Have you been searching for that perfect pet? The one pet that fits your lifestyle? There are so many animals to pick from… a cat, a bird, a fish, a snake, a lizard and even man’s best friend… the dog. If you narrowed down the choice to a dog, you have picked a good animal that stays faithful, true and is very trustworthy. However, the kind of dog you choose should be considered carefully because making the wrong choice can be bad for you and for the dog. Should you, after vigilant consideration, want to own a boxer dog, then you have made an excellent decision.
Boxer dogs can very friendly, loving and loyal. However, they can be very hyperactive and aggressive too especially if they are left to fend and entertain themselves. One surefire way to learn about your new boxer pet is to purchase your new friend through a reputable breeder. These kinds of breeders know about your pup’s parentage including any traits that a boxer owner may be uncomfortable with. Breeders will also have papers on your puppy/dog. A reputable breeder has no qualms about showing you documentation and even the parents regarding your new friend.
How can you find a reputable boxer breeder? Look for boxer clubs like the American Kennel Club. You can also talk with local pet stores. However, be careful when dealing with pet stores. They also deal with breeders who have no known reputation. When seeking a good breeder to do business with, be alert for signs. Reputable dealers will have extensive knowledge about your dog, dog show competitions, health problems that plague a boxer dog, sizes and colors of the breed. By being aware and doing some background checks, you can save money in the long run.
Reputable breeders are more likely to have shows dogs which have a fawn or brindle coloration to their coat. Breeders are less likely to have all-white boxers… a dog whose coat color is more than 1/3 white. These pups are usually blind, deaf and suffer from many ailments including skin cancer. For these reasons, the American Boxer Club does not allow breeding of these dogs. Despite this handicap, they make wonderful pets and will need training.
If you don’t want to deal with a breeder, you can find many of these animals through your local animal shelter where 25 percent of the animals are purebred. You pay less and save a life at the same time. Yet, shelter workers will not have background knowledge on your pet.
Since reputable breeders will know much about the health of a boxer, it is best to learn all you can and as much as you can. Breeders can tell you about the common problems that boxer dogs suffer from including but not limited to: congenital renal disease, juvenile renal disease, cardiomyopathy, hypothyroidism and corneal dystrophy. Both juvenile renal and congenital renal diseases can place a dog into excruciating amounts of pain.
When a boxer dog has problems with their excretory system, it can lead to walking and running problems. What is the excretory system? It is what is accountable for regulating the chemical composition of body fluids and discharge of waste.
By taking your boxer to the vet regularly, you can find out if your pup is suffering from excretory health problems. If so, there is an easy way to help him/her out. It is to maintain a low protein diet. By giving them this sort of diet, you can reduce the amount of uremic toxins that are produced. A low protein diet has also proven to be effective against kidney failure in boxer puppies and dogs. Having a diet that has little phosphorous is essential for a long boxer life.
Veterinarians will give boxer owners dietary instructions in dealing with juvenile renal disease that include feedings of three to four times a day. Feedings done this way reduces the chances of your dog vomiting. A good meal to give a boxer is the egg and potato diet. It still has all the nutrients and vitamins while keeping the low protein and phosphorous levels that a boxer dog needs.
If you are looking to raise, breed and show dog your boxer, you need to find a reputable dealer who tends to deal with healthy pups. Reputable breeders will screen for such diseases with x-rays early in the pup’s life. As your boxer grows, continue taking them to see a vet on a habitual basis.
You should know that male boxer dogs are much calmer than their female counterparts and can get along easier with other pets. No matter the sex of your boxer dog though, they are going to need some type of behavioral modification training. It is essential they have this training because of their natural temperament to be hyper when they are ignored or not given enough exercise. Before you start the training, make sure your boxer knows who is in charge. You want to make the training go easy and smooth for the both of you.
There are five trouble-free steps to ensure that this happens. They include: getting your boxer’s attention, giving your boxer praise, verbally scolding your boxer, consistency and boxer dog training tools.
Getting Your Boxer’s Attention – You cannot train a pet when they are not listening to you. Use treats to help you out each time and you will see results.
Giving Your Boxer Praise – Often overlooked, praising your dog allows them to understand when they have done an action right or correctly. By praising them each time they do something right, the training will go quicker.
Verbally Scolding Your Boxer – Scolding your boxer is necessary in training him/her. However, you do not need to physically hit them to get your message across. Use commands such as “No” and “Stop”.
Consistency – Teach commands slowly and do not start any new methods until your boxer gets the other command first. Being persistent is necessary for a successful training.