Boxbright

Well after my daughter buying a baby boxer the other day, today I get contacted by a breeder to advise that her girl has had pups and she has a flashy brindle boy (what I was after), of course it's still early days to tell quality yet, but what to do, what to do. As of next weekend we will be the owners of 3 boxers, do I try and sneak in number four, hubby who was NO MORE DOGS has actually agreed. I may just get my show boy :D

I put in 5 names, was hoping for one or two but oh NOOOOO they chose the last one which I didn't like, hubby came up with it so make sure you like them all.

Thanks Jed, this is the puppy my daughter bought on the weekend. She unfortunately is missing the white collar. Still gorgeous though but looks like she won't make it into the show ring, so agility and obedience it will be for her.

No but 2 sleeps until I get to go see two prospective boxer puppies. I was hoping the hubby would be home this weekend to keep me focused and stop me from saying yes to both but it looks like he will be away. Wonder if the kids will be able to keep me on the up and up. How did you go today BoxerBright? Well I have come to the realisation never go puppy looking with your children. I walked away NOT being the owner of a new puppy, but my daughter walked away being the owner of a new puppy instead (what can you do when your kids work and can pay for their own things). Looks like my show dog will have to wait a bit longer now, but she is cute. She is 6 weeks old so another 2 weeks and she will join our clan. I must admit though out of all the puppies we looked at today and there ended up being a lot, 5 litters in total, she was the one that seemed to take to us the most and most of all really took to my 3yr old son. I don't think I can push my luck with owning 4 dogs though, so hubby has promised me that when one of our older dogs ventures to Rainbow Bridge, I can buy another pup and then get the one that I really want. Gives me a lot of time to attend shows and check out other dogs. I am however going to do obedience and agility with this girl. I used to do it with my other 2 and really enjoyed it so hopefully she does too and we can have lots of fun.

Thanks Trinabean. I guess the hunt continues. One pup has been ruled out due to being almost all dark brindle with nearly no white at all. I was advised this colouring is not the best for showing.

Thats what Im trying to do Jed. But reading the standard it says black mask but I see alot have white masks. Its these contradictions that I'm finding confusing

How do you choose a show quality pup? I've cut down my choices to people who show themselves, but I seem to have a very different look. I've studied the breed guide and I just don't get it.

Something for me to consider, I have a few friends that show, one was telling me how her pup did really well one day but the second day she had a different judge and got nothing. It's really hard to know what is a good show dog. I've been offered two partnerships in pups but don't think I want to go down that path.

The thing is I don't know if I will truly end up showing. I will do agility and obedience, I want to try showing but don't know if I will really end up doing it. my husband and kids reckon I won't do it and if I do it will only be one or two shows then I'll stop as it will be too strict for me.

No but 2 sleeps until I get to go see two prospective boxer puppies. I was hoping the hubby would be home this weekend to keep me focused and stop me from saying yes to both but it looks like he will be away. Wonder if the kids will be able to keep me on the up and up. Sounds exciting, are they both show quality? Won't know for sure until we have a look, but one is so cute I really don't think I care if it is show quality. Just something about it that really appeals to me. Plus I love its colouring

No but 2 sleeps until I get to go see two prospective boxer puppies. I was hoping the hubby would be home this weekend to keep me focused and stop me from saying yes to both but it looks like he will be away. Wonder if the kids will be able to keep me on the up and up.

Well I've always wondered how much my boxers have really bonded with my son. they were 6 and 5 when he was born, they were fantastic when he came home and didn't attempt to get too close. They are now 9 and 8yrs, last night I pretended to have a fight with my son we were pretending to punch each other up he is 3yrs and certainly holds his own. My big boy gave a bark and grabbed my hand and pulled it away just as I was going in for a pretend punch. My boy didn't actually bite me just mouthed me and pulled my hand away then stood in between my son and me. I then told him he was a good boy and gave him cuddles to let him know he was right to protect Reilly. I then thought what would happen if my daughters and I got into a fight, they have been there from day dot, they are 21yrs and 18yrs. Didn't quite go the same way, both dogs decided to join in and help me bash the 2 girls up, again cuddles and laughs for doing so well. Telling my brother today what happened, he decided he would see what his boxer would do if he pretended to hit my elderly mother. She did exactly the same, gave a bark and a bit of a whiney sound and then grabbed his hand and pulled it away from her (again didn't bite just mouthed him) then climbed up on my mothers lap to block his access. If ever anyone ever has doubts about a Boxers loyalty I'll be telling them they are mad.

Not the first time this kennel has been in trouble though.

I bought my new pup a collapsible soft crate today and new bowl, collar and bed, now just have to actually get the puppy.

WOW never knew that about a Dal, Always amazes me what I learn on this forum. getting excited for you

Oh hilarious! they are the coolest but funniest things I've seen. Where did you get them?

Know your breed standard back to front, and apply every aspect when looking at the pups. Personally I'd be a bit wary of someone saying "this pup SHOULD be fine for showing" as a good breeder will only want the very best of their dogs out in the ring, it's their kennel name and reputation after all! The breeders you're dealing with, do they all show? Perhaps you could try finding someone else within your breed who shows and has dogs you like, but doesn't necessarily breed, and ask them to help you find a good breeder or even ask their opinion on a particular pup. If you can't do that, the next time a breeder tries to promote a pup with show potential to you, ask them why. Get them to explain to you why this pup is better than its littermates in plain English so you can understand and hopefully start to get a better grasp on what makes a good dog. Also just remember that no one should every sell you a show quality pup, even the most promising looking youngsters only ever have show POTENTIAL. Good luck! :) Thanks for the tip. The breeder who has said that her remaining pups are not to quality has offered for me to come out and have a look at her pups and compare the ones she is planning to keep for show to the ones she's not. Luckily they are female and we are really wanting a male so I may be able to have the strength to say no.

Oh yes not interested in her at all. She claims her pups are show quality but I am a novice and they all look like champions to me. Unfortunately another breeder has contacted me back and said her remaining pups are not of quality but am welcome to have a look as a pet. I just know if I go look I will want to buy. Another breeder has one that I keep going back and looking at photos and also says it should be fine for showing. I tend to believe her but am sooooo confused on who is being up front and who is being dodgy. The second breeder I'm comfortable with her saying not showable, but the last one I'm not sure of. It's so damn hard and I'm so weak lol

Patience was never my virtue unfortunately

Me too, lol hubby just shakes his head at me with each new purchase. Do you find it hard to just say no to others. All I can say is hubby is lucky we don't own an acreage or we'd be over run.

How do people actually wait for a new puppy? Once I make a decision what I want, I want, No need to have it now, I have zero tolerance for the waiting game. My first boy was just luck, I rang a breeder that CCCQ had recommended and he just so happened to have some pups available, when I decided I wanted another boxer to keep my boy company I contacted the same breeder who had a litter due a few weeks after I inquired. It nearly killed me having to wait but I managed to survive just. Now we are on the hunt for another baby to join our growing family and I am feeling very frustrated, I know of two upcoming litters but no guarantee I will be lucky enough to get one, there is one litter born but the breeder hasn't made any decisions on which ones she is keeping at the moment. There is another breeder that has 3 pups available one I like but am unsure of and another with 3 pups available and has been pestering me to no end, like 17 emails in one day trying to convince me to take one, I've had to tell her that there is a family emergency and I just can't take another puppy right now. I don't want to just take a pup coz it's cute and adorable I want to it to be right for us and hopefully be able to show. I swear I am going to lose my mind over it all. ARRRRGH

A new bed each yesterday and a ramp for the dogs to climb in and out of the back of the car. With my boys arthritis I thought it would be better, plus my girl is getting too heavy for me to lift in and out.