If you are looking to buy a boxer puppy now or at some stage in the future this page will be of interest to you. With the checklist and guidelines it will make sure that your puppy will have a much better chance to live a long and healthy life.

The Search

Firstly NEVER buy on impulse. This is disaster from the start as a puppy most certainly is for life and not a few weeks or months when the notion wears off! Think about it. Do you have the time to look after the puppy? Where is it going to sleep? Is there someone at home to look after the puppy during the day? Do you have the time to toilet train the puppy? The questions are endless! Many people when they first start to look for a puppy do so with the intention of having a family pet. They search the local paper, internet and ask friends. This is not the way to find a pup and you are only setting yourself for heartache and disappointment.

Puppy Farmers

This is another area to stay well away from. These breeders set themselves up only to make a profit and do not care what happens to the puppies or bitches afterward. They breed from multiple bitches, usually to a stud dog they keep on the premises. Most of the breeding stock are kept in small pens, without the small comforts necessary to make life comfortable. They breed for quantity, not quality, and usually do not health check their stock. It is rare that puppies from these types of places are properly socialised or wormed. They usually have no idea of breed type or correct temperament.

Pet Breeders

These can sometimes be called “backyard breeders” and are usually the ones found in your local newspaper. Often these people are complete novices and just want their bitch to have a litter for different reasons ....Christmas or next years holiday. Mostly they have a dog and a bitch and just decide to breed to see if they can make any money and pawn the puppies of to unsuspecting people. These people have no idea what goes into producing a healthy litter of puppies of good type and sound temperaments typical for the breed. They normally don’t have their pets heart tested either as all they are interested in is making a profit. They breed regardless of the conformation faults that both the dog and bitch have.

The Cost

Although you may pay less from either of these sources than from a responsible breeder, in the end you may end up paying a good deal more in vet bills, plus you could end up with a broken heart should your dog have to be put to sleep due to heart failure or temperament issues.

10 reasons why buying your puppy from a responsible breeder is the BEST way to obtain a puppy

1 Most responsible breeders breed dogs because they love the breed.

2 Their goal is to constantly improve their stock and the breed from one litter to the next.

3 They NEVER breed to make a profit as more often than not they lose money! Heart testing, stud fees and travelling expenses should the stud dog live some distance away. They then ensure that the bitch is fed a well balanced diet before and during her puppies are born. The pups also are fed a good quality puppy meal.

4 Their litters are carefully planned and are bred not just to ensure good health and conformation in the resulting progeny, but with correct and typical temperaments.

5 They care about the welfare of their puppies; they choose the new homes carefully and ensure that the new owners know the correct diet and care required for the breed.

6 They don’t advertise in local newspapers because they usually sell their puppies through breed clubs or by word of mouth referred by happy owners of their puppies. So be prepared to go on a waiting list!

7 Their puppies are wormed regularly and KC registered whether the puppy is for a show home or pet.

8 They don’t lose interest in you and the pup once they have been paid.

9 They do not breed their bitches back to back.

10 BECAUSE-When you purchase a puppy from a caring breeder, you have someone who will always be there to help and guide you throughout the life of your Boxer as the pup’s welfare is just as important to them as it is to you.

Puppy Buyers Checklist

To ensure that the breeder is not a “Puppy Farmer” or “Backyard Breeder”... Ask the breeder...

How long have they been involved in the breed? Is this their first litter, ask if they have a mentor (a breeder who has been in the breed for many years) that has assisted them in breeding this litter and choosing the best sire for their bitch, plus assisting them in nutritional requirements for the dam - pre and post whelping, and for the puppies?

If this is not their first litter, ask how many litters they breed per year?

Ask how many litters this dam has had? ( 3-4 is the maximum for any bitch, and only bred between the ages of 2 years - 6 years, spaced a year apart at the very least)... many good breeders only breed their 2-3 times in their lifetime.

Ask if they are a member of a Boxer Club ( as most of us are!) in their area?

Ask if they show, or specialise in Obedience or Agility with their dogs?

Ask to look at the pedigree of the pups. Are there Champions close up in their pedigree? Champions do not guarantee that your pup will be perfect and ideal for showing, but it does guarantee that at least the breeders are trying to improve their stock by breeding to quality animals.

Check that both parents of the puppies offered for sale have been heart tested. Ask to see the relevant paperwork from the cardiologist. Ask about the longevity of the puppies lines. Look at the pedigree and ask if the grandparents are still alive and if not, how old where they when they died, and the cause of death. The more dogs in the pedigree that lived past 10 years the better the chance of your puppy having a long life.

The puppies should look plump and healthy, with loose pliable skin, clear, bright eyes, and a loose coat (pull up the skin on the pups back to see if it is loose). Healthy pups at around 6-8 weeks should have a “toasty” smell and fresh breath. All puppies should be friendly and playful, avoid the timid, shy or overly aggressive pup. Pups can seem a bit drowsy if just awakened. Do not buy anything if there is an unwell puppy in the litter.

The environment where the puppies are kept should be clean, light and airy, with room for the puppies to play.

The mother has a very good temperament, playful and happy, not shy or aggressive and looks in good condition. However some bitches can go out of condition and her coat may be a little sparse as she has gone through feeding and rearing a litter of pups. She may also be a little protective of her “babies” especially if the pups are still quite young.

Be guided by the breeder on which pup would most suit your family environment . All pups have different temperaments and the most dominant puppy in the litter would not be suitable for children. Or the layback puppy would not suit an active couple.

Ask if the puppies have been allowed in the house to allow them to become accustomed to household noises, and if they have been in contact with children as well as adults.

All puppies should be checked over by a veterinary surgeon before going to their new home. They should be 8 weeks old at the time when they go to their new home. Some breeders will provide the first vaccination as part of the puppy pack, but if not you should take your puppy straight to your own vet for a check up and the first vaccination.

Is the Boxer the right Breed for me?

A BOXER is a wonderful medium sized family dog. He will be a great companion and friend to you and your children. He is an active dog and will need firm but gentle handling when young if he is to grow up into a well mannered, behaved adult. He will enthusiastically welcome most people you invite into your home but can be very distrustful of strangers. He generally makes a good family watch dog, his looks and barking will scare off any intruder, although little do they know that he would probably lick them to death!


He can be “deaf” when the notion takes him. Can be stubborn and aggravating then turn around and delight and entertain you with his playful antics. He will play gently with the children, rough house with the adults, then stand over you as if to say ”What is that all you’ve got?!” He is sensitive to the tone of your voice, you can hurt his feelings just by raising your voice or just by ignoring him. Anyone who does not love a BOXER does not know a BOXER.


The BOXER is definitely not an “outdoor” breed. If he would not be allowed to live in the house as part of the family you would be better to chose a more independent breed. Because of a BOXER’S short coat they do not handle the winter months that well and because of their short muzzle they do not tolerate the heat of summer. He couldn’t be more happier than sitting with his family in the evening as you all watch TV.

© 2007 Lynshanes Boxers