Are We Right For A Boxer?

[Loving my Oldies]

It's one thing being one-track minded and refusing to have anything else when a breed definitely not fit for your lifestyle, but it's another when you are capable and suitable for owning a certain breed. :) You managed to do all the research and ask others for advice to help you with your decision, so it is an educated decision and not one based completely on just "what you want"!

Hope you find what you are looking for, and whatever you pick in the end will be the right breed for you and your family!

Nothing stopping you getting both :D I don't mean two puppies at the same time (never a good idea) but nothing is stopping you from owning 2 dogs, or more. Get a boxer, get a dalmation. As long as you can deal with both, do it. :D

Nothing like DOLers for hitting the nail fairly and squarely on the head.

[Tor]

Hello everyone!

I thought I would do an update. I am very excited to report that in the third week of January, we will be adding a white, male boxer puppy to our family!

I was hoping to get a puppy from a fantastic breeder in Melbourne but unfortunately the latest litter did not work out, due to pregnancy loss. I thought I would have to wait another six months, which felt too long for a few reasons. But I was (mostly) resigned to waiting. Then something made me browse the DOL boxer puppy listings and I found an interstate breeder that does all he health testing I wanted, plus pays careful attention to feeding a raw natural diet and puts a high priority on puppies' emotional development. All necessary to me, but not something I could find in another breeder in my state.

There was one puppy of the three still available that caught my eye straight away and after extensive talks with the breeder, she agreed we would be a great fit for each other. He had actually been reserved by someone else early on, but just the day before I got in touch, that buyer pulled out. I feel like he's meant for us, partly because - and this will make me sound crazy - two weeks ago I had a dream that we got a white male puppy and named him Sebastian. So that's his name and it suits him perfectly. I am jus waiting for the results of his BAER test on the 30th. The breeder tests all her white puppies, but is confident his hearing is fine in both ears just from observing him. She needs to be sure though as she won't place a puppy with any hearing issues into a home with children.

I have a few questions - due to an overseas trip, we won't be getting him until he is 11 weeks old. The local puppy preschools I can find are for 8-12 week old puppies. Are they worth doing? Could I do most of what they will do from training videos and finding friendly vaccinated dogs for him to socialise with? My sister has a lovely staffy cross who will be a great friend. The breeder does lots of socialisation with them as far as I can tell and she is starting him with crate training, as that's something I want to do. Do I get a smaller harness for him now and a bigger one later, or are they adjustable? Same with collars, smaller then bigger or adjustable?

I have been reading "Before you get your puppy" and I am wishing we were getting him at 8 or 9 weeks so I could follow the program better, but I'm also glad he'll be a bit older for the plane trip.

Thank you all! I will post pics after his final health check

Edited December 28, 2015 by Tor

[Dogsfevr]

Dont buy anything lead wise until you have the pup & know its size & what best fits it ,your breeder will tell you what she has trained the pup on,Personally i hate harnesses they teach bad lead manners & increase skeletal injuries .

As for training he will be old enough to attend an obedience club at 12 weeks on so just go & do that teaching a boisterous Boxer the right manners from early on is more important than free for all puppy classes .

I

[Rebanne]

Congratulations on your new puppy. I'd just do your own thing with the pup until old enough to go to obedinece school. Most won't start back until Feb anyway. Once Sebastion is home just make your own program. I've never known a puppy not to learn sit before getting his meal so you can start with that. Lots of help on YouTube and the likes. Work on basic manners, crate training etc and you will be well on the way to having a great dog. Don't bother with a harness, you only need a collar and lead. Take him on car trips to the shops as well ( as long as the car has aircon!) and of course don't leave him in the car.

[Tor]

Thank you! I'm so excited but also a bit overwhelmed and nervous. Thanks for the advice re: puppy school, there is a big dog obedience club near here which we will start attending as soon as he is fully vaccinated.

Does anyone have any good recommendations for good puppy training YouTube channels?

[LisaCC]

If you want a harness get a harness... Just wait until you actually have pup and get him fitted for one correctly. A simple Y front harness will do, you don't want one that restricts movement. A harness is a great tool, especially to start teaching recalls on a long leash.

Kikopup on youtube is great.

Edited December 29, 2015 by LisaCC

[ridgiemum]

What about a Rhodesian Ridgeback, they are great with kids & do as little or as much exercise as you want. :)

[Simply Grand]

What a good update, it sounds like you've found a great match with your breeder.

I agree that Kikopup on YouTube is great for training stuff. And also yes, as the breeder has done some good early socialisation and you have some safe doggy friends I think you will be fine waiting until Sebastian is old enough for beginner obedience.

You will need a car harness at least, unless Sebastian is going to travel in a crate, I really hate the thought of dogs being strapped in by a collar, imagine the pressure on the neck of the brakes are slammed on. I also walk my dogs in harnesses for various reasons, although they walk fine on collars too, polite walking is about training, not just the tools, so go with whatever you feel comfortable using.

Incidentally, my oldest dog Saxon got his name when I dreamed I got a puppy called Saxon and it suits him perfectly too :D

[Tor]

Thank you Simply Grand, I was planning to get a car harness eventually but I thought he'd be too little for one straight away and I'd need a crate? Maybe not though. I suppose a boxer puppy is bigger than lots of small adult dogs that use harnesses.

[Simply Grand]

Yup, Saxon my poodle cross is probably Boxer puppy sized as an adult (5.5kgs-ish) and he fits an extra small or small car harness. You could start Sebastian probably in a small at 11 weeks and it would last a while as he grows. You will need to replace everything a few times as he gets bigger, but that's part of the fun! If you have space for a crate in the car and prefer to use that that's great too, I just find harnesses easier.

[sheena]

They have very sharp teeth & can chew through harnesses in seconds, so travelling in a crate while he is still young may be a better option.

[ridgiemum]

What about a Rhodesian Ridgeback, they are great with kids & do as little or as much exercise as you want. :)

Sorry, just read you have already picked your puppy, enjoy - they grow up so fast. :)

[Tor]

Thanks ridgiemum, I did consider ridgebacks, they are beautiful dogs

[persephone]

WooHoo :)

I hope Sebastian settles quickly, and teaches you LOTS ;)

[Willem]

....This is what I'm looking for

-happy, friendly temperament

-reliable with children

-generally good with other dogs, at least not aggressive or too reactive

-medium to large (not giant) size

-prefer short hair

-ok as an only dog

-can be socialised to be gentle with cats and guinea pigs, possibly chickens at some stage

-energetic and able to run long distances

...we have a short-hair BC, very energetic and definitely able to run the long distances :D ...she is a little bit tough to our Guinea pigs so we decided for now to keep them in their compound (before the females were roaming free in the garden)...not sure about chickens, I guess she would love to chase them...

EDTA:...hm, 'gentle'...nah, I wouldn't call her a very 'gentle' dog so :D ...maybe she will calm down a little bit when she gets older (1 year now).

EDTA:...sorry, I missed the updates...good luck with the new family member; we had a boxer in the family in the past and she was definitely more gentle than our BC...

Edited December 29, 2015 by Willem

[Mrs Rusty Bucket]

When you do get a car harness...

make sure it is secured by something other than plastic buckles. Or has been crash tested. None of them are perfect in a crash from a speed over about 30km/h but you sure don't want one that breaks at speed less than that.

This one got the best rating from Choice/NRMA. I don't think you can get it from the local pet supplies shops.

Sleepypod’s Clickit Utility Harness

https://sleepypod.com/shop/dog-harness/clickit-utility.html

http://www.nrma.com.au/paws-and-secure-your-puppy

I've got a Bergan one. I'm not 100% happy with it. The straps tend to self adjust and there are some plastic buckles in key places but it does attach via the webbing to a mountain climbing grade carabiner to the seatbelt in your car.

https://www.cleanrun.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=3169&ParentCat=202

I had a Kramar one but the buckle on it broke. Just doing it up... And the thing depends on those plastic buckles working. And plastic buckles tend to let go under impact.

You may also have to watchout for doggy carsickness. The lower down in the car the dog can be - and not be able to see out, the better. And not feeding before you travel... at least four hours... And doing lots of very short practice trips. My dog eventually figured out she would be ok if she kept her head down and her eyes shut. And I figured out if she sat up and was drooling I had about 2 seconds to pull over safely before she spewed up everything she'd eaten the night before.

I carried a lot of newspaper in the car for the first six months to catch it. sigh. And towels and buckets and water and stuff to clean up.