We are getting a Boxer puppy for X-mas!!

Congratulations on your new puppy Deb!! I'm also a Boxer mom. Boxers are absolutely inside dogs. They are as sensitive to heat and cold as most humans...possibly more sensitive to heat than most humans.

My advice is:
1. Definitely go to puppy classes AND obedience training. Preferably obedience trainig with a trainer who uses reward based training with food, a clicker, or some other motivator. From my experience, Boxers do not respond well to aversive/punishment style training, i.e. yanking a choke collar. Besides, training with a motivator is so much more fun for you and the dog that you'll want to practice more often.

2. Crate train!!

3. Socialize! Boxers love to be with their humans. Get them out and about with you as much as possible when he's young so he can get used to meeting people, new places, new smells, etc. There are a lot of pet friendly stores out there that you can take him to. Our Rascal is at the point where we can take him to retauarants that have outdoor seating and allow dogs. He behaves very well.

4. Feed a good quality dog food.

There are lots of dog behavior/training books out there that you ould also check out. One of my current favorites is "Culture Clash", by Jean Donaldson. The author talks a lot about using your dog's natural dog instincts in constructive ways, like for training. It was recommended by our obedience trainer.

http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Clash-Jean-Donaldson/dp/1888047054

There is also a very active Boxer listserv in existence. Here's a link to it. Be warned - it is very active and you will get a lot of mail if you subscribe. http://iupucbio2.iupui.edu/bml/

Sorry this is long, but I'm very passionate about my Boxers! :)
 
Many people think because they are a large dog that
>they can sit in a backyard guarding. NOPE, they have to be
>inside the house with their family. They are working
>dogs(although I have yet to see mine work:))

Cynthia,

How funny!!! I have yet to see mine do any work either!!! I think we were dooped by the "working dog" category. Oh wait...I take that back. They know how to work it all right....work the guilt trips and work the "sad face" to get you to give into whatever they want!!

You are right..for how big they are, you would think that they would actually enjoy the freedom and space that a backyard would provide for them. Nope. My boys would rather sit curled up on the couch then be outside stretching their legs!!! Too funny! :7
 
Oh yes, let's not fail to mention how boxer's sit down next to you.
When they get up on the couch to sit next to you and they plop/bump so close to you, your entire body moves. I always catch myself asking, "Do you think your close enough?" What is that move called?
There's the boxer lean- some say it's dominant. I say it's affection.
There's the kidney bean of course! We shouldn't spoil that surprise:7 I think one of the funniest boxer stories I've ever read was about a new boxer owner who wrote in concerned about his boxer puppy. You see, he bought his new boxer puppy his first collar and when he went to put it on, the boxer began walking like a crab. He was certain he injured his poor boxer's neck! LOL

Then there's the foot rule.....

http://www.boxerrescuelist.com/PoemPages/footrule.html
 
Oh my gosh, this is so much fun talking "Boxers". What, Prey tell is Kidneybeaning???? deb
 
Thanks for your well wishes...I am gonna need all the ecouragement I can get...I'm so nervous about screwing this up. I jus want to have a well mannered, kind and fun doggie for my kids. We are very excited and can't wait to get to know our new boy...his name is Cassius by the way ( as in Cassius Clay...aka Muhammad Ali). deb
 
Thank you Gayle!! I am so excited and in awe of all that you know about this breed. So much info out there and so many helpful Boxer moms to chat with on this forum. One more question...How is your boxer when you work out? We have a treadmill in plain view and wonder if he will be interested in it or us when we workout...you know, get in the way.:D deb
 
>Oh yes, let's not fail to mention how boxer's sit down next
>to you.

Cynthia, you are cracking me up!!! Yes...when they sit next to you, it is like, "Hello, do you realize that you are NOT a lap dog?!". I mean, my larger boxer Tyson (about 90lbs) literally sits ON my lap when I am on the couch! Can you imagine that sight?! He thinks nothing of it because he did it all the time as a puppy and now, he doesn't realize that he is WAY too heavy, nor does he care. He just likes the closeness. I call it the "lap-dog" syndrom because he certainly has it!!!

Ooooohhhh.....and the way that they curl up when they get excited! I LOVE talking about them...I could talk about boxers all day. Such characters!
 
Boxers stay puppies longer than any other dog. They will act like puppies till they are about 3. They are also very particular about the other dogs they share their space with. Have your puppy checked out by a vet you trust. We had a boxer. Best dog I've ever had, tearing up as I type. He had a heart defect and passed away when he was 5. They vet told us this is a very common defect in boxers, but a reputable breeder should know whether it is in a dogs lineage. We got GW when my daughter was born. Brought them home within days of each other. Losing this dog was a biggy! Hope still talks about how much she misses him and it's been a year. I wouldn't have traded the five years we shared with him for anything!!!!! He didn't suffer, just had a heart attack on a hot day after playing with Grandpa's Cheasapeak Bay. We dearly loved him!!!!!! PS Recommend not cropping his/her ears. They are so adorable with the floppy ears. It softens their whole appearance. A lot of people are forgoing doing this now unless they are going to be shown.
 
<<How is your boxer when you work out?>>

DH and I adopted Rascal when he was 5 months old. The first few times I tried to workout with him in the room were pretty unsuccessful. He thought all the jumping around on the step was play time! Actually, this was the initial reaction from all of my dogs when they were young.

I ended up putting him in his crate with a Kong toy filled with peanut butter to keep him occupied. After a while, I could just give him the Kong toy outside the crate and he was happy to focus on that while I workout. Now, he could care less about my workouts. Your little guy may be interested in the treadmill at first, but you can get him used to it to the point that he won't notice it, or won't care about it.

Kong toys are great for dogs. They're pretty tough, and they're made for stuffing food inside them to keep dogs occupied and not chewing on things they aren't supposed to. ;-)
 
{{{Hopefull}}} I'm sorry about GW. :(

<<Recommend not cropping his/her ears. They are so adorable with the floppy ears. It softens their whole appearance.>>

I second this recommendation. The floppy ears are very expressive. Also, I've hear from those who've done it, that getting cropped ears to stand up straight is a lot of work.
 
OMG! I'm a boxer mommy, too! My weetle gyuurrll is named Lola. She's a 65 pound reverse brindle with a black mask and I love her so much it is ridiculous. She is the joy of each day. So playful and sweet. And LOVES children! Yes, she leans on you and walks in the shape of a "C" wagging her bottom at the same time when she's glad to see you (kidneybeaning)! And she literally boxes at you with her front "arms." Every morning at 3:30 a.m. she comes to check on me in bed and gives me a little kiss. She knows when I put on my workout clothes that it's time to go to the gym! She's hilarious - plops down right in the middle of the workout space so she can be close, then licks me head to toe anytime I get close enough to her head. And she goes after the heavy bag big time! It's amazing. You're going to love that puppy so much!:p :p
 
Hi, Ladies,

My daughter keeps begging me for a puppy. My husband like bull, boxer type which looks very tough. I am thinking about boxer puppy, too. However, we have 2 yr old toddler (my daughter is 9 yr old). Is it good to have boxer puppy? Also, there is nobody at home about 10 hours. Will it a problem for boxer puppy?

Thanks

WantFit

"Become the change you want to see in the world. Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." - Mahatma Gandhi
 
Hi Deb! How FUN! I haven't had a chance to read the other posts but I bet your kids are so excited. Please post a pic for us ASAP! Can't wait to see him. I will read later to see if you picked a name. Need to go get din-din going. Big hugs to the new addition!


http://www.PictureTrail.com/gid8692709
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH (AKA "Den Mother Debbie") http://www.clicksmilies.com/s0105/aktion/action-smiley-066.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!
 
>Oh my gosh, this is so much fun talking "Boxers". What, Prey
>tell is Kidneybeaning???? deb


Darnit! I have spent some time on youtube looking for a video of a boxer kidney beaning and I couldn't find one. I wouldn't doubt there is one there though. There are MANY boxer videos at youtube.com

Kidney beaning is when they bend like a C over and over again. It's their way of expressing they are happy. When they turn into the C, they often slap their paw at the same time and so it does kinda look like a crab walk. I'm not sure I'm describing it, but when you see it, there is NO mistaking it!

Ok, the boxer slap! My boy is a slapper. He slaps at me for everything! Here is a perfect example of the boxer slap.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=g7IZbMGv-r8

Oh and did you know boxers talk? My girl is the talker in my family. She stomps her feet when she doesn't get her way too.

Here's a boxer talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CP5XVpIb3WI&mode=related&search=

Here is a boxer talking...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feGVnax0fTo&mode=related&search=
 
Hopefull,
Sorry to hear about GW...wow, I'll have to check about heart defects in our boxer lineage. I too love the floppy ears on a boxer!Did you crate train GW? For how long? You did say boxers are puppies for a very long time and this concerns me. I hope our family has the patience for such a long puppy stage. Our Cassius will be 8 weeks old when we bring him home...I hope this is not too young to be away from his mom..I worry about this also. Worry, worry, worry...I am very nervous about the whold puppy/training stage. I don't want to mess this doggy up! Wish us luck and thank you for chiming in. I hope their is another Boxer baby in your future. deb:)
 
Oh my Gosh!! These were so cute!! I must say that my daughter and I got sucked into watching a whole bunch of youtube Boxer vids. Thanks for posting these. I think I get the kidneybeaning thing now....we have another doggie who does this. :) deb
 
Hi Deb,
Our new boxer pups name is Cassius as in Cassius Clay....I am a Oscar De La Hoya fan myself, but my kids didn't like that name. I guess I can always get a poster. :p Take care~deb
 
Oh, boy...I don't know that I would introduce a puppy of any sort when nobody is home. I hear they can be quite destructive when left alone becuase they become lonely and anxiious about being separated from their family. Boxers especially are very social and NEED to have the company.

When you decide on a dog a Boxer is great for kids. Labs and Retrievers are wonderful too.!:) deb
 
Alright you Boxermoms...tell me, are your Boxers early risers? We need to know what we're in for...deb
 
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