doing and rarely are willing to let you out of
their sight for long.

If you liked the Weim have you considered a retired Greyhound? Everything
I've read on these ngs over the years suggests that Greys are incredibly
easy/lazy dogs inside and do wonderfully in apartments and with older
people. Maybe this is more in line with the kind of needs you're hoping a
dog would have.

--
Tara

On Wed, 4 May 2005 00:59:26 +0800, "Chris Bedwell"
wrote:

not to say the dog wouldn't get a nightly walk.. but I want a dog that's not
going to punish me for being away too long - I've seen and heard about what
weimaraners get up to...

a Boxer is probably not the dog for you, then. they're *extremely*
human oriented. they crave physical contact to the point that they'll
try to crawl inside your skin with you. they also tend to be one of the
more energetic breeds. if they don't get enough attention, exercise,
and mental stimulation, they *will* find a way to provide those things
for themselves. don't ask me how i know this.

they also present some interesting training challenges. my experience
is that they tend to be an exasperating blend of pig-headedness and
softness. at least, that tends to be the case with the backyard bred
Boxers i've encountered. they shut down easily, especially when they're
confused or when their routine is interrupted.

on the plus side, they're funny, funny, funny dogs. they live to
entertain, which can be a problem. if you make the mistake of laughing
at something like, oh, say, counter surfing, you're guaranteed that the
behavior will be repeated. and repeated. and repeated.

like this:
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette/Harriet02SM.jpg

and this:
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette/Harriet03SM.jpg

they're also apt to sass back:
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette/Harriet01SM.jpg

--
shelly
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette || http://cat-sidh.blogspot.com

You can owe nothing, if you give back its light to the sun.
-- Antonio Porchia

On Tue, 3 May 2005 13:19:47 -0400, "Tee"
wrote:

Boxers are incredibly needy & demanding.

and stubborn. one mustn't forget the little piggy in their heads.

They want to be where you are,
involved in whatever you're doing and rarely are willing to let you out of
their sight for long.

unless, of course, they're napped-out on your bed, burrowed under the
covers. then, if you want to wake them up to play or go outside or
whatever, it's a bit like moving the mountain to Mohammed. the sleepy
piggy grunts are awfully cute, though.

--
shelly
http://home.bluemarble.net/~scouvrette || http://cat-sidh.blogspot.com

If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the
few who are rich.
-- John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address 01/20/1961

greyhounds don't get along too well with cat's do they ? ( and need to be
muzzled.. )

I've got 2 house cat's which also enjoy playing in the backyard.. I'd rather
not have them used as chew toys..

the main reason for wanting a boxer is that they're a nice temprament, short
coat, relatively easy going and stable breed.

I wanted a dog that's got the size and a decent " woof " that would stop
someone from jumping my fence.. ( aka, a backyard defender ).. being that I
am also a firefighter that could be called out at any time of the night - I
would want a dog I know I can trust to protect my wife and home..

The dog would be treated like any of the family, taken everywhere ( and we
have a decent size back yard ) and a huge park across the road with a lake..

I am partial to australian red cloud sheep dogs ( I had one as a kid ) and
she was the best dog I ever had - my wife however, has never owned a dog
before.. and doesn't often understand how to treat or act around them.. I
need a friendly breed, mid sized that can be funny and a bit of a clown..
( hence the boxer.. )

I leave for work in the mornings around 6am and return home in the evening's
around 5-5.30pm..

We don't have any children yet, but are planning on having them now.. and
wanted to have the kid/s first before we get a dog so that there's no upset
in the authority level in the house.. ( i.e. dog before kids )

what do you think would be a more suitable dog ? ( Remember, I'm in
Australia.. and the sun causes skin cancer on white dogs.. )

- Chris.

"Tee" wrote in message
...
"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
I am in Australia, but I'll keep that in mind.

I had no idea they were prone to heart condition's and cancer.. that's
something I'll keep an eye on..

we were originally looking at a weimaraner - after talking to a couple of
nice breeder's - we decided it wasn't fair to the animal as we work many
hours and they need decidedly more time and attention than most other
breeds..

not to say the dog wouldn't get a nightly walk.. but I want a dog that's
not going to punish me for being away too long - I've seen and heard
about what weimaraners get up to...

Considering that you work many hours and won't have alot of time to devote
attention to your dog (or, put another way, need a less-needy dog) you
should scratch the Boxer from your list unless you are willing to start
with an adult over the age of 4-5 years. Boxers are incredibly needy &
demanding. They don't require the exercise level that a Weim does but
they do *not* do well when left alone much of the day or on little
attention. They are very much like 2yo children. They want to be where
you are, involved in whatever you're doing and rarely are willing to let
you out of their sight for long.

If you liked the Weim have you considered a retired Greyhound? Everything
I've read on these ngs over the years suggests that Greys are incredibly
easy/lazy dogs inside and do wonderfully in apartments and with older
people. Maybe this is more in line with the kind of needs you're hoping a
dog would have.

--
Tara

"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
greyhounds don't get along too well with cat's do they ? ( and need to be
muzzled.. )

I've got 2 house cat's which also enjoy playing in the backyard.. I'd
rather not have them used as chew toys..

I've heard this but since I'm not a Grey person I can't say for sure.
Boxers are notoriously bad with cats *but* if raised with a cat they are
generally ok. That doesn't mean they won't chase & hurt a cat outside but
usually an indoor, familiar, cat is safe. I believe that can be said of
most dogs who are started out with cats but I could be wrong.

the main reason for wanting a boxer is that they're a nice temprament,
short coat, relatively easy going and stable breed.

I'll be the first to tout their good traits, don't get me wrong. A trait
that many Boxer lovers consider good is also one that is considered bad for
many and that's the blatant neediness of the breed. They *need* to be with
people..alot. They *need* to be part of the family and not be secluded or
left alone for very long periods of time on a daily basis. They can survive
it, just as any other dog can, with their basic needs being met but they'll
be miserable and likely wired for sound when people are home.

I wanted a dog that's got the size and a decent " woof " that would stop
someone from jumping my fence.. ( aka, a backyard defender ).. being that
I am also a firefighter that could be called out at any time of the
night - I would want a dog I know I can trust to protect my wife and
home..

Most any dog will protect when faced with imminent danger. Boxers aren't
guard dogs though. They won't naturally intimidate people and a large
portion of the breed aren't barkers. Some are excessively so but, IME, most
are very quiet. Alot of the Boxers I've known would either wiggle & perform
for a stranger, hoping to get attention, or hide behind their owner

The dog would be treated like any of the family, taken everywhere ( and we
have a decent size back yard ) and a huge park across the road with a
lake..

Just be aware that Boxers are also notorious for not being good off-leash.
They're just as trainable as the next dog but they have a strong impulse
streak which, when combined with their natural playfulness, tends to cause
them to hare off after something or just to see if you can catch them. Alot
of Boxers don't like being alone in the yard outside. They'll scratch &
jump at the door incessantly. Its also believed that leaving them outside
alone (when they don't want to be rather than when they indicate they want
to hang out) has a tendency to create barking problems. It all really falls
back on that extreme need to be with their people. That's not to say all
Boxers are that way or will develop problems nor that they couldn't adapt
but alot of Boxers in the US are surrendered/dumped each year due to
problematic behavior resulting from being left alone too much.

I am partial to australian red cloud sheep dogs ( I had one as a kid ) and
she was the best dog I ever had - my wife however, has never owned a dog
before.. and doesn't often understand how to treat or act around them.. I
need a friendly breed, mid sized that can be funny and a bit of a clown..
( hence the boxer.. )

I leave for work in the mornings around 6am and return home in the
evening's around 5-5.30pm..

IMO that's just too long. If you started with an adult that'd be one thing.
It still wouldn't be great but an adult Boxer could handle that much better
than a puppy or adolescent. I've only ever met two people who could swear
they didn't have to crate their Boxers from the age of 6-24 months for males
and 6-18 months for females. Not needing to crate the dog helps when you're
talking long stretches of time alone but if you had a Boxer that needed
crating, or some other kind of containment, 10-12 hours is just too long.
Be aware too that if you plan to leave the dog outside during that time
(which I strongly advise against) that you do *not* obtain a white Boxer as
they sunburn easily. Boxers are very prone to heat stroke as well and I've
known of more than I care to recount who died in shelters due to being
outside in the heat. Two particular ones were due to be picked up by rescue
the very morning they died.

We don't have any children yet, but are planning on having them now.. and
wanted to have the kid/s first before we get a dog so that there's no
upset in the authority level in the house.. ( i.e. dog before kids )

Boxers and babies mix very well with supervision. Its a rare Boxer that
takes issue with a child entering the home. I think its better to start
with a dog before you have kids so you can raise the child with the proper
pet manners and the dog is old enough to exercise restraint. Either that or
wait until the child(ren) are old enough to be taught proper pet manners.

what do you think would be a more suitable dog ? ( Remember, I'm in
Australia.. and the sun causes skin cancer on white dogs.. )

Honestly I'm not sure. If you didn't have the hours you do I wouldn't try
to talk you out of a Boxer. Can you or your spouse use a petsitter to come
in midday to let the dog out, take it for a walk, or even better are there
any doggy daycares where you live?

--
Tara

On Sat, 14 May 2005 20:14:34 -0400 Tee whittled these words:
"Chris Bedwell" wrote in message
...
greyhounds don't get along too well with cat's do they ? ( and need to be
muzzled.. )

I've got 2 house cat's which also enjoy playing in the backyard.. I'd
rather not have them used as chew toys..

I've heard this but since I'm not a Grey person I can't say for sure.
Boxers are notoriously bad with cats *but* if raised with a cat they are
generally ok. That doesn't mean they won't chase & hurt a cat outside but
usually an indoor, familiar, cat is safe. I believe that can be said of
most dogs who are started out with cats but I could be wrong.

A lot of the terrier breeds are not safe with the household cats, even
with raised with them. Or at least not safe when unsupervised. SAme with
some of the nordic breeds. Lots of sad stories about dogs who lived with
the cat fo years ... utnil one fateful day.


--
Diane Blackman
http://dog-play.com/
http://dogplay.com/Shop/

wrote in message ...

A lot of the terrier breeds are not safe with the household cats, even
with raised with them. Or at least not safe when unsupervised. SAme with
some of the nordic breeds. Lots of sad stories about dogs who lived with
the cat fo years ... utnil one fateful day.

Thanks for the info Diane.

--
Tara