Before You Purchase A Boxer Puppy

They are often used as service dogs within police departments or equally used as therapy dogs. With these traits comes a commitment required to successfully be a Boxer owner. Being large, playful dogs training boxer puppies can be quite the task, and there is also the cost of food and energy needed to care properly for a such large dog.
1) Do your research! Make sure you know the right breed that fits with your family and lifestyle. For instance, if you love a meticulously clean house, a dog that doesn't shed might be what you need. Or if you're looking for a breed that will interact peacefully with the pet Macaw and two cats you already own, a hunting dog or hound would not be wise. If you're not sure which breed is best for you, don't jump on the dog owner band wagon just yet. Take a look at my "Top Ten Family Dogs" article (linked at the bottom of this page) or scour the internet--there are many websites offering extensive breed characteristics.
2) Don't go by looks alone. Of course you should pick a pup that you find irresistibly adorable, but after you've done your research you may find that while Vizslas are gorgeous, their unceasing energy might be too much for you, or while you love the athletic, lean look of the Boxer, you might not find their constant drooling or jumping very appealing. Try to avoid labs or golden retrievers which are being over-bred due to popularity and high demand. I encourage every potential dog owner to branch out and consider breeds that they've snubbed in the past. The Boston Terrier is a remarkable breed that many people pass over because they think them ugly--don't pass up a chance for a potentially incredible companion because of your own vanity. Remember Benji? The scraggly mutt with the gnarled tooth? He was scheduled to be euthanized because customers at the shelter kept passing him by. Luckily, a dog trainer took the time to notice his wits and saved him from that fate. He turned out to be one of the most intelligent dogs of all time!
3) Decide whether you want a submissive or dominant dog. Submissive dogs are the most obedient, easiest to train, and are fiercely loyal but they are also very dependent, sometimes not very social, and do not like to be left alone. Dominant dogs are the most outgoing, energetic, and social but they are also very difficult to train, are usually the ones going through the trash cans and tearing up shoes, and will love to jump all over your guests and never bat an eye when you yell, "No!" You need to decide because you will never have a dog that is both submissive and dominant--each puppy in the litter is either one or the other. If you decide you want to take your chances with a dominant dog (and I applaud you because they take a lot of work), determining which puppy is dominant is super easy. He's the one that runs up to you without thinking twice, wags his tail so hard it might fly off, and can't seem to stop licking you, making you feel like the most important person in the world. The submissive dog, however, will act like you don't exist. While the dominant dogs are distracting you, she might take this opportunity to snag some kibble from the food bowl because she's sharp as a tack. Size isn't always a give away although occasionally the most submissive dogs are the smallest because they are easily pushed out of the way during meal times. But if all the puppies come running to you, there is another trick to tell if they are dominant or not. Take each puppy onto your lap and lay them on their backs. If a puppy struggles with you, he is dominant. If a puppy lays nicely on her back, then she is submissive.
4) Leave the kids at home. As much as we want to, it's not a good idea to let our kids pick out the puppy. They will fall in love with anything that licks their cheeks or falls to sleep in their arms. When we pick out a lifetime companion based on these criteria alone, that dog will most likely end up at the Humane Society within a month or two. If you can, go to pick out the puppy without the kids. They really don't need to be there during the decision making--believe me, receiving the puppy will be exciting enough!
5) Meet the parents. Never meet the puppies first! If you do, you'll ultimately fall in love with a puppy that may not be right for you. It's hard to say no to those cute puppy eyes once you've seen them. Also, never buy a puppy over the internet from a photo or from a breeder who doesn't have the parents on the premises. And meeting only one of the parents isn't good enough. One of the breeders I knew bred an amazing, sweet tempered, loving black lab female with the most rambunctious and hyper black lab male I had ever known. He was so misbehaved that the breeder rarely ever let him out of his kennel because he was too strong and overactive to take for a walk on a leash. When a prospective customer asked to meet their litter's parents, the breeder would only bring the sweet mother out, thus selling her pups in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, someone very dear to me ended up buying one of the puppies from that litter and she grew up to be just as unruly and hard to train as her father. Hardly any traits of her docile, submissive mother can be seen. So when you set up an appointment to meet the parents, make sure both parents are there. Even if the breeder does not own both male and female (perhaps the breeder borrowed another breeder's male--this happens a lot with show dogs), it can always be arranged for the male to be at the appointment so you can meet him too. If a breeder acts like this is a silly or far fetched request, move on! There are many more trustworthy and accommodating breeders out there.
When you meet the parents, make sure you like them both. I loved both of my cockapoo's parents. His mother was the sweetest Cocker Spaniel who was happy just to lay at my feet and look up at me with these eyes that said, "Just pet me once in a while and I'm yours till the end!" His father was a feisty toy poodle who would play fetch for hours but rolled over immediately for a tummy rub when you pet him. I knew they made a perfect match and that my puppy would have great traits. Boy was I right! Everyone that meets my dog is envious in one form or another. He's even turned my husband into a dog lover--something I never thought would happen! So play with the parents and if you enjoy both of them, then take the next step and ask to see the litter.
If you find your Boxer circling or sniffing the floor, take him immediately to his ‘potty place’. If he has not started to relieve himself inside (accidents do happen), there is no reason for reprimand, and the click and treat should still apply. If, however you find your puppy has already started to relieve himself inside, pick him up, with a firm voice say “NO!” and bring him directly outside. 

Whichever dog you choose, please understand that he or she will be a lasting commitment. Dogs are not like any other pets--they need consistent and constant training and companionship. If you're looking for an easy to maintain pet that you can leave alone for hours and hours each day, consider a cat or kitten. They are less expensive to feed, you don't have to research a breed or meet the litter's parents, and they are just as lovable and entertaining in a home atmosphere as dogs. If a cat is out of the question, consider purchasing or adopting two dogs or two litter mates. They'll be happier left at home with a brother or sister to keep them company.
One of the best ways to go about this procedure is to use a crate that provides just enough room for your Boxer puppy to turn around and lie down. Growing to become quite large, you may consider buying an extra large crate from the start instead of having to buy multiple cages during your dog’s lifetime.