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You can’t blame the Boxer – But you can blame the breeder, sometimes

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Boxer breeders are like parents, and their puppies, their children. Well, after a fashion this is true. Often times the problem isn’t in the pup but in the raising, or often as not, in the breeding and heritage of a boxer puppy. So, when something is wrong with a breed as a whole, you might start to think it’s the dogs’ fault, but what about the responsibility of the breeders?

Many people make the great mistake of believing that a Boxer breeder only has the welfare of the dog at heart and wants to do as much as possible to help the breed. While there are obviously hundreds of breeders who fit this description, there are an equal number who most definitely don’t.

Do you want to give your money to a guy who couldn’t care less about his dogs? Not a very good way to go about buying a family pet that will last upwards of thirteen years, is it? So what can you do to distinguish the honest and hard working Boxer breeder from the unscrupulous ones?

Actually there are quite a few things that can help you to choose the correct breeder for your new dog.

Obviously you need to actually go to the breeding kennels and ask if you can look around. If the answer is a strict ‘no’, you might as well say your good-byes and go. A breeder who doesn’t allow you to visit his compound most definitely has something he doesn’t want you to see. If he says yes, you’re off to a good start. Once inside the compound, pay special attention to where the dogs are kept. Boxers don’t like cold weather on account of their short coat, and because their muzzle and nasal passage are quite short, they don’t like being too hot either. Boxers should not really be kept outside without decent housing, so if you see the animals chained up or roaming freely on just a piece of grass, make your excuses and leave. Another thing you should look out for is how many litters of puppies the breeder has. If there seems to be too many litters of several different breeds then chances are you are standing in a dog breeding factory, and the breeder just wants to make a quick buck. Don’t make the mistake of giving him yours.

During your visit, how many questions did the breeder ask you? Did he enquire as to your experience with dogs, your living conditions, how many times a day and for how long you were thinking of taking the dog for a walk, etc. If the breeder cares and he thinks you won’t make a good owner he won’t sell you the animal. Also make a note to see if he calls the animals by name or even acknowledges their existence.

If you see a sign that reads ‘rare white Boxers for sale’, keep driving. The white Boxer is not at all rare and it is not allowed to be shown with the American Kennel Club. He is just trying to off-load white Boxers he can’t sell to people in the know. It is a shame as the white Boxer still makes an excellent pet.

So you have seen his installations and you seem to think everything looks as it should. Now is the time to ask him some questions. Ask him about the breed, where it came from, why it originally had its ears clipped and if the white Boxer is a rare breed. If he has no idea or doesn’t give you the right answers it is a pretty clear indication that the guy doesn’t know the first thing about his dogs. Every breeder worth his salt will be an expert on the subject and could possibly talk for hours about Boxers.

Lastly, some reputable breeders do not want their dogs to be bred and will have a strong spaying policy. This just shows how serious a breeder they are. If they don’t give a clear indication about spaying polices, ask.