Is The Boxer Puppy The Right Choice For Your Family?

Before you decide on purchasing a puppy for your family you might want to consider the Boxer puppy. Although it isn’t always the right choice for every family, they will be for many people. First and most importantly, the Boxer is not a small dog. They are medium sized dogs, stocky and very strong. They have an abundance of energy and love to play. If you are looking for a dog that is sedate and grows up quickly, do not choose the Boxer.

The Boxer puppy actually matures slowly. They will spend most of their lives acting like a puppy and will not settle down until they become 3 or 4 years old. They are quite boisterous and this does not change throughout their lives.

Boxers are not solitary animals and thrive on their family and companionship from humans. They require the family atmosphere because left to be alone they may become ‘bad dogs’. They have some characteristics that some people cannot tolerate. Two of these are drooling and snoring. Some people cannot live with this but others look at these traits as cute and pay no attention to them.

Even though Boxers have a very short coat they do shed most of the year. Brushing them often helps with the shedding to remove all of the dead hair. When choosing a puppy to bring home, make sure that the eyes are clear and the coat is shiny and full. You usually can tell when an animal is healthy and picking a puppy that is healthy is very important. If you have visited some breeders to find a puppy remember that Boxer’s cannot tolerate extreme temperatures whether it be cold or hot. If these animals were born into the elements and are housed there, you may question if this is the best place to purchase your puppy.

Bringing a young Boxer puppy home should be an occasion for all of the family. By teaching the dog that your pets and cuddles are wonderful things, they will learn to trust your touch and you. You cannot pay enough attention to the puppy and you can make it feel that it is loved and cherished. This goes a long way for their future with the family and if you do, the Boxer will become loyal and loving to all of your family members.

You will need to provide the Boxer with a crate for training and a soft, dry bed. They should be fed at least twice a day while they are puppies and you will want to provide them with healthy puppy food as well as fresh, clean water at all times. Since this breed is very smart they will learn very quickly and toilet training and crate training will come easy to them as long as it is done with patience and a loving nature.

Socialization is a very important part of any Boxer puppy training. After the puppy has been home for at least a week, expose him to different situations at least once a week after that. You will want to put them into areas that they have never been before to allow them to adjust to other people and foreign places so they will overcome any fear they should have. If they do show some fear, just stop where you are and wait for them to come to you until they relax. Fawning over them when they display fear will only reinforce the action and you do not want them to believe that this is acceptable behavior.

Get your puppy accustomed to many things such as taking him swimming, rides in the car and baths. Do all this with a loving nature. You do not want to hit the dog to reprimand them as a stern tone and patience will be enough to teach him what he needs to learn. Love your Boxer and you will be rewarded with a bright, loyal and good-natured companion that you will enjoy for all of his life.